WELCOME BACK DARK TOONS!!!!!! Watch the new Nostalgia Critic on Kung Fu Panda - th-cam.com/video/ZRXPpWdaSGw/w-d-xo.html Watch more Dark Toons here - bit.ly/DarkToons Follow us on Twitch - www.twitch.tv/channelawesome
Now that you're back I want to let you know of the episode "King Bluebeard" from "Grimm's Fairytale Classics" it's fairytales, how much more little kid can you get? But watch it and even ADULTS would be freaked out by it!
There's an episode of the original Teen Titans called "Fear Itself", where they watch a scary movie and are then hunted by the monster from the movie. It's pretty dark. By the way, welcome back.
Hey Doug, the "violin" part that you are looking for is featured in the end of the Tannhäuser (concert) overture. There is a video on TH-cam with Maestro Karajan rehearsing this part with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra in great detail. Look it up: "Karajan rehearsal Tannhauser" (the one where he looks rather elderly). Enjoy!
Beat me to it! I’ve noticed this in quite a few cartoons from the past where certain instrumental counterpoints you don’t usually hear in performances overpower the main melody. I don’t know if it was a mixing issue (it was recorded back in the 50s) or maybe they wanted the horns to be subtler for Elmer’s dialog. Either way, those strings are gorgeous.
I never thought Bugs died in the end. Everything about it, from its being a musical to those gorgeous abstract backgrounds, suggested that it was a staged presentation within a cartoon. It's a fiction within a fiction. Even as a little kid, I saw it that way.
I thought the same, especially at the end with Bugs supposedly being dead, then popping up for a moment to make a comment to the audience. From the first time I saw it as a kid it always felt to me like it was the same two familiar characters that were performing in an opera.
@@coolgreenbug7551 yeah thats how I always thought of it as a kid, then again I did watch Space Jam around the time I saw this short so maybe I already had the idea that the Toons kinda are actors and do things outside of the shorts. More so when I saw Roger Rabbit.
Yeah, it's kind of funny because I don't think I had a lot of experience with stages as a little kid, but the lighting felt artificial in an intentional way and backgrounds always made it look different enough from a normal short that I just assumed that's what it was.
Y’know what I always thought the same. The lighting in some scenes definitely give the impression that Elmer and Bugs are doing nothing more than performing on a stage.
Honestly, as fun as 'Dark Toons' is, I personally wouldn't mind just more videos like this, dissections of classic animations and really looking at how and why they work, as well as the impact they had on later cartoons and media as a whole. They don't have to be 'dark', they just have to be iconic, and let's be frank, there's a lot of great iconic cartoons out there, just like this, which deserve more recognition.
I agree, I appreciate when Doug just talks normally to his audience about what he likes in animation instead of the usual over the top scripted nostalgia critic reviews, I miss his old vlog reviews.
Elmer Fud singing"Kill da wabbit," is the highlight of this looney tunes episode for me. Everytime me or my family hears Flight of the Valerie's, we immediately start singing "kill da wabbit, kill da wabbit." It quickly became a household running gag of sorts for us.
I loved this short as a kid, but to be honest the one that really hit me in the feels was “Feed the Kitty” with Pussyfoot and Marc Anthony. I’ve never had more of an emotional reaction from any cartoon as a kid.
What’s Opera, Doc was definitely that short where so much imagery was twisted that as a kid, I completely forgot that I was watching Looney Tunes. And it was awesome! ❤️
This and Barber of Seville are probably my favorites and the best Bugs Bunny cartoons, so well done. Also yeah it's not as dark as say Tom being hit by a piano going to hell or the looming train in the one episode of Tom and Jerry, and Bugs does confuse you by briefly coming back, but yeah it's still tragic to see Bugs actually dead, Elmer winning for once.
@@goodnewsgeek42 I DO have to wonder: What Dark toons are there left for Looney Tunes? Disney, oh good god i imagine there're a few, especially if what i heard about Don Bluth being a former disney Animator is true XD
As someone who’s obsessed with cartoons in general (except for the adult shows like South Park or Family Guy, sorry 🙁) these episodes definitely get me curious! Some of them even might be evidence to me at least that some weird contents in cartoons I don’t really like haven’t really changed much.
Same! I've been trying to remember if it was a Merry Melodies VHS that had a few random things towards the end, life a black and white stop motion that was really dark and had something to do with a kid and a haunted house. I've been trying to look for that clip.
@@Krendall2 You've seen the black and white stop motion about a haunted house? Did it have a scarecrow in or near the beginning or something like that? It could've been that compilation movie. I had like two or three as a kid, so I could be confusing it with a Merry Melodies one.
@@Krendall2 After all of these years, I couldn't find the clip until just now after looking for it again. Jasper and the Haunted House. I guess it's not in black and white? and I mistook one of the characters as a scarecrow lol.
That comment MAY have been a nod to Bob Hope. In the movie The Paleface (1948) Bob Hope's and Jane Russell's character are about to tie the not, when one of the horses runs off, dragging Jane with it. Bob breaks the fourth wall and says "What do you want? A HAPPY ending?!" and it ends
What's Opera Doc is one of my all time favorites of the classic Looney Tunes cartoons! seeing Elmer and Bugs singing in an opera style setting was very interesting and of course it's always enjoyable to hear Looney Tunes characters sing, but i can also see the dark side too it especially when it seemed like Elmer killed Bugs.
It’s one of my earliest memories of cartoons I can think of, I remember watching th reruns and my father quoting it. It’s an amazing episode of any cartoon.
When I was a kid, I found the ending of WOD more confusing than outright sad. The Chuck Jones short that messed ME up the most at that age was probably Feed the Kitty. I still find it hard to watch the part where Marc Anthony thinks the kitten is dead and is sobbing hysterically.
"Feed the Kitty" is such a great cartoon though. One of my absolute favorite Looney Tunes shorts. A simple story told in 7 minutes that makes you laugh, cry and awe throughout.
This is still one of the most memorable episodes of any cartoon for me. Kill the wabbit is something I still randomly bust into out of nowhere. Keep up the great content and keep up the awesomeness.
There was also a cartoon that was kind of a sequel to "Duck Amuck," only this time an animator is pestering Bugs. The ending reveals the animator is Elmer Fudd, who ends by saying, "I finawwy got even with that scwewey wabbit."
Doug My man. Where has this series been. You have no clue how much I love the way you brake down these cartoons. The history animation, people behind it etc.
May not be the darkest toon featuring Bugs, but it is seen as one of the best Bugs cartoons of all time. An excellent choice to review how dark it was.
Tower of dr zalost ( courage the cowardly dog) is a episode with a great depiction of depression shown throughout the episode. Also the backgrounds are really nice 👌
My dad isn't a particularly cultured guy, but he insisted that my brother and I be exposed to "What's Opera, Doc" when we were kids. He still declares it the best animated short of all time, and that's certainly with good merit.
I was disappointed when you stopped doing this but I’m so excited you are bringing it back! I never really saw this episode as dark, mainly cause Buggs shows that technically he isn’t dead, but this short was one of my favorites growing up.
My first ever introduction to Looney Tunes was when I was 5, when my dad took me to the Denver Symphony to see Bugs Bunny on Broadway. It was an entire concert of Looney Tunes shorts on a screen with a live orchestra below. I remember being absolutely awestruck by the fact that an orchestra could play along with a screen and make it come to life in a whole new way. I remember this was one of the shorts they did. To this day, it is one of my favorite childhood memories. Thank you, Dad!
Hey, it's no problem, Doug. I'm glad that you took a break from "Dark Toons" and focused on other things before circling back to it when ready. You definitely don't want to get burned out over something you enjoy. As for "What's Opera, Doc?", I LOVE this cartoon. Such a CLASSIC. I always found the music toward the end of the cartoon so haunting and devastating, even though we know that Bugs isn't dead.
I'm so glad this series is back! I really recommend Over the Garden Wall. I'd say The Ringing of the Bell would be the best episode for Dark Toons, but you could honestly use the whole mini series as a Nostalgia-ween video.
Nice to see Dark Toons return and this is also a really good choice. I remember watching this film in a history of animation class and we all had a great time watching it.
I'm so glad to see this returning after so long. Actually I found some toons that could be consider worthy of this: - Cuphead Show, Season 1 Episode 6 "Ghost Ain't Real" - Cuphead and Mugman spend a night in a graveyard and they're haunted by ghosts - Looney Tunes "Chow Hound" - a cat being bullied by a dog, with a cruel dark ending - Looney Tunes "Porky Pig in The Wearing of the Grin" - Porky is in Scotland and spends a night in a castle inhabited by leprechauns - Betty Boop "The Old Man of the Mountain" - an old man terrorizes a village and Betty meets him (another cartoon with Cab Calloway)
I too love this short and as a child(6-7) seeing it for the first time remember a sense of genuine fear with that colour shift, because it wasn't just another character going red in the face with frustration but the whole scene moved with his emotional state. It imparted a feeling of immense power behind him and he brought down his wrath. and I also remember feeling sad with him at the realization that he had gone too far. I love these deep dives and hope you continue with this series.
Only a couple of days ago, I rewatched What's Opera, Doc? on a whim, hadn't seen it in who knows how many years. It must have been since I was a kid. With no sarcasm or hyperbole, this legitimately brought me to tears. Finally able to appreciate the art of animation as an adult and hearing perfectly fitting the music is, it was too much. For a 65 year old cartoon, it can and will stand the test of time as high art disguised as a comedy. Also crazy this video was posted right after seeing it
Can't even lie, as a kid, this cartoon used to give me chills at the end. I legit would avoid it because of the visceral sadness I would feel... as pathetic as that is lol. But for a looney tunes cartoon, this was so well made and built up the drama so perfectly while still keeping comedic elements. Definitely a classic!
Oh, l love this one. One its funny as heck, I mean just how Fuud goes “kill the wabbit” “kill the wabbit” and the n bugs just goes “kill the wabbit? Just makes me die every time. When bugs doubt Fudd’s spear and magic helmet and after Fudd proved they are real he just goes well I’m out of here” my dad used to quote “ohh Brunhilda your so lovely” a lot. It’s just a gold mine! Its also a rare case of bugs NOT winning in the end, yeah Fudd don’t win either, so I guess it’s more of a draw, but that make it even rarer.
Since I love seeing SpongeBob in this series, I racked my brain, and I would LOOOOVVEE to see Krabby Patty Creature Feature. Watching all the classic lovable characters turning into evil sandwich zombies is pretty dark and fun
God, I missed this series! This is basically a classic, highly recommended Bugs Bunny short. It's also responsible for me wanting to chant at the top of my lungs "Kill Da Wabbit! Kill Da Wabbit!" every time I hear "Ride of the Valkyries." When I first saw this short as a kid, the part where Elmer goes all red and declares "I'll kill the wabbit!" was quite frightening, not to mention, Bugs' "death" scene is beautifully done. If it wasn't for him quipping "So what were you expecting in an opera? A happy ending?" I would have bawled my eyes out back then.
Out of the 100s of NC vids I've seen and enjoyed throughout the years, gotta say, I really appreciate this one. It always warms my heart when I get to see someone lighting up and really going in depth to cover the minute of details of something they're genuinely passionate about. I don't think we get enough of that these days. That said I have a renewed appreciation for this cartoon. Something my dad had on tape to play when we visited him at work yearrss ago lol ✌️♥️
I grew up on the old Hannah Barbera shows and there was always one episode from the shows I was scared of. I'd love to see you do "The Invisible Monster" from the original Jonny Quest or "Spooky Space Kook" from the original Scooby Doo
I’ve been waiting for this all day. I’m so happy Dark Toons isn’t dead. This is easily my favorite past times to watch. Their all perfect and I appreciate it the time and detail of telling each scene. Allows to enjoy a scene much better even when you know the cartoon all to well. Thank You!!
The little bit with Elmer's skirt petals falling? Chuck Jones wanted to record a little descending melody on the xylophones during that scene. I can hear it in my head. He always regretted that, the one unfinished part of the masterpiece. (My story? In high school I taught an extra-credit course on Looney Tunes And Humor, Sociological Analysis, and decided to listen to Wagner to talk about this cartoon. And in the decade since, I've seen three Ring cycles, written a screenplay riffing on "Parsifal," learned to speak German, and gotten a job at Chicago's German-language library in the Deutsch-American National Kongress. This cartoon changes lives.)
This was definitely my introduction to opera. It didn't frighten me in anyway you describe as I saw it simply as the characters role playing, just as if they'd been cast in an opera.
One of the greatest Maurice Noble cartoons from a design perspective. Initially the background layouts were done by Ernie Nordli (Disney artist who'd worked extensively on Sleeping Beauty and several Jones cartoons from the mid-'50s), but all of his work was scrapped in favor of Noble.
The fact that you can only hear this version with the violin by watching this, makes this cartoon that much more special. I was raised on these classics, so that may impact my view on this cartoon. Glad to see this series get a reboot.
Good to have these back, I missed them. Great review as always Some suggestions: - The Phantom Bride (Hey Arnold) -Wearing the grin (Porky Pig) -Hyde and go tweet (Sylvester the cat)
YES!! THANKS DOUG FINALLY!. This is one of my favorite Looney Tunes episodes or segments. Also WB has officially cancelled all of their upcoming Looney Tunes movies.
I remember when I first saw this as a kid. I was shocked when it ended in tragedy. I was legitimately angry that a cartoon had ended in a tragedy, like I had been betrayed by something that, up till this point, was a source of happiness. And Bugs's line at the end just made it sting more, like 'that's life. Get used to it.' Of course, looking back on it now, I wouldn't have appreciated as many cartoons without this lesson and I like this one now, but I'll always remember this as the cartoon that killed my innocence, along with the wabbit. Would really like to see your take on some of the darker episodes of MLP: Friendship is Magic. Especially Scare Master.
This one is one of my favorites. My family will randomly sing songs from this frequently. It's so good! I love all the Bugs Bunny opera episodes. They were so great!
I remember this cartoon, and I still have this on 16mm film. I watched this cartoon where I did run on my Kodak Pageant 16mm sound movie projector and it was fun to see “What’s Opera, Doc?” on the screen for the first time, and it was a Fantasia-esque cartoon.
I love all of the Bugs Bunny opera cartoons lol. Smog! is my favorite line in this one. Then when he shaves Elmer in the other opera cartoon I laugh so much.
I remember seeing this as a kid. The network I watched it on actually cut out the part where Bugs wakes up and ask "What did you expect from an opera? A happy ending?" It ended with Elmer carrying dead Bugs. So for a long time I thought Elmer killed him for real. Some editor made this cartoon darker than it really is.
'Sunshine Makers' Van Beuren 1935 This cartoon teaches kids that they'll be persecuted for being different and so should turn to drugs to fit in. And honestly, the psychotic fixed smiles on the Happy Gnomes' faces as they mercilessly hunt down and exterminate the Gloomy Gnomes with their 'happy sunshine juice', going so far as to hold the Gloomy Gnomes down to pour it down their throats to force compliance, still sends chills up my spine.
Dark Toon suggestion: The Billy & Mandy episode Chocolate Sailor. Billy orders chocolates to sell door-to-door but becomes so addicted to them himself he actually turns into chocolate, and even afterwards he’s actually eating himself until he’s just a head. It’s considered by many to be one of Billy & Mandy’s most memorable and best episodes and it’s totally worth a look.
My favorite piece of animation of all time. I can still remember the first time I saw this as a child and was just blown away with how incredible it was. Classical music, simplistic backgrounds that are vast, incredible animation, catchy dialog set to the music, and the best closing line to any cartoon. "What did you expect in an opera, A happy ending? "
The violin part that you mentioned in the end was written specifically in a custom arrangement to match the cartoon. However, the closest to that violin part that you like can still, in fact, be found in the Overture to Tannhauser. It's just in a different key, but it's there. It is also prominent in the Pilgrim's chorus from that opera.
I think about the short at minimum twice a week. It stuck in my little kid brain like a freakin' parasite. The detail with the fringe flaps on the hem of his armor, "Oh mighty hunter, t'will be quite a ti-isk. How will you do it, might I inquire to a-ask?", the absolute UNIT of a horse, Bugs' Brunhilda costume, the dancing, the backgrounds, just everything... gah! It deserves its place in the L.O.C. archive. Thanks for picking this one to come back with, Doug!
Agreed. Even G1 MLP was WAY darker than a lot of stuff released these days. And to say G1 MLP is dark makes a lot of people look at you like you're crazy, but, take time to watch the old MLP cartoons of the 80s... and it gets REALLY FREAKING dark at times. Like, holy heck!
You really don't watch other cartoons then from cartoonetwork. Because they are dark or nearly more dark. Just recently saw a cartoon of The adventures of Gumball Where the two protagonists kill an infant in front of the parents and step on the baby corpse.
I was fortunate enough to be able to attend an exhibit of original Looney Tunes materials. Everything from storyboard sketches to animation cels to character reference sheets to background art, all for perusal. I can't recall exactly which background it was, but there was one of the pieces used in What's Opera Doc? What surprised me the most was how small it was. It was only a bi bigger than a large postcard. Unfortunately cameras were not allowed within the exhibit, otherwise I would have loved to have shared a picture of it. Totally worth the price of admission!
This is also one of my fav Looney tunes ever and I'm 17 now. Looney Tunes and other oldies shorts was the reason why I wanted to make cartoons. I first saw this when I was around 5 and I was legit sad and felt bad cuz Elmers voice sounded more hurted than usual and I legit believed that Bugs was for real dead. As I got older, I also appreciate it for the artistry and I'm glad someone finally talks about this short for everything it has to offer.
Thank you for the fresh Dark Toons episode as well as for bringing the show back, Doug. Here are some episodes/shorts for you to consider: - “Haunted” from Teen Titans - The Old Mill (1937) - “Insane in the Membrane” from TMNT 2003 - The Pioneer’s Violin (soviet animated short about WW2 made in 1971. There is no dialogue in it so language shouldn't be an issue. VERY DARK!) - Hedgehog in the Fog (another soviet cartoon. Dunno if it qualifies perfectly, but it does have uneasy moments. Also it got some solid recognition)
Willie the Operatic Whale? God I love that cartoon. One of my favorites and also a source of deep childhood trauma. "Now Willie will never sing at the Met." "He just didn't understand." Oh my frigging heart.
im so glad this series is back, i have a suggestion for an episode ... Adventures from Moominvalley episode 7 ... i dont know how popular or not it was in the states but in my country its a classic in general this show is very innocent and harmless but this episode spooked me. 2/3 of the episode are its usual calm innocent self but in the last third it took a drastic turn and the animation became like something from sleepy hollow. the Groke the unwanted midnight guest as little child gave me nightmares but after rewatching the Groke is just sort of goofy they make her sympathetic in the end but still somewhat menacing. she also appeared in episode 6 where she was interduced and while it was intense and there was a definite shift in mood in the last third of the episode just like in the 7th, Moominpapa threatens gun violence against the Groke in defense of his home but its not as dramatic or grandiose as in the 7th episode.
A dark toon i can recommend is called "Peace on Earth". I saw it one early Christmas morning on a show called toon heads. I don't want to spoil too much but it is about a mouse recounting an old war story.
Being a series I don't know if it'd fit here, and definitely more for adults, so don't know if it'd fit here, but Primal by Genndy Tartakovsky you should check out. Being on adult swim, obviously not meant for really little children, but maybe you could work into a nostalgia critic somehow or something else, I just got into recently, and despite... historical inaccuracies (questionable, and don't want to spoil anything), really well done animation worth checking out.
I'm gonna preface this with that usual TH-cam comment of "I don't usually comment on videos" so... I don't usually comment on videos like this but I felt compelled to this time because this is a really good series and I'm glad to have it back. It hits all the right notes of feeling much more cozy, you get a nice hit of nostalgia revisiting these old cartoons, plus Doug is kind of a fountain of knowledge when it comes to animation. I always feel like I come out learning something from these. Plus Doug just seems so much more at ease and talks with so much passion that it's hard not to get invested with him. Dark Toons and the Twilight-tober Zone are my favorite series on this channel and I hope they feel encouraged to keep them going strong!
WELCOME BACK DARK TOONS!!!!!!
Watch the new Nostalgia Critic on Kung Fu Panda - th-cam.com/video/ZRXPpWdaSGw/w-d-xo.html
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I have missed this series :)
Please review the Walrus episode from Pingu.
Now that you're back I want to let you know of the episode "King Bluebeard" from "Grimm's Fairytale Classics" it's fairytales, how much more little kid can you get? But watch it and even ADULTS would be freaked out by it!
There's an episode of the original Teen Titans called "Fear Itself", where they watch a scary movie and are then hunted by the monster from the movie. It's pretty dark. By the way, welcome back.
Could you review Hyde and go Tweet? That was one Sylvester and Tweety short that really scared me as a kid
Please do a dark toons episode of DC superhero girls 2019 #happybirthdayzee. 👍
Hey Doug,
the "violin" part that you are looking for is featured in the end of the Tannhäuser (concert) overture. There is a video on TH-cam with Maestro Karajan rehearsing this part with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra in great detail. Look it up: "Karajan rehearsal Tannhauser" (the one where he looks rather elderly). Enjoy!
THANK YOU
You're a hero.
Beat me to it! I’ve noticed this in quite a few cartoons from the past where certain instrumental counterpoints you don’t usually hear in performances overpower the main melody. I don’t know if it was a mixing issue (it was recorded back in the 50s) or maybe they wanted the horns to be subtler for Elmer’s dialog. Either way, those strings are gorgeous.
Yes, it's definitely part of the Overture, though brass is turned town (or violins turned up).
I never thought Bugs died in the end. Everything about it, from its being a musical to those gorgeous abstract backgrounds, suggested that it was a staged presentation within a cartoon. It's a fiction within a fiction. Even as a little kid, I saw it that way.
I thought the same, especially at the end with Bugs supposedly being dead, then popping up for a moment to make a comment to the audience. From the first time I saw it as a kid it always felt to me like it was the same two familiar characters that were performing in an opera.
I always saw it as Bugs Bunny the actor telling us that Bugs Bunny the character died in the cartoon
@@coolgreenbug7551 yeah thats how I always thought of it as a kid, then again I did watch Space Jam around the time I saw this short so maybe I already had the idea that the Toons kinda are actors and do things outside of the shorts. More so when I saw Roger Rabbit.
Yeah, it's kind of funny because I don't think I had a lot of experience with stages as a little kid, but the lighting felt artificial in an intentional way and backgrounds always made it look different enough from a normal short that I just assumed that's what it was.
Y’know what I always thought the same. The lighting in some scenes definitely give the impression that Elmer and Bugs are doing nothing more than performing on a stage.
Honestly, as fun as 'Dark Toons' is, I personally wouldn't mind just more videos like this, dissections of classic animations and really looking at how and why they work, as well as the impact they had on later cartoons and media as a whole. They don't have to be 'dark', they just have to be iconic, and let's be frank, there's a lot of great iconic cartoons out there, just like this, which deserve more recognition.
I agree, I appreciate when Doug just talks normally to his audience about what he likes in animation instead of the usual over the top scripted nostalgia critic reviews, I miss his old vlog reviews.
Agreed
yea I agree, this was a great look at some classic cartoons
I love this idea so much
I could live with a whole Nostalgia Toonz Channel ;) with every four or six weeks a Dark episode between them maybe?
Elmer Fud singing"Kill da wabbit," is the highlight of this looney tunes episode for me. Everytime me or my family hears Flight of the Valerie's, we immediately start singing "kill da wabbit, kill da wabbit." It quickly became a household running gag of sorts for us.
My mom also likes to sing that from time to time. XD
Me too
It’s like Bugs says at the end “well, what did you expect in an opera, a happy ending?”
"NO, BUT I EXPECT IT FROM A FUCKING BUGS BUNNY CARTOON!!!!!!!!!"
What review did this come from?
@@GUILLE832 I believe it was from the top 11 saddest nostalgic moments. "Bugs Bunny made me cry!"
Honestly, Doug. You should have a segment where you just talk about any Looney Tunes cartoon, seeing how much you love them.
Something like "What's up, Doug?"
@@darienblizz3444 YES
I’m for that
You're onto something... ...
Yes! There used to be a guy who reviewed classic looney tunes but he stopped
I missed this series. It was kind of relaxing to rewatch before bed.
Same
Facts
I loved this short as a kid, but to be honest the one that really hit me in the feels was “Feed the Kitty” with Pussyfoot and Marc Anthony. I’ve never had more of an emotional reaction from any cartoon as a kid.
My mom loves that one. :03
What’s Opera, Doc was definitely that short where so much imagery was twisted that as a kid, I completely forgot that I was watching Looney Tunes.
And it was awesome! ❤️
on the slappy squirrel cartoon
siskel and ebert hated this.
they mocked it and think thumbed
it down.😂
It was definitely one of my earliest memories of watching Looney Tunes as a kid and a personal favourite of why I love old bugs bunny cartoons
"imagery was twisted that was a kid"
huh?
This and Barber of Seville are probably my favorites and the best Bugs Bunny cartoons, so well done. Also yeah it's not as dark as say Tom being hit by a piano going to hell or the looming train in the one episode of Tom and Jerry, and Bugs does confuse you by briefly coming back, but yeah it's still tragic to see Bugs actually dead, Elmer winning for once.
I genuinely enjoy when Doug goes off on animation info-dumping adventures.
We all came here for NC, but we stay for Doug himself.
So true, it's rare to see someone as fascinated with the details and process behind cartoons as I am!
@@goodnewsgeek42 I DO have to wonder: What Dark toons are there left for Looney Tunes? Disney, oh good god i imagine there're a few, especially if what i heard about Don Bluth being a former disney Animator is true XD
As someone who’s obsessed with cartoons in general (except for the adult shows like South Park or Family Guy, sorry 🙁) these episodes definitely get me curious! Some of them even might be evidence to me at least that some weird contents in cartoons I don’t really like haven’t really changed much.
I remember seeing this on VHS as a kid, it made me cry. It was so confusing with how beautiful the art was.
Same! I've been trying to remember if it was a Merry Melodies VHS that had a few random things towards the end, life a black and white stop motion that was really dark and had something to do with a kid and a haunted house. I've been trying to look for that clip.
@@chromaticchimera817 I know it was one of the Looney Tunes compilation movies. I want to say the Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Movie.
@@Krendall2 You've seen the black and white stop motion about a haunted house? Did it have a scarecrow in or near the beginning or something like that? It could've been that compilation movie. I had like two or three as a kid, so I could be confusing it with a Merry Melodies one.
@@Krendall2 After all of these years, I couldn't find the clip until just now after looking for it again. Jasper and the Haunted House. I guess it's not in black and white? and I mistook one of the characters as a scarecrow lol.
@@chromaticchimera817 I know there's a cartoon with Porky and Sylvester staying at a "haunted" house (it's actually sadistic mice).
You know it’s going to be a good day when a new ‘dark toons’ episode is dropped 🙌
What do you think could be next?
Absolutely!!
So true
@@romdan7136 I'm hoping to see the Donald Duck cartoon "Der Fuher's Face" in a review for just how surreal it is.
100%
Bugs line at the end is funny and appropriate “what did you expect in an opera, a happy ending?”
"NO, BUT I EXPECT IT FROM A FUCKING BUGS BUNNY CARTOON!!!!!!!!!"
That comment MAY have been a nod to Bob Hope. In the movie The Paleface (1948) Bob Hope's and Jane Russell's character are about to tie the not, when one of the horses runs off, dragging Jane with it. Bob breaks the fourth wall and says "What do you want? A HAPPY ending?!" and it ends
What's Opera Doc is one of my all time favorites of the classic Looney Tunes cartoons! seeing Elmer and Bugs singing in an opera style setting was very interesting and of course it's always enjoyable to hear Looney Tunes characters sing, but i can also see the dark side too it especially when it seemed like Elmer killed Bugs.
It’s one of my earliest memories of cartoons I can think of, I remember watching th reruns and my father quoting it. It’s an amazing episode of any cartoon.
on animaniacs siskel an Ebert
hated it.
they was mocking it and everything.
"Well what did you expect in an opera doc, a happy ending?"
@@muigokublack6487 NO! BUT I FREAKING EXEPECTED IT FROM A BUGS BUNNY CARTOON!
When I was a kid, I found the ending of WOD more confusing than outright sad.
The Chuck Jones short that messed ME up the most at that age was probably Feed the Kitty. I still find it hard to watch the part where Marc Anthony thinks the kitten is dead and is sobbing hysterically.
"Feed the Kitty" is such a great cartoon though. One of my absolute favorite Looney Tunes shorts. A simple story told in 7 minutes that makes you laugh, cry and awe throughout.
I think Feed the Kitty messed us all up as kids, dude!
My mom loves this one, and that one. :03
This is still one of the most memorable episodes of any cartoon for me. Kill the wabbit is something I still randomly bust into out of nowhere. Keep up the great content and keep up the awesomeness.
We’ve done the “Kill the Wabbit!” bit for ages in the family 😅
i sing it too
@@LucyLioness100 Me too! So much so that I now use it as my ringtone for when my dad calls.
This is one of the best Looney Tunes. No wonder it was preserved in the national film archives.
Exactly, I Love this short
The only time Elmer killed Bugs Bunny in canon....or at least came closest to.
There was also a cartoon that was kind of a sequel to "Duck Amuck," only this time an animator is pestering Bugs. The ending reveals the animator is Elmer Fudd, who ends by saying, "I finawwy got even with that scwewey wabbit."
Doug My man. Where has this series been. You have no clue how much I love the way you brake down these cartoons. The history animation, people behind it etc.
May not be the darkest toon featuring Bugs, but it is seen as one of the best Bugs cartoons of all time. An excellent choice to review how dark it was.
Tower of dr zalost ( courage the cowardly dog) is a episode with a great depiction of depression shown throughout the episode. Also the backgrounds are really nice 👌
So good to see these again. I highly recommend you review "Who Killed Who", it's a murder mystery in the style of Tex Avery.
It was so awesome and hilarious! Still love the red skeleton joke!
I also remember The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy having a similar episode with the same name
Yes, I love that cartoon!
"Who Killed Who" was a great installment from Tex Avery!
The Cuckoo Clock was also great for this show.
"What's Opera, Doc?" and "Rabbit of Seville" are two of my favorite cartoons of all time.
If I HAD to pick a favorite BB cartoon, it would probably be 1954's Bugs and Thugs.
Notice that Elmer's armor here looks like a bullet casing? I wonder if that's intentional.
I wouldn't be surprised. XD
My dad isn't a particularly cultured guy, but he insisted that my brother and I be exposed to "What's Opera, Doc" when we were kids. He still declares it the best animated short of all time, and that's certainly with good merit.
I was disappointed when you stopped doing this but I’m so excited you are bringing it back! I never really saw this episode as dark, mainly cause Buggs shows that technically he isn’t dead, but this short was one of my favorites growing up.
Breaks during burnout is understandable, it's good to have you back Doug doing Dark Toons
Oh man, this is a good dark toon to come back to. This one's got the laughs and the tears really well balanced.
My first ever introduction to Looney Tunes was when I was 5, when my dad took me to the Denver Symphony to see Bugs Bunny on Broadway. It was an entire concert of Looney Tunes shorts on a screen with a live orchestra below. I remember being absolutely awestruck by the fact that an orchestra could play along with a screen and make it come to life in a whole new way. I remember this was one of the shorts they did. To this day, it is one of my favorite childhood memories. Thank you, Dad!
"What did you expect, a happy ending?"
*Applauds*
"NO, BUT I EXPECT IT FROM A FUCKING BUGS BUNNY CARTOON!!!!!!!!!"
Hey, it's no problem, Doug. I'm glad that you took a break from "Dark Toons" and focused on other things before circling back to it when ready. You definitely don't want to get burned out over something you enjoy. As for "What's Opera, Doc?", I LOVE this cartoon. Such a CLASSIC. I always found the music toward the end of the cartoon so haunting and devastating, even though we know that Bugs isn't dead.
Definitely one of my favorite Chuck Jones Bugs Bunny shorts!
I'm so glad this series is back! I really recommend Over the Garden Wall. I'd say The Ringing of the Bell would be the best episode for Dark Toons, but you could honestly use the whole mini series as a Nostalgia-ween video.
Nice to see Dark Toons return and this is also a really good choice. I remember watching this film in a history of animation class and we all had a great time watching it.
Your passion for animation is contagious! Love these Dark Toons, keep it up!
I'm so glad to see this returning after so long. Actually I found some toons that could be consider worthy of this:
- Cuphead Show, Season 1 Episode 6 "Ghost Ain't Real" - Cuphead and Mugman spend a night in a graveyard and they're haunted by ghosts
- Looney Tunes "Chow Hound" - a cat being bullied by a dog, with a cruel dark ending
- Looney Tunes "Porky Pig in The Wearing of the Grin" - Porky is in Scotland and spends a night in a castle inhabited by leprechauns
- Betty Boop "The Old Man of the Mountain" - an old man terrorizes a village and Betty meets him (another cartoon with Cab Calloway)
"Chow Hound" was OUTSTANDING!!!
"What? No GRAVY?!"
I too love this short and as a child(6-7) seeing it for the first time remember a sense of genuine fear with that colour shift, because it wasn't just another character going red in the face with frustration but the whole scene moved with his emotional state. It imparted a feeling of immense power behind him and he brought down his wrath. and I also remember feeling sad with him at the realization that he had gone too far. I love these deep dives and hope you continue with this series.
YES SO HAPPY THIS IS BACK :D I LEARNED SO MUCH ABOUT ANIMATION FROM THIS SERIES :D
Only a couple of days ago, I rewatched What's Opera, Doc? on a whim, hadn't seen it in who knows how many years. It must have been since I was a kid.
With no sarcasm or hyperbole, this legitimately brought me to tears. Finally able to appreciate the art of animation as an adult and hearing perfectly fitting the music is, it was too much.
For a 65 year old cartoon, it can and will stand the test of time as high art disguised as a comedy.
Also crazy this video was posted right after seeing it
FINALLY! A new episode of dark kids episodes. I’ve been waiting for this.
Can't even lie, as a kid, this cartoon used to give me chills at the end. I legit would avoid it because of the visceral sadness I would feel... as pathetic as that is lol. But for a looney tunes cartoon, this was so well made and built up the drama so perfectly while still keeping comedic elements. Definitely a classic!
Oh, l love this one. One its funny as heck, I mean just how Fuud goes “kill the wabbit” “kill the wabbit” and the n bugs just goes “kill the wabbit? Just makes me die every time. When bugs doubt Fudd’s spear and magic helmet and after Fudd proved they are real he just goes well I’m out of here” my dad used to quote “ohh Brunhilda your so lovely” a lot. It’s just a gold mine! Its also a rare case of bugs NOT winning in the end, yeah Fudd don’t win either, so I guess it’s more of a draw, but that make it even rarer.
My dad LOVES this cartoon. He used to quote it ALL the time. Didn’t like it much when I was younger, but it’s grown on me
Hi Chaplain!
Seriously this is one of my favorite bugs cartoon short. It's so good!
Oh A classic this was one of my favorite Looney Tunes shorts
Since I love seeing SpongeBob in this series, I racked my brain, and I would LOOOOVVEE to see Krabby Patty Creature Feature. Watching all the classic lovable characters turning into evil sandwich zombies is pretty dark and fun
Welcome back.
This was the only opera I've ever enjoyed.
Same here. Opera only worked for me if cartoon characters were making fun of it!
God, I missed this series! This is basically a classic, highly recommended Bugs Bunny short. It's also responsible for me wanting to chant at the top of my lungs "Kill Da Wabbit! Kill Da Wabbit!" every time I hear "Ride of the Valkyries." When I first saw this short as a kid, the part where Elmer goes all red and declares "I'll kill the wabbit!" was quite frightening, not to mention, Bugs' "death" scene is beautifully done. If it wasn't for him quipping "So what were you expecting in an opera? A happy ending?" I would have bawled my eyes out back then.
My brothers and I would also sing Kill Da Wabbit at the top of our lungs. Great memories. 🤣
"Ride of the Valkyries." Unless you're talking about Bryan Danielson's WWE theme.
@@Krendall2 Thanks for the correction. Must have mixed it up with other classical music titles, such as Flight of the Bumble Bee
@@glowworm2 Nah, it's probably the most common title mistake I've seen. I was guilty of it myself for some time.
This is more emotional than scary TBH
Out of the 100s of NC vids I've seen and enjoyed throughout the years, gotta say, I really appreciate this one. It always warms my heart when I get to see someone lighting up and really going in depth to cover the minute of details of something they're genuinely passionate about. I don't think we get enough of that these days. That said I have a renewed appreciation for this cartoon. Something my dad had on tape to play when we visited him at work yearrss ago lol ✌️♥️
I grew up on the old Hannah Barbera shows and there was always one episode from the shows I was scared of. I'd love to see you do "The Invisible Monster" from the original Jonny Quest or "Spooky Space Kook" from the original Scooby Doo
Every time I see a bunny outside I almost always sing "poor widdle bunnnny, poor widdle wabbiiiit"
I’ve been waiting for this all day. I’m so happy Dark Toons isn’t dead. This is easily my favorite past times to watch. Their all perfect and I appreciate it the time and detail of telling each scene. Allows to enjoy a scene much better even when you know the cartoon all to well. Thank You!!
The little bit with Elmer's skirt petals falling? Chuck Jones wanted to record a little descending melody on the xylophones during that scene. I can hear it in my head. He always regretted that, the one unfinished part of the masterpiece.
(My story? In high school I taught an extra-credit course on Looney Tunes And Humor, Sociological Analysis, and decided to listen to Wagner to talk about this cartoon. And in the decade since, I've seen three Ring cycles, written a screenplay riffing on "Parsifal," learned to speak German, and gotten a job at Chicago's German-language library in the Deutsch-American National Kongress. This cartoon changes lives.)
"Kill the wabbit" always made my grandmother laugh
This was definitely my introduction to opera. It didn't frighten me in anyway you describe as I saw it simply as the characters role playing, just as if they'd been cast in an opera.
Oh hell yeah! So glad this series is back.
" The Old Grey Hare" 1944 did a story that I as a kid found a bit more interesting. I also really enjoy "What's Opera, Arnold?"
One of the greatest Maurice Noble cartoons from a design perspective. Initially the background layouts were done by Ernie Nordli (Disney artist who'd worked extensively on Sleeping Beauty and several Jones cartoons from the mid-'50s), but all of his work was scrapped in favor of Noble.
The fact that you can only hear this version with the violin by watching this, makes this cartoon that much more special. I was raised on these classics, so that may impact my view on this cartoon. Glad to see this series get a reboot.
It’s been a while since you last did one of these episodes I’m glad you’re doing more
Good to have these back, I missed them. Great review as always
Some suggestions:
- The Phantom Bride (Hey Arnold)
-Wearing the grin (Porky Pig)
-Hyde and go tweet (Sylvester the cat)
YES!!
THANKS DOUG
FINALLY!.
This is one of my favorite Looney Tunes episodes or segments.
Also WB has officially cancelled all of their upcoming Looney Tunes movies.
All because of the failure that is Space Jam: A New Legacy, Lebron James being a terrible person, and winning some razzies
I remember when I first saw this as a kid. I was shocked when it ended in tragedy. I was legitimately angry that a cartoon had ended in a tragedy, like I had been betrayed by something that, up till this point, was a source of happiness. And Bugs's line at the end just made it sting more, like 'that's life. Get used to it.' Of course, looking back on it now, I wouldn't have appreciated as many cartoons without this lesson and I like this one now, but I'll always remember this as the cartoon that killed my innocence, along with the wabbit.
Would really like to see your take on some of the darker episodes of MLP: Friendship is Magic. Especially Scare Master.
I felt the same way. XD
This one is one of my favorites. My family will randomly sing songs from this frequently. It's so good! I love all the Bugs Bunny opera episodes. They were so great!
I remember this cartoon, and I still have this on 16mm film. I watched this cartoon where I did run on my Kodak Pageant 16mm sound movie projector and it was fun to see “What’s Opera, Doc?” on the screen for the first time, and it was a Fantasia-esque cartoon.
I am so happy to see a dark toons back again and what a toon to start with, one of my favourites!
I love all of the Bugs Bunny opera cartoons lol. Smog! is my favorite line in this one. Then when he shaves Elmer in the other opera cartoon I laugh so much.
My pick for the best is Long Haired Hare.
Yay more Dark Toons
I remember seeing this as a kid. The network I watched it on actually cut out the part where Bugs wakes up and ask "What did you expect from an opera? A happy ending?" It ended with Elmer carrying dead Bugs. So for a long time I thought Elmer killed him for real. Some editor made this cartoon darker than it really is.
I hope you do the dark episodes of Amphibia
'Sunshine Makers'
Van Beuren 1935
This cartoon teaches kids that they'll be persecuted for being different and so should turn to drugs to fit in.
And honestly, the psychotic fixed smiles on the Happy Gnomes' faces as they mercilessly hunt down and exterminate the Gloomy Gnomes with their 'happy sunshine juice', going so far as to hold the Gloomy Gnomes down to pour it down their throats to force compliance, still sends chills up my spine.
Glad to see this series is back. What’s Opera Doc was one of my favorites.
Dark Toon suggestion: The Billy & Mandy episode Chocolate Sailor. Billy orders chocolates to sell door-to-door but becomes so addicted to them himself he actually turns into chocolate, and even afterwards he’s actually eating himself until he’s just a head. It’s considered by many to be one of Billy & Mandy’s most memorable and best episodes and it’s totally worth a look.
plz do a goofy succers story. theres a scene where goofy tries to drown himself
My favorite piece of animation of all time. I can still remember the first time I saw this as a child and was just blown away with how incredible it was. Classical music, simplistic backgrounds that are vast, incredible animation, catchy dialog set to the music, and the best closing line to any cartoon. "What did you expect in an opera, A happy ending? "
I think Doug could make a new series where he talks about the cartoons that aren’t as dark like this one
Of course, Bugs doesn't die; he just plays dead!
The violin part that you mentioned in the end was written specifically in a custom arrangement to match the cartoon. However, the closest to that violin part that you like can still, in fact, be found in the Overture to Tannhauser. It's just in a different key, but it's there. It is also prominent in the Pilgrim's chorus from that opera.
I’m glad Dark Toons is back. Hope to see more in the future
Same. I'm still hoping he reacts to Return of Raggedy Android from My Life as a Teenage Robot
I think about the short at minimum twice a week. It stuck in my little kid brain like a freakin' parasite. The detail with the fringe flaps on the hem of his armor, "Oh mighty hunter, t'will be quite a ti-isk. How will you do it, might I inquire to a-ask?", the absolute UNIT of a horse, Bugs' Brunhilda costume, the dancing, the backgrounds, just everything... gah! It deserves its place in the L.O.C. archive. Thanks for picking this one to come back with, Doug!
Nowadays what is considered dark is nowhere near as dark as the cartoons in the past
Agreed. Even G1 MLP was WAY darker than a lot of stuff released these days.
And to say G1 MLP is dark makes a lot of people look at you like you're crazy, but, take time to watch the old MLP cartoons of the 80s... and it gets REALLY FREAKING dark at times.
Like, holy heck!
@@autumbreeze1129 - ...they had MLP in the 60s??
@@chrisrj9871 80s. My bad. Must've gotten Astroboy and G1 confused in my head for a second as I was typing 😅
You really don't watch other cartoons then from cartoonetwork. Because they are dark or nearly more dark. Just recently saw a cartoon of The adventures of Gumball Where the two protagonists kill an infant in front of the parents and step on the baby corpse.
@@FATE522 not talking about adult cqrtoons
I was fortunate enough to be able to attend an exhibit of original Looney Tunes materials. Everything from storyboard sketches to animation cels to character reference sheets to background art, all for perusal. I can't recall exactly which background it was, but there was one of the pieces used in What's Opera Doc? What surprised me the most was how small it was. It was only a bi bigger than a large postcard. Unfortunately cameras were not allowed within the exhibit, otherwise I would have loved to have shared a picture of it. Totally worth the price of admission!
Great to see this series return! We missed it so much!
Thanks for mentioning Maurice Noble. Pretty underated imo. Never gets talked about enough.
This is also one of my fav Looney tunes ever and I'm 17 now. Looney Tunes and other oldies shorts was the reason why I wanted to make cartoons. I first saw this when I was around 5 and I was legit sad and felt bad cuz Elmers voice sounded more hurted than usual and I legit believed that Bugs was for real dead. As I got older, I also appreciate it for the artistry and I'm glad someone finally talks about this short for everything it has to offer.
I use to have this on vhs. It was called the bugs bunny and roadrunner movie. Thanks for that throwback
YAY FOR DARKTOONS! i missed this series! keep them coming!
This is one of my favorite animations as well. I think I’ve watched it at least 50 times since I got HBOMax.
Well what did you expect in an opera? A happy ending?
"NO, BUT I EXPECT IT FROM A FUCKING BUGS BUNNY CARTOON!!!!!!!!!"
“Education For Death” is a really dark toon as well. So dark--it got BANNED! The ending leaves me emotionally gutted every time.
Just in time for fall! One of my favorite shorts to watch as a kid - definitely memorable and leaves me with a feeling of unease even as an adult
Thank you for the fresh Dark Toons episode as well as for bringing the show back, Doug.
Here are some episodes/shorts for you to consider:
- “Haunted” from Teen Titans
- The Old Mill (1937)
- “Insane in the Membrane” from TMNT 2003
- The Pioneer’s Violin (soviet animated short about WW2 made in 1971. There is no dialogue in it so language shouldn't be an issue. VERY DARK!)
- Hedgehog in the Fog (another soviet cartoon. Dunno if it qualifies perfectly, but it does have uneasy moments. Also it got some solid recognition)
Oh, another dark toon he could review, the one about the whale that can sing, some pretty dark stuff at the end, with a legit tearjerk ending.
Willie the Operatic Whale? God I love that cartoon. One of my favorites and also a source of deep childhood trauma. "Now Willie will never sing at the Met." "He just didn't understand." Oh my frigging heart.
im so glad this series is back, i have a suggestion for an episode ... Adventures from Moominvalley episode 7 ...
i dont know how popular or not it was in the states but in my country its a classic in general this show is very innocent and harmless but this episode spooked me. 2/3 of the episode are its usual calm innocent self but in the last third it took a drastic turn and the animation became like something from sleepy hollow. the Groke the unwanted midnight guest as little child gave me nightmares but after rewatching the Groke is just sort of goofy they make her sympathetic in the end but still somewhat menacing.
she also appeared in episode 6 where she was interduced and while it was intense and there was a definite shift in mood in the last third of the episode just like in the 7th, Moominpapa threatens gun violence against the Groke in defense of his home but its not as dramatic or grandiose as in the 7th episode.
Wow, I thought Doug was done with Dark Toons. So glad he wasn’t.
A dark toon i can recommend is called "Peace on Earth". I saw it one early Christmas morning on a show called toon heads. I don't want to spoil too much but it is about a mouse recounting an old war story.
Being a series I don't know if it'd fit here, and definitely more for adults, so don't know if it'd fit here, but Primal by Genndy Tartakovsky you should check out. Being on adult swim, obviously not meant for really little children, but maybe you could work into a nostalgia critic somehow or something else, I just got into recently, and despite... historical inaccuracies (questionable, and don't want to spoil anything), really well done animation worth checking out.
I'm gonna preface this with that usual TH-cam comment of "I don't usually comment on videos" so... I don't usually comment on videos like this but I felt compelled to this time because this is a really good series and I'm glad to have it back. It hits all the right notes of feeling much more cozy, you get a nice hit of nostalgia revisiting these old cartoons, plus Doug is kind of a fountain of knowledge when it comes to animation. I always feel like I come out learning something from these. Plus Doug just seems so much more at ease and talks with so much passion that it's hard not to get invested with him. Dark Toons and the Twilight-tober Zone are my favorite series on this channel and I hope they feel encouraged to keep them going strong!