{"id":39830,"date":"2023-05-30T00:04:40","date_gmt":"2023-05-30T04:04:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cinema-crazed.com\/blog\/?p=39830"},"modified":"2023-05-30T10:15:48","modified_gmt":"2023-05-30T14:15:48","slug":"every-bugs-bunny-ever-jack-wabbit-and-the-beanstalk-1943","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cinema-crazed.com\/blog\/2023\/05\/30\/every-bugs-bunny-ever-jack-wabbit-and-the-beanstalk-1943\/","title":{"rendered":"Every Bugs Bunny Ever: Jack-Wabbit and the Beanstalk (1943)"},"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>Jack-Wabbit and the Beanstalk (1943)
\n<\/strong>Directed by Friz Freleng
\nWritten by Michael Maltese
\nMusic by Carl W. Stalling
\nAnimation by Jack Bradbury (etc\u2026)<\/p>\n

The whole \u201cJack and the Beanstalk\u201d fairy tale has been fodder for some of the best and worst movies ever made. It has always translated well especially in the comedy realm with Bugs Bunny and Looney Tunes spoofing the story twice. \u201cJack Wabbit and the Beanstalk\u201d should not be confused with \u201cBeanstalk Bunny\u201d from1955, yet another parody of this story starring Bugs Bunny, except this time featuring Daffy Duck, and Elmer Fudd pulling up the rear. That one is very good and very funny (we’ll get to that one), but \u201cJack Wabbit and the Beanstalk\u201d has its merits just the same.<\/p>\n

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\u201cJack Wabbit and the Beanstalk\u201d doesn\u2019t need a lot of exploration of the fairytale, as the story is merely instrumental in setting off the classic chain of events for Bugs Bunny. He\u2019s minding his business, ends up at the wrong place at the wrong time, and has to outwit a foe that\u2019s much bigger and deadlier than he is. This time though, Bugs happens upon a giant \u201cvictory\u201d carrot garden that\u2019s owned by the local giant. Bug is confronted by the giant who wants to squash Bugs for his theft, and Bugs decides to defend himself. And he also wants the carrots, of course. Bugs really is at his best, as the short is simple but packs in a ton of funny gags and jokes to make it to the end.<\/p>\n

Here Bugs always finds himself hopelessly trapped by the giant, but the giant is so stupid he can barely retain him (\u201cYou think you\u2019re so c-a-t Smart!\u201d). One scene finds Bugs trapped in glass cup where he happens to have his own handy dandy glass cutter. And Bugs makes good use of the giant\u2019s body, running along his face, into his ears, and hiding in his hair. The animators do a good job of turning the giant in to a massive foe, as they use matte paintings for the bigger back grounds while only the really essential parts of the scenes are animated. If you watch animation long enough it becomes fun to see what is just background art and what is animation.<\/p>\n

This, of course, was used to save time and money, but the art is still pretty darn good to admire. The detail of the giant\u2019s face and body are superb, and I loved Bugs using his body against him. He uses his ear drum as a real drum, and is shocked when the giant covers his head turning his hair in to a mysterious wooded area. I got a good laugh when Bugs sees the eyes in the hair, and demands \u201cOkay guys! Break it up! Break it up!\u201d One of the funnier blink and you\u2019ll miss it gags is when the giant goes to check the time, and instead of a watch, he\u2019s wearing a grandfather clock on his wrist. This short is one of the many times that Bugs and the group from Merrie Melodies would invade fairy tales of all kinds, and its fun to see them put their own demented twists on them.<\/p>\n

I even loved the quick way Bugs dispenses of the giant tricking him in to walking off the clouds, causing him to tumble in to the ground with a crash and leaving behind a massive crater. \u201cLook out for that foist step! It\u2019s a lu-lu!\u201d<\/p>\n

As many know around this time, Warner was competing big time with Disney Studios in the animation field. While Disney had the bigger check book, Warner had the better animators and writers, overall. I\u2019ve seen those other Disney fairy tale shorts a few times in my life, and they\u2019re cute. I\u2019ve seen \u201cJack Wabbit and the Beanstalk\u201d so many times that I\u2019ve lost count, and it never stops being laugh out loud funny.<\/p>\n

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