Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Happy 70th Birthday, Bugs Bunny!


Whenever anyone asks me who do I think is the greatest cartoon character ever created is, I say without hesitation "Bugs Bunny".
(You all thought I was going to Popeye, didn't ya?)
Bugs is the character we would all like to be, to be able to stand up to anybody that gives us grief and give it back to them in spades.
It was on this date (July 27) back in 1940 that Tex Avery's "A Wild Hare" made it's debut and a widdle gway wabbit took the world by storm. Also starring Elmer Fudd, this short set the stage for all the other Bugs Bunny cartoons to come. Hunters, foxes, hound dogs, pumas, monsters, angry cowpokes, opera singers and many more have all tried to get the best of Bugs only to be beaten back instead when he tells us watching his 'toons, "Of course you realize this means war!"
Some of animations best directors have worked on Bugs' shorts helping to shape his personality. Bob Clampett, Friz Freleng, Frank Tashlin, Robert McKimson and Chuck Jones along with Tex Avery have worked on these classic animated cartoons.
Tedd Pierce, Warren Foster and Michael Maltese are some of the writers that gave word to some of Bugs' classic lines.
And of course the great Mel Blanc spoke for the rabbit to give us the immortal line, "What's up, Doc?"
He has appeared in movies, on TV, on records and has appeared on everything from lunch boxes to underwear. Toys, dolls and action figures are all highly collectible and so are the many books, comic books and activity books he has appeared in. He even had his own newspaper strip.
Bugs bunny is an animation legend and a true Pop Culture Icon.

Go watch some of his classic cartoons today and find out why he is the best of the best!

No comments: