A Wild Hare (1940) User Reviews

Bugs does Garbo.(possible spoiler)

[alice liddell · 7/10 · 6 April 2000]

An early Bugs Bunny, not the most inventive - the animation is a little stilted, the usual flights of fantasy are rejected in favour of one hermetic setting, the Bugs persona is not quite as subversively developed as it would be. But there is much to enjoy. Elmer Fudd, shotgun ready, sets a trap for a rabbit by a gaping burrow. In a scene with wonderful Surrealist overtones, a hand emerges, and gropes for the carrot while the cocked rifle butt eyes eagerly.

This is followed by a conventional scene of Bugs identity games, that would be used by Ionesco in over a decade for 'The Bald Prima Donna'. Taking mock-pity on an exasperated Fudd, Bugs allows him one shot at him, falls down and dies. Fudd's genuine grief is startling - surely it's natural in a rural environment for a hunter to shoot a rabbit - that it's a relief to see Bugs jump up and mock him, and not just to see him alive.

Bugs continues here his very perceptive critique of Hollywood cliche and ideology, here satirising, among other things, the overextended costume-drama death scene (respectable cinema, remember!), and his histrionics are a lot more convincing than those of CAMILLE. The pastoral, vernal setting also mocks Emersonian Romantic rhetoric; the (literally) earthy Bugs, with his protean deconstruction, is joyfully at odds with long-winded transcendences of the self.

New future wabbit star?

[catradhtem · 9/10 · 25 March 2001]

It is very hard to review "A Wild Hare" on its own solo merit after the sixty-plus years that followed and thus turned its central character into the biggest cartoon character ever. In comparison to the subsequent films that appeared until 1964, this very first official entry is tame but still a wonderful model for those that followed.

Let's say this was 1940 and If I saw this cartoon for the first time ever with absolutely no knowledge of Bugs Bunny, I would say that "A Wild Hare" alone is a fine cartoon, in which the hunter becomes the heckled. The prey is a slick "wabbit" character that starts in on him at the very beginning, knocking on the wisping hunter's bald head to get his attention.

It is no wonder that this cartoon is directed by Fred Avery, who only three years ago directed a similar cartoon called "Porky's Duck Hunt," in which Porky's prey evolved into the current Looney Tunes star Daffy Duck. Should we be keeping our eyes on this "wabbit?"

Good for Bug's first proper appearance.

[Mightyzebra · 8/10 · 15 April 2008]

Compared to the first (two) appearances of the developing Bugs, this is very funny, has characters with incredibly developed plots and indeed is better quality. I find because the humour of "Porky's Hare Hunt" and "Prest-O Change-O" are very old-fashioned and not very understandable for today's humour (although I still found "Porky's Hare Hunt" quite funny). This episode feels much more like it was made recently, even though it was made only two or three years after the developing Bug's first appearances. In this, apart from his deeper voice, he feels much more like the Bugs Bunny we know today.

I also like this episode for the very sweet first Elmer featured, Bugs Bunny is very entertaining and there is nice animation included. I have to say in this, Bugs Bunny reminded me a lot of Br'er Rabbit, which was comforting (HE didn't make his first appearance for nearly ten years after!!).

The plot is very much like the average episode with Elmer and Bugs. Elmer is hunting for "wabbits" and he finds Bugs. Many of the gags have been repeated many times in more recent episodes, but are still funny none the less. There are some other gags added which are funny.

I recommend this episode to enthusiasts of early Looney Tunes (but still like gags which are repeated in modern Looney Tunes episodes) and who like Bugs Bunny. Enjoy "A Wild Hare"!

And thus begins a rivalry that will last for eons...

[SSJAniFan · 2 November 2003]

Elmer and Bugs finally collide for real this time for the first time ever, in an excellent short by the late, great Tex Avery that hints of things to come. Elmer of course is hunting rabbits, Bugs(unnamed when this came out, although we all know it's him now) is of course defending himself, foiling Elmer's plans and driving him crazy. This is one of the two's best(why wasn't this on the Looney Tunes DVD? Oh well, guess I can wait for a Silver collection). I recommend seeing it to any fan of the "wabbit," or the hunter. After seeing how little has actually changed between the two, it's easy to realize that some things really do never change.

BOTTOM LINE: The first, and one of the best, Bugs vs. Elmer shorts.

Tex Avery gave us the Bugs Bunny we all know and most of us love!

[llltdesq · 10/10 · 26 February 2001]

While Tex didn't do the first Bugs cartoon, he did the first one with many of the characteristics of Bugs that make him Bugs, including the catch-phrase, "What's up, Doc". So it's fitting and proper that, while Chuck Jones did more with the wabbit, Tex Avery did the first Bugs to get a date at the Academy Awards, losing to the wrong feline cartoon. *sigh* Bugs wouldn't win an Oscar for another 18 years, but that's for another comment at another time. Highly recommended.

One of the great landmarks in cinema history. After several false starts, Bugs Bunny is finally born

[phantom_tollbooth · 10/10 · 9 January 2009]

It's a classic set-up. A round-headed, bulbous-nosed hunter creeps through the woods brandishing his gun, briefly turning to the audience to inform them "Be vewwy, vewwy quiet, I'm hunting wabbits". Coming across a rabbit hole, the hunter begins to dig while from an adjacent hole a grey bunny emerges, casually moseys up to the hunter and, with a breathtaking confidence that suggests he sees the hunter as no threat whatsoever, asks "What's up, Doc?" And cinema history is changed forever.

Tex Avery's 'A Wild Hare' not only created a universal superstar in Bugs Bunny but also remains the quintessential Bugs cartoon to this day. Mention the name Bugs Bunny to anyone and 90% of them will immediately picture a rabbit hole in a forest and Elmer Fudd stalking towards it. Not only does 'A Wild Hare' open exactly this way, the first line is Elmer's most famous catchphrase. When Bugs puts in an appearance, his opening line is perhaps the most famous catchphrase of all time. So the scene is set, the template established for a rivalry that will continue for decades. There's enough history in the opening couple of minutes of 'A Wild Hare' to make any serious cartoon fan's heart swell with joy but there's plenty more to recommend it. While it may seem like a comparatively no-frills cartoon for those who grew up watching the many, many variations on this set-up that followed, keep in mind that this was Bugs's debut and these now familiar routines are being tried out for the first time. Bugs has rarely been cooler or looked more handsome than he does in 'A Wild Hare', his nonchalance really striking a chord with audiences and ensuring his place in cartoon history.

While there were a handful of cartoons that predate 'A Wild Hare' starring prototype Bugs Bunnys, Avery's cartoon is undoubtedly the first time he was the character we all know and love and, therefore, clearly his official debut. Avery's expert timing, Mel Blanc and Arthur Q. Bryan's instant chemistry as Bugs and Elmer and a solid script by Rich Hogan all contribute to creating an Academy Award nominated classic and the smell of history that now lingers around 'A Wild Hare' makes it positively electric. 'A Wild Hare' is an experience to treasure which, for me, will never lose its heart-stopping air of excitement.

A Wild Hare

[jboothmillard · 7/10 · 6 July 2009]

This Warner Brothers cartoon in the Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies series introduced one of the most famous and popular cartoon characters in history, Bugs Bunny, named after animation director Bugs Hardaway. He may look and sound slightly different to what he looks like in the later cartoons, but he is still endearing enough. The story sees dim-witted (and red-nosed?) hunter Elmer Fudd "wooking for wabbits", and he finds Bugs, the clever, smooth-talking one. His first ever words on screen are "What's up, Doc?" while chewing a carrot, this of course became very common in his cartoons. Using his double-talk and misdirection he keeps getting the better of Elmer, up to the point where a skunk is used, and Bugs lets him have his shot. So it looks like Bugs has been shot and killed by Elmer, and Bugs gets up and kicks the hunter's back side, making him walk away blubbering, and the film ends with the rabbit whistling his carrot down his hole. It was nominated the Oscar for Best Animated Short Film. Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies were number 20, and Bugs Bunny number 10 on The 100 Greatest Cartoons. Very good!

A GREAT Cartoon...but NOT the first Bugs Bunny Cartoon!

[tday · 10/10 · 26 December 2006]

This is a great cartoon, but "Porky's Hare Hunt" (1938) is the first BB cartoon...followed by "Hare-um Scare-um" (1939), "Elmer's Candid Camera" (1940) and then "A Wild Hare (1940)."

This cartoon IS, indeed, the first time he was called "Bugs Bunny." It was also the first time he was less of a "hippity-hoppity" rabbit than he was in his 3 earlier movies and closer to the rabbit he is today which, of course, can only be credited to....Tex Avery.

This is Tex Avery's debut as Bugs' director, which literally catapulted this rabbit into his immense stardom! Yes, you can thank Tex Avery for making him the lovable icon/legend he is today!

I own this on silent reel-to-reel (with subtitles!). (8mm pre-recorded film in the 1960s was often silent! We've come a long way!)

What's Up Doc?

[Vimacone · 7/10 · 27 April 2018]

The Schlesinger Studio had established itself by the late 30's by making cartoons easily distinguishable from Disney. Daffy Duck, created by Tex Avery's unit, made an impression on audiences with his zany antics and attitude. Ben Hardaway, a writer for Daffy's second short, became a director and decided to create a rabbit character with Daffy's sensibility. When the rabbit also made an impression, other directors got into the act.

When the rabbit character got around to Tex Avery, he gave him a distinctive personality very different from Daffy. This rabbit was cool-headed in the most dangerous situations and a wise-guy. He would be named after Hardaway, whose nickname was Bugs. Coincidentally, Bugs had a parallel evolution with an Avery creation known as Elmer. Both characters would be crystallized (Bugs in personality; Elmer in design) in this short.

Avery was not known for character development, but for having a greater interest in gags and comic timing. This is probably the only time he actually developed a well-rounded character. A WILD HARE has the same set up as PORKY'S DUCK HUNT and DAFFY DUCK & EGGHEAD, but with less emphasis on gags. Here the hunter/prey relationship is established between Bugs and Elmer. While not in the dramatic style of Jones' shorts from this time-frame, there is a bit of dramatic atmosphere in the climax, but it serves as a build-up to Bugs' payoff.

On the eve of America's involvement in WWII, Bugs' cool, streetwise persona no doubt resonated well with audiences.

The first real teaming of Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd...

[TheLittleSongbird · 10/10 · 11 June 2010]

And what a hoot of a cartoon A Wild Hare is. The animation has been better, but it is still very nice and colourful. The music is as pretty much always a delight with the opening theme bringing back so many memories. Bugs is still endearing, and Elmer is still the dim-witted and naive hunter we know and love today, and Mel Blanc and Arthur Q. Bryan's voices are note perfect. Even better though is the dialogue, I can't count the amount of times I laughed at a piece of dialogue alone in this cartoon...

"Shhh be vewy quiet. I'm hunting wabbits", "oh boy wabbit twacks", "confidentially... I AM A WABBIT!" and "Hedy Wamarr.(Nope) Barbwa Stanwyk(Nope). Rosemawy Wayne(Nope guess again). Owivia DeHaviwand(Nope but you're getting warmer). Say, you wouldn't be that screwy wabbit, would you?(Ehhh...could be)" are just a few of the best bits of dialogue in the cartoon. In fact the cartoon is full of great dialogue.

The sight gags are very good too the best being Bugs's fake death scene, but I think this was a case of the dialogue stealing the show. Overall, this is a truly terrific Bugs Bunny cartoon. 10/10 Bethany Cox

Of historic interest!

[JohnHowardReid · 7/10 · 15 March 2018]

"Bugs Bunny" (voiced by Mel Blanc), "Elmer Fudd" (voiced by Arthur Q. Bryan).

Director: TEX AVERY. Story: Rich Hogan. Animation: Virgil Ross. Character animation: Robert Givens. Music director: Carl W. Stalling. Voice characterizations: Mel Blanc. Color by Technicolor. Producer: Leon Schlesinger.

Copyright 27 July 1940 by The Vitaphone Corp. A Warner Bros "Merrie Melodies" cartoon. U.S. release: 27 July 1940. 1 reel. 8 minutes.

NOTES: Nominated for a prestigious Hollywood award for Best Cartoon but lost out to M-G-M's Milky Way.

COMMENT: The first "true" Bugs Bunny cartoon is more of historical than entertainment interest. Bugs is still not his familiar self in form, though his character has now been perfected. But such spots as the elongated "death" scene now seem somewhat tedious, and many of the jokes-the skunk, the kissing, the rifle tied in a knot, etc.-are likewise wearisomely out-dated, fresh though they may have appeared in 1940. Still, for rabid fans of the aggressively wiseacre bunny/hare, this one is still a must.

OTHER VIEWS: This is where Bugs first essays his immortal line: "What's up, Doc?" That intro alone would make A Wild Hare worth seeing. But there's the usual assortment of fast-paced Avery visual and verbal gags as well. True, some have grown stale through repetition by imitators and admirers - but that's all to A Wild Hare's credit.

Hedy Wamarr? Bawbwa Stanwyck? Owivia de Haviwand? Did children recognize those names in 1940?

[lee_eisenberg · 10/10 · 6 September 2006]

On one level, "A Wild Hare" is a historical reference as it was the first teaming of Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd. But even ignoring that, it's still a hoot, with that "wascawy wabbit" making mincemeat of Elmer.

There's just one thing that raises my eyebrows nowadays. Elmer asks about Hedy Lamarr, Barbara Stanwyck and Olivia de Havilland. Did six-year-old children in 1940 know who those women were, cuz I sure didn't recognize those names when I was six.

Oh well, it's still a great cartoon. Always a classic. And it sure wasn't the wast time that that wascawy wabbit twicked Elmer Fudd.

Olivia de Havilland. Just yesterday, I saw "The Adventures of Robin Hood", and let me tell you: she looked hot in those dresses!

A Wild Wabbit

[Horst_In_Translation · 4/10 · 26 December 2017]

"A Wild Hare" is an American cartoon from 1940, so this one is already over 75 years old, and it runs for slightly over 8 minutes. It is a Warner Bros. film of course produced by Schlesinger Studios and it brought Leon Schlesinger his secon Oscar nomination. From the looks of Bugs Bunny here and also from some of his mannerisms, you can see that this is really an early BB film. What is not new though is that he is already up against his rabbit-hunting (hare-hunting here still) arch nemesis Elmer Fudd, who, luckily for Bugs, really isn't on the rabbit's skill level at all. Bugs doesn't even need his best tricks. Maybe that is one reason why I felt this did not turn out so well all in all. Despite the undeniable talent by director Tex Avery and voice actor Mel Blanc, it never feels too creative, funny or inspired to me. What a pity. This one's really only worth seeing because you get an unexpected look at Bugs' rabbit hole on one occasion. Now that one was truly tiny I must say. Well, it's just the beginning for Bugs, I'm sure he could afford a bigger one before the end of World War II already. My final judgment for this cartoon is a negative one. It's not a failure, but I cannot agree with the popularity it has until today or with the Oscar nomination. There was surprisingly little content in here, especially quality content, even for the brief runtime. This one's really only worth seeing for the very biggest Bugs Bunny fans.

The first OFFICIAL BB cartoon!!!

[PeachHamBeach · 8 September 2003]

Here is Tex Avery's magnificent film in which we are first introduced to a brownish-gray colored hare named Bugs, although we really don't hear his name spoken in this film. Yet that immortal phrase, "What's Up Doc???" is here, and Bugs is a sly, bold, incredibly smart woodland creature outfoxing that "wovable" hunter, Elmer Fudd. No more wacky prototypes. Bugs is at last fleshed out the way he should be. I appreciate his "Dad" and "Grandpa" very much. Someone's dream wouldn't have come true without them and our star might never have been born without them. Nevertheless, the star is Bugs Bunny!!! And after this film, he was well on his way to becoming what he is today.

Thank you Tex Avery!!!

The First Bugs Bunny short

[ja_kitty_71 · 10/10 · 24 January 2009]

As I said, Bugs Bunny is one of my favorite Looney Tunes characters. But I do sometimes wonder what was his very first cartoon ever made? Now I have found out it is this short by Tex Avery, noted for his animated shorts at MGM, and I had watched it online at YouTube, and again at TCM's Cartoon Alley.

I love the part when Bugs whispers in Elmer's ear. And I also love after his fake-death scene, Bugs gets up and kicks Elmer in the butt, and Elmer goes up like strength-tester and back down again. Then Bugs hands him a cigar which was the prize at that time. Overall, I thought it was a great "first appearance" short.

"Bugs" comes out . . .

[oscaralbert · 8/10 · 17 January 2015]

. . . of his "Wabbit" hole to smooch Elmer Fudd three times on the mouth in A WILD HARE. The plot of this eight-minute animated short establishes that: 1)Rabbits love carrots, 2)Birds sing in trees, and 3)You can pick up a skunk by its tail WITHOUT getting sprayed. But the rules are constantly changing for Hollywood. They may have done a scene-for-scene remake of PSYCHO, but just try doing the same with such classics as BIRTH OF A NATION or GONE WITH THE WIND nowadays. By the same token, Bugs' Pretzeling of Mr. Fudd's rifle here puts A WILD HARE on the NRA boycott list, along with BAMBI and THE YEARLING. The only way that a major Tinsel Town studio could conclude A WILD HARE today would be with product placement for "Wabbit" jerky!

The first REAL Bugs Bunny short.

[planktonrules · 8/10 · 27 January 2014]

Technically speaking, Bugs Bunny appeared in three other films before this one. However, the look and especially the sound of the Bunny were quite different. However, here he looks close to the classic rabbit and sounds just like him--but more importantly he acts like him, as he outsmarts Elmer Fudd again and again in this film.

As would be the case in many subsequent films, Elmer is out rabbit hunting and unfortunately his prey is a lot smarter than he is. Time and time again, he is defeated by the fast-thinking Bugs.

What makes this film outstanding is its historical importance as well as the beauty of the cartoon. The animation and especially the backgrounds are stunning--and much nicer than in later Bugs cartoons. Clever and worth seeing for any fan of animation.

One of my favorite cartoons

[rybread-23594 · 8/10 · 4 March 2022]

This is my third favorite cartoon, only beat by Invasion of the Bunny Snatchers and Duck Amuck. It manages to feel newer than the shorts where Elmer is fat, due to having Elmer's final design. It also has value that makes this based, introducing Bugs.

What's Up Doc

[maxwellbarnes · 10/10 · 12 January 2008]

A Wild Hare is a true masterpiece at Leon Schlesinger Productions. Bugs Bunny makes his on screen debut as a street smart Brooklyn/Bronx talking rabbit in this outstanding Tex Avery picture. It opens up with Elmer Fudd saying "Shh, Be vewy vewy quit I'n hunting wabbits" and his usual lines. then he gives Bugs a carrot. Bugs later sticks his hand out to catch the carrot then Elmer tires multiple ways to get that wascally wabbit out. Bugs finally pops out saying What's Up Doc. then the chase continues with fake death gags and everything Bugs is outstanding even a guess who game with celebrities from back then. and even a skunk who repeats a line from a earlier part of the episode. bugs at the end of picture chews a carrot saying "can you imagine anybody acting like that you know I think the poor guy's screwy. so I think this a great cartoon to watch . Available at Dailymotion.com

A Wild Hare marked an initial near-great start of the Bugs Bunny series of cartoons

[tavm · 9/10 · 30 August 2010]

Okay, before I review the cartoon proper, I have to mention that there are two versions of this classic short. The original release version had the actual credits in the title sequence with the score of "I'm Just Wild About Harry" playing as the names of writer Rich Hogan and "supervisor" Fred Avery (a.k.a. Tex) appeared. It also had Bugs Bunny covering Elmer Fudd's eyes saying "Guess Who?" with the hunter saying-with "No" being answered each time-"Hedy Wamarr, Cawowe Wombard, Wosemawy Wane, Owivia De Haviwand?" The Blue Ribbin re-release just had the "Merrie Melodies" theme playing with just the title "The Wild Hare" printed at the end of that theme and "Bawbawa Stanwyck" replacing the late Lombard. Now while there are many familiar lines-like "Be vewy, vewy quiet. I'm hunting wabbits" and of course, "What's up, Doc?" and gags-like Bugs kissing Elmer and then Bugs pretending to die after Fudd shoots him and the hunter feeling sorry afterwards-I laughed just the same even after seeing this initial teaming of icons and their other cartoons over the years. While Arthur Q. Bryan's Elmer sounds the same here, Mel Blanc's Bugs seems a bit of a rougher Brooklyn/Bronx accent than we'd hear later on though I loved it when he shouts, "I AM A WABBIT!" in Fudd's ear! Despite being an Avery cartoon, A Wild Hare isn't as wild as many subsequent Bugs/Elmer or even Tex's later M-G-M shorts. Still, for anyone wanting to see where it all began, this film is very much worth a look.

A smart and wit wild eared rabbit tricks and outsmarts old Elmer!

[blanbrn · 8/10 · 11 May 2021]

"A Wild Hare" a well respected short from 1940 is most remembered for it's cunning game of tricks and wit outsmarts from one Bugs Bunny as he stays out of harms way around one Elmer Fudd. Elmer is a hunter on a trip and mission to kill him one wabbit(as he says!) From placing carrots to digging in the ground with his shotgun still Fudd comes out on the short end of the stick as Bugs spins and turns Elmer into a lost hunter in the woods! Overall great classic cartoon of tricks and outsmarts a classic, one that any cartoon and Looney Tunes fan should review and visit from time to time.

¿What's Up Doc?

[Kalashnikovin · 10/10 · 26 August 2022]

I have always considered Tex Avery a genius, both his works at MGM and at Warner Brothers were great, the most outstanding here were some with Porky Pig and others with primary versions of currently popular characters, after a couple of years Bugs passed from from an annoying Prototype named "Happy Rabbit" to the Charismatic Mocking Rabbit we all know and love in this Oscar-nominated grand opening!.

The short shows us for the first time the Burlesque Personality of Bugs without reaching the Petty while he plays a Dirty Pass to Elmer in a Remote Forest.

Virgil Ross was a good animator and that is reflected in the animation of the short, that beautiful forest where the cartoon is based is great, the early design is Bugs and Elmer looks very good to be the first plus they have fluid movements like It is not to be expected, Ross even in an independent way was an Excellent Animator!, and of course... Let's not forget Avery!.

Carl Stalling, as expected, also Offers good Music, Not as Energetic as in other cartoons but Exceptional! I liked how synchronized the Music is with the Animation, of course, the humor will not work without the Music!.

Both Blanc and Elmer's Actor give good performances, Blanc finally stars as Bugs properly as well as giving us several memorable scenes with their dialogue.

I loved the Short, that Brilliance in Animation and in Music is rarely seen today, it was a good way to present the official Bugs Bunny and stop being The Annoying Happy Rabbit, Elmer also strengthens and shows us his most well-known Side, I always liked Avery's wacky humor which is what stands out the most, even at MGM Avery kept that humor, and boy was that good.

In itself, "A Wild Hare" It was a worthy contender for the 1941 Oscar which sadly lost out to an MGM Cartoon, but overall, it's a Good Cartoon, it's Really Enjoyable and it has gags and Animation that will make you laugh, or at least keep you entertained.

For everything I said, this great Oscar Nominee gets a 10.

"This is an opera, so what did you expect . . . "

[pixrox1 · 8/10 · 6 October 2021]

" . . . A HAPPY ending?!" remarks a dying or dead Bugs Bunny at the conclusion of his subsequent masterpiece, WHAT'S OPERA, DOC? The groundwork for this later triumph is laid in this beta version of America's favorite rabbit, A WILD HARE, as the beleaguered bunny feigns his own demise at the outset of his film career. Arthur Q. Prepares to play Siegfried in the late 1950's by basking in the bathos here. Were it not for the demented bamboozled insiders and all the prepaid fixed "elections," Bugs would have twice as many gelded statuettes on his hutch's trophy shelves as those cluttering the den of the over-rated Mr. Fred Q. Trumps.

A very naive and gullible hunter looks in the woods for a rabbit, he finds a cool, lay back rabbit,whose ten steps ahead of him.

[talarisw · 4 November 2011]

This is hands down the best bugs bunny cartoon ever. This film was directed by Tex Avery, who will later be known for his work at MGM studios, but Avery was simply the king of funny cartoons! While Disney wanted his cartoons to be taken seriously, with only some light humor, it was Avery who showed everyone how to make a funny cartoon. The man just knows what's funny and what's not, and this cartoon is proof of that. It took Avery to really find Bugs. Bugs was first created by animator Ben "Bugs" Hardaway (who later created woody woodpecker & is the namesake of bugs) in 1938. While Ben's bugs cartoons were great in their own right,("porky's hare hunt" and "har'em, scare'em) they were really just a precursor to his iconic woody woodpecker character then anything. Ben's bugs was hyper and manic, Ben admitted his bugs was a knock off of daffy duck, who was also created by Tex Avery. But after Hardaway left the studio, Tex decided to change bugs and he knew what he was doing. He already created daffy duck, who was crazy, heckling the hunter, Tex went in the opposite direction when he created this cartoon. Instead of bugs outwitting the hunter with crazy behavior, he would be a calm lay back rabbit who was simply smarter then the hunter. Now I don't want to over analyze this, because it's just a cartoon, but there is a really perfect psychological humor that's in here. It's truly a battle of wits, or more over bugs is having fun at the slow elmer. It's the perfect bugs & elmer cartoon, all the gags, everything is here and would be repeated in other future cartoons. The best thing about this is how Tex plays to the audience, the film begins with Elmer letting the audience in on his hunting trail, and how bugs alway's seems to kind of let the audience in on the joke, like when he faked his death and you felt like you were kind of in on the joke. The animation is also great, I love the back ground, it looks like a real forest. Starling's music blends well the comedy. Tex found the right balance, bug's not too mean, but still a little bit of a stinker, he really comes off as cool, calm and completely in control and elmer is the perfect kind of dumb, where he is really naive and gullible but he never comes off as bad. I love Mel's voice as bugs and Arthur as Elmer. One of the funniest part is when Elmer is describing what a rabbit looks like to bugs not realizing bugs is a rabbit!, and bug's hilarious fake death scene. Tex is known for fast, broad humor but here's it's understated and the pace is slow, once again Avery just knows what works. This is one of the greatest cartoons of all time.