Release Date:

July 27, 1940

Main Character(s):

Bugs Bunny, Elmer Fudd

Summary:

Elmer Fudd hunts Bugs Bunny for the very first time.

That’s Not All, Folks:

The cartoon was given a Blue Ribbon reissue. When it was restored for the Academy Awards Animation Collection: 15 Winners/26 Nominees DVD in 2008, the original titles were put back in. It’s also worth noting that Bugs Bunny cartoons were often excluded from being reissued as separate theaters booked his cartoons as “Bugs Bunny Specials”. Whoever decided to do that, I give a major thanks to, since this also meant that Bugs Bunny cartoons were spared from having their credits removed.

This is the very first appearance of Bugs Bunny.

The cartoon was rightfully nominated for an Academy Award.

The iconic phrase “What’s up, doc?” was a phrase that students at the high school Tex Avery attended used.

This is the only Elmer Fudd cartoon directed by Avery as well as the first cartoon to use the finalized design of Elmer.

In 2020, Warner Home Video commemorated this cartoon with an excellent Blu-ray release called the “Bugs Bunny 80th Anniversary Collection” which collected a few essential Bugs Bunny cartoons (obviously including this one) but also collecting 40 Bugs Bunny cartoons that had not been restored on disc prior to 2020.

A frame of Bugs after he screams “I AM A WABBIT!” to Elmer became a meme.

What I Like About This One:

The rendition of “I’m Just Wild About Harry” over the opening credits, indicating you’re getting an awesome introductory cartoon for an awesome character.

Hearing Elmer say “Shh, be vewy vewy quiet. I’m hunting wabbits!” for the very first time (animated by Robert McKimson).

When Elmer leaves a carrot by Bugs’ hole (animated by Sid Sutherland), only Bugs’ hand is seen grabbing it (animated by McKimson).

Bugs’ hand coming out again and feeling Elmer’s gun. He then puts the eaten carrot back out, pats Elmer’s gun, and then has his fingers act like someone walking and taking the carrot back (animated by McKimson).

After Elmer gets his rifle tied in a knot, he tosses it aside and starts digging into the hole. Bugs pops up from another hole, chews on a carrot and utters his first lines of dialogue, “What’s up doc?” (animated by Paul Smith).

Elmer demonstrating what a “wabbit” looks like (animated by Rod Scribner). After seeing Bugs have all of these qualities, Elmer tells us, “You know, I beweive this fewwa is a R-A-B-B-I-T.” (animated by Sutherland). When Elmer tells Bugs, “Pardon me, but you know, you wook just wike a wabbit!” Bugs confides, “Listen, doc. Now don’t spread this around, but, uh, confidentially…. I AM A WABBIT!” (animated by Virgil Ross).

Bugs sneaking up behind Elmer and covering his eyes to have him play “Guess Who?” Elmer guesses various female movie stars such as Hedy Lamarr, Carole Lombard, Rosemary Lane, and Olivia de Havilland. When he wonders, “Say you wouldn’t be that scwewy wabbit, would ya?”, Bugs answers “Mmm, could be” and gives him a wacky kiss (animated by Smith).

Elmer sticking his head down Bugs’ hole to say, “Doggone, you old mean wabbit!” before getting kissed again (animated by McKimson).

Elmer’s “wabbit twap” catching a skunk. He absentmindendly brags to Bugs that he caught him before making a take upon realizing who he’s talking to and saying “Uh oh”. The skunk tells him, “Confidentially, you know”. (animated by Charles McKimson)

After Elmer shoos the skunk away, he rants, “Doggone, you mean old wabbit! That’s the wast stwaw!” Bugs decides he’s had his fun and will let Elmer shoot him (animated by Ross).

Bugs stepping away from under chirping birds (animated by Smith).

After Elmer shoots, Bugs does an overly dramatic fake death scene (brilliantly animated by Robert McKimson; this is also a triumph for Mel Blanc).

As Elmer cries at seemingly killing a “poor, wittle gway fuzzy wabbit”, Bugs gives Elmer a kick in the pants that sends him propelling upward into a tree (animated by Sutherland).

Elmer angrily going off into the distance ranting, “Awww, wabbits, wabbits, guns, wabbit twaps, cawwots, wabbits, wabbits, wabbits, (cries in frustration)” (animated by Ross).

Bugs commenting on Elmer’s behavior: “Can you imagine anybody acting like that? You know, I think the poor guy’s screwy!” He then plays “The Girl I Left Behind Me” on his carrot imitating a fife (animated by Scribner).

Where Can I Watch It?

At archive.org!

Carrot Rating:

🥕🥕🥕🥕🥕