Release Date:

July 24, 1948

Main Character(s):

Bugs Bunny, Marvin the Martian, K-9

Summary:

Bugs Bunny is sent as the first test subject to be rocketed to the Moon where he foils Marvin the Martian’s plan to blow up the Earth and outsmarts his green dog, K-9.

That’s Not All, Folks:

The production number is 1052 and was released as a Looney Tune.

This is the first appearance of Marvin the Martian, who despite his limited appearances in the Golden Age, became one of the most iconic Looney Tunes characters much later on (the same also applies to Taz). Marvin appeared in four more cartoons (all directed by Jones), with those being “The Hasty Hare” (1952), “Duck Dodgers in the 24 1/2th Century” (1953), “Hare Way to the Stars” (1958), and “Mad As a Mars Hare” (1963). Marvin was never actually named until 31 years after his debut in the 1979 compilation movie, “The Bugs Bunny-Roadrunner Movie”.

Marvin’s voice sounds a lot different than it would in all subsequent cartoons.

This is also the only cartoon where K-9 talks as in his other appearance, the aforementioned “The Hasty Hare”, he is mute.

This is the first postwar Jones cartoon to have Michael Maltese as his sole storyman. With their partnership fully established, we have now entered the golden era of Jones’ career.

In production order, this is the first Warner cartoon to have animation by Pete Burness. This is also the only time he animated for Jones.

This cartoon also marks the end of an era as it is the last cartoon in the former Associated Artists Productions package (which consisted of every Merrie Melodie from the Harman-Ising era except for the first, “Lady Play Your Mandolin” and every color Warner cartoon released before August 1948. MGM/United Artists owned the rights to these cartoons from September 1956 up until Ted Turner’s purchase of them in 1995, meaning that 1995 was the first year in which every Warner cartoon from the Golden Age was owned by the same company). For some inexplicable reason, this package was known as the “pre-1948” package which is VERY misleading as cartoons released in 1948 were very clearly part of this package (calling it “pre-August 1948” makes a LOT more sense). The next cartoon (“You Were Never Duckier”) is the start of the era a lot of people’s parents and grandparents are most familiar with, the “post-July 1948” package, as since Warner always had the rights to those cartoons, they were the ones that showed up the most on television (and it also had a very misleading term; calling it “post-1948”, even though again, cartoons released in 1948 were part of this package).

This is the first Warner cartoon centered around outer space. Notably, space-centered cartoons show that cartoon characters can survive in space without suits.

Marvin’s bugle call for K-9 is a vocal effect by Mel Blanc, where he simultaneously vocalizes and squeezes his hands together in rhythm.

The cartoon is in the 100 Greatest Looney Tunes Cartoons book.

When Bugs says, “Well, anyway, I’m the first living creature to set foot on the Moon”, he passes by a tombstone-like rock that has graffiti scribbled on it which reads, “Kilroy was here”. This was a phrase used by GIs around the world in World War II where they would scribble this message on fences and buildings.

“Haredevil” is a pun for “daredevil”.

“Boy Scout in Switzerland” plays during the scene where K-9 first appears.

What I Like About This One:

Newspapers show “Scientists to Launch Rocket to Moon” and “Heroic Rabbit Volunteers as First Passenger”. It’s actually quite the opposite as Bugs is being dragged off by scientists and begging not to be sent up. “No, no! I don’t wanna go! I’m too young to fly! Stop! I’ve got a wife and kids! Millions of kids! Help! I don’t wanna be a hero!” Upon seeing the rocket, he continues, “No! You ain’t gettin’ ME into that flyin’ cigar! After all I-” but upon seeing a helicopter supply load of carrots put into the rocket, changes his mind and goes into the rocket by entering through the top (animated by Ken Harris).

The rocket is launched via a firecracker attached to the bottom of it. After it blasts off and in tune to a lively rendition of Wagner’s “Dawn and Siegfried’s Rhine Journey”, Bugs is flattened against the rocket’s floor and upon coming to, realizes he’s been tricked, but upon opening the “Escape Hatch”, sees to his horror that the Earth is long gone. He clings to a support near the top of the interior and says, “After all, only a coward would desert his ship!” (animated by Lloyd Vaughan).

After an intense journey through space (animated by Vaughan), the rocket crash-lands on the Moon, with Bugs going into a series of fits after the landing. The scientists call from the radio if he’s there. Bugs goes into a few more fits before answering, “Over”. Once his fits stop, he wonders where everyone is and is briefly panicked that he’s alone on the Moon, before realizing this isn’t so bad: “Well, anyway, I’m the first living creature to set foot on the Moon” (animated by Ben Washam).

A spaceship from Mars called the “Mars to Moon Expedition” comes in (animated by Washam), with Marvin rising out of the ship, and pointing a large missile labeled “V-16” in Earth’s direction and attaching a dynamite stick to it. When Bugs asks him, “What’s up, doc?”, Marvin politely answers, “Oh. Oh, uh, I’m going to blow up the Earth”. Bugs tells him he “sure picked a nice day for it and while leaving, seems impressed: “Now there’s a brainy little guy. Probably get ahead in the Moon”. Just as Marvin begins to light the fuse, Bugs asks him, “Eh, pardon me for bothering you, Marconi, but uh did you say you was going to blow up the Earth?” to which Marvin answers, “Oh, yes I did”. Bugs again walks away and figures, “Another’s meat is another man’s poison, I always say. After all, it’s his business if he wants to blow up the Earth” before making a realization: “D-d-d-d-WHOA!” In an irritated tone, Bugs removes the dynamite stick and puts out the fuse: “You can’t do that! All the people I know are on the Earth! Huh. The nerve of this character!” (animated by Phil Monroe)

Upset at the inconvenience, Marvin brings out a bugle to “call out the reserves”. Said bugle only blows some Mel Blanc vocal effects and while K-9 rises out of the ship, Bugs is alarmed at the sight of K-9 being a green dog. Marvin instructs him to, “Go get that Earth creature and bring back the Uranium PU-36 Explosive Space Modulator”. K-9 salutes with his ear, and marches off to “Boy Scout in Switzerland” while still facing Marvin (animated by Monroe).

Bugs frantically tries to radio the Earth about the danger but only receives a broadcast jingle sung to the tune of “The Little Brown Jug: “Crumbly Crunchies are the best; look delicious on your vest; serve them to unwanted guests; stuff the mattress with the rest!” After the broadcast ends, Bugs sees K-9 next to him and with the dynamite stick in his mouth. At first Bugs laughs at him: “Well, well, what are you made up for? Heh. Catch the fugitive from the Dog Star” but gets wise upon seeing K-9 reveal the dynamite stick. Bugs orders, “Hey, what’s the big idea? Give me that!” K-9 responds in a dopey voice, “Eh, no I won’t!” An “Oh, yes you will!”, “Oh, no I won’t!” argument ensues with Bugs using reverse psychology to trick K-9 into giving the stick to him. K-9 ends the argument by threatening, “Duh, you take it or I’ll shove it down your throat!” Bugs walks away with, “Okay, you big bully. I’ll take it this time. If you’re gonna be nasty about it. But I’m gonna tell my big brother, and he’ll fix you up, boy. Yeah”. K-9 is initially satisfied before realizing he’s been tricked: “Duh, I guess I showed him. I guess he won’t try to get away with anything off me again. I guess I- I guess I- eh- HEY!” (animated by Pete Burness)

K-9 bumps into Bugs while zooming towards him, ending with them getting caught in an embrace. While not speaking in a feminine voice, Bugs speaks in a flirty tone: “Gee kid, I didn’t know you cared!” which causes K-9 to chuckle in embarrassment. Bugs tells him not to leave as “there’s a beautiful Earth out tonight!” but runs off upon seeing Marvin approaching (animated by Harris).

After K-9 chuckles in embarrassment again, thinking he’s still in the embrace, Marvin kicks him in the rear end and tells him off: “You make me very angry! VERY angry indeed!” Bugs zooms up to them on some sort of rocket-powered scooter disguised as a Martian and giving them a “special delivery from Mars”. Marvin is elated at what it is as he and K-9 go back to their ship: “Oh, goody! Another Uranium PU-36 Explosive Space Modulator! Isn’t that wonderful? Now we can blow up the Earth!” They fail to notice that this dynamite stick has wires attached to it, as Bugs pushes the TNT plunger it’s attached to, blowing the Moon in half into a crescent shape (animated by Harris).

Meanwhile, the scientists radio to Bugs if he’s arrived safely on the Moon. Bugs confirms he did, so they ask him if he has prepared a statement for the press. His answer is, “Well, uh, yes I have prepared a statement….GET ME OUT OF HERE!” He is seen hanging on the Moon’s remains, with Marvin and K-9 also hanging on to him (animated by Harris).

Where Can I Watch It?

At archive.org!

Carrot Rating:

🥕🥕🥕🥕🥕