Nostalgia Nook: Tiny Toon Adventures How I Spent My Vacation

If you were a 90s child, you watched Tiny Toons. Teen versions of our favorite Looney Tune characters who went on wacky adventures. And that included their summer vacation. Since it’s June and school is ending soon, let’s take a look.

We’re tiny, we’re toony, we’re all a little SPOILERS!


The Tiny Toons await the end of the school year in song. Each have plans for the summer: Elmira wants to pet as many animals as she can, Fifi wants to meet her idol, Shirley tries to avoid Fowlmouth, Plucky wants to spend it with his best friend, Hampton is going on a road trip, Babs wants a tan and Buster wants to annoy Babs.  But they are destined to have wacky adventures.

Babs and Buster: After he ruins her chances of getting tan, Babs enters into a water gun war with Buster. It goes too far and they end up washed away from Acme Acres on a raft and accompanied by Elmira’s dog Byron. They spend the summer floating down a river, trying to get home. Hijinks ensue. And generally include creatures which want to eat them. Southern crocodiles! Hillbilly possums! And so much more!

Plucky and Hampton: When Plucky learns Hampton is going on a road trip, Plucky tries to figure out a new summer plan. Then he hears the words “Happy World Land.” And he wants in. The Pigs are more than happy to take Plucky on what turns out to be the road trip from hell. Everything you could think of—they do! Refusing to turn on the AC in the middle of the desert. Stupid car games (Spot any car! On a busy highway!). Eating only their own food. Picking up homicidal hitchhikers. They then get to Happy World Land, a send up of Disney World, only to ride the monorail. Plucky goes wacky as the family returns home.

Elmyra: When Furball, her cat, finally escapes, Elmyra is distraught. Her parents take her to a drive through safari. And escapes. Disguising herself in fur, she runs amok through the safari, terrorizing the other animals. She’s even listed as the most feared predator in the jungle!

Fifi: Hollywood lives in Acme Acres! And Fifi wants to meet Johnny Pew, her idol. But she can’t get near him. And she tries her best to do so. Even becoming his personal assistant to get his autograph. But when he crosses her—watch out, Johnny!

Shirley the Loon: After failing to avoid him, she agrees to go on a date with Fowlmouth. He takes her to the movies and is probably the rudest movie patron ever. Pushes his way to the front of the line, shoves his way through to his seat, etc. And he’s a talker. So it doesn’t end well.

I still love this movie, even though I should be too old for cartoons. But it has lasted the test of time. Much like the Simpsons, there are generally new references I pick up on as I’ve gotten older. For example, it took me years to realize the possums Buster and Babs run into are a reference to the movie “Deliverance.”

And a lot of the jokes still stay with me. When we went to see Iron Man 3, my mother and I did the whole sequence with Fowlmouth at the movies—“He’s talking through the movie!” Earlier, at the movies with friends, they played the Lucasfilm sound system promo. At the same time my best friend and I quoted this scene:

Our friend in the middle shuddered and said, “ I got it in surround sound. Eerie.”

So, let’s slather on the sunscreen and avoid all water wars this summer. Just remember: It could be worse. You could have to sit next to Uncle Stinky.

Next month: Disney Adventures