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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