Looney Tunes Aesthetic Project
I’ve always admired the aesthetic of the backgrounds that take up a lot of the space of Looney Tunes cartoons. There actually used to be an Instagram account dedicated to showcasing these backgrounds, but I believe it got taken down due to copyright issues. This takedown was probably justified, but it still left me longing for some kind of showcase of this art. At some point, I’d love to see an exhibit that celebrates Looney Tunes backgrounds or just cartoon backgrounds from that era. Scooby Doo has some incredible artwork too, and it’s displayed in an Instagram account called scooby_scapes. I recommend checking it out.
This is a frame from the Looney Tunes Episode “Deduce, You Say”, drawn by Chuck Jones.
After staring at Looney Tunes backgrounds from the aforementioned Instagram account and also from the cartoons themselves for a long time, I’ve been able to categorize what I think makes them distinct from other aesthetics.
First, they have very exaggerated proportions. The views of every object, building, and character are unrealistic but believable. They make the viewer feel like they’re looking at something from the perspective of a child. When we’re young, our brains don’t know how to interpret everything we’re looking at, so our imaginations run wild, and everything is more interesting and appealing. A building might look comically tall, or a train track might have absurdly steep grades. I think some real-life objects achieve this effect without any work. Desk lamps tend to look somewhat lifelike, and I feel that they look exaggerated and act as characters.
Second, Looney Tunes backgrounds have very stark shadows. These shadows are much more pronounced than in real life. They tend to drastically change the color of objects that they cover, or they are completely black. I find that some of my favorite photographers also tend to focus on very stark contrasts between dark areas and light areas.
Lastly, Looney Tunes backgrounds tend to feature very warm and comfortable colors. No matter the setting of the cartoon, they always seem cozy and like a desirable place to be in. The colors also often take up large areas. The backgrounds are not terribly detailed but still evoke strong feelings.
This is a frame from the Looney Tunes episode “Red Riding Hoodwinked”, drawn by Chuck Jones. I think it shows all 3 elements that I mentioned. The door is exaggerated, the trash can has stark shadows, and the colors on the house are pastel and comforting.
For my project, I would like to create a situation that looks like it could have come out of a Looney Tunes cartoon. I will use a desk lamp, a cardboard box, construction paper, some paint, and some electronics. The box will act as a base for everything to sit on and for any special effects to be hidden inside of. The desk lamp will not actually be on, but the inside will be painted yellow. The area that the lamp would be shining on will be a yellow circle except for a small creature-shaped hole in the top of the box. If the viewer looks inside the hole, they will see 2 illuminated eyes. The eyes will be LEDs, wired off an Arduino. The LEDs will “blink” on and off every 10 seconds. Behind the lamp, there will be a large foreboding shadow with a hat and claws. There will be handcuffs on the table that are broken. The overall idea is that some evil being has escaped from the handcuffs, and a small innocent creature has escaped by jumping through the box.
This is a rough sketch of my design.
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I thought your insight into this aesthetic putting you into the eyes of a child was great, it made the feeling of this aesthetic click for me. I think it would be awesome to add some more story telling by painting some scenery, such as a run down prison or something. I really enjoy your idea for this project and look forward to seeing the end result, it definitely feels like a scene straight from Scooby Doo.
Hi Sam, this is a great breakdown of the Looney Tunes aesthetic. I enjoy the breakdown of exaggerated proportions, stark shadows, and warm colors, which highlights what makes those backgrounds feel so unique. I love the idea of capturing that feeling in a physical project—especially in the way you’re using lighting and shadow to tell a story. The character having blinking LED eyes is a great touch of life to the project. It feels like something straight out of a classic cartoon, where the scene itself plays just as much of a role as the characters. I’m excited to see how this will turn out!