Broom-Stick Bunny

This 1956 "Looney Tunes" cartoon short called "Broom-Stick Bunny" is one fun entertaining and clever cartoon that's always a joy when watched. It involves "Halloween" time with Witch Hazel being at her castle and she wants nothing more than to stay ugly, well Bugs is going to her place to trick or treat, and once she finds out he's a real bunny the episode becomes a chase and twist of fighting between pretty looks and staying ugly! The cartoon is funny as the Magic Mirror is the telling tale of the story as wanting to be ugly backfires for the witch! Nice cartoon with a twist!

Witch Hazel is having some insecurity issues about getting prettier as she grows older and asks her magic mirror if she is still the ugliest witch of them all. The mirror reassures her that she is. That is until a trick-or-treating Bugs Bunny (dressed as a witch) shows up at her house. The mirror then tells Hazel that Bugs is uglier, which just doesn't sit well with our favorite witch. Colorful animation, if a little sketchy for my tastes. Lively music from Milt Franklyn. Wonderful voice work from legends June Foray and Mel Blanc. It's a very funny short with great characters. Probably my favorite Witch Hazel cartoon.

It is Halloween. Bugs Bunny goes trick or treating at Witch Hazel's house. She prides herself as being the ugliest one of all. When the mirror spots Bugs in a witch mask, it proclaims Bugs to be uglier than her. Bugs takes off his mask. She realizes that she needs a rabbit for her brew.

This is an absolute classic and I absolutely love it. I love it all although I missed something while watching it as a child. I don't think that I realized she is actually trying to be ugly. That is even more funnier. It is a great twist to the classic fairy tale. Hazel is a great character and great with Bugs.

For Witch Hazel (who's all gleeful cackling and flying hairpins) there's nothing more satisfying than being reassured (by the Genie in the magic mirror) that she is, indeed, the ugliest one of all.

Yep. There's no bigger compliment than that for this snaggle-toothed old hag.

And, so (on Halloween night) when an even uglier little witch comes a-knocking at her door (hollering out "Trick or Treat!") you can be darn certain that old Witch Hazel is gonna do everything within the wickedness of her power to reclaim, once again, that crown of supreme ugliness for herself.

Anyway - (IMO) - "Broom-Stick Bunny" may have been a "Bugs Bunny" cartoon, first and foremost - But, with that aside - It was, without question, Witch Hazel (and all of her hysterical histrionics) that stole the show here, over, and over again.

To summarise, this short is creepy and fun, and incidentally my personal favourite of the cartoons starring Witch Hazel. The animation here is stunning, and the story is top notch too. Bugs is still great, but it is Hazel who steals the show, her voice, her laugh, her mannerisms are all enough to make her truly memorable. The script is fine, but the sight gags are better I think, with a wonderful(and hilarious) ending. Also the part when Bugs tears up causing Hazel to cry as well almost made me do so too, Bugs's expression was so cute. Mel Blanc excels as always as Bugs, but June Foray steals the show with a bravura vocal performance as Witch Hazel. Overall, really fun to watch. 10/10 Bethany Cox