The Simpsons has a similar phenomenon going on, and I’d say Looney Tunes is more appropriately viewed as a precursor to that phenomenon. Where they make a lot of cultural references most people only recognize as Simpsons gags. What makes Shakespeare shakspearean (imo) is the fact that those stories have been reinterpreted and adapted in so many ways since. I still haven’t seen an adaptation of Duck Season Rabbit Season yet, although the new Wiley Coyote movie does make me question how close they are to that threshhold.
The Simpsons has a similar phenomenon going on, and I’d say Looney Tunes is more appropriately viewed as a precursor to that phenomenon. Where they make a lot of cultural references most people only recognize as Simpsons gags. What makes Shakespeare shakspearean (imo) is the fact that those stories have been reinterpreted and adapted in so many ways since. I still haven’t seen an adaptation of Duck Season Rabbit Season yet, although the new Wiley Coyote movie does make me question how close they are to that threshhold.
I would guess when Looney Tunes falls into the public domain is when that happens. That, or when copyright is abolished, but same difference.