It is worth to know that over the course of time, moral panic can influence how corporations want to depict their brands but it always goes into reverse just years after. Leadership changes, change in consumer behavior, re-evaluation? Speedy Gonzales and Pepé Le Pew have been the most underutilized Looney Tunes characters since the 1960s. It's understandable how there is not enough demand for the characters. And they have a right whether to exercise their trademark use or not.
At one point in the 1990s, Speedy Gonzales was stopped and shelved from appearing in a few projects (even his shorts went off the air) but it did not stop Speedy from making cameos here and there. A group managed to campaign to Cartoon Network to get his original shorts back on the air after a brief three year ban. He did not appear in Baby Looney Tunes and he was not honored in Loonatics Unleashed. Believe it or not that is was not until The Looney Tunes Show in 2011 where writers found a new inclusive way to write for his character. Speedy is still sporadically used today but he is still honored.
When I got into the franchise, I loved every character. From Bugs to Daffy to even the lesser known stars like Pepé. The spinoffs offered a new creative sandbox to take the characters into new adventures with potential new pairings. My desire to see Pepé reimagined is basically addressing my concern how ignoring an iconic character just to please a certain group squanders good potential. He was retooled in The Looney Tunes Show and New Looney Tunes. I can understand why he was opted out of Looney Tunes Cartoons (same with Speedy).
Pepé Le Pew was going through the same phase as Space Jam: A New Legacy and Tiny Toons Looniversity were going to be made for an audience hoping to draw interest to mainstream audiences. Under WarnerMedia and with numerous people involved, they made the effort to make sure his completely gone giving the impression that he's forgotten to new kid audiences.
But in 2024, there might be a change of heart. Warner Bros. Discovery has gotten more lenient with him. After seeing him used again in Looney Tunes World of Mayhem, one of his cartoons cameoing in the Joker movie, John Oliver mentioning him in a random joke, and Discovery Family using a stock image of him on social media in one post. Clearly, I think WBD is slowly putting him back in the spotlight. Even off the radar reruns of New Looney Tunes on Cartoon Network back in 2022-2023 that feature his segments were not banned or censored. If there is one positive from the merger, I think they are rolling back on some restrictions placed by WarnerMedia / AT&T. Even the WB World Yas Island park in Abu Dhabi re-introduced Bistro Le Pew without any pushback. For the time being, they do still allow Fifi La Fume and Penelope Pussycat to appear in media. I just think that the tide is finally turning if stand corrected.
How can he be reimagined? You should keep his French accent. If they want to move away from negative French stereotypes, make him Quebecois like Loopy de Loop. And if he can no longer chase women, why not make his relationship efforts more genuine and more modern with how romantic comedies approach relationships but in a satirical fashion. Why not make Penelope Pussycat the one pursuing him and Pepé’s efforts to win her over feel end up feeling foolish but his determination still prevails. He can still be a charming Casanova with the optional joke of him being a big stink in a literal context but toned down.
It is interesting that history can repeat itself. Generally, if there is a good idea that can allow a forgotten or underutilized character to be reimagined for modern audiences and sensitivities, there should be no hesitancy to do so. Don't let executives or focus groups determine the course of action. It's why I think Speedy and Pepé will never be gone and they can still be honored with the right people and with a feasible concept.
How would you make sure Speedy and Pepé stay relevant to this day. How can you tone down Pepé and give Speedy more to do while avoiding problematic tropes?
At one point in the 1990s, Speedy Gonzales was stopped and shelved from appearing in a few projects (even his shorts went off the air) but it did not stop Speedy from making cameos here and there. A group managed to campaign to Cartoon Network to get his original shorts back on the air after a brief three year ban. He did not appear in Baby Looney Tunes and he was not honored in Loonatics Unleashed. Believe it or not that is was not until The Looney Tunes Show in 2011 where writers found a new inclusive way to write for his character. Speedy is still sporadically used today but he is still honored.
When I got into the franchise, I loved every character. From Bugs to Daffy to even the lesser known stars like Pepé. The spinoffs offered a new creative sandbox to take the characters into new adventures with potential new pairings. My desire to see Pepé reimagined is basically addressing my concern how ignoring an iconic character just to please a certain group squanders good potential. He was retooled in The Looney Tunes Show and New Looney Tunes. I can understand why he was opted out of Looney Tunes Cartoons (same with Speedy).
Pepé Le Pew was going through the same phase as Space Jam: A New Legacy and Tiny Toons Looniversity were going to be made for an audience hoping to draw interest to mainstream audiences. Under WarnerMedia and with numerous people involved, they made the effort to make sure his completely gone giving the impression that he's forgotten to new kid audiences.
But in 2024, there might be a change of heart. Warner Bros. Discovery has gotten more lenient with him. After seeing him used again in Looney Tunes World of Mayhem, one of his cartoons cameoing in the Joker movie, John Oliver mentioning him in a random joke, and Discovery Family using a stock image of him on social media in one post. Clearly, I think WBD is slowly putting him back in the spotlight. Even off the radar reruns of New Looney Tunes on Cartoon Network back in 2022-2023 that feature his segments were not banned or censored. If there is one positive from the merger, I think they are rolling back on some restrictions placed by WarnerMedia / AT&T. Even the WB World Yas Island park in Abu Dhabi re-introduced Bistro Le Pew without any pushback. For the time being, they do still allow Fifi La Fume and Penelope Pussycat to appear in media. I just think that the tide is finally turning if stand corrected.
How can he be reimagined? You should keep his French accent. If they want to move away from negative French stereotypes, make him Quebecois like Loopy de Loop. And if he can no longer chase women, why not make his relationship efforts more genuine and more modern with how romantic comedies approach relationships but in a satirical fashion. Why not make Penelope Pussycat the one pursuing him and Pepé’s efforts to win her over feel end up feeling foolish but his determination still prevails. He can still be a charming Casanova with the optional joke of him being a big stink in a literal context but toned down.
It is interesting that history can repeat itself. Generally, if there is a good idea that can allow a forgotten or underutilized character to be reimagined for modern audiences and sensitivities, there should be no hesitancy to do so. Don't let executives or focus groups determine the course of action. It's why I think Speedy and Pepé will never be gone and they can still be honored with the right people and with a feasible concept.
How would you make sure Speedy and Pepé stay relevant to this day. How can you tone down Pepé and give Speedy more to do while avoiding problematic tropes?
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