The journey of The Day the Earth Blew Up to the big screen is nothing short of amazing. The Looney Tunes characters managed to avoid being cut by David Zaslav thanks to Ketchup Entertainment, which acquired the film from the current team of creatives behind Looney Tunes Cartoons, led by director Pete Browngardt. On March 15, fans of animation will finally be able to enjoy this 2D adventure on the big screen.

io9 had the opportunity to sit down with the voice actors behind some of our favorite cartoons, Eric Bauza (who voices Daffy and Porky in the film) and Candi Milo (who voices Petunia Pig in the film), to discuss their experience playing in a longer format story for the Looney Tunes’ first full-length animated feature, as well as the future of animation versus AI and the timelessness of characters that no machine can replicate.

Sabina Graves, io9: You both have worked together for years, often playing other Looney Tunes characters, but in this film, you play the trio of Daffy, Porky, and Petunia who lead this alien invasion movie. How would you say your chemistry as long-time collaborators helped you step into these different characters?

Candi Milo: I get excited when people notice the chemistry between the characters. It’s not easy playing against someone who plays two characters with different dynamics. But it’s easy with Eric because I respect his talent and dedication to these characters. We have great chemistry because we’re both a little crazy. We have the same vibe – we’re not prim and proper, we’re more like “let’s bring the funny.”

Eric Bauza: Thank you, Candi. Without her and her body of work, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to work on this project. It makes sense that I’m working with someone like her. I think the key is to have fun and not take it too seriously, especially when playing characters like Daffy and Porky.

Milo: I love how Daffy is portrayed in this film – less mean and more idiotic. It’s the Daffy I grew up with. Working with Pete Browngardt and the team, who wanted to bring back this version of Daffy, made my life easier. That’s the Daffy I remember, and it’s great to see him back.

Bauza: [In a playful Daffy voice] “When you think of aloof, think of Eric Bauza, someone who doesn’t know what he’s doing.” But seriously, these characters are timeless, and you don’t want to see Porky get punished, but at the same time, you’re enjoying the chaos. It’s a beautiful story, and I think it all comes together in the end.

Milo: Friendship always wins out in the end.

io9: Did Pete Browngardt give you the freedom to create these characters, and did you look back at the introduction to the characters when bringing them to life in this film?

Milo: When I auditioned, I looked back at the early cartoons, especially Petunia’s character. I noticed she had a Judy Holliday-esque voice, and I did two takes – the second one was more me. The feedback from Sam Register was to make her a scientist, not a stupid girl or girlfriend. They wanted her to be smart, and I think Pete writes for my sense of humor, and the team does too.

Bauza: Pete and I have worked together for years on Looney Tunes Cartoons and Uncle Grandpa. He’s like the directors from the 40s – he has that sensibility, a little mad, a little off. I think that’s why Candi and I were drawn to this project – we’re a little off too, and we get the sense of humor.

Milo: I think Eric and I, in our acting, go against traditional voice acting and roles. Sometimes gender gets pushed onto women, but Petunia is a scientist who’s made fun of for her brain, and she rebels against that. I believe if Petunia thought she came between friends, she’d take herself out of the picture, but she joins the friends in the end.

io9: How do you think the human element of these characters, the “little bit of crazy,” can be preserved in the face of AI advancements in animation?

Bauza: AI is good to a point, but when it comes to the final execution, you need humans. AI can collect information, but it can’t replicate the manic-ness of performing, the emotion, and the art that comes from a human place. You can tell when something is made by AI – it lacks the human touch.

Milo: I saw a commercial with a couple walking, and it was all AI-generated. It was cold, not how people move. I don’t want AI to get better at this; I want it to help us with medical issues, not replace human art. Hand-drawn 2D animation is art, and I think we’ll see a resurgence of it.

io9: The Looney Tunes are timeless, and younger generations recognize them in memes. How do you think modern audiences will find their way to The Day the Earth Blew Up?

Bauza: There are countless visual gags in this film, and the characters look great. I think audiences will love it, and it’s a great introduction to the Looney Tunes for new fans.

io9: The Farmer John scenes were hilarious!

Milo: The Farmer John character is genius – who thought of that? It’s the antithesis of Daffy and Porky, and it’s great to see him interact with them.

Bauza: He’s the luckiest guy, having Daffy and Porky show up at his doorstep.

Milo: I hope we do well, and people clamor for more of this quality, 2D, hand-drawn animation. I’d love to see a resurgence of this style, not skewed for a specific age group, but for a sense of humor.

io9: Absolutely, these are different genres within the medium, and they should coexist.

The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie opens this Friday.

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.