Looney Toons, Warner Brothers and Bugs Bunny
Created | Updated Jan 5, 2003
The warner brothers created many American household cartoon names, such as Elmer Fudd, Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Yosemite Sam, Porky Pig, Sylvester, Marvin the Martian, Roadrunner, The Tazmanian Devil, Wile E. Coyote, Pepe Le Pew, Tweety and many other classic characters.
Elmer Fudd is best known for his laugh and the funny accent. "I'll get that wascawwwy wabbit!" The hunter often follows Bugs Bunny, and is tricked from the rabbit hole, or ends up shooting Daffy. The word fudd comes from "Befuddled" With his baby-like enunciation and tremulous voice that seems always on the verge of tears (provided by Arthur Q. Bryant), Elmer is a hunter who can't stomach the kill. In the Bugs Bunny short "A Wild Hare", he's grief stricken when he believes he's really shot the rabbit. "I'm a murderer!" he yells. Elmer is most often cast as a hunter, or both, although he often takes on other roles. Bugs and Elmer often work together, They co-starred so well that they were cast with oen another in over twenty cartoons.
Bugs Bunny is one of the most recoginizable characters, and definately the most recognizable wabbit in American culture. No character has had such a huge impact on American imagination, and dominated American animation as much as the Brooklyn Bunny. Bugs Bunny is arguably the most popular and recognizable cartoon character of all time. He has a classic role as a smart alec with a self confident nature. He is often stalked by Elmer Fudd, and uses a popular catch phrase, "Ehh, what's up doc?" voiced by Mel Blanc. Bugs' well-known personality was given depth and dimension from nearly every director at Warner Bros. cartoons. And his Brooklyn-Bronx accent, combined with his quick wit, brash resourcefulness, and boisterous independence, gave him the street credentials that have delighted three generations of devoted audiences.
Daffy Duck- It's no wonder Daffy Duck has a split personality. In his early years, Daffy was manic, explosive, and unpredictable, engaging in adventures that seemed outlandish even to him. As his personality gained depth at the hands of Warner Bros. cartoons' directors, the little black duck became more self-analytical, competitive, peevish, paranoid, and neurotic. Eventually, Daffy found himself more and more at the mercy of a universe that seemed to favor everyone but him. So why do audiences love him? Despite his failures, Daffy, like the Greek hero Sisyphus, is a victim of injustice who continuously protests. And it's his refusal to surrender his will to the whims of the conspiring universe that makes him heroic. How could one not feel sorry for an ill-equipped duck with Daffy's voice that just can't seem to get a break? At least Daffy aims high. And when he fails, he resets the bar . . . even higher. Daffy Duck has evolved from the talents of Tex Avery, Friz Freleng, Bob Clampett, and Chuck Jones. It's not like he's a total failure. Daffy's been an Oscar presenter and he's starred or appeared in more than 150 cartoons and movies, often as a self-described hero matched with his polar opposite and sidekick -- the bashful and far less brash Porky Pig. Over the course of several hilarious cartoons, again and again, Daffy always manages to get the short end of the schtick.
Tweety-
"I tawt I taw a puddy tat... I did! I did!" With that simple phrase, the world fell in love with a little yellow canary named Tweety. Voiced by Mel Blanc, the innocent Tweety is said to have been inspired by Warner Bros. animator Bob Clampett's fond remembrances of baby birds he saw in nature films as a child, baby pictures of himself, and his own young son. Audiences grew to love Tweety because he remains unruffled in the face of danger (usually Sylvester's jaws) and continuously outsmarts his drooling predators…but also because, well… he's sooooo cute! In 1947's Oscar-winning Tweetie Pie bird and cat first officially lock horns. In another early Tweet, Tweety manages to outfox the cunning cat. And from then on it was a match made in…well…almost. The cat-and-bird chase scenario became a favorite for Warner Bros. and audiences alike in classics like Jet Cage, Putty Tat Trouble, Gift Wrapped and Rebel Without Claws, in which Tweety, a Confederate courier carrying an inconsequential message, battles Sylvester, a threatening Union soldier. In Tom Tom Tomcat, Tweety and Granny play Westward-bound pioneers who are attacked by a tribe of Sylvester-like Indians. The chases also take place in less exotic locations -- Sylvester hunts Tweety in a department store in Bird In A Guilty Cage; and in Room And Bird, Sylvester pursues Tweety in a residential hotel. Throughout their rivalry, Sylvester's quest for Tweety is relentless, but the little bird's innocence triumphs and leaves Sylvester looking for his next meal elsewhere. Tweety typically relies on allies to outwit Sylvester, like his lovable owner, Granny, or her menacing bulldog (who wants the pesky cat for himself). But, don't underestimate the little bird's ability to fend for himself. He's a tough li'l guy, isn't he?
Porky Pig- Based on his first performance, one could hardly have pegged the fat, jittery and flop-sweating Porky Pig to become Warner Bros. cartoons' first major star. But his labored recitation of The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere (which morphs mid-stanza into The Charge of the Light Brigade) is salvaged by Porky's sweet-natured damn-the-torpedoes perseverance, a character trait that has served the little pig well throughout his career. In a single supporting performance, Porky had arrived. He was originally teamed with a trouble-making little cat named Beans (Porky and Beans-get it?), but the partnership was discarded when the likes of Tex Avery, Bob Clampett, and Frank Tashlin began using Porky in their cartoons and fleshing out his personality. Porky was the fledgling studio's Everypig, and audiences responded to him with great affection. Porky Pig took the stage in Friz Freleng's showcase cartoon I Haven't Got A Hat and instantly distinguished himself from the crowd of characters in that film. In his early years, the lovable stuttering pig (voiced by actual stutterer Joe Dougherty and then Mel Blanc) was typically featured with unknown characters whose one-time appearance helped to boost Porky's own profile and make him Warner Bros. main star. Rather than utilize Warner Bros. cartoon characters' trademark violence and velocity, Porky's M.O. was always to think things out. In Trap Happy Porky, mice invade Porky's house, so as a fix, he buys cats. Once the cats become a problem, he buys dogs. In Brother Brat, he tries to reason with his babysitting charge (an infant with a homicidal streak named Butch). It doesn't work, but not for lack of Porky's efforts.. But the little pig really came into his own in Bob Clampett's surreal (and extraordinary) Porky in Wackyland, wherein Porky acts as the audience's innocent counterpart in a world (and cartoon) gone hilariously and breathtakingly mad. Porky is the perfect foil for such a journey because his reactions are our reactions, or so we'd like to think. In fact, Porky's role as straight man worked well enough to foster a Warner Bros. cartoon star who would quickly eclipse him in popularity. In Porky's Duck Hunt, Daffy Duck steals the movie (and the audience) from the first moment he arrives onscreen, and in intermittent teamings Porky and Daffy became perfect comic counterparts, with Daffy overreaching and obnoxious playing off of Porky's temperate and earnest nature.
Elmer Fudd is best known for his laugh and the funny accent. "I'll get that wascawwwy wabbit!" The hunter often follows Bugs Bunny, and is tricked from the rabbit hole, or ends up shooting Daffy. The word fudd comes from "Befuddled" With his baby-like enunciation and tremulous voice that seems always on the verge of tears (provided by Arthur Q. Bryant), Elmer is a hunter who can't stomach the kill. In the Bugs Bunny short "A Wild Hare", he's grief stricken when he believes he's really shot the rabbit. "I'm a murderer!" he yells. Elmer is most often cast as a hunter, or both, although he often takes on other roles. Bugs and Elmer often work together, They co-starred so well that they were cast with oen another in over twenty cartoons.
Bugs Bunny is one of the most recoginizable characters, and definately the most recognizable wabbit in American culture. No character has had such a huge impact on American imagination, and dominated American animation as much as the Brooklyn Bunny. Bugs Bunny is arguably the most popular and recognizable cartoon character of all time. He has a classic role as a smart alec with a self confident nature. He is often stalked by Elmer Fudd, and uses a popular catch phrase, "Ehh, what's up doc?" voiced by Mel Blanc. Bugs' well-known personality was given depth and dimension from nearly every director at Warner Bros. cartoons. And his Brooklyn-Bronx accent, combined with his quick wit, brash resourcefulness, and boisterous independence, gave him the street credentials that have delighted three generations of devoted audiences.
Daffy Duck- It's no wonder Daffy Duck has a split personality. In his early years, Daffy was manic, explosive, and unpredictable, engaging in adventures that seemed outlandish even to him. As his personality gained depth at the hands of Warner Bros. cartoons' directors, the little black duck became more self-analytical, competitive, peevish, paranoid, and neurotic. Eventually, Daffy found himself more and more at the mercy of a universe that seemed to favor everyone but him. So why do audiences love him? Despite his failures, Daffy, like the Greek hero Sisyphus, is a victim of injustice who continuously protests. And it's his refusal to surrender his will to the whims of the conspiring universe that makes him heroic. How could one not feel sorry for an ill-equipped duck with Daffy's voice that just can't seem to get a break? At least Daffy aims high. And when he fails, he resets the bar . . . even higher. Daffy Duck has evolved from the talents of Tex Avery, Friz Freleng, Bob Clampett, and Chuck Jones. It's not like he's a total failure. Daffy's been an Oscar presenter and he's starred or appeared in more than 150 cartoons and movies, often as a self-described hero matched with his polar opposite and sidekick -- the bashful and far less brash Porky Pig. Over the course of several hilarious cartoons, again and again, Daffy always manages to get the short end of the schtick.
Tweety-
"I tawt I taw a puddy tat... I did! I did!" With that simple phrase, the world fell in love with a little yellow canary named Tweety. Voiced by Mel Blanc, the innocent Tweety is said to have been inspired by Warner Bros. animator Bob Clampett's fond remembrances of baby birds he saw in nature films as a child, baby pictures of himself, and his own young son. Audiences grew to love Tweety because he remains unruffled in the face of danger (usually Sylvester's jaws) and continuously outsmarts his drooling predators…but also because, well… he's sooooo cute! In 1947's Oscar-winning Tweetie Pie bird and cat first officially lock horns. In another early Tweet, Tweety manages to outfox the cunning cat. And from then on it was a match made in…well…almost. The cat-and-bird chase scenario became a favorite for Warner Bros. and audiences alike in classics like Jet Cage, Putty Tat Trouble, Gift Wrapped and Rebel Without Claws, in which Tweety, a Confederate courier carrying an inconsequential message, battles Sylvester, a threatening Union soldier. In Tom Tom Tomcat, Tweety and Granny play Westward-bound pioneers who are attacked by a tribe of Sylvester-like Indians. The chases also take place in less exotic locations -- Sylvester hunts Tweety in a department store in Bird In A Guilty Cage; and in Room And Bird, Sylvester pursues Tweety in a residential hotel. Throughout their rivalry, Sylvester's quest for Tweety is relentless, but the little bird's innocence triumphs and leaves Sylvester looking for his next meal elsewhere. Tweety typically relies on allies to outwit Sylvester, like his lovable owner, Granny, or her menacing bulldog (who wants the pesky cat for himself). But, don't underestimate the little bird's ability to fend for himself. He's a tough li'l guy, isn't he?
Porky Pig- Based on his first performance, one could hardly have pegged the fat, jittery and flop-sweating Porky Pig to become Warner Bros. cartoons' first major star. But his labored recitation of The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere (which morphs mid-stanza into The Charge of the Light Brigade) is salvaged by Porky's sweet-natured damn-the-torpedoes perseverance, a character trait that has served the little pig well throughout his career. In a single supporting performance, Porky had arrived. He was originally teamed with a trouble-making little cat named Beans (Porky and Beans-get it?), but the partnership was discarded when the likes of Tex Avery, Bob Clampett, and Frank Tashlin began using Porky in their cartoons and fleshing out his personality. Porky was the fledgling studio's Everypig, and audiences responded to him with great affection. Porky Pig took the stage in Friz Freleng's showcase cartoon I Haven't Got A Hat and instantly distinguished himself from the crowd of characters in that film. In his early years, the lovable stuttering pig (voiced by actual stutterer Joe Dougherty and then Mel Blanc) was typically featured with unknown characters whose one-time appearance helped to boost Porky's own profile and make him Warner Bros. main star. Rather than utilize Warner Bros. cartoon characters' trademark violence and velocity, Porky's M.O. was always to think things out. In Trap Happy Porky, mice invade Porky's house, so as a fix, he buys cats. Once the cats become a problem, he buys dogs. In Brother Brat, he tries to reason with his babysitting charge (an infant with a homicidal streak named Butch). It doesn't work, but not for lack of Porky's efforts.. But the little pig really came into his own in Bob Clampett's surreal (and extraordinary) Porky in Wackyland, wherein Porky acts as the audience's innocent counterpart in a world (and cartoon) gone hilariously and breathtakingly mad. Porky is the perfect foil for such a journey because his reactions are our reactions, or so we'd like to think. In fact, Porky's role as straight man worked well enough to foster a Warner Bros. cartoon star who would quickly eclipse him in popularity. In Porky's Duck Hunt, Daffy Duck steals the movie (and the audience) from the first moment he arrives onscreen, and in intermittent teamings Porky and Daffy became perfect comic counterparts, with Daffy overreaching and obnoxious playing off of Porky's temperate and earnest nature.
