The Wacky Wabbit

Starting with a cactus encouraging us to buy war bonds, we follow "Elmer" twamping and twudging through the desert ready for his own personal gold rush. Meantime, "Bugs" is carefully camouflaged inside a sheep's skull and after a rousing duet of "Oh Susannah" watches his patsy set about beginning his mining operation. Well, it's really just him, a pick axe and some dynamite! Might "Elmer" have been based on Walter Brennan, I wonder? Anyway, what ensues here is a bit repetitive and after a few minutes I was a little too settled into the obvious dynamic. It's not that cartoons didn't usually follow a formula, it's maybe just that the two characters here don't really engage for me. I always found "Bugs" a bit smug! It's watchable, though - just not very memorable and there's far too much dialogue, too.

A typical Bugs Bunny cartoon. An early version of Elmer Fudd is prospecting in the desert. He brings enough junk to fill a small house. While his intentions are good, he doesn't count on the fact that our erstwhile rabbit is out there. Bugs has no real agenda other than being a thorn in the side of anyone he encounters.

This time, Elmer Fudd - looking mighty chubby (so as to resemble Arthur Q. Bryan, who did his voice) - is looking for gold out in the desert, but Bugs Bunny keeps playing tricks on him. The gags with the dynamite were probably the best (the crowd behind these cartoons sure had a way with dynamite, as much of their work showed). One can always see how various characters try to undermine Bugs's integrity, but poetic justice prevails. It just goes to show why these cartoons will never get old, no matter what happens. You'd better believe that Arthur Q. Bryan and Mel Blanc are the voices for all time! So seriously Susanna, don't cry for me.

The major Warner Brothers characters, at least the early ones, evolved over time into the characters best known today. Bugs, Daffy, Porky and Tweety all started out looking quite different in the beginning. But perhaps the most involved and extensive changes were made by Elmer Fudd. He started out as Egghead, got a name change to Elmer and then a physical change of appearance not once, but twice! This is the early, more rounded Elmer. Probably one of the best of the early Elmers and an excellent short. Well worth watching. Recommended.

The Wacky Wabbit (1942)

**** (out of 4)

Classic animated short has Elmer Fudd going to look for gold but he runs into Bugs Bunny who is of course going to drive him crazy.

THE WACKY WABBIT is without question one of the classic Looney Tunes short from this era. As you'd expect there's the terrific animation, which just jumps off the screen with the use of the beautiful colors and there's just so much detail that you feel as if you're right there with the characters. Of course the greatest thing is the constant back and forth banter between Elmer and Bugs.

The two of them were legends in animation and whenever the two did a battle then it was pure joy for the viewer. This here is certainly one of their best as we get some great songs but also plenty of action.