Buckaroo Bugs (Looney Tunes)

Buckaroo Bugs (episode 438)
"THAT'S RIGHT THAT'S RIGHT! YOU WIN THE 64 DOLLAR QUESTION!!! (Laughs) Good night sweet prince (kisses the Red Hot Ryder and blows out the candle)"
Directed by: Bob Clampett Written by: Lou Lilly Release date: August 26, 1944 Franchise: Looney Tunes Prequel: "Birdy and The Beast" (previous short) Sequel: "Goldilocks and the Jivin' Bears" (next short)

Buckaroo Bugs is the 1944 Looney Tunes short starring Bugs Bunny and was directed by Bob Clampett and was written by Lou Lilly. The cartoon was notable for the introduction of Bugs Bunny in the Looney Tunes series (as he was previously exclusive to the Merrie Melodies series); as well as the final cartoon produced under Leon Schlesinger's supervision.

Summary

In this short, Bugs is the Masked Marauder, a carrot thief whom Brooklyn's Red Hot Ryder must try to bring to justice.

Why It's Hilarious

1. As mentioned above, this Looney Tunes cartoon is notable being the first Bugs Bunny cartoon produced (thanks to Technicolor).
   • It was also his first starring role in a Looney Tunes short, as well. He previously appeared in a minor role at the end of a 1943 black and white short, "Porky Pig's Feat".
2. Great animation for its time, with Rod Scribner and Manny Gould stealing the show.
   • Bob McKimson is also there to balance out the wackiness with his on-model, yet expressive animation.
3. Excellent score by Carl Stalling, which also fits the western setting of the cartoon.
4. The backgrounds are very appealing and beautiful, as with most of Clampett's shorts from mid-1942 and onward.
   • The most breathtaking is the western landscape, used in most scenes of the short through different camera angles.
5. Great voice talents from Mel Blanc (Bugs Bunny and Red Hot Ryder) and an uncredited Robert C. Bruce (Narrator).
6. It ends Leon Schlesinger's career on a high note, before his retirement. He previously opened the animation department over a decade and a year prior.
7. Several funny moments, such as telegram from the masked marauder;
   • Red Hot Ryder: I sure what?
   • Bugs Bunny: STINK! YOU FOOL! STINK!
8. Twist Ending: After falling underground Red Hot Ryder finally figures out that Bugs is the Masked Marauder. Bugs kisses him good night and blows out the candle, dimming the entire screen to black.

Bad Qualities

1. While he's funny here, Bugs Bunny, strangely miscast as a bona fide villain. He is never actually malicious and is, for the most part, acting as such in self-defense against and aggressor in his other shorts.
   • He was even stealing all the carrots from a victory garden.
   • Worse, Bugs never receives any comeuppance for his villainous actions, hence making him a Karma Houdini.
2. Red Hot Ryder (a Red Skelton caricature) isn't too bright himself. He rarely ever gets angry at Bugs for torturing him throughout the short and has a hard time to retaliate at the aggressor. Elmer Fudd (or Yosemite Sam) may be incompetent, but he has a right to be angry at Bugs for torturing him at times.

Trivia

• This was Bugs Bunny's second appearance in the Looney Tunes series. His first was a short cameo in "Porky Pig's Feat", but was not a starring role, therefore making "Buckaroo Bugs" Bugs' first starring role in a Looney Tunes short.
• This was the last Looney Tune cartoon release to bear Leon Schlesinger's name, as he sold his cartoon studio to Warner Bros. around the time of its release.

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