{"id":39095,"date":"2023-03-14T00:08:48","date_gmt":"2023-03-14T04:08:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cinema-crazed.com\/blog\/?p=39095"},"modified":"2023-03-07T20:43:17","modified_gmt":"2023-03-08T01:43:17","slug":"every-bugs-bunny-ever-wabbit-twouble-1941","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cinema-crazed.com\/blog\/2023\/03\/14\/every-bugs-bunny-ever-wabbit-twouble-1941\/","title":{"rendered":"Every Bugs Bunny Ever: Wabbit Twouble (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><\/strong>Wabbit Twouble (1941)
\n<\/strong>Directed by Wobert Cwampett
\nWritten by Dave Monahan
\nMusic by Cawl W. Stawwing
\nAnimation by Sid Suthewwand<\/p>\n

With \u201cWabbit Twouble\u201d we have what will come to be known as Fat Elmer Fudd. For some reason during the development of Elmer Fudd, his weight fluctuated between the thin hunter we know him as today, and an obese model. The latter overweight Elmer would only appear a three more times before becoming thin again, but it\u2019s interesting to note how much his weight dips and rises between shorts every now and then. Maybe they just thought Bugs fighting an overweight man who looked like Curly from \u201cThe Three Stooges\u201d would be funnier than his rhotacism? Apparently his physique was based on voice actor Arthur Q. Bryan’s own physique.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

His inexplicable weight gain doesn\u2019t add anything to his character as the short never really makes any direct reference to his weight. The only physical feature that becomes a joke is his distinctive red nose, which Bugs plays as a speed bag while tormenting Elmer. The short begins with the opening credits breaking the fourth wall as the names of the animators and director are comically written in Elmer Fudd\u2019s signature rhotacism. So Robert Clampett is \u201cWobewt Cwampett,\u201d and Carl Stalling is \u201cCawl Stawwing.\u201d The aforementioned Clampett would step in to complete what was originally a short started by the now departed Tex Avery, and Clampett does a great job picking up where Avery left off.<\/p>\n

\u201cWabbit Twouble\u201d is kind of a variation on the earlier \u201cElmer\u2019s Candid Camera,\u201d where Elmer stumbles on to Bugs who takes it upon himself to torment Fudd. However, the shtick is less mean spirited this time around mainly because Bugs has another character to work off of in the form of a wild bear. This time Elmer appears at Jellostone National Park for \u201cwest and wewaxation.\u201d He arrives on his old jalopy (to the conga tune) and looks for a chance to \u201cwewax\u201d at a camp ground. That camp ground so happens to be inhabited by Bugs Bunny. Bugs isn\u2019t provoked, but he does find a chance to mess with Elmer, who is simply looking for some sleep.<\/p>\n

While the short does start off kind of slow with Bugs\u2019 gags, the comedy does pick up once they introduce a third element in the form of a black bear (also voiced by Blanc) looking to eat Elmer (while he and Bugs are fighting). The introduction of the black bear is a shockingly nice touch as he\u2019s just as funny as Bugs and keeps the comedy moving at a rapid fire pace. Bugs stages a great gag involving glasses fooling Elmer in to thinking it\u2019s night time, there\u2019s the gag involving Elmer unclothing before bed time, and of course there\u2019s the introduction of the bear. Bugs uses the opportunity to mess with Elmer even more as, at one point, he pretends to be the bear pawing at Elmer who is anxiously lying still on the ground.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a funny bit of trickery typical of Bugs who is just hilarious here. True, the short does break the guideline of Bugs being more of a taunter than a protagonist, but the sight gags and fourth wall breaking land and land well. My favorite scene involves Elmer and the bear chasing one another in the woods, ducking behind trees and jumping back and forth between cover to the tune of The William Tell Overture. It\u2019s surprising how at one point Bugs kind of takes a back seat to Elmer battling with the black bear.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s interesting that the black bear would never make another actual appearance again after \u201cWabbit Twouble,\u201d playing more as a rare one and done villain for the Bugs Bunny shorts. As usual Bugs has a way of getting under his foils\u2019 skins and drives Elmer to the point where he\u2019s jailed for destroying Jellostone\u2019s sign in anger (\u201cA wistful wetweat!\u201d Wubbish!\u201d). The pi\u00e8ce de r\u00e9sistance is when Elmer celebrates \u201cWest and Wewaxation at Wast\u201d behind bars, only to be greeted by Bugs and the Black Bear, both of whom promise more lunacy for the poor Fudd.<\/p>\n

Clampett is one of my all time favorite Looney Tunes masterminds behind Chuck Jones, as he managed to help create some of my favorite shorts from Bugs\u2019 massive library. Clampett would go on to direct a lot more Bugs Bunny shorts, and he does a good job filling the hole that Avery leaves behind for his tenure at MGM. The animation is still rich and the comedy compensates for the lack of motivation for Bugs.<\/p>\n

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