Frigid Hare

Ahh, the first appearance of what has to be Warner Bros.'s cutest cartoon creation: the tuxedo-wearing penguin. Who can't help but gush when that adorable little bird stars crying ice cubes? Bugs takes yet another wrong turn at Albuquerque and ends up in the South Pole, just in time to save said-penguin from an eskimo. However, when he leaves the little penguin to continue his vacation, it gets caught by the same eskimo, and Bugs feels obligated to help out the poor little bird, even though it will no doubt cut into his vacation. I find it interesting that we never find out what the eskimo wanted the penguin for (we assume it's for food, but you never know). Though Bugs is up to his old tricks and gives us an impressive show, the star is still the little penguin. Warning: don't watch this if you have an thing against cuteness, or if the person next to you has a tendency to gush all over cute things ("Awww! I just wanna pinch his wittle cheekies!"); you'll get sick before the cartoon is over.

Having once again taken a wrong turn at Albuquerque, Bugs Bunny tunnels to Antarctica in this entertaining Chuck Jones short. The story has Bugs trying to help a little penguin being hunted by a very unpleasant Eskimo. The big selling point to this one is the adorable penguin, whose little waddle will make even the most cold-hearted among us smile. The scene where the penguin rescues Bugs from a fall is something only Chuck Jones could think of. There are laughs to be had, for sure, but this is one of those shorts that's heavy on the cute factor. The animation is great with well-drawn characters and backgrounds and nice colors. Carl Staling's music is lively and fun. Mel Blanc's voice work is flawless. It's a good cartoon but not something everybody will enjoy. If you don't like cartoons with cute characters like Tweety and Pussyfoot, you probably won't like this.

Bugs Bunny is headed to Miami beach, but took another wrong turn at Albuquerque. He ends up at the South Pole. He saves a small penguin by misdirecting an Eskimo hunter. He becomes responsible for the little one and has to save the kid again from the hunter.

I like the little penguin although this is not its best cartoon. I always love the penguin crying little ice cubes. I would change out the Eskimo hunter and replace him with a polar bear. Neither makes real world sense, but that doesn't matter. This is solid Bugs Bunny. It is not the best, but it still works very well. Bugs is always good.

Bugs must be some digger. He digs a hole through the earth and pops out with his sun tan, lotion, bathing suit, beach umbrella, etc., thinking he's reached his destination: Miami Beach.

Unfortunately, he's at the South Pole which he doesn't discover until he takes a plunge into the icy waters. Within seconds he almost gets run over by a little penguin whizzing by, followed by a huge Eskimo. Later, the little penguin comes by while Bugs is ready to go back in his hole and try again for Miami Beach. He dresses the penguin up with a top and tie to go with the rest of his looks. When Bugs dives back, the penguin follows. This happens several times. Apparently, he has made a new friend, but Bugs wants none of that. He boots the penguin down an icy sloop but watches as the Eskimo captures him in his burlap bag.

Oh, well, says Bugs, who walks back to his hole. "It's none of my business. I'm not my penguin's keeper." However, in a flash he pops back up, his conscience obviously getting the better of him, and goes back to rescue the little guy. Bugs stops for a second, turns to the camera and speaks to us: the audience, admonishing us for thinking Bugs wouldn't do the right thing!

Bugs then dons a disguise, gets the Eskimo's attention....and the chase is on. From that point on, there's some pretty funny stuff, visually and dialog-wise with Bug's wisecracks

Frigid Hare (1949)

*** (out of 4)

Jack Warner gives Bugs Bunny two weeks vacation so the rabbit begins digging for Miami Beach but takes a wrong turn and ends up at the South Pole. Once there he gets involved with a small penguin who is being hunted by an eskimo. Some will probably be offended by the nature of the Eskimo because of how he's drawn and some of the dialogue thrown at him but we must remember the times that this was made. With that out of the way, this remains a cute and charming short but it's certainly not a classic. The relationship between Bugs and the penguin is pretty cute and there are plenty of laughs to keep the thing moving. The action sequences aren't as violent as you might expect and the final gag is a good one.