The Tornado's New Spin: 7 Shocking Facts About The Looney Tunes Tasmanian Devil's Modern Comeback

The Tasmanian Devil, affectionately known as Taz, remains one of the most chaotic and beloved characters in the entire Looney Tunes roster, despite his famously limited original screen time. This ravenous, whirling dervish has roared back into the spotlight with new projects and appearances that prove his enduring popularity is far from slowing down. As of December 2025, Taz continues to be a central figure in the Warner Bros. animation universe, bridging the gap between the classic Golden Age of animation and the modern era of streaming content and feature films, including his own recent headline adventure.

The character’s latest major project, the direct-to-video film Taz: Quest for Burger, released digitally in June 2023, cemented his status as a star capable of carrying a full-length feature. This modern resurgence, alongside regular appearances in Looney Tunes Cartoons episodes well into 2024, has introduced the short-tempered carnivore to a new generation, while also bringing new actors and creative directions to his iconic, unintelligible grunts and destructive tornado spin.

The Tasmanian Devil: A Complete Character Profile

Despite his worldwide fame, the Tasmanian Devil character has a surprisingly brief history in the original theatrical shorts. His popularity exploded decades after his debut, largely due to merchandising and television spin-offs, making him one of the most successful comeback stories in cartoon history.

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• Full Name: The Tasmanian Devil (often simply "Taz")
• First Appearance: Devil May Hare (June 19, 1954)
• Creator: Robert McKimson
• Original Voice Actor (Golden Age): Mel Blanc (1954–1989)
• Iconic Voice Actor (Modern Era): Jim Cummings (since 1991, notably Taz-Mania, Space Jam, and MultiVersus)
• Recent Voice Actor (2023 Film): Steve Blum (for Taz: Quest for Burger)
• Key Characteristics: Ferocious appetite, short temper, ability to spin into a destructive tornado, unintelligible speech (grunts, growls, and rasps).
• Total Classic Shorts: Only 5 original shorts before Warner Bros. Cartoons closed in 1964.
• Key Family Members (from Taz-Mania): Jean (Mother), Hugh (Father), Molly (Sister), Jake (Brother), and the son character, Tazmanian Devil Jr. (or "Taz Jr.").

From Five Shorts to a Cinematic Quest: Taz's Modern Evolution

Taz’s journey from a minor antagonist for Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck to a major star is a testament to his unique appeal. The character was so popular after his first short, Devil May Hare, that the studio head Jack Warner ordered him retired because he was deemed "too violent" for children, only to be brought back due to public demand.

The 1990s Television Explosion: Taz-Mania

The true catalyst for Taz's fame was the animated sitcom Taz-Mania, which ran from 1991 to 1995. This series moved Taz away from his classic antagonistic role, portraying him as a more sympathetic, albeit still chaotic, protagonist living with his family in the fictional land of Tazmania. This show established Jim Cummings as the definitive voice of the character for a generation, a role he has reprised in countless projects, including the video game MultiVersus.

Recent Projects and the 2023 Feature Film

Taz has maintained a high profile in recent years, appearing in major films and television series:

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• Space Jam: A New Legacy (2021): Taz was a key member of the Tune Squad, continuing his cinematic presence established in the original 1996 Space Jam.
• Looney Tunes Cartoons (2020–2024): Taz has featured in the critically acclaimed HBO Max/Max series, with episodes airing as recently as June 2024. This series often reverts to the classic dynamic of Taz chasing Bugs Bunny.
• Taz: Quest for Burger (2023): The most significant recent development is this original, direct-to-video film, released on digital platforms on June 6, 2023. The movie focuses on Taz’s legendary appetite as he embarks on an adventure to find the ultimate burger, introducing new characters and expanding his lore outside of the main Looney Tunes ensemble.

The Voices Behind the Whirlwind: Who is the Current Taz?

One of the most surprising facts about the modern Tasmanian Devil is the shifting nature of his voice, a detail often missed by casual fans. While Mel Blanc created the original raspy, guttural speech, and Jim Cummings cemented the modern, slightly more expressive sound, the role is now shared among several talented actors.

The Jim Cummings Legacy

Jim Cummings is widely considered the heir to Mel Blanc, having voiced Taz since the Taz-Mania series in the early 90s. His voice is the one most fans associate with the character in all major projects, including video games, merchandise, and many of the modern revivals. Cummings’ unique ability to capture both the ferocity and the underlying goofiness of the character has made his performance iconic.

The New Guard: Steve Blum and Eric Bauza

The 2023 film, Taz: Quest for Burger, featured a notable change in the voice cast, with veteran voice actor Steve Blum taking on the role of Taz. This is a significant piece of updated information, as it shows Warner Bros. is willing to experiment with the character's voice for different projects. Additionally, the prolific Eric Bauza, who currently voices Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and other classic characters, is often credited in modern Looney Tunes projects, sometimes providing additional voices or filling in for specific shorts.

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The Real-Life Tasmanian Devil: Cartoon vs. Reality

Taz's popularity has had a profound, if sometimes inaccurate, impact on the public's perception of the real-life animal. The topical authority of the character is deeply tied to the actual marsupial from the island of Tasmania, Australia.

The Myth of the Tornado Spin

The cartoon’s most famous trait—the ability to spin into a destructive tornado—is, of course, a fantastical element. The real Tasmanian Devil, a carnivorous marsupial, cannot spin. However, the animal is known for a ferocious, loud screech and a tendency to frenzy when feeding, which likely inspired the cartoon’s chaotic demeanor and "devil" nickname.

A Real-World Crisis

A somber, yet important, fact is the real Tasmanian Devil has been endangered due to a devastating and highly contagious cancer known as Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD). The cartoon's fame has inadvertently helped raise global awareness and funding for conservation efforts to save the species, a positive real-world contribution from the cartoon's legacy.

The cartoon version of Taz is much larger, bipedal, and more aggressive than his real-life counterpart, which is roughly the size of a small dog. The real animal is an apex predator known for its powerful bite, but it is not the constantly whirling, unintelligible monster portrayed on screen.

Taz's Enduring Legacy and Future

From a character nearly retired after a single appearance in 1954 to a star of a 2023 feature film, the Tasmanian Devil’s legacy is one of unexpected success. Taz represents the raw, untamed chaos of the Looney Tunes universe, a perfect foil for the cool composure of Bugs Bunny and the neurotic greed of Daffy Duck. His continued presence in new animation, merchandise, and even video games like MultiVersus confirms that the whirlwind of chaos will keep spinning for years to come. The blend of classic and modern voice talent, such as Jim Cummings and Steve Blum, ensures that the character's iconic sound evolves while retaining its familiar, lovable ferocity.