“The Day The Earth Blew Up” Review: A Fresh Feature-Length Looney Tunes Adventure

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Prior to the release of “The Day the Earth Blew Up,” the Looney Tunes characters were not presented with an entirely original, full-length movie. This was despite the creation of “The Bugs Bunny Road Runner Movie,” which was basically a collection of old shorts with a thin veil of new material, and a few mixed live action/animation flicks like “Looney Tunes: Back in Action” and two “Space Jam” movies. In these, the powerful personalities of the animated characters played second fiddle to basketball players.

Thankfully, this issue has been rectified with “The Day the Earth Blew Up”. Despite not being an all-time great, it successfully delivers a fresh take on infamous Looney Tunes characters (Daffy Duck and Porky Pig), with reverence for past versions but without depending on them.


“The Day The Earth Blew Up” Review: A Fresh Feature-Length Looney Tunes Adventure

– “The Day the Earth Blew Up” is the first entirely original, feature-length movie for Looney Tunes characters that is directed by Pete Browngardt. The film follows Daffy Duck and Porky Pig as they uncover a plot involving extraterrestrial infection and zombies.
– The film gives the classic characters depth and warmth, maintaining their comedic charm while introducing heartfelt relationships and a unique adventure plot with science-fiction elements.
– Despite some drawbacks like the exclusion of popular characters and loss of momentum in the narrative, the film manages to create a fresh and visually engaging experience that combines the simplicity of 2D animation with the grandeur of Hollywood blockbusters.


Directed by Pete Browngardt, the movie narrates a sci-fi tale, spiced up by the charm and antics of the duo Daffy Duck and Porky Pig, making for an eye-catching spectacle. The movie kicks off with a meteor strike near an observatory, impacting a nearby bubble gum factory and the farmhouse of our beloved characters. This leads them into an intriguing narrative filled with adventure, love interest, and a thrilling conspiracy involving extraterrestrial invasion and zombie transformation of the global population.

Browngardt, with a team of writers and storyboard artists, has managed to build the characters of Porky as a sensible, elder brother figure to the self-destructing Daffy Duck. The emotional depth, combined with the conventional chaos emanating from the characters, adds to the charm of the movie.

Maintaining the flavour of these characters without making it melodramatic seems a tough task, but the movie appears to have achieved it. This approach is reminiscent of how the Jim Henson Company handled its characters in the wake of Henson’s death – treating them as actors capable of playing diverse roles. Add bit of wisdom and empathy to their relationship and you’ve got a new dynamic that suits the movie’s objectives.

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Visually, the movie is unique, incorporating a child’s storybook energy with 2D rendering. However, this simplicity is elevated by the intense visual and sound elements of sci-fi blockbusters – a blend of straightforwardness and excessiveness that’s entertaining in its own way.

The result may not enthrall all audience types, as the movie loses momentum towards its middle and is found wanting on the inclusion of some iconic characters. Despite these flaws, “The Day the Earth Blew Up” stands out with its freshness and distinctive character. It stretches the narrative boundaries subtly for some adult humor yet stays kid-friendly throughout.

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RATING: 3.5 out of 5 Stars.

“The Day the Earth Blew Up” was released on March 14th, 2025.

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1 Response

  1. Starzen says:

    It’s great to see Looney Tunes getting a full-length animated film again. The classic humor and energy seem to be there, which is exciting for longtime fans.

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