Cartoon a Day: Buckaroo Bugs

Buckaroo Bugs
1944
Directed by Robert Clampett
Available on: Looney Tunes Golden Collection Vol 5

There is no mistaking a Bob Clampett cartoon. Everything is taken to the extreme, and "Buckaroo Bugs" is no exception. In this short, Bugs Bunny is cast as the Masked Marauder who has been stealing carrots from an old west town. To catch him, the locals call in Red Hot Ryder, who could be considered an early version of Yosemite Sam. So, Bugs Bunny is actually the villain.

DVD's are great for viewing Clampett cartoons. Being able to freeze frame the images can give you a real appreciation for the various poses used in the animation. This is perhaps best demonstrated in Red Hot Ryder's horse. He's a minor character in the cartoon, but from an animation standpoint he's the highlight. The character combines modern elements along with qualities of a rubber band like character right out of the early days of animation. This one sequence where Red Hot Ryder and the horse jump off the edge of the Grand Canyon is evidence enough. When the horse realizes what he's done, he actually turns back through himself to turn around. It's brilliant animation!




Animation at it's best when it explores the limits of what the art form is capable of. This cartoon is a great example of that.

Cartoon a Day: To Duck...or Not to Duck

To Duck...or Not to Duck
1943
Directed by Chuck Jones (as Charles M. Jones)
Available on: Looney Tunes Golden Collection Vol. 6

We've talked before about how there are several different versions of Daffy Duck. "To Duck...or Not to Duck" is an interesting short that somewhat transitions between the looney Daffy and the indignant Daffy.

Here he plays the Bugs Bunny role. Elmer Fudd is hunting when he shoot down Daffy. Daffy then starts in with the "how dare you" attitude and ends up switching things around to turn the scenario into a boxing match between the two.

What's interesting is that this doesn't feel like a Chuck Jones short. It seems to lean a little more toward the Bob Clampett style. Some of the extreme poses that you can catch Daffy and Elmer doing if you freeze frame at the right moment are examples of this. Elmer's dog being the lone member of the crowd rooting for Elmer (and getting pelted with tomatoes because of it) also feels more like a Clampett gag to me. Regardless of whether it's the normal Jones style, it's a funny short.

Cartoon A Day: A Corny Concerto

A Corny Concerto
1943
Directed by Bob Clampett (as Robert Clampett)
Available on: Looney Tunes Golden Collection Vol. 2

"A Corny Concerto" can be summed up like this: Bob Clampett does "Fantasia." That's worth the price of admission right there. Who better of Warner's directors to take a jab at Walt Disney's epic.

Elmer Fudd introduces two segments set to classical music. The first segment is a Bugs Bunny / Elmer Fudd story, only Elmer is played by Porky Pig. The segment moves at a dizzying pace. Whereas "Fantasia" could be considered graceful, this is manic and it makes for a great parody.

The backgrounds have a unique color scheme, as well, which pokes more fun at Disney's masterpiece. There's also a wide range of crazy reactions and poses, which Clampett is famous for.

The second segment almost defies description. It begins looking as if it could've come right out of "Fantasia," with it's graceful swans swimming about. But you know that won't last long. It think this series of shots from one reaction illustrate the turn this segment takes better than I could describe it.

Just look at the extremes on that last shot! It's amazing to look at single frames of quick movements on a Clampett cartoon.

Though this is a wild "Fantasia" parody, it's done with great affection for the original. I think both films rank as masterpieces.

Cartoon a Day: The Big Snooze

The Big Snooze
1946
Directed by Bob Clampett (uncredited)
Available on: Looney Tunes Golden Collection Vol. 2

"The Big Snooze" is a classic example of the Bob Clampett style of Looney Tunes cartoon...completely crazy!


It begins with Elmer Fudd chasing Bugs Bunny...the usual. But, after one particularly funny bit involving running through a hollow log and a cliff edge, Elmer decides he's had it and tears up his Warner Brothers contract.



He sets out to take up fishing, and promptly falls asleep while at the side of a pond. Bugs, figuring that his job is in jeopardy if Elmer isn't on board, takes some sleeping pills to continue the antics in Elmer's dreams. Kind of Freddy Krueger - ish, I guess.


Setting the cartoon in a dream world just gives Clampett license to go totally nuts, not that he ever needed an excuse before. One sequence seems to be a parody of the "Pink Elephants on Parade" sequence of Disney's "Dumbo."



Bugs also manages to get Elmer to dress up as a woman and the sequence just gets more and more bizarre from there. Clampett understood that there is no limit to what's possible in a cartoon...probably better than any other director. Everything is taken to the extreme.


Just look at the above screen capture! When you freeze frame a Clampett cartoon you're just never sure what kind of an odd pose you're going to get. He was a master. Unfortunately, this was one of his last cartoons at Warner Brothers.