Even those who have an only passing knowledge of modern animation are probably familar with the work of talented voice actor Eric Bauza, who stars as both Daffy Duck and Porky Pig in the new feature The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie. Directed by Peter Browngardt, the movie is finally making its theatrical debut Statewide this Friday, via Ketchup Entertainment) after opening in many other territories overseas last year. We had the chance to catch up with the brilliant two-time Emmy-winning actor (and super nice guy who is also hosting the Children and Family Emmys on Saturday), to learn more about his amazing life and career. He’s also nominated again this year for voicing Daffy and Bugs in Teen Titans Go! Here is what he told us:
Animag: First of all, we are all so happy that the movie is finally opening nationally this Friday. Congratulations on all the accolades! How does it feel to see it arrive on the big screen after so many months of anticipation?
Eric: Thank you so much, and yes I am still reeling over receiving the Animation Magazine Hall of Fame Award last year! I was there just to deliver some shrimp cocktails, but I was so grateful to be inducted among so many great legends and recognized the magazine team. So, regarding The Day the Earth Blew Up, as you know, this is the first stand-alone feature starring these beloved Looney Tunes characters — without the help of professional basketball players or the Oscar -winning Brendan Fraser! Of course, we appreciate them, but I think it’s time I think it’s time for Daffy and Porky to shine in their own movie. You know it’s kind of shocking and surprising that after 90 years, they hadn’t attempted something like this. But here we are, and this month, thanks to Warner Brothers Animation and Ketchup Entertainment, we have this amazing story to tell on the big screen. I feel that your readers know how important it is to keep 2D animation alive. It’s still here, doing the trick and making us laugh and cry and enjoying few thrills along the way. I’m extremely proud and excited for this movie!
Can you take us back to how you learned about the movie and got involved with the project?
Eric: Well, this had to have been in 2019. It all came about from working with Pete Browngardt who’s the director of the movie and is also behind 153 episodes of the Looney Tunes Cartoons series. They were probably the coolest thing that I’ve ever been able to do in in this profession as a voiceover artist, paying homage to legends like Chuck Jones and and Bob Clampett and the rest of the godfathers of Warner Brothers Golden Era of animation, including Mel Blanc. I was fortunate enough to take on Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and Tweety, and then to win back-to-back Emmys for the work was amazing. As you know I dedicated both to the memory and performances and legacy of Mel Blanc, because he was such an idol for me.
So, because I had worked with Pete and Alex Kirwan [producer] on the short, which led them to consider me for these part. It was a plain and simple offer that I just couldn’t refuse. We started the project in 2019, and we were working on it all the way after the pandemic. During those early days, I was recording stuff here at home, and even on vacation when I was visiting my family in Toronto. I would have to duck into a booth for a couple of hours to fulfill what they needed. Now, I can’t believe that we’re seeing the movie being released in theaters.
What did you love about this whole experience and new movie?
Eric: I think it just brings back that unhinged sense of humor of Looney Tunes. Those cartoons were just a little bit grittier than most of the other work from other animation studios that are aimed youngsters. This is definitely a movie for six to 11-year-olds or or even like 11 and above kind of title I feel like that is a a such a missing gap in our animation intake these days, because I have an eight-year-old son who just loves to strap into the VR world. At least he’s not sitting down and watching TV: He’s now moving around with VR! So, it was really great to take my son and a couple of his buddies to the Animation Is Film festival here in L.A. to see the movie for the first time, and they really enjoyed it. People were really excited to find out it was such great movie, and the whole family loved it.
Of course, we have to ask you about that OTHER big Looney Tunes movie, Coyote vs. Acme, in which you voice around ten characters (Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Road Runner, etc.). We are all waiting for someone to finally release the movie after Warner Bros. Discovery shelved the movie to get tax write-offs!
Eric: I had the chance to work on Coyote vs. Acme, even before The Day the Earth Blew Up. And it was one of a few motion pictures that unfortunately— due to the business side of show business— was put away for tax purposes. I am a voiceover artist: That’s my lot in life and I’m lucky enough to get to work on these projects when they come through. Unfortunately, things like that sometimes that happens. In this particular instance, though it goes to show you how much people do care about these characters. [A big grassroots effort was created to force the studio to release the movie at the time.] I think this kind of thing happens in Hollywood every day and we don’t even know about it all the time. Movies come and go and get slipped through the cracks, and maybe they come back years late. Just look at the Barbie movie or the new Beetlejuice movie. Those titles did really well in theaters, and showed them that people really care about existing properties. I think there was even a remake of Salem’s Lot that made it just in time for Halloween on Max. That was a project that had been sitting on for a number of years.
So, you know I can’t promise anything about the release of Coyote vs. Acme. But I am thinking maybe if people go see The Day the Earth Blew Up in theaters this week, it might urge them to you know take one take that one off the shelf and maybe show it off. Even if we don’t ever get ot see I, maybe it it will inspire and influence Warner Brothers to continue to make more brand new looney tunes films and TV shows, oh I don’t know, maybe TikTok or Instagram shows! I think when the fans speak up, people tend to listen. This movie is a perfect example of the evergreen appeal of the Looney Tunes characters, and that you can still tell a good story with this gang.
Now most people may not know that in addition to being this amazing voice actor, you also began your career as a layout artist in animation. Can you share the story with us?
Eric: You know, the thing about my career in voiceover is that every day it feels like the first day on the job for me. I’ll never get over it. But before that, I was a character layout artist, which if you think about it, is a very glorified position in animation today because a lot of work goes into storyboards now. If you’re an animation nerd reading this interview, you know that there’s a lot of things that get lost the translation even with perfect English speaking studios. There are still mistakes that come up in animation that you want to avoid because retakes cost money. So, I used to have the glorified position of taking a rough storyboard, and drawing with pencil and paper (these were the days before Wacom tablets!), I was draw the characters in keyframe poses. Then, another artist would later take those poses and animate or in-between them to make the character move fluently. I also did animatic editing and clean up! There’s nothing more therapeutic than putting ink to a piece of paper and just zoning out and creating really nice, fluid, quality thick lines.
I was also the person with ADD in in the in the bullpen at the animation pits. I was the one imitating the bosses which they always loved. I was always imitating cartoon characters in elementary school through high school and college, all the way to my career as a as an artist in animation. Someone said. “Hey, why don’t you go in the booth and do some temporary dialogue for us!” That’s kind of how it started. I happened to be working on these pilots at Six Point Harness with [CEO] Mr. Brendan Birch. He’s the reason why I wasn’t thrown in jail! My first American gig was for Jorge Gutierrez at Nickelodeon on El Tigre. I was allowed to leave my animation desk job and go do sessions at Nick, and come back to my job as long as my scenes were ready on the server for approval. So I was voicing and drawing on the show at the same time!
Did you always knew you wanted a career in animation back when you were growing up in the Toronto suburb of Scarborough?
Eric: I think cartoons were always my guardian angel and guiding light for the most part. They were always something that I could turn to to make people laugh and to entertain myself…I was always that kid in elementary school where even the teacher would asking me to draw something for them, and that was all because of Looney Tunes. Back then I would record the cartoons on VHS and I’d pause tape and just draw what Chuck Jones had done. It all comes back to this film: That’s why we honor these legends of animation. They allowed us to do what we do
Daffy Duck was introduced in 1937 and Porky Pig in 1935 — Why do you think these character are so timeless and still so funny after so many decades?
I think it just simple: what was funny then is still funny now. A good knock-knock joke still makes us laugh. The best part is that we get to improve on these characters. We still get to add social commentary. These characters were breaking the fourth wall way back then. They were considered the anti-Disney cartoons because they were a little bit grittier than others. They made fun of celebrities, pop culture and even politics. Imagine what the right storytellers could do with these characters in a political project! We’ll have to save politics for another conversation!
Before we let you go, would you offer some tips for anyone who is dreaming of a career as bright as yours in voice animation?
I’d say do what you’re doing right: Keep reading and don’t abandon your dreams. Don’t abandon your education. It will support you and will build a bridge to achieve your dreams and reach your destination to do what you love to do. I mean there are plenty of things on this planet that we can do for careers, but if yours happens to be in the arts, we know it’s a tough one to break through. But, trust me: If I could do it, anyone can do it, really! You just have to surround yourself with the right people. The other thing too is that you could be the best voice actor on the planet, but if you’re a real jerk, no one wants to work with you. Or you could be an OK voiceover artist like me, and then get called back to the party time and time again. Guess what — the more times you get called back, the better you get. Animation is a hugely collaborative efforts. We witnessed so much solidarity recently when we were on those picket lines and we were all coming together to watch each other’s back. It’s really a team effort!
The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie is currently playing in theaters nationwide. Eric Bauza will host the Children and Family Emmys this Saturday. He is also nominated again this year for an Emmy for voicing Bugs and Daffy in Teen Titans Go!
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