The Chuck Jones Experience

If you grew up watching cartoons starring Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig and that cute little kitten with the bulldog, The Chuck Jones Experience at Circus Circus will take you on a trip back in time. 

Academy Award winner, director-producer and animator Chuck Jones created these timeless animated characters that you, your parents and even grandparents grew to love. Jones made more than 300 animated films including legendary "Looney Tunes" and "Merrie Melodies" for Warner Bros. and "Tom and Jerry" cartoons. 

The 10,000-square-foot Chuck Jones Experience features art, writings and films from his 60-year career. Visitors have a chance to create an animation piece, explore several interactive exhibits, see clips of Jones' animated films and never-before-seen drawings, paintings and doodles.

"The Chuck Jones Experience provides kids and animation fans of all ages with an extraordinary place to not only learn about the art of animation, but to discover the creativity and magic that's inside us all," said Craig Kausen, Jones' grandson. 

The moment you walk into the Chuck Jones Experience, you'll feel like you've entered a cartoon. The attraction welcomes you with a brightly-painted virtual street with Jones' most memorable characters, Start your tour with a brief movie, "Chuck Jones - An Animated Life" featuring a handful of familiar snippets. It's like watching Saturday morning cartoons all over again. 

To Jones, his characters were more than just cartoons. He saw them as actors and pictured them as larger than life. In fact, when you walk next to Bugs, Daffy, Tazmanian Devil and Elmer Fudd in the exhibit, "How Do You Measure Up?" there's a good chance they're either as tall (if not taller) than you. You'll also see how short Yosemite Sam stands. Make sure you have someone snap a picture of you with them. Their "real" height is sure to amuse your friends. 

We're most familiar with his fun cartoon pieces, but Jones came from a fine art background. Get an up-close view of his elaborate and brilliant oil paintings -- some valued at a whopping $100,000. You can also see a student council campaign poster he whipped up for his daughter. Can you imagine someone like Jones helping you with art projects? Every kid's dream!

Jones loved art so much, he continued to paint even in his nineties. The attraction includes his last painting and the easel he used. Just a couple steps over is his tribute room, where you'll see all of his degrees, awards, photos and much more. Also featured in this tribute room is the interactive "Quizinator" station. Test (or brush up on) your Jones and Looney Tunes trivia, revealing the answers behind colorful little doors. 

This leads into "Animation Alley," a multimedia wall where you'll see a collection from various studios. Before you leave, you can create your own sound effects and voiceovers for a Jones cartoon. 

At the end of the experience, you'll find the 1,000-square-foot glass-enclosed Chuck Jones Learning Center. Animation and art teachers guide students through various projects.

The gift shop offers plenty of fun and creative souvenirs like cookie jars, art activity books, stuffed animals and more available for purchase. You'll see other animated characters including Yogi Bear, The Flintstones, Mickey and Minnie Mouse and the Peanuts gang. 

Make sure to take the time to browse through the art gallery and tinker with the colorful toys outside of The Chuck Jones Experience before or after your visit. This is fun for the kids and reminds you how cool it was to be one.

-- By Jeannie Garcia