Cartoon a Day: Hare Trigger

Hare Trigger
1945
Directed by Friz Freleng (as I. Freleng)
Available on: Looney Tunes Golden Collection Vol. 6

Yesterday we took a look at the first of the Superman series of cartoons, so I decided to continue on that course this week and look at other first appearances of famous characters. Let's start with one of my favorite Looney Tunes characters, Yosemite Sam in his first appearance, "Hare Trigger."

In this short, Sam is a train robber who chooses to rob a train that happens to have Bugs Bunny hanging out in the mail car. Of course, that turns out to be the worst choice he could've made.

It's always a little strange to see the debut of a famous character because they are never quite the characters we've come to know and love when they first appear. It takes times for characters to develop. One of the things that is so great about Yosemite Sam is that he is a character of pure rage, but he's not quite there yet in this cartoon.

There are plenty of great moments in this short, the scene where Bugs fills in for Sam's hat is one great scene in particular, but Sam's reactions just aren't quite what we think they should be yet. This is a great cartoon and a wonderful introduction for Sam, but I love it when Sam is just so angry that his little body shakes so much he levitates, I love how he gets so steamed that he creates his own vocabulary...the animators and writers hadn't quite hit on those things yet in "Hare Trigger."

Cartoon a Day: Ballot Box Bunny

Ballot Box Bunny
1951
Directed by Friz Freleng (as I. Freleng)
Available on: Looney Tunes Golden Collection Vol. 1

With the election today I thought "Ballot Box Bunny" would be an appropriate cartoon to feature.

Yosemite Sam is running for mayor and in the course of a speech announces that he will get rid of all rabbits. Of course, to Bugs Bunny who's hole is beneath the band shell this means war. So the long-eared one launches his own campaign.



This short features the great comic timing evident in so many Freleng directed shorts. Many of the gags involve explosions, but what's great is that many of them happen off camera. Much of the humor lies in reactions and Sam's condition in the aftermath.



I think Yosemite Sam is my favorite Bugs Bunny nemesis. He's a character of pure rage and we laugh at him because we see the ridiculousness of being ruled by anger. To be honest, we probably see a little bit of ourselves in him, and it probably helps us get a little bit closer to being better people when we see his tantrums literally blow up in his face one more time. I didn't plan this commentary out, but perhaps that's a lesson all those elected today should take to heart.

Cartoon a Day: Buccaneer Bunny

Buccaneer Bunny
1948
Directed by Friz Freleng (as I. Freleng)
Available on: Looney Tunes Golden Collection Vol. 5

Ah, Yosemite Sam. He was always my brother's favorite, and I've got to admit a great love for the character too. What is it about a character of pure rage that is just so funny to watch? Makes me realize a bit how stupid I probably look when I loose my temper. Guess many of us could learn a bit from watching old Sam.

Sam is a pirate who makes the mistake of trying to hide his treasure in Bugs Bunny's hole. The gags in this short come in little groups. There is a series of gags involving Bugs hiding out in the crow's nest, a series involving cannons shooting Sam in the face, and a series gags involving doors. It goes to show how Freleng is a master of comic timing. The end result of each gag in the cannon sequence is the same, yet it stays funny because the timing is so precise.

Probably my favorite bit in this short is the one where Bugs throws a match into the gun powder room which Sam has to run in after. After several times Sam tells him that he's not going in after it again. Bugs, of course, throws the match again.

Sam goes through a quick series of poses as he tries to fake not being nervous and trying not run in after the match. He stands with arms crossed tapping his foot, plays with a yo-yo, and sits down for a game of jacks. Ultimately, he can't stand it and runs in after the match, only to have the room explode in his face. It's a great sequence.