Research Guru
Posted:
Apr 8, 2004, 3:11 PM
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Significant toons in Bugs Bunny's career
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(This is actually damfine's post. In attempting to delete a duplicate version, I accidentally deleted the thread! Very sorry about that. I've managed to restore the following. -- eminovitz)
Here is a list of toons I've compiled which I think have shaped Bugs into the character as we know him. If anyone thinks I've left out anything, feel free to add. (Images courtesy of Dave Mackey  )
1. A Wild Hare (by Tex Avery c. 1940)
This is where it all truly began. Tex had seen all the Bugs cartoons made before inwhich he seemed to resemble Daffy and would go on to inspire the creation of Woody Woodpecker. He then decided to give this rabbit a go. This is where Bugs personality came into being. It was this cartoon that introduced the catch-phrase "What's up, Doc?", the carrot obsession, the Brooklyn accent, and the unflappable calm demeanor when faced with a fire-arm.
The cartoon itself is about par by Tex's standards but in the theatres it caused a sensation. The audiences loved it and wanted to see more. This cartoon was even nominated for an Oscar. Which proves that even the acadamy couldn't ignore the greatness of such a character.
2. The Heckling Hare (by Tex Avery c. 1941)
This is the follow-up cartoon to A Wild Hare, even though there were Bugs cartoons made prior to this one. However, upon the success of A Wild Hare, Leon Sleischinger burst into the studio and demaned that they produce as many Bugs cartoons as possible. But, the problem was, noone really knew what made A Wild Hare so great, including Tex. So, the films that followed seemed to flounder in confusion. In fact, Chuck Jones' attempt Elmer's Pet Rabbit is so off the mark that it's not even considered a Bugs Bunny cartoon (even though this did mark the first time that Bugs would recline on his name at the beginning). The title of Tex's next Bugs, Tortoise Beats Hare, pretty much sums up what Tex didn't know about Bugs at the time. Here he has Bugs BEING outsmarted by Cecil Turtle. Friz' attempt was a step in the right direction. However, Hiawatha's Rabbit Hunt is considered to be off as far as Bugs' persona goes. Maybe it's because Bugs seems much too cocky in this one. Cocky enough so that people might hate him rather than root for him.
However, all was forgiven with The Heckling Hare. Tex finally got it right and portrayed Bugs in a way that not only found more humour in Bugs persona but showed others how to find even more. Here we have Bugs out-witting a dog named Willoughby with ease acting as though his opponent is barely a threat.
But, this cartoon is significant for another reason. Leon didn't like the last few seconds of this cartoon so he had it sliced off haphazzardly without consulting Tex. Needless to say, Tex was furious with Leon and quit. He would go on to MGM where he made some of his best work, leaving Bugs without his care or guidance. Not to worry, Bugs was in good hands.
3. The Hare-Brained Hypnotist (by Friz Freleng c. 1942)
It starts out like a typical Bugs & Elmer cartoon. This time Elmer uses hypnosis to try and catch Bugs. But, Bugs being to smart manages to turn the tables and causes Elmer to hypnotize himself. Now under Bugs control, he instructs Elmer to behave like a rabbit. However, Elmer doesn't just behave like any rabbit, he behaves like Bugs. This forces Bugs to become the straight-man and be at the mercy of Elmer's "heckling".
Now for the significance of all this. Termite Terrace had always used a "nothing's sacred" approach to their humour. Anything and everything was ripe for parody. However, this cartoon established that even their own work was not exempt from this brand of satire.
Not just cartoons but comedy in general took a step up here. The self-referential humour of The Simpsons, Rocky & Bullwinkle, Conan O'Brian, David Letterman, Saturday Night Live, Monty Python, etc. all started with this cartoon.
4. Jack Wabbit and the Beanstalk (by Friz Freleng c. 1943)
[inline jackwbeanstalk.jpg]
Bugs' star was certainly rising at the release of this cartoon. It was around this time that Bugs was both more popular than Disney AND a symbol against oppression during WWII. The giant in this cartoon can symbolize both Disney or the Third Reich really.
That sort of hints at another reason for this toon's significance. This beanstalk story is comparable to Mickey and the Beanstalk in animation quality and writing. Not only was the WB more popular than Disney but just as good graphic-wise too (and even at a fraction of Disney's budget).
But, this also marked the first time that Bugs joined the ranks of other toons and invaded fairy tales and other stories successfully. I realize Tortoise Beats Hare could be considered the first but that was when Tex didn't have the personality right. Here Bugs seemed much more at home invading stories HIS way. That's the fundamental difference. This would lead to other Bugs' stories like Rabbit Hood, The Windblown Hare, Hare We Go, etc. All this would futher prove that Bugs is capable of anything.
5. Hare Ribbin' (by Bob Clampett c. 1944)
I do believe that cartoon marks the first time that Bugs ever went in drag to outwit his adversaries. Not just any drag mind you, but curvatious, jaw-dropping, Garth-arousing, authentic-looking drag. For all you trivia buffs out there, Bugs first drag costume was that of a mermaid used to seduce a Russian dog.
That also brings up another reason for this toon's greatness. 95% of this cartoon take splace under water. And yet, not once is there any breathing problems or even anything getting water logged. Some objects float down but other than that none of the characters acknowledge that they are under water for a second. I'm not sure, but I think this very cartoon might have been the inspiration for the modern juggernaut known as SpongeBob Squarepants.
6. Hare Trigger (by Friz Freleng c. 1945)
For both Bugs and Freleng, this was just another routine cartoon. But, this was the debut of that ultra-evil outlaw Yosemite Sam. Now, the significance of Sam's arrival is not just because he's a funny character. He enriched Bugs career more than anyone of the three I mentioned could imagine. Before this cartoon, everyone felt that Bugs belonged with Elmer. No matter what other type of villain Bugs faced in a cartoon (even if it was a Nazi), everyone felt that Bugs and Elmer were the comsumate team. However, Sam proved that Bugs could be a part of several successful teams of he/villain duos. From then on, every director was always trying to come up with another great villain for Bugs the same way they'd create wacky co-stars for Porky Pig back in the '30's. All this would eventually lead to other villains lie Marvin Martian, Tazmanian Devil, Gossamer, etc. Even though Bugs still worked with Elmer occasionally, he was no longer tied to him.
7. Rhapsody Rabbit (by Friz Freleng c. 1946)
The basic premise of this cartoon is that Bugs is trying to play a Lizst concerto in concert but is hampered by a small mouse inside the piano. This cartoon's significance is two-fold:
a) Since the beginning of the WB animation department, classical music had been looked upon with scorn by much of the staff and was ridiculed in most of the cartoons. The reason for much of this was that Walt Disney absolutely insisted that classical music and nothing else be used. This was one of the many reasons that many animators left Disney for WB and/or elsewhere and was certainly the main reason for Carl Stalling leaving Walt. So, for the longest time, classical music was put through the wringer at Termite Terrace. Even though toons such as Rhapsody in Rivets, Pigs in a Polka, and A Corny Concerto all rely on synchronozation to a classical piece, they do possess a charming hammy quality. But, Rahpsody Rabbit was the WB cartoon that treated classical music with the respect that an avid music buff would appreciate. This would lead to other great WB symphonic toons like Rabbit of Seville, Mouse Mazurka, What's Opera, Doc?, etc.
b) This could have been the year for Bugs, Freleng, and Termite Terrace to finally win an Oscar. But, something happened. The Technicolor company sent a copy to MGM by mistake where the team of Hanna Barbara saw it. Upon witnessing the above-excellent animation they paniced and rushed the production of their cartoon Cat Concerto (having the same premise as Rhapsody Rabbit) so that it could be submitted for Oscar consideration. So, both the Bugs and the Tom & Jerry cartoons were submitted that year. Here's an inside tip, the submitted films for the Acadamy then and now are screened alphabeticly. So, Cat Concerto was viewed BEFORE Rhapsody Rabbit and the acadamy thought that Bugs was copying Tom & Jerry. Cat Concerto got the nomination AND THE WIN!!! This just shows that Bugs would have been a shoe-in had it not been for Hanna and Barbara pulling that. Some say that's the main reason Tweetie Pie won the Oscar the following year, as a way of apologizing for the mistake. I personally think that Tweetie Pie would have won on it's own merits regardless but that's a whole other post. Not to worry, Bugs would receive an Oscar, but not now.
8. Rabbit Fire (by Chuck Jones c. 1951)
This is more of a significant cartoon for Daffy but this was a step up for Bugs as well. This is where the impossible became a reality. Before this the thought of Bugs and Daffy working together would have seemed absurd and unthinkable. But, this cartoon proved all that wrong. Bugs and Daffy being put together is the equivalent of having Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorcessie co-direct a film and have it, against the odds, turn out great. Not only do Bugs and Daffy work well together but they play off of Elmer Fudd smashingly as well. This cartoon would further prove that only at Waner Bros. could three or more characters play off each other wonderfully (First established in Crowing Pains). Before anyone comments on the the Mickey-Donald-Goofy cartoons, remember that all three would start together and then split up for their own individual adventures. For that reason, those characters weren't able to grow or develop as well as Bugs, Daffy or Elmer. This cartoon right here is what character interaction is all about.
9. Operation Rabbit (by Chuck Jones c. 1952)
Besides Jones finding more work for Wile E. Coyote away from the Roadrunner, this cartoon is significant in another way. For all of Bugs' cartoons up to this point his adversaries were quite dumb. Elmer Fudd, Willoughby, Beaky Buzzard, Red Hot Ryder, and even the Tazmanian Devil to come, were all idiots. The only exception is Yosemite Sam but he was stubborn where most of them were dumb so Bugs had a pretty easy time with him too. However, in this cartoon, it turns out that Wile E. is just as smart if not smarter than Bugs. One would think that in such a case Bugs would have met his match a finally have been genuinely scared. However, he's just as calm as he would be with Elmer Fudd's stupider cousin. Not only is Bugs not frightened of Wile E., he even taunts him into thinking he's given himself up at one point. He then tricks Wile E. into signing Bugs' will with a lit stick of dynomite. Needless to say, Bugs wins the days thoroughly and unmercifully. This cartoon established that Bugs has much more than intelligence on his side. What that is is a divine mystery.
10. What's Opera, Doc? (by Chuck Jones c. 1957)
AH! Yes! Certainly a masterpiece for Bugs, Elmer, Jones, and eveyone involved. Every inch, every second, every pixal of this cartoon is an exquisite work of art. One thing I find surprising is that Elmer Fudd does a really good job at this opera. One could almost think that Elmer missed his calling. If he hadn't gone into cartoons he could've had a great career in opera. However, there's another thing that surprises a lot of people: THIS CARTOON WASN'T EVEN NOMINATED FOR AN OSCAR!! The reason for that being the producer at the time Eddie Selzer deliberately didn't submit this to the acadamy for curious reasons lost in time. However, this caused a bit of a stir in the animation community. Clearly, everyone thought, this would be Bugs' year for the Oscar. How could this masterpiece be passed over? (Warner Bros. weren't complainig though. They had two cartoons nominated and one of them even won that year. That cartoon being Birds Anonymous). Not only that, but Bugs had been passed over for many many years despite having a quite impressive filmography. Toons like Long-Haired Hare, Rabbit of Seville, The Old Grey Hare, What's Up, Doc?, High Diving Hare, and about 40 others easily deserve the trophy. But, somehow, that didn't happen. Realizing they made a mistake yet again, the acadamy quickly corrected that by giving the Oscar to Knighty Knight Bugs. So, like Charlie Chaplain and Henry Fonda, Bugs finally received an Oscar not just for this work but for his entire career. Although, I think we all know that the Oscar really went to What's Opera, Doc?! Well, there's my list in a nutshell. Like I said, add some if you can. By the way, Dave, I think all these would make excellent commentaries in the database.
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Homestar: Hey, Strong Bad, I need to be kicked in the face.
Strong Bad: I can do it. I will do it 9 times.
(This post was edited by eminovitz on Apr 8, 2004, 3:24 PM)
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Research Guru
Posted:
Apr 8, 2004, 3:12 PM
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Re: Significant toons in Bugs Bunny's career
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(Actually, this reply comes from bmode. See above!)
I would like to add Ben Hardaway and Cal Dalton's Hare-Um Scare-Um to the already thorough list. That prototype Bugs also paved the way for many to follow.
(This post was edited by eminovitz on Apr 8, 2004, 4:25 PM)
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Research Guru
Posted:
Apr 8, 2004, 3:28 PM
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Re: Significant toons in Bugs Bunny's career
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(And now a genuine post from eminovitz!!)
Elmer's Candid Camera (1940) also featured a Bugs prototype, but the wise-guy character is definitely recognizable as Bugs Bunny. The voice and some facial coloring are somewhat different, but the shenanigans are those of Bugs.
This cartoon also marks the first official appearance of Elmer Fudd -- a frequent nemesis of the rabbit -- as he is generally known to us. It therefore shaped the protagonist/antagonist relationship between Bugs and Elmer.
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"Oh boy." -- Allan Sherman
(This post was edited by eminovitz on Apr 8, 2004, 4:24 PM)
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Funniest Man in Gotham / Contributor
Posted:
Apr 8, 2004, 3:33 PM
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Re: Significant toons in Bugs Bunny's career
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Chuck Jones singles out Hair-Raising Hare (the first Gossamer cartoon) as the cartoon where he finally and completely clicked with Bugs, so that would be worth a note, methinks.
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"Excuse me, I'm sorry, I thought I just heard a line I wrote."
George S. Kaufman 115 Animated Greatest: Main Menu
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Jpeg Master
Posted:
Apr 9, 2004, 2:14 AM
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Re: Significant toons in Bugs Bunny's career
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Oye, that title card of Hare Trigger is atrocious! Not knocking you damfine, but I offered to help Dave Mackey replace those cards, and he never responded. You can't even tell that those are carrots in the bullet belt. I'll only show you one, cause I don't feel like posting all of them, but here's the way it should look.
If anyone needs any title cards or other toon stuff, feel free to hit me anytime, I not trying to show off, but merely put better quality stuff out there. Why not right?
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Cartoon Detective / Contributor
Posted:
Apr 9, 2004, 1:23 PM
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Re: Significant toons in Bugs Bunny's career
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bmode,
Yea those carrots look more like sticks of dynamite!
Star Fox!
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ToonRadio! Dog City-Editer:TV.Com! Superior Firepower
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Jpeg Master
Posted:
Apr 11, 2004, 2:33 AM
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Re: Significant toons in Bugs Bunny's career
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I capture them that way!
My whole workstation is rather consumer hi-tech, and the Boomerang signal provided by Time Warner Digital Cable is nice and clean, which gives me an edge with transfers to the computer capturing device. The end result is what you see. You like?
It's also helps if your savy with Photoshop. 
(This post was edited by bmode on Apr 11, 2004, 2:34 AM)
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Forum Admin
Posted:
Apr 11, 2004, 9:24 AM
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Re: Significant toons in Bugs Bunny's career
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bmode, do you have a title card restoration kit at home or something?
I should also point out that bmode is a somewhat unherelded contributor to BCDB. he has contributed a significant amount of title cards to the DataBase- and, as you noted, they are high quality ones. I would not be exaggerate to say he sends 25-50 a week!
bmode has also helped me start putting title images on the series pages- a somewhat new idea in the construction of the BCDB. Using a little larger scans of generic images of a series, we are posting those images on the main listsing pages.
So, for all the months of thankless contributions, here is one big Thank You!
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Dave Koch
Big Cartoon DataBase
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Director / Contributor
Posted:
Apr 20, 2004, 11:26 AM
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Re: Significant toons in Bugs Bunny's career
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I do believe that cartoon marks the first time that Bugs ever went in drag to outwit his adversaries. Actually, I looked it up and I was wrong. It's actually Bugs Bunny Nips the Nip (by Friz Freleng c. 1944) where Bugs first outwits a bad guy with a highly convincing drag outfit. I don't really count the Carman Miranda costume in What's Cooking, Doc? because he's not outwitting anybody with it, and I certainly don't consider his drag in Harum Scarem because the beauty is in the dog's eyes only. The rest of us see him as some goofy looking girl dog. When the true Bugs went in drag, any red blooded male in the same room would have his "butter melted" just as much as Elmer Fudd or whomever Bugs was trying to affect. Plus, that's not even considered a Bugs Bunny cartoon anyway. To repeat, the first true instance of Bugs going in drag to hot wire his assailant was Bugs Bunny Nips the Nip, not Hare Ribbin'. Although, I still do stand by Hare Ribbin's greatness regardless.
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http://exposure.cbc.ca/video/hansel-und-gretel
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Inbetweener
Posted:
Apr 26, 2004, 11:45 AM
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Re: Significant toons in Bugs Bunny's career
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Damfine, What do you think about cartoons like "All This And Rabbit Stew", "Bugs Bunny Nips The Nips", "Hare Meets Hare", and another cartoons considered as "racist"?
Do you think that any of these cartoons shows something new (Good or bad) in the character of Bugs Bunny? 
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Director / Contributor
Posted:
Apr 26, 2004, 8:06 PM
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Re: Significant toons in Bugs Bunny's career
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Good Question. 
Bugs is definitely true to form in those cartoons. Someone opposes him and he takes out the trash without breaking a sweat. The only difference this time around is that the villains are ethnic (or at least not white-American).
In the case of Bugs Bunny Nips the Nip and Herr Meets Hare, they were made during WWII and people really needed to the America's enemy be humiliated. I think "Nips the Nip" might have gone a little too far in which it portrays the Japanese people as evil rather than just punishing them for serving Hitler. But, like I said, it was war time and noone was going to pull any punches.
All This and Rabbit Stew on the other hand was not an attack on blacks persay. Sure it had a Stephen Fetchit caricature (who himself was a caricature of a black person) but it was certainly not used for any malice on Tex Avery's part. But, most of all, Bugs treated him like he would any adversary. Except for the crap-shoot, Bugs did not ridicule his race at all. He was humiliated in the same way all of Bugs vilains are humiliated, unmercifully and thoroughly. Bugs Bunny is an equal-oppurtunity wise guy. I think blacks and other minorities would be more upset if Bugs went easy on someone for not being white.
But, hey, the discussion does not end here. Everyone, feel free to post your thoughts.
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http://exposure.cbc.ca/video/hansel-und-gretel
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Inbetweener
Posted:
Apr 27, 2004, 2:43 PM
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Re: Significant toons in Bugs Bunny's career
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Is a very good topic, letīs make a new thread 
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Director / Contributor
Posted:
May 5, 2004, 12:47 AM
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Re: Significant toons in Bugs Bunny's career
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6. Hare Trigger (by Friz Freleng c. 1945) For both Bugs and Freleng, this was just another routine cartoon. But, this was the debut of that ultra-evil outlaw Yosemite Sam. Now, the significance of Sam's arrival is not just because he's a funny character. He enriched Bugs career more than anyone of the three I mentioned could imagine. Before this cartoon, everyone felt that Bugs belonged with Elmer. No matter what other type of villain Bugs faced in a cartoon (even if it was a Nazi), everyone felt that Bugs and Elmer were the comsumate team. However, Sam proved that Bugs could be a part of several successful teams of he/villain duos. From then on, every director was always trying to come up with another great villain for Bugs the same way they'd create wacky co-stars for Porky Pig back in the '30's. All this would eventually lead to other villains lie Marvin Martian, Tazmanian Devil, Gossamer, etc. Even though Bugs still worked with Elmer occasionally, he was no longer tied to him. <br> <br>
By the way, this cartoon turns 59 years old today. Thus it is also known as Yosemite Sam's birthday.
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http://exposure.cbc.ca/video/hansel-und-gretel
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Director / Contributor
Posted:
May 16, 2004, 5:08 PM
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Re: Significant toons in Bugs Bunny's career
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(And now a genuine post from eminovitz!!) Elmer's Candid Camera (1940) also featured a Bugs prototype, but the wise-guy character is definitely recognizable as Bugs Bunny. The voice and some facial coloring are somewhat different, but the shenanigans are those of Bugs. This cartoon also marks the first official appearance of Elmer Fudd -- a frequent nemesis of the rabbit -- as he is generally known to us. It therefore shaped the protagonist/antagonist relationship between Bugs and Elmer.
Actually, E! That cartoon is further analysed in this Elmer Fudd thread.
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http://exposure.cbc.ca/video/hansel-und-gretel
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Supervising Animator / Contributor
Posted:
May 1, 2006, 3:44 PM
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Re: Significant toons in Bugs Bunny's career
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Tortoise Beats Hare - First off, wouldn't this be the first fairy tale Bugs was put in? Anyway, this was the very first cartoon where Bugs was outsmarted. Strangly, the idea was used quite often after The Hare-Brained Hypnotist, which E already posted.
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Director / Contributor
Posted:
May 2, 2006, 4:44 AM
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Re: Significant toons in Bugs Bunny's career
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I did mention Tortoise Beats Hare within the text of Jack-Wabit and the Beanstalk: I realize Tortoise Beats Hare could be considered the first but that was when Tex didn't have the personality right. Here Bugs seemed much more at home invading stories HIS way. That's the fundamental difference.
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http://exposure.cbc.ca/video/hansel-und-gretel
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Supervising Animator / Contributor
Posted:
May 2, 2006, 1:41 PM
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Re: Significant toons in Bugs Bunny's career
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Oh, okay. But I also mentioned that this was the first cartoon with Bugs being outsmarted.
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