Rabbit Seasoning

Bugs Bunny almost always gets the last word, and this cartoon really promotes that. In this one, Daffy Duck has convinced Elmer Fudd it is rabbit season to deflect the fact that it is really duck season. Of course, he never has a chance against the clever rabbit. Since Elmer is no Rhodes Scholar himself, he falls for every verbal trap put forth and Daffy ends up paying for it with buckshot dismantling him. On several occasions, the clumsy hunter shoots the poor duck, usually rearranging his head in some way. There is the obligatory scene where Bugs dresses up as a Southern Belle and Elmer goes bonkers over him/her. Good animation. Nowadays, all the shooting and talk of death would never allow this to be shown to children the way it was in 1952.

The four signs on the road say "If You're Looking For Fun.....You Don't Need A Reason....All You Need Is A Gun....It's Rabbit Season!"

In the woods, we see hundreds of "Rabbit Season" signs posted on every tree. We see more and more signs pointing exactly to Bugs Bunny's hole. Who's putting up all these signs? Daffy Duck!

Daffy puts the last sign up, tiptoes away and says to us, the audience, "Awfully unsporting of me, I know. But, what the hey - I gotta have some fun! Besides, it's really duck season."

From that point, we now see Elmer Fudd, shotgun in hand.....and a war of semantics between Bugs and Daffy with Bugs winning every time. Only in cartoons, thankfully, can we see someone getting shotgun-blasted in the head five times and keep going!

Like most Looney Tunes, I could watch "Rabbit Seasoning" over and over. It's my favorite one that doesn't include Marvin the Martian. The "wabbit season/duck season" argument between Bugs and Daffy is comparable to Abbott and Costello's "Who's on first" routine. Animation at its best.

If you overlook the fact that the plot has been done many times, this is a hilarious and gleefully enjoyable Looney Tunes cartoon. The animation is wonderful, the backgrounds so detailed and a lot of audacious colouring too. The writing is razor sharp, and the sight gags especially Daffy constantly getting his head blown off are brilliantly timed. I really did love the arguments between Daffy and Bugs, and that Bugs wins every time. I also love it that Daffy is really greedy and nasty while being uproariously funny. I do prefer him when he's manic but he is great fun here too. Bugs is still his charming and rascally self, and Elmer is funny if rather dumb too. In short, this is absolutely brilliant, and actually my personal favourite of the Hunting Trilogy for sheer entertainment value. 10/10 Bethany Cox

Once again Elmer is faced with the dilemma of who to shoot. Bugs of Daffy. He's unsure of what season it is and Bunny and Duck arguing help matters not. Though Bugs proves he's the smartest once more by repeatedly using reverse psychology on Daffy in increasingly subtle ways. And when that runs out he does his trademark cross-dressing thingy. Daffy freaks out and demands the bunny be shot. Though Elmer is too stupid he is hopelessly in love with the girl bunny thing. Elmer really is to blame for all this. If he weren't so dumb he'd know it REALLY is duck season and just blast Daffy. But poor old Daff can't believe the utter preposterousness of the situation. His cruel plans of misdirection have been foiled by Elmer's dumbness. Daffy is so shocked that he even goes home with Elmer to be blasted in his living room.

Poor Daff. He rules!