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.
Rabbit Transit (1947)
Directed by Friz Freleng
Written by Tedd Pierce
Music by Carl W. Stalling
Animation by Manuel Perez
It’s the return of Cecil Turtle. Hip hip Hooray.
I was under the impression that 1943’s “Tortoise Wins By a Hare” was the final face off between Bugs Bunny and Cecil Turtle in their rivalry, but I completely forgot about “Rabbit Transit.” Truth be told the reasoning for that is that the series with Cecil and Bugs are all so similar and never really try to do anything remotely new or different. I guess if you like the twist on the classic fable you might like what they do with Bugs here. But with “Rabbit Transit” the return of Cecil Turtle is even more of the same old gags. While it’s not at all one of the worst from Bugs’ library, the whole rivalry between Cecil Turtle and Bugs Bunny gets really old, really quickly.
The writers almost seem to go on auto drive for what is another rote outing with Bugs and Cecil going toe to toe in a race. Bugs is at the Yellowstone Geothermal pools getting a steam bath, reading the story of the Tortoise and the Hare and is infuriated at the mere implication that the Tortoise would win in a foot race. A few inches away Cecil is getting a steam bath and confirms that the Tortoise beats the Hare every single time. Bugs then, yes you guessed it, challenges Cecil to a foot race, once for all. Again. To settle who’d win. Again. Bugs cheats. Again.
His loud mouth becomes his own undoing in the end. Again. The premise for “Rabbit Transit” is absolutely simple and the plot is only a glorified set up for the six minute short that is a glorified bar joke. Bugs decides to play it somewhat clean this time, while Cecil is armed with a “Jet Propulsion” armed shell that allows him to shoot past Bugs in the race. From there’s the normal barrage of jokes unleashed during their battle; he delivers a telegram to Cecil that he’s sped ahead in the race. Bugs then receives a telegram from Cecil from a messenger on a scooter with the same gag.
Bugs steals his shell actually making Cecil mad for once, and everything here is about repeat ad infinitum until the writers can get to the finish line. I just don’t like Cecil Turtle because he works more as a one and done gag than a repeat villain. There’s just so much you can do with the premise, and the whole way this idea encourages Bugs to act like a petulant bully is disappointing. Especially considering we just got the more creative “Rabbit Rhapsody” last time, it’s a let down that the writers and animators just go back to repeating the same formula, and bring back one of the more exhausting Bugs Bunny nemeses.
What with the first Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote short “Fast and Furry-ous” premiering in 1949, I think Chuck Jones had this formula of chase, race, and two mortal enemies down pat, and offered up so much more variety and longevity.
Find out what we think are the BEST and WORST Bugs Bunny shorts of all time!