It's Officially the End of an Era for Looney Tunes

Published Nov 11, 2026, 8:30 AM EST

Chris is a Senior News Writer for Collider. He can be found in an IMAX screen, with his eyes watering and his ears bleeding for his own pleasure. He joined the news team in 2022 and accidentally fell upwards into a senior position despite his best efforts.

For reasons unknown, he enjoys analyzing box office receipts, giant sharks, and has become known as the go-to man for all things Bosch, Mission: Impossible and Christopher Nolan in Collider's news division. Recently, he found himself yeehawing along to the Dutton saga on the Yellowstone Ranch. 

He is proficient in sarcasm, wit, Photoshop and working unfeasibly long hours. Amongst his passions sit the likes of the history of the Walt Disney Company, the construction of theme parks, steam trains and binge-watching Gilmore Girls with a coffee that is just hot enough to scald him.

His obsession with the Apple TV+ series Silo is the subject of mockery within the Senior News channel, where his feelings about Taylor Sheridan's work are enough to make his fellow writers roll their eyes. 

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There aren't many cartoon characters who have survived almost a century of pop culture without losing their ability to make audiences laugh, but Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck are two lads that have managed that big achievement, having been causing chaos since the 1930s alongside the rest of the Looney Tunes gang. But behind those familiar voices are generations of extraordinarily talented performers, many of whom have helped keep the characters alive long after their original creators were gone. This week, one of the most important voices in Looney Tunes history is saying a final farewell.

Warner Bros. Picture Animation has released their first Looney Tunes short in over a decade in the form of Daffy Season, which has been attached to The Cat in the Hat, the Bill Hader-starrer that opened in theaters on November 6, 2026. The short is also particularly noteworthy, and bittersweet, because it marks the final Looney Tunes movie performance of the late Emmy-winning voice actor and icon Eric Bauza, who tragically passed away on October 25. According to a Warner Bros. representative, the short represents Bauza's final movie performance within the Looney Tunes franchise, although it should not be confused with his final screen credit across all productions.

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Eric Bauza Helped Keep 'Looney Tunes' Alive for a New Generation

Bauza became one of the most recognizable voices in modern animation, taking on several iconic characters throughout his career, including Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Tweety, and Marvin the Martian.

His work helped introduce the characters to younger audiences through projects including Looney Tunes Cartoons, Space Jam: A New Legacy, and The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie.

Bauza died last month at his home in Los Angeles County, with the local medical examiner listing the cause of death as hypertensive cardiovascular disease. His family announced the news in a statement via his official Instagram account, confirming that his passing was sudden:

"Eric Bauza, Emmy Award-winning voice actor and the modern voice of iconic Looney Tunes characters Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, along with dozens of other beloved cartoon characters, has passed away suddenly. More details to come."

Daffy Season is screening exclusively in theaters ahead of The Cat in the Hat, which opened November 6, 2026. A separate streaming release date has not been announced. Stay tuned to Collider for all the latest news and updates on the biggest and best movies and shows heading to your favorite streaming platforms soon.

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  The Cat in the Hat (voice)

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  Xochitl Gomez

  Gabby (voice)

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  Tiago Martinez

  Sebastian (voice)

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  Matt Berry

  Waffles the Fish (voice)