It is a winter’s night in Dawson City during the midst of the 1896 Gold Rush when a snow-covered Bugs Bunny walks into a saloon and orders a glass of carrot juice. He is carrying a bag of large gold nuggets, but believes they have no value – he mistakes the “karats” of the rocks with the carrots that make up his diet. The villainous Blacque Jacques Shellacque – who is wanted for such crimes as for claim-jumping, pogo-sticking, and square-dance calling – makes multiple attempts to take Bugs’ bag of gold nuggets, but ultimately winds up running off a with a bag of gunpowder that Bugs ignites. Bugs ultimately admits the rocks were merely covered in paint and he drives off in a sled powered by a chihuahua.
“Bonanza Bunny” is a cute romp that is notable as the first of two Golden Age appearances of Blacque Jacques Shellacque, a French-Canadian equivalent of Yosemite Sam. Monsieur Shellacque was created because Yosemite Sam was a character in Friz Freleng’s unit and “Bonanza Bunny” was a Robert McKimson cartoon. But while the new character lacked the high-decibel bellicosity of the pint-sized cowboy, he was gifted with a wonderfully funny voice by Mel Blanc and amusing dialogue by Tedd Pierce – especially in the surprising game of 21 that Bugs wins with a single card.
“Bonanza Bunny” is also notable as the last cartoon featuring Robert C. Bruce, an uncredited voice performer who served as the narrator of this work. Bruce’s best-known narration including “What’s Cookin’ Doc? (1944) and “Buckaroo Bugs” (1946), and he also did occasional character voice acting with a brief but memorable turn as King Henry VIII in the brilliantly surreal “Book Revue” (1946).