What Makes Daffy Duck

It's duck season and, confidentially, Daffy is a duck. His problems are greater than usual when he is hunted by both Elmer Fudd and a fox. More than a match for one duck you would say? Not when the duck is as tricky as Daffy who sets about turning the two hunters against one another.

I love Daffy Duck, but I greatly prefer him when he is crazy, in his early days - not only do I prefer his character but also the cartoons seemed to have more value placed upon them. Here we have such a cartoon. Daffy sums up the material best himself when he says `typical of the little black duck' as he spills oil to slip his captor. The gags are good as Daffy uses his crazy imagination to outsmart his captors - in a way it's like Bugs Bunny but Daffy has the added benefit of being absolutely off his head! This is very funny - I'm biased as I am a fan but I guess even those with a passing liking for the duck will enjoy this.

Elmer and the fox are both pretty good - they have the ability to give as good as they get and give the impression that they are a physical match for Daffy and it's only his mental superiority that saves him. As said, Daffy is always at his best when he is slightly loony and that's just what he does here. He is funny, quick witted and a really fun character.

Overall, this is typical of the little black duck - fast, witty, imaginative and crazily funny! An enjoyable outing for Daffy Duck that will easily please fans and hopefully win new ones.

In `What Makes Daffy Duck", duckhunting season is just a thinly disguised analogy for war. But the use of machine gun and anti aircraft sound effects also add to the loony flavor Daffy was famous for in the Forties. Hunter Elmer Fudd faces some competition from a hungry fox. Leave it to the little black duck to try and bamboozle both of them. But this is a sly fox (although he does take a lot longer to regain his senses after knocking himself out than the other toons).

Daffy's every move is exaggerated. His arms move faster than the human eye can perceive, he constantly breaks the fourth wall and even conjures up a bathtub out of thin air to take his morning shower. His screwy behavior even starts to rub off on the two hunters: Elmer dresses up as a lady duck (Daffy promises him a screen-test with Warner Bros) and when the fox is ordered to `throw up his hands' we learn why cartoon characters always wear those silly white gloves.

In the end `What makes Daffy Duck' can be considered a prelude of sorts to the famous Hunter trilogy: `Rabbit Fire' (1951), `Rabbit Seasoning' (1952), and `Duck! Rabbit! Duck!' (1953), in which hunting season would get even more confusing for Elmer.

8 out of 10

It's duck season and Daffy finds himself in danger, not only from hunter Elmer Fudd, but also from a hungry fox. So he does what any sensible duck would do and tries to pit his two enemies against one another. It's a very good short, directed by Arthur Davis, with Daffy throwing out one funny line after another. Elmer and the fox are both enjoyable but this is Daffy's show. He's at his manic best here. I don't think he shuts up for more than two seconds the whole cartoon! The animation is beautiful with nice colors and well-drawn characters and backgrounds. Carl Stalling's music perfectly matches the action. The voice work, from legends Mel Blanc and Arthur Q. Bryan, is flawless. A fun cartoon Daffy fans will love. And remember, ladies (and moronic hunters disguised as ducks), never fall for the "I can get you a screen test for Warner Bros." routine.

Genre: Cartoon, old animation, hunting, funny.

Actors: Mel Blanc (Daffy Duck and fox), Arthur Q. Bryan (Elmer Fudd).

Main characters: Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd and the fox.

What happens: For Daffy Duck in one of his older episodes, life's pretty tough at the moment for him because it's DUCK SEASON. He has to perform all these tricks, just to take a shower. Unfortunately, it doesn't work, as two unruly hunters, a fox and a human (Elmer Fudd), find him there…

Message: It is polite not to hunt ducks.

My thoughts: "What Makes Daffy Duck" being in my top ten favourites, this particular episode is very likable (I even liked it slightly more than some episodes when I didn't like Daffy Duck in general!). I like the old animation of Daffy Duck, he's all wonky unlike in his later cartoons with Charles M. Jones etc (I think Arthur Davis saw Daffy better with a wonkier style, even in the '60's). Also, not ONCE is Daffy shot but survives, unlike in a lot of later episodes. He is also more wily, cheeky and less stubborn than in his later episodes, which I like A LOT. Also, it is quite a funny episode, but not the most funny ever. What more do I have to say? I like Daffy, I like the animation and I like the humour! :-)

Recommended to: People who prefer the older Daffy Duck to the newer one, people who like watching old cartoons and people who prefer Elmer Fudd not butting in so much, if you know what I mean and I recommend this to people who like funny cartoons! Enjoy! :-)

8 and a half out of 10.

This is a wonderful Daffy Duck cartoon, that is everything I like in a typical Looney Tunes cartoon, it is witty, fast paced, quick-witted and funny. Daffy himself is brilliant, manic and hysterical and Mel Blanc's voicing is one of the best assets to a short that is already perfect. Fox and Elmer are effective supporting characters, and make the most of the rapid and razor sharp material. Great music, a simple and fun story and fluid animation are other things to like about "What Makes Daffy Duck".

Overall, this is a great cartoon, and I do recommend it! 10/10 Bethany Cox