Bugs Bunny turned 85 on Sunday. Here are some reflections on his origins and evolution shared on Facebook by the great animator, who would give the wise-cracking rabbit his classic form, Chuck Jones:
"On July 27, 1940, Tex Avery’s 'A Wild Hare' premiered—marking the first true appearance of Bugs Bunny. With a cool demeanor, a carrot in hand, and the now-legendary line 'What’s up, Doc?,' Bugs stepped fully into the spotlight—and into animation history.
But his creation was the result of years of development. Earlier rabbit prototypes appeared in cartoons like 'Porky’s Hare Hunt' (1938), co-directed by Ben Hardaway, whose nickname appeared on a model sheet labeled 'Bugs’ Bunny'—a name that stuck.
The final breakthrough came through the collaboration of WB’s core animation team:
• Tex Avery gave Bugs his swagger and timing.
• Bob Clampett injected manic energy.
• Bob McKimson formalized his design.
• Chuck Jones refined Bugs into the clever, composed trickster we recognize today.
And Mel Blanc gave him a voice that would become one of the most iconic in cartoon history.
Over the decades, Bugs evolved from an irreverent upstart to a symbol of American wit and resilience, appearing in wartime shorts, satirical operas, and unforgettable classics." (Chuck Jones Facebook Page)
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Classical music appeared numerous times in Bugs Bunny—nowhere more famously than in 1957's "What's Opera Doc", widely considered one of the greatest animated films of all time. It's why so few—not even the most die hard and seasoned of opera enthusiasts—can hear Wagner's "The Ride of the Valkyries" without beginning to sing (or at least silently form the syllables) "kill the wabbit." As we here at Blue Lake Public Radio salute Bugs Bunny upon his 85 birthday, we offer a video appreciation of the beloved cartoon, which has served as the introduction to classical music and opera to millions over the decades, and remains cultural touchstone to this day:
