{"id":38828,"date":"2023-02-21T00:36:35","date_gmt":"2023-02-21T05:36:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cinema-crazed.com\/blog\/?p=38828"},"modified":"2023-02-14T14:24:43","modified_gmt":"2023-02-14T19:24:43","slug":"every-bugs-bunny-ever-hiawathas-rabbit-hunt-1941","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cinema-crazed.com\/blog\/2023\/02\/21\/every-bugs-bunny-ever-hiawathas-rabbit-hunt-1941\/","title":{"rendered":"Every Bugs Bunny Ever: Hiawatha’s Rabbit Hunt (1941)"},"content":{"rendered":"

2023 marks the 85th<\/sup> Anniversary of Bug Bunny\u2019s first animated appearance in 1938’s \u201cPorky\u2019s Hare Hunt.\u201d 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\u2019re discussing every animated appearance by Bugs Bunny. We\u2019re big fans of Bugsy and we hope that you are, too. <\/em><\/p>\n

Follow us on this massive journey where we discover and re-discover Every Bugs Bunny Ever.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Hiawatha’s Rabbit Hunt (1941)
\n<\/strong>Directed by Friz Freleng
\nWritten by Michael Maltese
\nMusic by Carl W. Stalling
\nAnimation by Gil Turner<\/p>\n

Again, there\u2019s a golden rule behind the dynamic of Bugs Bunny in that he works so much better when he\u2019s the defender and not the bully. Earlier Bugs shorts pegged him as being something of an antagonist who pushes Elmer Fudd (and a few others) around. Here, Bugs Bunny is relying on his classic trope that would become a trademark of his. In \u201cHiawatha\u2019s Rabbit Hunt,\u201d he\u2019s merely hanging out, minding his business, and goes on the defensive when troubles comes banging at his door. \u201cHiawatha\u2019s Rabbit Hunt\u201d delves in to the troublesome territory that would become somewhat recurring in future Bugs Bunny episodes.<\/p>\n

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This short features a hunter villain (sans Fudd Rhotacism), but one of Indigenous descent. Except this one called Hiawatha in all the painful Indigenous stereotypes to make him about as menacing as possible. As an added insult to injury, he\u2019s also about as dumb as a post. This is Warner punching down in their comedy, and it\u2019s no less uncomfortable now than it was back then. I don\u2019t know how much is true but I read \u201cHiawatha and the Rabbit Hunt\u201d was also meant as a blatant parody to Disney\u2019s \u201cLittle Hiawatha\u201d from their Silly Symphonies. The similarities are hard to ignore, as much of the aforementioned features a similar looking hunter named Hiawatha (an apparent jab at a Disney animator) who ventures in to the wilderness on a hunt by way of canoe.<\/p>\n

The short begins and ends on him rowing a canoe down a river, and he even has a confrontation with a rabbit. Except with the case of \u201cHiawatha\u2019s Rabbit Hunt,\u201d our titular character comes face to face with Bugs. While Disney\u2019s short has its merits, \u201cHiawatha\u2019s Rabbit Hunt\u201d is so much funnier. What it does well is it satirizes the then popular \u201cThe Song of Hiawatha,\u201d an epic poem by Henry Longfellow often recited in grade school that becomes the basis for the entirety of the short. The first short directed by Friz Freleng, \u201cHiawatha\u2019s Rabbit Hunt\u201d centers on the pint sized hunter Hiawatha, an indigenous scout who is paddling his canoe down a river. He is hell bent on hunting a rabbit and making rabbit stew.<\/p>\n

Bugs is lounging around and reading \u201cThe Song of Hiawatha\u201d and becomes aware that he might be a target for a hunter after the poem makes a passing reference to a rabbit. From there Hiawatha begins tracking Bugs and Bugs now has to defend himself, while outwitting the pugnacious predator. I fondly remember watching this on the Cartoon Network here in America back in 1999, and 2000, but apparently according to research this was one of the twelve Bugs Bunny shorts pulled Cartoon Network\u2019s annual \u201cJune Bugs\u201d Marathon (1993-2002) in 2001 by the order of AOL Time Warner. I don\u2019t really remember the short missing from the line up, as I was a religious viewer of the June Bugs marathon, but it\u2019s a considerably interesting omission.<\/p>\n

Damn, Cartoon Network hosted some classic cartoon marathons back in their heyday.<\/p>\n

There are some great Bugs gags featured such as him ending up in Hiawatha\u2019s boiling pot unaware he\u2019s what\u2019s cooking for dinner. There\u2019s also the classic \u201cSucker\u201d gag where Hiawatha becomes a literal sucker after Bugs tricks him in to jumping off a cliff. The latter gag would become a staple of the future shorts. I wouldn\u2019t say that \u201cHiawatha\u2019s Rabbit Hunt\u201d is essential viewing if you fancy yourself a Bugs Bunny fan. Despite being Oscar nominated yet again, It doesn\u2019t have anything particularly special about it, save for the Indigenous stereotypes.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not a bad short for Bugs. If you can acknowledge the context, it\u2019s a pretty entertaining short from his oeuvre.<\/p>\n

Find out what we think are the BEST<\/a> and WORST<\/a> Bugs Bunny shorts of all time!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n