Starting February 2, Warner Bros. Discovery is bringing over 750 Looney Tunes shorts to Turner Classic Movies, marking a new chapter for the classic cartoons. The network will kick off the arrival with a weeklong marathon featuring 45 Bugs Bunny episodes. This six-year licensing deal aims to preserve and showcase the iconic library alongside classic films.
Warner Bros. Discovery announced that more than 750 Looney Tunes shorts will begin airing on Turner Classic Movies from February 2. The move establishes TCM as the "ongoing television home" for this beloved animation library, according to a press release. Programming senior vice president Charlie Tabas emphasized the significance, stating, "We’re able to present these cartoons with the care they deserve, alongside the classic films they helped influence." He added that the deal "ensures these cartoons are celebrated, contextualized, and accessible to audiences of all ages."
The celebration starts with a weeklong marathon of 45 classic cartoons starring Bugs Bunny, who will also be named Star of the Month. The lineup opens with "A Wild Hare," Bugs Bunny's 1940 debut directed by Tex Avery and nominated for an Oscar the following year. Beyond February, the full collection will air on an ongoing basis, with select titles featured as TCM Premieres.
This shift follows last year's removal of hundreds of Looney Tunes shorts from HBO Max, after which they landed on Tubi. Tubi described the addition as "a huge win" in October and committed to keeping them available long-term. Details on any overlap between Tubi's holdings and TCM's new stock remain unclear.
The arrangement reflects broader efforts to preserve and expand the Looney Tunes franchise. Later this year, the characters return to theaters in "Coyote vs. Acme," while Speedy Gonzales is set for a solo movie in development.
