by Pierre Lorenz on June 7, 2020

The brand-new streaming service HBO Max seems to be particularly concerned about the child-friendliness of the "Looney Tunes" franchise, which has been in existence since 1930. And as it turns out, the series around Bugs Bunny still hasn't lost any of its charm. In the first week of HBO Max, "Looney Tunes" swept "Big Bang Theory", "The Sopranos", "Game Of Thrones" and many other popular series off the podium and is considered the most watched series in the first week of HBO Max' existence. The new edition of the series remains largely true to the original, but in one aspect it differs from the original. Elmer Fudd, the clumsy hunter and arch-enemy of Bugs Bunny has probably got rid of his shotgun. The most famous trademark next to his Deerstalker cap has been removed. However, he won't be able to go completely without his guns, because in the series revival he will be allowed to wield his sickle and scythe after all. Another opponent of Bugs Bunny, the cowboy Yosemite Sam, is in a similar situation. He also has to get along without his guns in the future and has to be content with stabbing weapons.

So the message of Warner Bros. and HBO is clear: A statement against gun violence in the USA must be made. Ironically, this does not apply to explosive weapons such as TNT or similar, because according to showrunner Peter Browngardt, this should not be dispensed with.

Violence yes, but please not with firearms? Somehow a strange approach, after all the franchise lives from the comic-like overdrawn scenes in which pianos and anvils fall on characters or Bugs Bunny once again escapes a completely unrealistic trap set by hunter Elmer Fudd.

80 episodes of eleven minutes each are planned so far, 30 of which are already available on HBO Max.

What do you think about the new feature on "Looney Tunes"? Unconsidered actionism or is the film studio even right with its position against violence with firearms? Feel free to write it in the comments!