The team of Depatie and Freleng tried to come up with their own animated version of Looney Tunes’ Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote. So basically one animal chasing another with you always rooting for the one trying to escape with its life and not be eaten.
Like the cartoon they are copying the Ant (voiced by John Byner) and the Aardvark (voiced by John Byner) are pretty much the only characters in this collection of seventeen cartoons. You don’t really need anything or anyone else as the concept is rather simple – the Aardvark is trying to catch and eat the Ant. What ensues is a series of crazy chases, non-stop action, laughs of the slapstick variety and some over the top violence.
They are simply going for laughs here – nothing more, nothing less. That being said rare are the moments in which you will find yourself engaging in a full out belly laugh. Rather it is amusing and something you will watch with a smile on your face. The best part is the voice work by John Byner, who plays both characters.
Special Features:
-Audio Commentaries for selected episodes by Friz Freleng (compiled from archival interviews), filmmaker Greg Ford, author Mark Arnold, and historian Jerry Beck
– “Goodbye, Warner Bros. Hello, DePatie-Freleng” – New documentary on the history of DePatie-Freleng Enterprises, featuring interviews with Friz Freleng, Greg Ford, animator/director Art Leonardi, ink & paint artist Barbara Donatelli, Jerry Beck, and critic Will Friedwald
– “Of Aardvarks, Ants, Inspectors, and Cranes” – more interviews with the creative team behind the cartoons regarding their favourites, voice work and preferred animation styles.
