Looney Tunes Platinum Collection: Volume Two

This second volume of Warner Bros. “platinum collection” cartoons is another creatively curated set that combines fan favorites, historically significant pieces, and notable one-shots. Disc one is dedicated to the Looney Tunes stars—Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Road Runner, Wile E. Coyote, Pepé Le Pew, Foghorn Leghorn, and Speedy Gonzales—showcasing some of their earliest and most memorable appearances. Among the highlights of disc two are “Wabbit Twouble” (1941); the “hunting” trilogy—“Rabbit Fire,” “Rabbit Seasoning,” and “Duck! Rabbit! Duck!”—with Bugs, Daffy, and Elmer caught in verbal gymnastics and surreal zigzags; the complete “Bugs Bunny vs. Cecil Turtle” threesome; and five outstanding one-offs, including the celebrity-caricature-stuffed “Hollywood Steps Out.” More a sampling than a focused compilation organized by character or creator, not all of the titles here are classics, but this is as interesting and entertaining a gathering of 50 Warner Bros. cartoons as you could hope for. While bowing in both DVD and Blu-ray editions, the Blu-ray release features exclusive bonus material, including audio commentary tracks, featurettes (on creators, characters, and genres), and a third disc devoted to special content and rarities from the vault, including 11 of the best cartoons Tex Avery made for MGM after leaving Warner Bros. and several Private Snafu cartoons made for the Army during World War II. The Blu-ray edition also features an illustrated booklet with brief notes by animation historian Jerry Beck. Recommended. (S. Axmaker)