Bugs BunÂny is a quick-thinkÂing, fast-talkÂing, wasÂcalÂly force of nature, and a preterÂnatÂuÂralÂly giftÂed physÂiÂcal comeÂdiÂan, too.
But unlike such lastÂing greats as CharÂlie Chapin and Buster Keaton, it took him a while to find his iconÂic look.
His first appearÂance, as “HapÂpy RabÂbit” in the 1938 black and white theÂatriÂcal short, Porky’s Hare Hunt, might remind you of those yearÂbook phoÂtos of celebriÂties before they were famous.
In a video essay conÂsidÂerÂing how Bugs Bunny’s look has evolved over his eight-decade career, aniÂmaÂtion fan Dave Lee of the popÂuÂlar YouTube series Dave Lee Down Under breaks down some earÂly charÂacÂterÂisÂtics, from an undeÂfined, small body and oval-shaped head to white fur and a fluffy cotÂton ball of a tail.
His voice was also a work in progress, more Woody WoodÂpeckÂer than the hybrid BrookÂlyn-Bronx patois that would make him, and voice actor Mel Blanc, famous.
The folÂlowÂing year, the rabÂbit who would become Bugs BunÂny returned in Prest‑o Change‑o, a MerÂry Melodies TechÂniÂcolÂor short directÂed by Chuck Jones.
A few months latÂer charÂacÂter designÂer (and forÂmer DisÂney aniÂmaÂtor) CharÂlie ThorÂson subÂjectÂed him to a pretÂty noticeÂable makeover for Hare-um Scare-um, anothÂer rabÂbit huntÂing-themed romp.
The two-toned grey and white coat, oval muzÂzle, and misÂchieÂvous buck-toothed grin are much more aligned with the Bugs most of us grew up watchÂing.
His pear-shaped bod’, long neck, high-rumped stance, and ponÂtoon feet allowed for a much greater range of motion.
A notaÂtion on the modÂel sheet alludÂing to direcÂtor Ben HardÂaway’s nickÂname — “Bugs” — gives some hint as to how the world’s most popÂuÂlar carÂtoon charÂacÂter came by his stage name.
For 1940’s Elmer’s CanÂdid CamÂera, the pink-muzÂzled Bugs dropped the yelÂlow gloves ThorsÂen had givÂen him and affectÂed some black ear tips.
Tex Avery, who was in line to direct the pair in the AcadÂeÂmy Award-nomÂiÂnatÂed short A Wild Hare, found this look objecÂtionÂably cute.
He tasked aniÂmaÂtor Bob Givens with givÂing the rabÂbit, now offiÂcialÂly known as Bugs BunÂny, an edgiÂer appearÂance.
AniÂmaÂtion hisÂtoÂriÂan Michael BarÂriÂer writes:
In the Givens design, Bugs was no longer defined by ThorÂsonÂ’s tanÂgle of curves. His head was now oval, rather than round. In that respect, Bugs recalled the white rabÂbit in Porky’s Hare Hunt, but GivenÂs’s design preÂserved so many of ThorÂsonÂ’s refinements—whiskers, a more natÂuÂralÂisÂtic nose—and introÂduced so many others—cheek ruffs, less promiÂnent teeth—that there was very litÂtle simÂiÂlarÂiÂty between the new verÂsion of Bugs and the Hare Hunt rabÂbit.
BarÂriÂer also details a numÂber of simÂiÂlarÂiÂties between the titÂuÂlar rabÂbit charÂacÂter from Disney’s 1935 SilÂly SymÂphonies short, The TorÂtoise and the Hare, and forÂmer DisÂney employÂee Givens’ design.
While Avery boastÂed to carÂtoon hisÂtoÂriÂan Milt Gray in 1977 that “the conÂstrucÂtion was almost idenÂtiÂcal”, adding, “It’s a wonÂder I wasÂn’t sued,” Givens insistÂed in an interÂview with the AniÂmaÂtion Guild’s oral hisÂtoÂry project that Bugs wasn’t a Max Hare rip off. ( “I was there. I ought to know.”)
WhatÂevÂer parÂalÂlels may exist between Givens’ Bugs and Disney’s Hare, YouTuÂber Lee sees A Wild Hare as the moment when Bugs Bunny’s charÂacÂter coaÂlesced as “more of a lovÂable prankster than a maliÂcious deviant,” nonÂchaÂlantÂly chompÂing a carÂrot like Clark Gable in It HapÂpened One Night, and turnÂing a bit of regionÂal Texas teen slang — “What’s up, Doc?”- into one of the most immorÂtal catch phrasÂes in enterÂtainÂment hisÂtoÂry.
A star was born, so much so that four direcÂtors — Jones, Avery, Friz FreÂleng and Bob ClamÂpett — were enlistÂed to keep up with the demand for Bugs BunÂny vehiÂcles.
This mulÂti-pronged approach led to some visuÂal inconÂsisÂtenÂcies, that were evenÂtuÂalÂly checked by the creÂation of definÂiÂtive modÂel sheets, drawn by Bob McKimÂson, who aniÂmatÂed the ClamÂpett-directÂed shorts.
HisÂtoÂriÂan BarÂriÂer takes stock:
Bugs’s cheeks were broadÂer, his chin stronger, his teeth a litÂtle more promiÂnent, his eyes largÂer and slantÂed a litÂtle outÂward instead of in. The most expresÂsive eleÂments of the rabÂbit’s face had all been strengthÂened …but because the triÂanÂguÂlar shape of Bugs’s head had been subÂtly accenÂtuÂatÂed, Bugs was, if anyÂthing, futher removed from cuteÂness than ever before. McKimÂson’s modÂel sheet must be givÂen some of the credÂit for the marked improveÂment in Bugs’s looks in all the direcÂtors’ carÂtoons startÂing in 1943. Not that everyÂone drew Bugs to match the modÂel sheet, but the awkÂwardÂness and uncerÂtainÂty of the earÂly forÂties were gone; it was if everyÂone had sudÂdenÂly figÂured out what Bugs realÂly looked like.
Now one of the most recÂogÂnizÂable stars on earth, Bugs remained unmisÂtakÂably himÂself while spoofÂing Charles DickÂens, Alfred HitchÂcock and WagÂnÂer; held his own in live action appearÂances with such heavy hitÂters as Doris Day and Michael JorÂdan; and had a memÂoÂrable cameo in the 1988 feaÂture Who Framed Roger RabÂbit, after proÂducÂers agreed to a deal that guarÂanÂteed him the same amount of screen time as his far squarÂer rival, MickÂey Mouse.
This milÂlenÂniÂum got off to a rockÂiÂer start, owing to an over-reliance on low budÂget, simÂpliÂfied flash aniÂmaÂtion, and the truÂly exeÂcrable trend of shows that reimagÂine clasÂsic charÂacÂters as cloyÂing todÂdlers.
In 2011, on the strength of her 2‑minute aniÂmatÂed short I Like PanÂdas, an iniÂtialÂly relucÂtant 24-year-old JesÂsiÂca BorutÂsÂki was asked to “freshÂen up” Bugs’ look for The Looney Tunes Show, a series of longer forÂmat carÂtoons which required its cast to perÂform such 21st-cenÂtuÂry activÂiÂties as texÂting:
I made their heads a bit bigÂger because I didÂn’t like [how] in the ’60s, ’70s Bugs BunÂny’s head startÂed to get realÂly small and his body realÂly long. He startÂed to look like a weird guy in a bunÂny suit.
Lee’s EvoÂluÂtion of Bugs BunÂny- 80 Years Explained was released in 2019.
He hasÂn’t stopped evolvÂing. GizÂmodÂo’s SabiÂna Graves “sat down with the creÂative teams shepÂherdÂing WarnÂer Bros.’ clasÂsic Looney Tunes charÂacÂters into new and reimagÂined carÂtoons” at San Diego ComÂic-Con 2022:
In a push led by Looney Tunes CarÂtoons’ Alex Kirwan—who spearÂheads the franchise’s curÂrent slate of shorts on HBO Max—the beloved aniÂmaÂtion icons will soon expand into even more conÂtent. There’s the upcomÂing Tiny Toons LoooniverÂsiÂty revival, a HalÂloween speÂcial, Cartoonito’s Bugs BunÂny Builders for kids, and two feaÂture-length aniÂmatÂed movies on the way—and we have a feelÂing that’s not all, folks!
…to quote Bugs, “I knew I shoulÂda takÂen that left turn at AlbuÂquerque!”
RelatÂed ConÂtent
How to Draw Bugs BunÂny: A Primer by LegÂendary AniÂmaÂtor Chuck Jones
The Strange Day When Bugs BunÂny Saved the Life of Mel Blanc
The Proof That Mel Blanc–the Voice Behind Bugs BunÂny, Daffy Duck & Porky Pig–Was a Genius
- Ayun HalÂlÂiÂday is the Chief PriÂmaÂtolÂoÂgist of the East VilÂlage Inky zine and author, most recentÂly, of CreÂative, Not Famous: The Small PotaÂto ManÂiÂfesto. FolÂlow her @AyunHalliday.