“Easter Yeggs” (1947)
By Michael Lyons
“The criteria for greatness in animated cartoons are several. Bugs Bunny meets them all.” - author Steve Schneider in his book, “That’s All Folks: The Art of Warner Bros. Animation.”
That quote perfectly sums up one of the funniest, most memorable and extremely iconic cartoon characters of all time.
Bugs Bunny, the quick-witted, “waskilly wabbit” first made his debut in the Warner Bros’ “Merrie Melodies” cartoon short, “A Wild Hare,” released on July 27, 1940. While there had been wise cracking rabbit characters in WB cartoons prior to this, “A Wild Hare,” directed by Tex Avery, the genius of many memorable fast paced cartoons, imbued Bugs with many of the personality traits that became his trademark. This included his now famous greeting, “What’s Up Doc?”
For eight decades, Bugs Bunny has remained the first name in cartoon comedy, starring in some of the sharpest, wittiest and funniest cartoons ever made.
This year marks Bugs Bunny’s 80th birthday! What better time than Easter Season to celebrate this landmark for the world’s most famous Bunny and the impact the carrot chomping star has had on film and pop culture.
In fact, in 1994, when noted animation historian Jerry Beck edited his book, “The 50 Greatest Cartoons,” a Bugs Bunny cartoon, 1957’s “What’s Opera, Doc?” was voted number one. Directed by the legendary Chuck Jones, the short features Bugs torturing his usual victim, Elmer Fudd in a parody of opera (and even Disney’s “Fantasia”). Combining music, humor and stunning animation, the short truly is a marvel.
“What’s Opera, Doc?” (1957)
Among some of his other best is 1946’s “Hare Raising Hare,” where Bugs meets the shaggy orange monster, Gossemer; also that same year, Bugs parodied gangster films in “Racketeer Rabbit”; Bugs joined the circus in 1951’s “Big Top Bunny”; He was a matador in 1953’s “Bully for Bugs”; There’s also “Rabbit Seasoning” (1952), possibly the greatest square-off between Bugs, Elmer and Daffy Duck and “The Abominable Snow Duck,” (1961) in which Bugs and Daffy face off against a yeti.
Bugs has also starred in a number of full-length film compilations of Warner Bros. Shorts, as well as the films “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” (1988), “Space Jam “(1996) and “Looney Tunes: Back in Action “(2003).
Through 1988, for almost fifty years, the amazing, chameleon comedian Mel Blanc provided the high-pitched Brooklyn voice of Bugs Bunny...and almost every other character in the WB canon.
Mel Blanc
And, yes, Bugs did make an Easter-themed cartoon in 1947 called “Easter Yeggs,” in which he fills in for the Easter Bunny, who claims his feet are tired. Bugs winds up finding out that the holiday gig isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be , while delivering eggs, he encounters the Dead End Kid, a nightmare, violent brat. But don’t worry, our hero hare emerges victorious.
“Easter Yeggs” is just one of over 160 Bugs Bunny cartoon shorts. In fact, Bugs actually holds the Guinness Book of World’s Records for appearing in more films than any other cartoon character.
And, it doesn’t have to be Easter to celebrate this 80th birthday milestone for Bugs Bunny. However, a cartoon marathon of the laughs he has provided for multiple generations would go perfectly with chocolate, marshmallow Peeps and jelly beans.
Have a Happy and Safe Easter, Doc!
Sources:
“The 50 Greatest Cartoons,” edited by Jerry Beck
“That’s All Folks: The Art of Warner Bros. Animation” by Steve Schneider
Wikipedia
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