Lumber Jack-Rabbit (1953)
Directed by Charles M. Jones
Story by Michael Maltese
Animation by Abe Levitow, Ken Harris, Richard Thompson, Lloyd Vaughan, Ben Washam
Music by Carl Stalling
Notable as the only Bugs Bunny cartoon shot in the 3D process, “Lumber Jack-Rabbit” gets off to an amusing start when a wandering Bugs sings “Jimmy Crack Corn” while journeying into Paul Bunyan’s garden. Unaware that he is in a giant’s domain – he mistakes the asparagus for “funny looking trees” – he becomes ecstatic at discovering gigantic carrots. Bugs sets up mining equipment to cull his harvest, but is interrupted by Paul Bunyan’s equally massive Smidgen.
From that invigorating start, the cartoon unexpectedly falls flat. Smidgen is a personality-free character and the gags involving tiny Bugs against the massive dog play like a tepid canine remake of the 1943 “Jack-Wabbit and the Beanstalk.” The cartoon’s sign-off, with Bugs diverting Smidgen’s attention by pointing out a giant redwood tree, is one of the dullest endings in the Bugs Bunny series.
As for the 3D process, the only aspect of the cartoon where it comes into play is the opening credits with the WB shield overshooting its mark and appearing to come off the screen. Mercifully, “Lumber Jack-Rabbit” abstained from having endless objects tossed at the viewer, which was among the annoying gimmicks that helped to speed 3D’s loss of audience popularity.