2021's Space Jam: A New Legacy has done quite well in the box office, considering that there are still plenty of restrictions worldwide. While part of that has to do with the star power of Los Angeles Lakers forward Lebron James, much credit goes the way of the iconic Looney Tunes characters, specifically the sly rabbit Bugs Bunny.
The animated cartoon character has been around since the early '30s, hence both young and older generations are very familiar with most of his traits, storylines, and tricks. However, the lengthy existence means there's a wealth of information about Bug Bunny, some of which might be easy for even the staunchest fans to miss.
Bugs' Initial Name Was Different
In the earliest shorts involving Bugs Bunny, he has no name. The name "Happy Rabbit" was then used. Later on, animators began referring to the character as "Bugs' Bunny," implying that the character belonged to Ben "Bugs" Hardaway, the first-ever director of the Warner Bros's character. The name stuck and would then be used in future shorts.
Going by the name "Bugs Bunny" was clearly a wise move since it's catchier than "Happy Rabbit." The randomness of how the name came out makes it all the more intriguing. Bugs Bunny also fits with other popular cartoon characters whose surnames and first names start with the first letter, such as Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck.
His First Appearance Involved Elmer Fudd
Bugs Bunny's first-ever official appearance is in the animated short A Wild Hare (1940). In it, 'wabbit' (rabbit) hunter Elmer, a memorable cartoon villains, goes after rabbits only to find himself being outsmarted by Bugs.
Most of the catchphrases used by Elmer and Bugs in this short are still applied to this day. A Wild Hare lays a brilliant foundation for the character and proof of that lies in the fact that it was nominated for Best Animated Short though it controversially lost to The Milky Way. Future Bugs Bunny shorts also lost at the Oscars leading to a trend where Bugs would mock the Academy Awards after every ceremony and demand a recount.
The Origin Of The Catchprase "What's Up Doc?"
It's one of the most popular lines in the history of animated shorts and came rather randomly too. The line was added by director Tex Avery who felt it would be good for the dialogue because it was commonly used in Texas.
Avery's decision to make Bugs chew on a carrot while saying the words "What's up doc?" made the character more appealing to audiences. Logically, a rabbit should be scared when being hunted down. Bugs' nonchalant nature made him a big hit with audiences, leading to more shorts revolving around the character.
He Is The First Animated Character To Appear On A Postage Stamp
In 1997, Bugs Bunny became the first-ever animated character to have his image appear on postage stamps. There was slight uproar from the public since Mickey Mouse was more popular at the time and was seen as the preferred.
To date, the Bugs Bunny stamp is ranked 7th in the list of 10 most popular postage stamps of all time. It's unclear how a Mickey Mouse stamp would have performed but the sales show that Bugs wasn't a bad choice. Bugs Bunny has been known to appeal to both children and adults too, compared to Mickey who is appreciated more by kids.
He Has Been Voiced By Several Actors
Like many other animated characters, Bug Bunny has a distinct voice. Over 30 voice actors have voiced Bug Bunny over the years but Mel Blanc was the first and longest to do it (1940-1989).
There are conflicting reports about the actual inspiration for the voice. Director Tex Avery claimed he asked Blanc to talk like Hollywood Golden Age actor Frank McHugh. Blanc, himself claimed that he was inspired by Bronx and Brooklyn accents. It's never been clear who was telling the truth but what's clear is that the voice was golden enough to be maintained by all future voice actors that took over.
He Has Appeared In A Disney Production
Bug Bunny appears in Who Framed Roger Rabbit, one of the best movies that mix live-action and animation befpre Space Jam. The movie is produced by Disney, hence Mickey Mouse is also featured. And in order for Warner Bros. to allow Bugs Bunny to be used, they demanded that he get equal screen time with Mickey.
The inclusion of the two iconic characters in the same movie had a positive long-term impact on pop culture as it made rival studios realize they could work together for a common commercial goal. This has led to future partnerships between studios such as Sony and Marvel. Crossovers between DC and Marvel comics also came about.
His Real Name Is Based On A President
In the 1945 comic issue Looney Tunes And Merrie Melodies #41, Bugs Bunny confesses to Porky, who turned out to be one of the funniest characters in Space Jam 2, that his real name is George Washington Bunny. He adds that he had to confess because he is unable to lie.
Since the comic came out near the end of World War II, it should be presumed that the real name is inspired by the political themes of the time. George Washington Bunny has never been used in any other media, which further justifies the presumption that it was only added to fit in with the times.
His List Of Achievements
Bugs Bunny is on the Guinness Book of Records as the most portrayed cartoon character in both short and feature-length movies. He is also the ninth most portrayed fictional film character in the world. In addition to that, he is the second cartoon character to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
That Bugs Bunny has been portrayed so much is a testament to his popularity. The anthropomorphic rabbit appeals to fans so much that his image has been frequently licensed to brands for commercial purposes. He has been used for Nike ads alongside his first Space Jam buddy Michael Jordan.
He Only Gets Defeated Once
In the hare and hunter games between him and his archnemesis Elmer, Bugs Bunny rarely tastes defeat. However, things are much different in the animated short Hare Brush, in which the hunter emerges victorious.
There is a clear indicator that the short is targeted at mature audiences since it uses themes such as mental health and hypnosis. It's thus logical for the creators to include a Bugs Bunny defeat since mature audiences would be able to handle it more than younger audiences who aren't known to root for villains.
Basketball Isn't His Only Favorite Sport
The Space Jam movies have depicted Bunny as a staunch lover of basketball but that's not the only sport he is fond of. In the 1985 TV special Bugs Bunny's Wild World Of Sports, he demonstrates proficiency in golf, baseball, soccer, and ice hockey. This production also marks the final time that Mel Blanc voices Bugs Bunny.
Bug Bunny's recent focus on basketball is all for commercial purposes since it would be counterproductive to make him venture into other sports when he's about to have a starring role with a basketball legend. Basketball has also felt like a better fit for him since there have been background explanations, detailing how he became interested in the sport.