The news is devastating for animation fans: Warner Brothers has pulled its entire collection of classic Looney Tunes shorts from HBO Max. These shorts, spanning nearly 40 years (1930-1969), represent a golden age of animation and are undeniably foundational to Warner Brothers' success. Deadline reports the removal is part of a corporate strategy to focus on adult and family programming, citing lower viewership for children's content on the platform. This decision disregards the immense cultural significance of these iconic cartoons. The recent cancellation of HBO's Sesame Street deal further underscores this troubling trend. While some newer Looney Tunes projects remain, the core of the franchise is now absent.

This move is particularly jarring given the recent theatrical release of The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Story on March 14th. Initially an HBO Max project, the film was sold to Ketchup Entertainment following the Warner Bros. Discovery merger. The film's modest box office performance (just over $3 million opening weekend in over 2,800 theaters) suggests a limited marketing push. Considering the backlash over the unreleased Coyote Vs. Acme, one might speculate that greater awareness could have boosted The Day the Earth Blew Up's performance. Last year's decision to shelve Coyote Vs. Acme due to perceived high distribution costs sparked widespread outrage among artists and animation enthusiasts. In February, star Will Forte famously called the decision "f—king bulls—t," expressing his anger and bewilderment at the inexplicable choice.