Editing Looney Tunes (section)

=== 2000–2014: Network exploration ===
In March 2000, it was revealed that the entire ''Looney Tunes'' and ''Merrie Melodies'' library would be exclusive to Cartoon Network, starting with the fall of that year.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 8, 2000 |title=Cartoon Net Lands Looney Toons Plus 4 New Shows |publisher=[[Animation World Network]] |url=https://www.awn.com/news/cartoon-net-lands-looney-toons-plus-4-new-shows |access-date=March 22, 2021 |quote=Cartoon Network has also landed the exclusive television rights to Warner Bros. classic Looney Tunes titles starting fall 2000. This is the first time the entire library of nearly 900 classic animated shorts has been featured exclusively on one TV network. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416093451/https://www.awn.com/news/cartoon-net-lands-looney-toons-plus-4-new-shows |archive-date=April 16, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> ''Looney Tunes'' shorts were still airing on Disney's [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] as part of ''[[The Bugs Bunny Show|The Bugs Bunny and Tweety Show]]'' at the time and the decision led to the show's cancellation. This decision would remain in effect for over 20 years until [[MeTV]] began airing the classic Warner Bros. cartoons (along with MGM and Paramount's library) in January 2021. In 2003, another feature film was released, this time in an attempt to recapture the spirit of the original shorts: the live-action/animated ''[[Looney Tunes: Back in Action]]''. Although the film was not financially successful,<ref>[https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl3043067393/ ''Looney Tunes: Back in Action''.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190325073410/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=looneytunesbackinaction.htm |date=March 25, 2019 }} ''Boxofficemojo.com''. Retrieved on January 25, 2008.</ref> it was met with mixed-to-positive reviews from film critics and has been argued by animation historians and fans as the finest original feature-length appearance of the cartoon characters.<ref name="JerryBeck" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=November 14, 2003 |title=Looney Tunes: Back in Action :: rogerebert.com :: Reviews |publisher=Rogerebert.suntimes.com |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20031114/REVIEWS/311140303/1023 |url-status=dead |access-date=October 29, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605194610/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20031114%2FREVIEWS%2F311140303%2F1023 |archive-date=June 5, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Rosenbaum |first=Jonathan |date=November 27, 2003 |title=Joe Dante Calls the Toon |work=Chicago Reader |url=https://www.chicagoreader.com/news-politics/joe-dante-calls-the-toon/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211018183419/https://chicagoreader.com/news-politics/joe-dante-calls-the-toon/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 18, 2021 |access-date=January 25, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=David Edelstein |date=November 14, 2003 |title=Movie Review: ''Looney Tunes: Back in Action'' |url=https://slate.com/culture/2003/11/bugs-as-groucho-marx-in-looney-tunes.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080408032701/http://slate.msn.com/id/2091232/ |archive-date=April 8, 2008 |access-date=February 2, 2008 |website=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]] |publisher=slate.com}}</ref> In 2006, [[Warner Home Video]] released a new and Christmas-themed ''Looney Tunes'' direct-to-video film called ''[[Bah, Humduck! A Looney Tunes Christmas]]'', a parody of [[Charles Dickens]]' ''[[A Christmas Carol]]''. Other ''Looney Tunes'' TV series made during this time were ''[[Baby Looney Tunes]]'' (2001–2006), ''[[Duck Dodgers (TV series)|Duck Dodgers]]'' (2003–2005) and ''[[Loonatics Unleashed]]'' (2005–2007).

On October 22, 2007, ''Looney Tunes'' and ''Merrie Melodies'' cartoons became available for the first time in [[High-definition television|High-definition]] via [[Microsoft]]'s [[Xbox Live]] service, including some in Spanish.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=From Looney Tunes and iCarly to Shrek and SpongeBob SquarePants, Xbox 360 Launches Massive Library of Family Games and Entertainment |date=October 22, 2007 |publisher=[[Microsoft]] |url=https://www.microsoft.com/Presspass/press/2007/oct07/10-22XboxFamilyContentPR.mspx |access-date=November 6, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604161629/http://www.microsoft.com/Presspass/press/2007/oct07/10-22XboxFamilyContentPR.mspx}}</ref> From February 29 – May 18, 2008, many ''Looney Tunes'' artifacts, including original animation cels and concept drawings, were on display at the [[Butler Institute of American Art]] in [[Youngstown, Ohio]], just off the campus of [[Youngstown State University]], near where the Warners lived early in life.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 24, 2008 |title=Youngstown News, Butler Institute goes Looney Tunes |url=https://www.vindy.com/news/2008/feb/24/butler-goes-looney-tunes/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130504094244/http://www.vindy.com/news/2008/feb/24/butler-goes-looney-tunes/ |archive-date=May 4, 2013 |access-date=October 29, 2012 |publisher=Vindy.com}}</ref>

At the 2009 Cartoon Network [[Upfront (advertising)|upfront]], ''[[The Looney Tunes Show]]'' was announced.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 7, 2009 |title=TAG Blog: At the 'Toon Factory of the Brothers Warner |url=https://animationguildblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/at-toon-factory-of-brothers-warner.html |access-date=March 11, 2015 |website=animationguildblog.blogspot.co.uk |archive-date=November 29, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129033014/http://animationguildblog.blogspot.co.uk/2009/07/at-toon-factory-of-brothers-warner.html |url-status=live }}</ref> After several delays, the series premiered on May 3, 2011. Produced by [[Warner Bros. Animation]], the series centers on Bugs and Daffy as they leave the woods and move to the suburbs with "colorful neighbors" including Sylvester, Tweety, Granny, Yosemite Sam, etc. The series introduced the character [[List of Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies characters#Tina Russo|Tina Russo]], a duck who becomes Daffy's girlfriend. The show also features 2-minute music videos titled respectfully "Merrie Melodies" (as a tribute to the ''Looney Tunes'' sister shorts) which features the characters singing original songs, as well as CGI animated shorts starring Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner (which were removed after the first season). The series was cancelled after its second season.<ref>{{Cite tweet |number=493806183195504641 |user=FrantzEdCharles |title=No Season 3 for the Looney Tunes Show |author=Frantz Charles |date=July 29, 2014 |access-date=October 15, 2021}}</ref>

Also, Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner returned to the big screen in a series of 3-D shorts that preceded select Warner Bros. films. There were six in the works that began with the first short, ''[[Coyote Falls]]'', that preceded the film ''[[Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore]]'', which was released on July 30, 2010. On September 24, 2010, ''[[Fur of Flying]]'' preceded the film, ''[[Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole]]'', and on December 17, 2010, ''[[Rabid Rider]]'' preceded the film, ''[[Yogi Bear (film)|Yogi Bear]]''. On June 8, 2011, Warner Bros. Animation announced that there will be more ''Looney Tunes'' 3-D theatrical shorts; the first titled ''[[Daffy's Rhapsody]]'' with Daffy Duck and Elmer Fudd, the next being ''[[I Tawt I Taw a Puddy Tat]]'' with Sylvester, Tweety,&nbsp;and&nbsp;Granny. ''Daffy's Rhapsody'' was to precede the film ''[[Happy Feet Two]]'',<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 8, 2011 |title=More 3D Looney Tunes Shorts On The Way |url=https://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=78492 |publisher=ComingSoon.net |access-date=October 29, 2012 |archive-date=September 24, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924042728/http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=78492 |url-status=dead }}</ref> until the studio decided to premiere ''I Tawt I Taw a Puddy Tat'' instead. ''Daffy's Rhapsody'' instead premiered in 2012, preceding ''[[Journey 2: The Mysterious Island]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vary |first=Adam B. |title=Looney Tunes short with Tweety Bird, Sylvester - EXCLUSIVE CLIP |url=https://ew.com/article/2011/11/14/tweety-bird-sylvester-looney-tunes-clip-exclusive/#more-53075 |access-date=October 29, 2012 |publisher=Entertainment Weekly |archive-date=June 27, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140627005137/http://insidemovies.ew.com/2011/11/14/tweety-bird-sylvester-looney-tunes-clip-exclusive/#more-53075 |url-status=live }}</ref> All five shorts were directed by [[Matthew O'Callaghan]].

In 2012, several announcements were made about a ''Looney Tunes'' reboot film titled ''Acme'', in development.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kit |first=Borys |date=September 19, 2012 |title=Former 'SNL' Star to Write 'Looney Tunes' Reboot Film (Exclusive) |publisher=hollywoodreporter.com |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/looney-tunes-jenny-slate-371643 |access-date=October 13, 2012 |archive-date=October 12, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012122802/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/looney-tunes-jenny-slate-371643 |url-status=live }}</ref> Former ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' cast member [[Jenny Slate]] was said to be on board as writer for the new film. Jeffrey Clifford, ''[[Harry Potter (film series)|Harry Potter]]'' producer [[David Heyman]], and ''[[Dark Shadows (film)|Dark Shadows]]'' writers David Katzenberg and [[Seth Grahame-Smith]] were slated to produce the film.<ref name="cartoon">{{Cite news |last=Anderson |first=Paul |date=September 19, 2012 |title=Looney Tunes Movie Back In Action |publisher=Big Cartoon News |url=https://blog.bcdb.com/looney-tunes-movie-4722/ |url-status=dead |access-date=September 19, 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121209100944/http://blog.bcdb.com/looney-tunes-movie-4722/ |archive-date=December 9, 2012}}</ref> On August 27, 2014, writers [[Ashley Miller (screenwriter)|Ashley Miller]] and [[Zack Stentz]] were hired to script the film, directors [[Glenn Ficarra]] and John Requa were in talks to direct the film, while actor [[Steve Carell]] was rumored to be starring in a lead role.<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 27, 2014 |title=Acme 'Looney Tunes' Movie Finds New Momentum with 'X-Men: First Class' Writers |publisher=hollywoodreporter.com |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/acme-looney-tunes-movie-finds-728298 |access-date=February 20, 2020 |archive-date=January 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111042312/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/acme-looney-tunes-movie-finds-728298 |url-status=live }}</ref> Despite this, the film never came to fruition.