Love animation, it was a big part of my life as a child, particularly Disney, Looney Tunes, Hanna and Barbera and Tom and Jerry, and still love it whether it's film, television or cartoons. Actually appreciate it even more now through young adult eyes, thanks to broader knowledge and taste and more interest in animation styles and various studios and directors.
Chuck Jones deserved, and still deserves, to be considered one of the best, most legendary and most influential animation directors/animators. While not quite as distinctive in directing style as other directors from the same era, in his prime era he was responsible for some of the best cartoons ever made and Mel Blanc was one of the greatest voice actors ever. Also have a lifelong adoration of classical music and opera and two of my favourite cartoons of all time are featured.
'Bugs Bunny's Overtures to Disaster' represents them and Jones really well. It is a collection of cartoons and doesn't have as such a linking story, but that's not a bad thing. The 'William Tell Overture' cartoon fares weakest, too short, too slight and not as inspired as the others.
In all the cartoons however, the animation is bright and colourful with finesse in the drawing and elegant backgrounds. It is at its most imaginative in 'What's Opera Doc'. The music is whimsical, lively and beautifully and cleverly orchestrated, having sensuality and zaniness which fits perfectly. It not only adds to the action but enhances it. Rossini and Wagner have never been used in animation as timelessly as in 'Rabbit of Seville' and 'What's Opera Doc'.
Everything is very amusing to hilarious, with wit, some of the best use of classical music in animation, and imaginatively timed and animated sight gags. Everything transfixes with never a dull moment. 'Rabbit of Seville' and 'What's Opera Doc' are masterpieces and all the characters are used well, Bugs and Elmer's pairing in 'What's Opera Doc' is a legendary one.
Mel Blanc once again shows a remarkable and unmatched ability to voicing multiple characters and making them individual from each other.
Overall, very well done and pretty great. 9/10 Bethany Cox
