Have always found 'Tiny Toon Adventures' to be a very funny, well made and clever show, with very memorable characters. Anybody who loves Looney Tunes (have been a lifelong fan), 'Animaniacs' and 'Pinky and the Brain' should find a lot to at least like 'Tiny Toon Adventures'. Told myself that before watching it long ago that if it was anything like them that it would be a treat. It turned out to be just that, if not quite childhood favourites in the same way they were due to being introduced to it later.
"The Looney Beginning" is an example of how to start a show brilliantly. It depicts how it, meaning the characters, the concept et al, all came to be in a very cleverly structured origins story. One that is very true in spirit to the old Looney Tunes cartoons (it was Looney Tunes mainly that was what 'Tiny Toon Adventures' was taking inspiration from). The 'Duck Amuck'-like premise of "The Looney Beginning" is one of the cleverest and most creative of the show and lives up to its looney name. One that should appeal to children and adults alike.
From the very start, the animation s beautiful and crisp, with bright colourful backgrounds, beautiful colours and well drawn characters. Some of the visuals are among the most imaginative for any episode of the show, and one could tell that the animators were having great fun with the visual side of things. The music is as good as the old Looney Tunes cartoons (prime-Looney Tunes, not most of the 60s ones) in being characterful and adding to the action, if not quite enhancing it in the same way. It always helps to have a memorable theme tune, and the one for 'Tiny Toon Adventures' is suitably hip and very catchy. "The Gold Diggers Song" likewise.
A big benefit here in "The Looney Beginning" is the writing, some of the show's cleverest and funniest writing is here in this episode. Not just the inside jokes regarding the entertainment industry and behind the scenes, but even more so the intelligent references, some that are easier to spot and understand by older viewers due to being much more familiar with what is being referenced (i.e. 'Eraserhead'). Children should understand some other references, such as 'The Wizard of Oz' and 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit'. Similarly, the razor sharp wit, evident in the dialogue for Babs, who has most of the best lines. And the delicious wackiness that emulates the spirit of the old Looney Tunes cartoons to a tee.
Love the characters, Bugs was an inspired choice for narrator and perfect for it. The characters are basically hip and younger versions of the Looney Tunes characters, with distinct personalities that perfectly convey the time in which the show is set. All the voice acting is great, filled with some of the best voice talent in the business. They had enormous shoes to fill, Mel Blanc's mostly one man show standard would have been a Herculean task to take on, and they do so admirably. Tress MacNeille is especially good.
Altogether, brilliant start. 10/10
