A “that’s all, folks” joke would sting too much right now. Warner Brothers has officially pulled its entire catalog of original Looney Tunes shorts from HBO Max, a move that has left fans and animation enthusiasts reeling. These legendary shorts, which ran from 1930 to 1969, represent a "golden age" of animation and were instrumental in building Warner Brothers into the powerhouse it is today.
According to Deadline, this removal is part of a broader company strategy to focus on adult and family programming. Children's programming, despite its cultural significance, does not draw the viewership numbers that HBO Max is seeking. This shift in priorities is evident in other decisions, such as the cancellation of new episodes of Sesame Street at the end of 2024, a show that has been a cornerstone of childhood education since 1969. While some newer Looney Tunes spinoffs remain available on HBO Max, the essence of the franchise has been stripped away.
The timing of this decision is particularly odd, coinciding with the theatrical release of the new film, The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Story, on March 14. Initially commissioned by Max, the project was sold to Ketchup Entertainment through the American Film Market following the Warner Brothers and Discovery merger. With a limited marketing budget, the film managed to earn just over $3 million during its opening weekend across more than 2,800 theaters nationwide.
The public's reaction to the handling of last year's Coyote Vs. Acme suggests that there would be significant interest in The Day the Earth Blew Up if more people were aware of its availability in theaters. Warner Brothers Discovery's decision not to release Coyote Vs. Acme, despite its completion, due to distribution costs, sparked widespread criticism. In February, star Will Forte labeled the decision as “f—king bulls—t,” expressing his frustration and anger over the choice to shelve the film.
