|
|
Bugs Bunny
Looney Tunes - Bugs Bunny
3 in. x 4 in.
Buy this Magnet at AllPosters.com
Bugs Bunny is a fictional cartoon rabbit that appears in the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series of cartoons, and is one of the most recognizable characters, real or imaginary, in the world. According to his biography, he was "born" in 1940 in Brooklyn, New York and the product of many fathers: Ben "Bugs" Hardaway (who created a prototypical version of the character in 1938's "Porky's Hare Hunt"), Bob Clampett, Tex Avery (who developed Bugs' definitive personality in 1940), Robert McKimson (created the definitive Bugs Bunny character design), Chuck Jones, and Friz Freleng. According to Mel Blanc, his voice actor, his accent is an equal blend of someone from the Bronx and someone from Brooklyn.
He is noted for his catchphrase of "Eh, what's up, doc?" and his feuds with Elmer Fudd, Yosemite Sam, Marvin Martian, Daffy Duck, and even Wile E. Coyote, who usually takes on the Road Runner. Almost invariably, Bugs comes out the winner in these conflicts, because that is in his nature. This is especially obvious in films directed by Chuck Jones, who liked to pit "winners" against "losers". Worrying that audiences would lose sympathy for an aggressor who always won, Jones found the perfect way to make Bugs sympathetic in the films by having the antagonist repeatedly bully, cheat or threaten Bugs in some way. Thus offended, (usually three times) Bugs would often drawl "Of course you know, dis means war" (a line which Jones noted was taken from Groucho Marx) and the audience gives Bugs silent permission to inflict his havoc, having earned his right to retaliate and/or defend himself. Other directors like Friz Freleng had Bugs go out of his way to help others in trouble, again creating an acceptable circumstance for his mischief. When Bugs meets other characters who are also "winners", however, like Cecil the Turtle in Tortoise Beats Hare, or, in World War II, the Gremlin of Falling Hare, his record is rather dismal; his overconfidence tends to work against him.
Bugs Bunny has some similarities to figures from mythology and folklore, such as Brer Rabbit or Anansi, and might be seen as sort of modern trickster.
"Bugs" or "Bugsy" as a nickname means "crazy".
Bugs Bunny tops greatest cartoon characters list
For now, there's no need for Bugs Bunny to ask, "What's up, doc?" According to TV Guide, he is.
The "wascally wabbit," who's faced down Elmer Fudd, Marvin the Martian and Yosemite Sam, has come out on top again: According to the latest issue of TV Guide, Bugs Bunny is the greatest cartoon character of all time. Bugs is also the only character from the pre-television animated-short golden age to make the magazine's top 10.
He's followed by Homer Simpson, befuddled father on Fox's long-running "The Simpsons" The Simpsons show is now in its 16th year. More from CNN
A tough bunny to keep down
Bugs, a clever beast with long ears who always seems to make the wrong turn at Albuquerque, has been a hit since his first appearance in 1938's "Porky's Hare Hunt." His first starring role, in 1940's "A Wild Hare," saw the first utterance of his catchphrase, "What's up, doc?"
The hero of many a Warner Bros. cartoon, his success has carried over to television, advertising and other media. (Warner Bros. is a division of AOL Time Warner, as is CNN.com.)
His tough-talking image, inimitably voiced by Mel Blanc (who once said he created the voice out of the two toughest-sounding accents he knew, that of Brooklyn and the Bronx), was molded in classic WB shorts directed by such luminaries as Tex Avery, Chuck Jones and Friz Freleng.
Over the years, Bugs has been an opera singer, barber, lumberjack and medieval knight, and has worked with stars ranging from Michael Jordan to Taz, the Tasmanian devil. And despite the Daffy Duck's constant attempts to steal the spotlight, Bugs always holds on to the glow.
Bugs Bunny and Looney Tunes Merchandise
All images and characters depicted on this site are copyright their respective holders, and are used for informational purposes only. No infringement is intended and copyrights remain at source.
|
|