TALKBACK - The Looney Tunes Show - "We're in Big Truffle" - [1/22]

[Elrohir]

Speedy is still a bad racist Mexican stereotype, but oh well.

I'm Mexican and it doesn't bother me. I do think the portrayal of Indians on other cartoons can be pretty offensive, though.

 

[Daffyfan2003]

Yeah. That is the trouble with classic cartoons. There's always the risk of offending somebody, but that's why they had that warning message on the "Golden Collection" DVDs.

 

[wiley207]

I'm Mexican and it doesn't bother me. I do think the portrayal of Indians on other cartoons can be pretty offensive, though.

...which is why nowadays, Indians in cartoons have to be super-PC, even in the Fairly Odd Parents episode "Odd, Odd West":

Wanda: *as Indian girl* "And I'm his trusty Native American sidekick, Dances With Wands!

 

[TheVileOne]

But what about Witch Lezah, how she's somewhat of a modern black woman stereotype? (I still think if they decide to bring Mammy Two Shoes back to Tom and Jerry, Roz Ryan would be the perfect voice actress for her.)

It's weird. I don't care of the new interpretation of Lezah, but I think Gossamer's new characterization as Gumball-lite kinda works.

With Speedy, I dunno it just comes off like they tried so hard to make him modern and contemporary that they went in the opposite direction of making a bad stereotype. TI also get the feeling with Lola that they wanted to use Lola and tried so hard to re-imagine her character so she is less like a Mary Sue type. But I think they just went way too far to try and make Lola different from her earlier appearances.

 

[Daffyfan2003]

It's weird. I don't care of the new interpretation of Lezah, but I think Gossamer's new characterization as Gumball-lite kinda works.

With Speedy, I dunno it just comes off like they tried so hard to make him modern and contemporary that they went in the opposite direction of making a bad stereotype. TI also get the feeling with Lola that they wanted to use Lola and tried so hard to re-imagine her character so she is less like a Mary Sue type. But I think they just went way too far to try and make Lola different from her earlier appearances.

Well, in the case of Lola, how many animated appearances has she had to begin with? I've never seen Baby Looney Tunes and from what I hear that show wasn't that great anyway, so we'll rule that one out. But aside from Space Jam and her cameo in Tweety's High Flying Adventure, she hasn't had a lot of animated appearances. I guess they felt that her personality wasn't established enough and they wanted to try something new.

I agree with what you said as Speedy as well. The thought of him being a bad stereotype was why his cartoons weren't shown on CN for so many years, so why would it be okay for him to be like that in a new series? I think you're right. They may be trying too hard, but Daffy has shown a lot of improvement as the series has progressed, maybe Speedy will eventually as well.

 

[Elrohir]

...which is why nowadays, Indians in cartoons have to be super-PC, even in the Fairly Odd Parents episode "Odd, Odd West":

Wanda: *as Indian girl* "And I'm his trusty Native American sidekick, Dances With Wands!

I meant actual Indians not Native Americans.

I just don't see how Speedy is being stereotyped. Projected feelings? Sadly, we're just not used to see a lot of Hispanic characters in cartoons, so maybe that's just why it feels out of place to you. It doesn't to me. I'm grateful to the DC animated shows for trying to incorporate a lot of ethnic diversity into their characters.

. But I think they just went way too far to try and make Lola different from her earlier appearances.

What earlier appearances? You mean the horrible Space Jam movie? In which she was the most out-of-place character ever? And she was actually just a renamed Hunny Bunny, a character who's never been developed. Even as Lola in the movie she was seriously underdeveloped. By your logic, Tex Avery should have left Bugs Bunny the same as when Bugs Hardaway created him. He would have faded into obscurity. And just look at how different Elmer Fudd turned out from the original Egg Head. Lola is still a young character. Let her develop. I think this Lola works. She's loony like Looney Tunes characters are supposed to be.

 

[TheVileOne]

Good. I still don't like this Lola though. I'd prefer they just use a different, pre-established character instead.

 

[wiley207]

Good. I still don't like this Lola though. I'd prefer they just use a different, pre-established character instead.

I agree; the way they made Lola stupid reminds me of when Warner did the same thing to Fred for "What's New Scooby-Doo," making him a ditz as well!

 

[Elrohir]

I agree; the way they made Lola stupid reminds me of when Warner did the same thing to Fred for "What's New Scooby-Doo," making him a ditz as well!

Umm... yeah, except Scooby Doo is about solving mysteries. Looney Tunes is about characters who are unrealistically, comedically uninhibited and crazed.