The Invasion LA
To tap into the millennial nostalgia surrounding Warner Bros. Classic Animation, we created an immersive pop-up experience at the GRAMMY MUSEUM in LA, bringing our favorite childhood cartoons to life through a contemporary lens. celebrating the unforgettable musical moments across decades of cartoon history.
We invited a handful of influential tastemakers to collaborate on a few of the spaces inspired by each of our franchises, including: Joshua Vides, Amelia Muqbel, Crystal Wagner, Sam Taylor, and CONFETTISYSTEM.
Creative & Copy
Client: Warner Bros.
Welcome To The Invasion
Warner Bros. animated characters have a long history of invading pop culture through music, from popularizing classical compositions to creating mainstream hits that stand the test of time. Journey through the reimagined classical pieces heard in Looney Tunes, the psychedelic rock of Scooby-Doo, the R&B hits from Space Jam, the show-stopping numbers from Animaniacs, and so much more.
We’ve invited a handful of creators, artists, and designers to reimagine the music elements of our beloved cartoons through their own unique lens. The Invasion is a celebration of the music generations have come to know and love from our classic animations.
Looney Tunes ∙ 1957
What’s Opera, Doc?
Since its conception, Looney Tunes has put a comedic and modern twist on classical music. To celebrate one of the most iconic Looney Tunes episodes, we’ve brought the operatic scene of “What’s Opera Doc?” to life, with a life-size curvy horse inspired by the voluptuous figures often seen on stage. The cartoon, parodying three famous operas of Richard Wagner—including Der Ring des Nibelungen, Der fliegende Hollädner, and Tannhaeuser—has brought the works of the 19th century composer into the mainstream, often being an individual’s first—and perhaps most memorable—experience of opera.
Looney Tunes ∙ 1950
Rabbit Of Seville
Inspired by the classic episode parodying Rossini’s overture to The Barber of Seville, we’ve recreated the scene in which Bugs Bunny infamously torments Elmer Fudd onstage—including iconic tricks like giving him a salad and shaving cream hat to a head of floral hair. Regarded as one of the greatest comedic operas, Barber of Seville translates seamlessly into the comedic realm of Looney Tunes, preserving the 19th century work with a modern day twist.
Looney Tunes ∙ 1949
Long Haired Hair
In the final scene of this classic Looney Tunes episode, Bugs Bunny poses as a prominent conductor who makes opera singer Giovanni Jones perform vocal acrobatics—challenging for even the most seasoned of singers—on stage.
Scooby-Doo
1969
With its catchy theme song and impressive roster of musical guests, Scooby-Doo proves itself musically timeless. Over the years, the song has been covered by countless artists and is known and loved by fans around the world.
Inspired by the ‘60s and ‘70s sounds of the show, we’ve created a psychedelic stage experience to celebrate the music heard in Scooby-Doo.
Step into the spotlight and rock out with your gang!
SAM TAYLOR Sam Taylor is a London-based illustrator known for his bold, explosive artworks influenced by classic cartoons and pop culture. He uses outrageous colour schemes and intricate line-work paired with characters and motifs to create his fun, mad worlds.
1962
The Jetsons
In 1986, “Jane, Get Me Off This Crazy Thing/The Jetsons” reached number nine on the Billboard charts, positioning itself as one of the most iconic theme songs in cartoon history. But the music of the show goes far beyond the opening number; the score in the Jetsons is what brings the landscape of the future—flying cars and all—to life. During its 75-episode run, the show continuously celebrates music in its storylines, its gadgets, and most importantly, its characters.
Inspired by Judy Jetson’s love of teenage heartthrob Jet Screamer, we’ve recreated the bedroom of our favorite futuristic fan-girl.
Step inside and experience a look at the life of a teenage space cadet!
AMELIA MUQBEL Amelia Muqbel is a designer from New York currently living in Los Angeles with an equal love for nostalgia and the internet. She has done creative work for a multitude of brands spanning fashion and media.
1960
The Flintstones
Despite its belated debut in the third season of the series, “Meet The Flintstones” has become the familiar anthem for the cartoon. First recorded with a 22-piece jazz band, the theme song is widely regarded as a jazz standard and has been featured on a number of albums, during countless live orchestral performances, and even in other television series.
Inspired by the prehistoric take on modern day instruments and appliances seen throughout the cartoon, we’ve recreated a life-size dinosaur instrument ready for playing.
Step in and play the Stone Age xylophone!
1993
Animaniacs
With its endless roster of tongue-twisting tunes, Animaniacs has solidified itself as one of the most musically entertaining cartoons of all time. Created with as many as 40 orchestral musicians, the music in Animaniacs—with its litany of jokes and boundary-pushing puns—is equal parts funny and musically revered.
To bring the visuals of the cartoon as colorful as its soundtrack to life, we’ve created a singalong experience celebrating some of the show’s most memorable numbers.
Come in and test your vocal dexterity singing along with Yakko, Wakko, and Dot!
CONFETTI SYSTEM Nicholas Andersen and Julie Ho created CONFETTISYSTEM out of their shared love of communal celebration and craft making. The pair creates elaborate, eye-catching sets and objects from simple materials.
1940
Tom and Jerry
Tom and Jerry is widely known for using musical compositions to punctuate its mostly wordless storylines. Musical director Scott Bradley ingeniously wove musical scores—from classical music to pop to jazz—with violent yet humorous chase scenes between the cat and mouse duo, making music an essential element to the series.
To demonstrate the intricate relationship between music and animation, we’ve created this interactive station for you to score your own cartoon.
Hit the start button to begin!
1996
Space Jam
Having reached six times platinum, the Space Jam soundtrack is home to some of R&B’s most beloved hits. Perhaps as memorable as the film itself, the music of Space Jam has received numerous accolades.
Inspired by the fusion of basketball, animation, and music, we’ve created the Tune Stadium playing your favorite hits from the feature film.
Come take your shot in the 2 dimensional world of the Tune Squad!
JOSHUA VIDES Artist Joshua Vides is the artist behind “Reality to Idea,” a concept utilizing the shapes and forms of real-life objects and transforming them into sketch-like works of art, highlighting the simplicity in everyday objects, taking them back to where they started—on pen and paper. His work has gotten the attention of big name brands and has made a splash in the experiential scene with his “Reality to Idea” exhibit.
2018
Smallfoot
Smallfoot will immerse visitors in a winter escape inspired by the September 28th feature release, starring Channing Tatum, James Corden, Zendaya, Common, LeBron James, Danny DeVito, Gina Rodriguez, Yara Shahidi, Ely Henry and Jimmy Tatro; and featuring new music written by Wayne Kirkpatrick and Karey Kirkpatrick and performed by Tatum, Common and Zendaya, along with a new song from Niall Horan. Fine artist Crystal Wagner brings her signature larger-than-life structure work into the space to create a snowy dome-like environment reflecting the story’s beautiful mountain setting.
Come explore this snow-inspired cavern for a first-listen to the soundtrack from Warner Bros. newest animated feature!
CRYSTAL WAGNER Contemporary artist Crystal Wagner is known for her larger-than-life 2- and 3-dimensional installations that evoke a sense of wonder. Her surreal creations have been featured in countless publications and have been shown extensively across the U.S. and abroad.