2023 marks the 85th Anniversary of Bug Bunny’s first animated appearance in 1938’s “Porky’s Hare Hunt.” Debuting originally as Happy Rabbit, Bugs eventually became one of the most iconic animated characters of all time. In honor of the landmark anniversary, we’re discussing every animated appearance by Bugs Bunny. We’re big fans of Bugsy and we hope that you are, too.
Follow us on this massive journey where we discover and re-discover Every Bugs Bunny Ever.
Hare Tonic (1945)
Directed by Chuck Jones
Written by Tedd Pierce
Music by Carl W. Stalling
Animation by Ken Harris
Let’s be honest, “Hare Tonic” is basically a remix of “Elmer’s Pet Rabbit.” It even features Elmer with a bowler hat and high collar shirt for the duration of the short much like the aforementioned. Except the Bugs Bunny we see in this virtual redo is the Bugs Bunny that has already been refined, and streamlined to be the character we know. The Bugs in “Elmer’s Pet Rabbit” was still transitioning from Happy Rabbit to Bugs Bunny and wasn’t officially named as Bugs. Not that it means that “Hare Tonic” is a bad short. Animation studios are notorious for re-using gags and scenes for shorts and features.
There’s even a popular meme showing how many times Disney has re-used scenes and character models during the early days of their animated production.
Truth be told, “Hare Tonic” is actually a very good short that also features some really good comedy and laugh out loud gags. I also love how it plays toward Bugs’ strengths now that the writers have a tried and true formula that works for Bugs Bunny. Here he’s less a bully and more of someone just kind of giving this guy a hard time for trying to eat him. Heck, Bugs even manages to escape and then literally turns around and decides on making Elmer’s life a living hell from that point on. It’s a fun twist and a nice bit of self awareness because even though Bugs is smart enough to flee before being turned in to a meal by Elmer, he knows that the short ends once he’s escaped Elmer’s house.
Chuck Jones just gets Bugs Bunny and understands the guidelines he adheres by, so “Hare Tonic” squeezes by. The set up involves Elmer basically walking along the sidewalk from the pet shop with Bugs in his basket. Except this time he’s decided on eating Bugs rather than keeping him as a pet. Bugs manages to get the jump on him, but Elmer persists and gets him to his house in order to eat him. Using the radio, Bugs pretends to a newscaster warning patrons about rabbits and their ability to spread a disease known as “Rabbititis.” This makes Elmer freak out begging Bugs to leave, but Bugs nevertheless torments him by staying put, and begins staging some fun gags.
One of the better ones involve him appearing at the door as “Dr. Killpatient,” who diagnoses Elmer with the symptoms of colored spots—obviously put there with cans of paint he shoves in the corner. Bugs then insists he’s not sick showing Elmer his lack of symptoms with a hilarious line up of gags. At one point he explains that his tongue isn’t coated—only to reveal his tongue covered in a normal coat. There’s also a great skit where he convinces Elmer he’s turning in to a rabbit by staging the classic Marx Brothers mirror bit, which is still pretty darn funny in this iteration thanks to the ace animation.
Not to be outdone, Bugs stages a gag that would be later re-used as while being chased by Elmer, he stops him and breaks the fourth wall. Playing on his paranoia, he begins pointing out the audience to him and how much they’re beginning to resemble bunnies prompting Elmer to flee in to his house. As a topper to the antics, Bugs addresses the audience assuring them they don’t have rabbititis explaining they’d be seeing colored spots with suddenly everything going black. As the spots appear the film fades to black ending with Bugs giggling mischievously. It’s a neat bit of goofing around with the audience that I wish I could have experienced in a theater.
I can only imagine these fourth wall breaks were a hit with the movie going audience. Thankfully despite its somewhat reused set up, “Hare Tonic” is a blast. It’s clever, funny, and lets Bugs be as much of a rascal as he can be.
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