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One of the coolest, if probably the least-commercial of the LTGCs so far.

There is no annual release I look forward to more than the Looney Tunes Golden Collection. It is, so far, the only series that I’ve actually paid money to review; that’s how much I love it. Thankfully, I didn’t have to shell out any cash this year, as Volume Six was sent to us to review and as I sit here, I have some very mixed emotions on the set.

As with the previous editions, this is a fantastic collection of 60 of Looney Tunes’ best and sometimes not-so-best. It is, however, unlike any other LT collection so far. Most of the previous ones were split up into four discs that usually included one that was all Bugs Bunny, one that was all Daffy Duck and/or Porky Pig and then two random or themed discs that contained a lot of childhood favorites. This release though, as it’s being stated as being the last of the Golden Collection releases, is a different animal entirely. Unlike the previous sets, which focused on the well-known and easily accessible, this set includes a ton of black-and-white cartoons, obscure one-shot cartoons and a lot of WWII-era cartoons, many of which have been taken out of circulation due to their themes and stereotypes. It is, to put it frankly, a dream for true animation buffs, but it will only bewilder the casual fan.

Disc One is entitled “Looney Tune All-Stars” - yep, no Bugs in the top billing here, so you already know you’re in new territory. Here on the one disc are what most people think of when they think of the LTs. Bugs, Daffy, Porky, Yosemite Sam and even Foghorn Leghorn are on hand (yep, after six years, Foghorn FINALLY gets on one of these sets!). It will probably be the most pleasing to casual fans. As with all LTGC’s there’s a plethora of special features. This disc’s include a few running commentaries (I have to say though, I am sick and tired of Greg Ford. He’s a nice guy and a great talent, but his commentaries are frustratingly awful – all he really does is describe what we’re already seeing and then laughing at it. He’s a master of stating the obvious). Other extras include two later LT television specials, Bugs Bunny in King Arthur’s Court and Daffy Duck’s Easter Egg-Citement. Neither are on par with the best of the Tunes, but they’re fun for what they are. The special features also appear to be a dumping ground this time around for cartoons they just didn’t feel like cleaning up, or thought were good enough to begin with (more are included on the following three discs as well). Here we get Rabbit Rampage, the hated take-off of Duck Amuck as well as…Sniffles! Sniffles the Mouse finally makes an appearance on the LTGCs!

Disc Two is where things start to go into WTF territory. Entitled “Patriotic Pals” it sets the theme of the entire set to be honest. It focuses on the wartime-era cartoons, and the packaging reflects that. Here we see Bugs, Daffy and friends taking on the Nazis, the Japanese and…well, the Fascists appear here and there, but aren’t all that prominent. Lots of stereotypes are included and this is probably the disc that probably needs to stay out of the kiddos’ hands. Special features on this disc include a collection of Friz Freleng’s Captain and the Kids cartoons he did for MGM. Why they’re here I have no idea, but whatever works.

Disc Three is “Bosko, Buddy & Merry Melodies.” It is nothing but black-and-white, pre-Bugs Bunny cartoons and while they don’t have the inspired genius of the later cartoons, it’s good to finally see them represented here. Bosko had previously been relegated to a bonus feature and this marks Buddy’s first LTGC appearances. Hell, even Foxy is on hand. Special features are a doozy. It’s basically gag reels created by Leon Schlesinger’s studio involving the creators of the LTs and seeing the men behind the cartoons acting as crazy as their characters is interesting to behold. Parental warning: There’s a quick strip act during this extra and bare ass is exposed. Be warned.

Disc Four is called “Most-Requested Assorted Nuts & One-Shots.” That may be a heady subtitle, but it doesn’t even come close to describing the…okay, yes it does. This is a collection of some of the most bizarre and oddball LTs in history. From the Dr. Seuss adaptation Horton Hatches the Egg to the bizarre Now Hear This (in which an old man uses the devil’s horn as an amplifier for his hearing) to the straight-up “what were they thinking” Norman Normal, it’s unlike anything you would expect from the Looney Tunes gang. Extras here include the fantastic “Mel Blanc: The Man of a Thousand Voices” documentary (just be sure to go into it knowing that many of Blanc’s stories are apocryphal in nature and probably aren’t based in reality). The most notable of the extra cartoons here is probably Bartholomew Versus The Wheel.

All of these cartoons have been restored to pristine shape and look fabulous. Gorgeous. Brilliant. There just aren’t enough words to describe them. This may not be like the previous Golden Collections in tone, but it more than holds its own in quality regardless. While word is there won’t be a volume seven (they’ll still release Looney Tunes, just in a new format that is currently unannounced), it’s a fitting end to the series and is a must for true animation buffs.

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