Daffy Duck's Fantastic Island
Daffy Duck's Fantastic Island (also known as Daffy Duck's Movie: Fantastic Island) is a 1983 American animated anthology film directed by Friz Freleng and Phil Monroe with a compilation of classic Warner Bros. cartoon shorts and animated bridging sequences, hosted by Daffy Duck and Speedy Gonzales.[1] This was the first Looney Tunes compilation film to center on Daffy Duck, as the previous ones had centered on Bugs Bunny. The premise of the framing animation was a general parody of the popular 1970s/1980s television series Fantasy Island, with Daffy Duck and Speedy Gonzales playing caricatures of that series' principal characters, Mr. Roarke and Tattoo (respectively).
| Daffy Duck's Fantastic Island | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Friz Freleng Phil Monroe (co-director) |
| Story by | John Dunn Dave Detiege Friz Freleng |
| Produced by | Friz Freleng Hal Geer Jean MacCurdy |
| Starring | Mel Blanc June Foray Les Tremayne |
| Music by | Rob Walsh Gene Poddany Orchestration: Don McGinnis |
| Animation by | Brenda Banks Warren Batchelder Brad Case Bob Matz Norm McCabe Richard Thompson Bob Bransford Terrence Lennon Sam Nicholson Derry Ray Scanimation Effects: Ed Kramer (uncredited) |
| Layouts by | Bob Givens Michael Mitchell |
| Backgrounds by | Richard Thomas |
| Color process | Color |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. |
Release date |
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Running time | 78 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
A note in the end credits dedicates the film to animator and story man, John Dunn, "who inspired it."[2] Dunn died of heart failure in San Fernando, California on January 17, 1983; six months before the film's release.
Plot edit
On a desolate desert island, Daffy Duck and Speedy Gonzales find themselves stranded with nothing but a solitary coconut tree for sustenance. Their predicament takes an unexpected turn when they stumble upon a treasure map amidst the remnants of a clash between Bugs Bunny and the duo of Yosemite Sam and the Tasmanian Devil.
Driven by avarice, Daffy devises a plan to exploit the map's magical properties, which lead them to a sentient wishing well. Rather than opting for immediate wealth, Daffy's scheme involves transforming their barren surroundings into a bustling tourist destination, capitalizing on the well's ability to grant wishes. Clad in white tuxedos, they usher in a procession of guests eager to fulfill their desires.
Meanwhile, Yosemite Sam and the Tasmanian Devil pursue Daffy and Speedy in pursuit of the map, inadvertently triggering a chain of events that culminate in the loss of the precious artifact. Left with only three wishes from the well, the adversaries must exercise prudence in their choices. However, frivolous desires lead to comedic misadventures, leaving Daffy and Speedy at odds with Yosemite Sam, who ultimately abandons them with a ship.
Classic cartoons in order edit
The following includes the Well's descriptions of each cartoon (except for the first one) in relation to that character's wish. Some cartoons are abridged.
- Captain Hareblower (Pirate Sam vs. Bugs Bunny, shortened)
- Stupor Duck (Daffy's wish): "Your fondest wish, your fondest dream... ...I'll make you superduck supreme!"
- Greedy for Tweety (Granny's wish, slightly extended): "Your wish shall be granted. Gaze into me and see. The next time that you see yourself... a nurse is what you'll be!"
- Banty Raids (Foghorn Leghorn's wish, shortened): "I am here to grant your wish, the spirit of the well. I will knock the cockiness out of that little cockerel."
- Louvre Come Back to Me! (Pepé Le Pew's wish, shortened): "I grant your wish to meet a girl of beauty unsurpassed... which when compared with works of art... ...will leave the Louvre outclassed."
- Tree for Two (Spike & Chester's wish): "If that's his wish and yours alike... ...I'll make Chester brave and strong, like Spike."
- Curtain Razor (Porky Pig's wish, shortened with altered opening): "Discovering new talent for the world to see... ...a wondrous thing for a producer to be."
- A Mouse Divided (Sylvester's wife's wish, the opening with the drunken stork is omitted and the ending was changed to occur on the island): "I hear your wish and I obey. The patter of little feet you shall hear this day."
- Of Rice and Hen & Lovelorn Leghorn (Prissy's wish, with the opening of the former and the plot of the latter): "Your mind is such a simple thing... ...your wish I can foretell. You're wishing for a husband, and the ring of a wedding bell?"
- From Hare to Heir (Pirate Sam's wish): "A very rich relative in poor health... ...doth will to you his entire wealth."
Voice cast edit
- Mel Blanc as Daffy Duck, Speedy Gonzales, Yosemite Sam, Bugs Bunny, Tasmanian Devil, Foghorn Leghorn, Pepé Le Pew, Spike, Porky Pig, Sylvester, Tweety, and Crows.
- June Foray as Granny, Mrs. Sylvester, and Miss Prissy.
- Les Tremayne as Wishing Well.
Merchandise edit
In 1981, a puzzle showing 105 Looney Tunes characters was issued. Among the characters there are three that never appeared in animation, identified as Hoppy, Hysterical Hyram and Minniesoda Fats. In one scene in Daffy Duck's Fantastic Island Hoppy and Hysterical Hyram are seen waiting for their chance to make their dreams come true (along with two other unidentified characters, namely a white dog and a small mouse with a hat). It is their only known appearance in animation.[3]
Home media edit
The film was released on DVD exclusively through Wal-Mart on August 12, 2014 and by Warner Home Video on November 18, 2014. It is also available as a download from the iTunes Store. It finally saw a UK DVD release on July 5, 2021.
See also edit
References edit
- ^ Lenburg, Jeff (1999). The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons. Checkmark Books. pp. 174–175. ISBN 0-8160-3831-7. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
- ^ "Daffy Duck's Movie: Fantastic Island (1983) - IMDb" – via www.imdb.com.
- ^ (October 23, 2012) The Forgotten Toons Retrieved December 21, 2018.
External links edit
- Daffy Duck's Fantastic Island at IMDb
- Daffy Duck's Fantastic Island at Rotten Tomatoes