drumFunny – percussive comedy & music humor

We’ve all heard of the Looney Tunes cartoons. Many of us watched them growing up. They were fun enough and short enough to keep us entertained. Watching a couple clips for the first time in a long time today made me see and hear things I never noticed before.

First, call me thick headed, but I always associated the “Tunes” part of Looney Tunes with carTOON, not the musical term “tune.” Turns out Looney Tunes is a variation of Silly Symphonies, the name of Walt Disney’s concurrent music based cartoon shorts, was a precursor to Merrie Melodies, and (d’uh) was in reference to music.

Reading comprehension skills aside, I have a new found appreciation for the role the music played in these cartoons – especially in the Looney Tune Cartoons without any dialogue, i.e. Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner. The music isn’t there just to compliment the story – it’s actually telling the story (I know, deep, huh?)

Listen to how the scoring can accentuate a sudden impact, abruptly change mood from one character to character, and build up a moment of suspense. The marriage of visual and music tells the story in a way words couldn’t come close. 

Pretty cool stuff for a kids cartoon.

Leave some comments w/ time stamps about the moments that stick out to you.