2023 marks the 85^th 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 Conditioned (1945)
Directed by Chuck Jones
Written by Tedd Pierce
Music by Carl W. Stalling
Animation by Ken Harris

One of the things I love about Bugs Bunny shorts is that though he has a lot of one and done villains, his one and done villains are usually quite good. In the gallery of Bugs Bunny foes, Bugs has a surprisingly small amount of bad guys that have stayed the course and lived on in the legacy of Looney Tunes. Meanwhile there are so many one and done villains that are there for their intended purpose and never quite appear for a second go. It’s a shame because the bad guy for “Hare Conditioned” is a fun foil, even if he’s a bit one note when all is said and done.

He doesn’t even really have an official name.

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2023 marks the 85^th 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 Trigger (1945)
Directed by Friz Freleng
Written by Michael Maltese
Music by Carl W. Stalling
Animation by Manuel Perez

Friz Freleng’s “Hare Trigger” marks the very first appearance of Yosemite Sam.

As many know, Yosemite Sam is one of the biggest animated icons ever produced from Warner Animation. He wouldn’t just become a famed Bugs Bunny villain, but he’d also become a mascot for Looney Tunes alongside characters like Bugs, Porky, and Daffy. It’s funny that Yosemite Sam finally makes his fully formed appearance after showing up in prototypical form in the previous shorts (“Stage Door Cartoon”). “Hare Trigger” lays down the ground work for all the basic elements that we know and love about Yosemite Sam. He’s pint sized, has the signature gruff voice, the Southern twang, the relentless greed, the red moustache, the bandit mask, and the big hat.

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2023 marks the 85^th 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.

The Unruly Hare (1945)
Directed by Frank Tashlin
Written by Melvin Miller
Music by Carl W. Stalling
Animation by Cal Dalton

Frank Tashlin is a director who just gets comedy. He understands the silliness, the ebbs and flows, the timing, the motion. That’s why “The Unruly Hare” is so good, I presume. At the end of the day, it’s another average Bugs vs. Elmer adventure, but Tashlin’s direction is very good, probably as good as Chuck Jones or Bob Clampett. It’s too bad I’ve barely heard about him at all whenever reading about Termite Terrace and great animation directors. This is Tashlin’s only real time being credited as director, sadly, which is a shame because he’s a damn good director. Tashlin has delivered on some great poppy fifties and sixties comedies like “The Girl Can’t Help It,” “Who’s Minding the Store?”, and “The Disorderly Orderly.”

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2023 marks the 85^th 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.

Herr Meets Hare (1945)
Directed by Friz Freleng
Written by Michael Maltese
Music by Carl W. Stalling
Animation by Gerry Chiniquy

So the Warner Propaganda machine comes full circle finally with Bugs Bunny finally taking on the Germans and Hitler. Bugs is one in a long line of characters that did battle with Hitler including Superman, Captain America, Wonder Woman, and the Ninja Turtles. Sure, “Herr Meets Hare” is pure propaganda but it at least has a good time making a mockery of Hitler and lampooning he and his followers big time. I’m not a big fan of the Looney Tunes being used as tools for war or political ideologies, but “Herr Meets Hare” at least punches up and works very hard in having a good laugh and taking the air out of the whole Nazi anxiety.

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2023 marks the 85^th 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.

The Old Grey Hare (1944)
Directed by Bob Clampett
Written by Michael Sasanoff
Music by Lou Lilly
Animation by Bob McKimson

I’m surprisingly not a fan of “The Old Grey Hare” as it always came off as so random and bizarre. I’m so used to the Looney Tunes shorts setting up everything so expertly with three act structures in spite of the short run time. So it’s disappointing to see “The Old Grey Hare” which garners a lackluster first act, and a pretty abrupt third act. Plus the whole idea behind the return of skinny Elmer Fudd is kind of depressing, all things considered. The whole back and forth between Elmer and Bugs was always so much fun and hilarious, that for the writers to paint this dynamic as something of a inescapable circle of insanity kind of defeats the purpose of being labeled a comedy.

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2023 marks the 85^th 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 Force (1944)
Directed by Friz Freleng
Written by Tedd Pierce
Music by Carl W. Stalling
Animation by Manuel Perez

What–? Two dog foes in a row? Either Termite Terrace were a fan of the popular trope of Bugs fighting predatory dogs, or they were just out of ideas. In either case, it’s at least a good thing that both dog villains are different. The dog foe in “Hare Force” is funnier and more interesting than the one in “Hare Ribbin’” and that’s mainly because he’s so much less whiny. I also get a kick out of his goofy speech pattern which makes him sound oafish but absolutely hilarious. And he’s at least given a name this time, Sylvester. No relation to the black and white Tom cat, of course.

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