Introduction
Bugs Bunny, an animated character, was created back in the 1930s by Leon Schlesinger. It gained popularity after featuring in the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series released in 1930 and 1931 respectively. For instance, Merrie Melodies started airing in 1931, during the golden age era of American animation – it ended in 1969 (Taberham 130). Throughout history, Bugs Bunny has played various roles with the majority centering on music such as The Rabbit of Seville in 1950 and What’s Opera, Doc in 1957 (Taberham 131). In essence, music was critical in most of the Warner Bros productions. It, therefore, follows that Bugs Bunny has been in existence for most of U.S. history starting with World War II, the postwar Era as well as in the classical Cartoon Era.
Background
Bugs Bunny is an animated character created back in the 1930s by Leon Schlesinger. He gained popularity during the Golden Age of American Animation after appearing in Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies (Tatham 287). As explicated further by Tatham, his exemplary performance in this era “led to his becoming an American cultural icon, as well as a corporate mascot of the Warner Bros. company” (39). Initially, Bugs Bunny was voiced by Mel Blanc, but the character was later performed by various actors. Sanchez, in their study, described Bugs as “an anthropomorphic gray hare famous for his relaxed, passive personality” (para. 15). In an interview with Tatham (41), Mel Blanc described Bugs’ accent as a blend of both Bronx and Brooklyn accents which made him resonate well with the audience. Besides Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies, Bugs has been featured in other different productions including short and feature films, television series, comic books, video games, and compilations (Cranswick para. 23). In addition to this, Bugs has been featured in many productions – more than any other cartoon character ever created.
In line with the above, Bugs Bunny has won various awards combined with several mentions throughout history. For instance, in 2002 TV Guide, while compiling a list of the top fifty cartoon characters of all time, ranked Bugs at position one. Pete Browngardt in an interview gave a clear explanation of why Bugs was ranked at the top of the list (Night 7 mins”). According to Pete, Bugs is one of the few characters that appeals directly to emotions and is easy to replicate. In fact, Bugs as a character, has been the reason Looney Tunes continues to be reproduced and transformed into futuristic superheroes such as Loonatics Unleashed which aired from 2005-07 (Tatham (41). Overall, Bugs is a perfect example of a well-written American comic and a great comedian who has filled many generations with laughter.
Overview of the Golden Age Era
Cartoons, in the golden age era, were categorized as part of the theatre programs and aired for an average of 10 minutes. During this period, children enjoyed watching animated features every time they visited Disney Studios. Characters such as Bugs Bunny were popular not only in films but also in comic books (Taberham 131). From 1928 to 35, majority of the American children were privileged to have plenty of hours of cartoon exposure (Taberham). Cook and Kirsten (49) note that most of the cartoons currently being watched draw their inspiration from the films produced during this era. Most popular cartoons today were first featured in cartoon films of the golden age era. In fact, characters such as Bugs Bunny became famous way before the introduction of television programs.
The introduction of television contributed significantly to the further growth and spread of animation – it became easily accessible to many people. Television ensured cartoons became a source of entertainment for children (Li and Zhihong 120). Some other animation movies, besides those featuring Bugs Bunny, include Three Little Pigs and the Seven Dwarfs. Most of the cartoon characters that dominated the Hollywood industry were developed by animators who specialized in the field. Others learned while on the job – they copied the tactics of pioneers in the field which further saw these cartoon characters become more popular. Hollywood worked closely with most of its animators to help reach a wider audience.
Bugs during World War II
Bugs remained to be the most popular cartoon character during World War II due to its free spirit. By 1943, he had already received several star billing in major films (McGowan 342). In fact, Bugs Bunny propelled Warner Bros. Company to the top – it was one of the most popular and profitable cartoon studios in the U.S. (McGowan 345). As a matter, of fact, Warner Bros. did not shy away from developing its animated character after dominant figures during the war. They included “Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Francisco Franco, and the Japanese” (McGowan 340). A good example here is Bugs Bunny Nips the Nips, a 1944 film directed by Friz Freleng featuring bugs at loggerhead with several Japanese people. A similar pattern is replicated in Herr Meets Hare, where Bugs is seen facing off against Hitler and Hermann Goring. In addition to this, Bugs was featured in Any Bonds Today, a 1942 animated propaganda film. It played an important role in selling war bonds during World War II (McGowan 343). It is clear that Bugs contributed a lot to shaping U.S. history during the war.
The Postwar Era
Bugs continued to be featured in numerous films even after the World War II. One such film, False Hare, saw Bugs continue gaining attraction both in the U.S. and other countries around the globe. Several directors including Friz Freleng, Robert McKimson, and Chuck Jones, played an instrumental role in ensuring Bugs remained popular. While many films had been produced back during World War II, none had worn an award (McGowan 309). Knighty Knights Bugs became the first Bugs Bunny cartoon to win an Oscar. Jones is credited for producing some of the most popular movies including Rabbit Fire, Rabbit Seasoning, and Duck! Rabbit, Duck!. These three movies are well-known for creating the historic rivalry between Daffy Ducks and Bugs (McGowan 347). Another historical movie, What’s Opera, Doc?, featuring Bugs and Elmer Fudd, was described by the United States Library Congress as being culturally significant (Cook, 45). This explains why it was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry.
Bugs Bunny in the 21st Century
Bugs Bunny and other Looney Tunes key cartoon characters returned to the airwaves in 2011 through the Cartoon Network sitcom. Unlike in the 1970s when Mel was the sole voice for the character, Bugs adopted a new and more vibrant sound through Jeff Bergman. He also voiced Daffy Duck character after Invasion of the Bunny Snatchers in 1992 (Rollin 5 mins”). The characters also came with new design features – a fate accomplished by Jessica Borutski. As explicated by Cook, some of the major changes to Bugs new look included “the simplification and enlargement of his feet, as well as a change to his fur from gray to a shade of mauve” (45). From the onset of this new series, the two characters, Bugs and Daffy are portrayed as best friends as opposed to earlier films where they were often paired as sworn rivals. Similarly, unlike his usual carefree spirit in the previous series, he is easily annoyed at Daffy’s antics in the new movie.
In line with the above, the two characters are no longer portrayed as enemies – they have established strong ties with Porky Pig. The one thing that is clear from most of these films is that cartoon characters appear to be living a more comfortable life – a true representation of the current state of most Americans. For instance, in one television series, Bugs is seen dating Lola Bunny despite initially finding her to be crazy. Another important milestone, as evidenced through the 21st-century cartoon characters is that most of them including Bugs live in upper-middle-class houses.
Conclusion
Bugs Bunny is an animated character created by Leon Schlesinger in the 1930s. The cartoon character first gained recognition and popularity after it was featured in the Tunes and Merrie Melodies. As noted above, Bugs have existed for most of U.S. history starting with the Golden Age, World War II, the postwar Era as well as in the classical Cartoon Era. For example, cartoons in the Golden Age were categorized as part of theatre programs and aired for an average of 10 minutes. During World War II, bugs remained popular and by 1943, he had already received star billing in major films. Similarly, Bugs continued to be featured in numerous films even after World War II. The same extended to the 21st century where characters adopted new design features.
Works Cited
Cook, Malcolm, and Kirsten Moana Thompson. “Introduction to Animation and Advertising.” Palgrave Animation, Springer International Publishing, 2019, pp. 1–51. Web.
Cranswick, Amie. “Looney Tunes Cartoons Returning in 2019.” Flickering Myth, Web.
Li, Feng, and Zhihong Wang. “Application of Digital Media Interactive Technology in Post-production of Film and Television Animation.” Journal of Physics: Conference Series, vol. 1966, no. 1, IOP Publishing, 2021, pp. 120-39. Web.
McGowan, David. Animated Personalities: Cartoon Characters and Stardom in American Theatrical Shorts. University of Texas Press, 2019.
Night Ol Master. “Peter Browngardt, Uncle Grandpa and Looney Tunes Reboot.” YouTube, Web.
Rollin Trehearne. “Jeff Bergman – Voice of Bugs Bunny.” YouTube, Web.
Sanchez, Omar. “Exclusive: Mel Blanc’s Son Shares How Bugs Bunny Saved His Father’s Life During Coma.” EW.com, Web.
Taberham, Paul. “A General Aesthetics of American Animation Sound Design.” Animation, vol. 13, no. 2, SAGE Publications, 2018, pp. 131–47. Web.
Tatham, Chelsea. “Mickey Mouse and Merry Melodies: How Disney and Warner Bros. Animation Entertained and Inspired Americans during the Great Depression.” Saber and Scroll, a Publication of the APUS Historical Studies Honor Society Journal, vol. 8, no. 2, Policy Studies Organization, 2019, pp. 287-38. Web.