Un diablo de conejo

Just as Coyote was introduced opposing Bugs, we get to meet Taz opposing Bugs. Just like in the Coyote meeting, Taz talks too. I am not personally aware of any other Looney Tunes where either Coyote nor Taz talks. Sure, here and elsewhere we get a lot of "OOH EH AH UH UH!" But if you listen, Taz actually says some words. The one where the savage beast is soothed by music and Bugs has to use this to get the Taz back to the zoo...watch that one and listen for any lines by Taz. But here, he has the classic line, "And rabbits." Bottom line, they rarely get as good as this. A Looney Tune keeper all the way.

When Bugs is disturbed by a stampede of forest animals, Bugs comes out of the hole to find out what's going on. Stopping a speeding turtle, Bugs finds out that a Tasmanian Devil has escaped and is heading his way. With no time to run Bugs is forced to try and outsmart the forever-hungry beast.

Many of the Taz and Bugs cartoons are about as bad as I've seen Bugs Bunny in, but this appears to be an exception. The jokes here are actually pretty funny and I found myself laughing most of the way through the cartoon.

A big, big reason for this is that Taz is given a voice and a character whereas usually he is just a fairly meaningless spinning creature that Bugs easily tricks. Here he is still that but the voice really helps him deliver the laughs instead of just being the brunt of each joke. Bugs rises to this well; together they make a good team here and the cartoon is very funny and imaginative. Even the addition of another devil near the end doesn't spoil it!

Overall, as someone who has pretty much hated every Bugs & Taz cartoon that I have seen, this was a very pleasant surprise. Taz is actually a very good character here and the end result is a very funny cartoon where Bugs is able to actually use Taz as a good partner for once.

I was not expecting to be so impressed by this episode, as I am not terribly keen on Taz (in fact, hardly at all). The only reason I had any interest whatsoever to watch this in the first place was that this was Taz's debut (and I am very interested in cartoon debuts). I watched this and found to quite like Taz's appearance here, as well as enjoying Bugs Bunny's contribution and the other highlights of the episode.

Taz's highlights: His animation, some of his gags (especially his first proper one) and the way in which he trusts Bugs Bunny (which makes the episode much more entertaining).

Bugs' highlights: Just being himself, making funny comments throughout and the way he tries to stop Taz eating him.

The other highlights: The animation, a little deer that randomly appears, a few of the sight gags (which are surprisingly clever) and most of the oral gags.

The bad stuff: The fact that the plot was a little too predictable, but that only comes from watching so many Bugs Bunny cartoons where the baddies reach their comeuppance in the same way, it is very clever each time (on Bugs' part). Also Taz is still not my favourite Looney Tunes character by any means.

In this episode, Bugs Bunny is going about his life normally, when he sees a large crowd of animals (from all over the globe), come charging past his burrow. He wants to know what the commotion is, but no-one will stop and tell him. Eventually Bugs stops a shockingly fast tortoise and the tortoise explains to him that the Tasmanian Devil is on the loose. Interested in what a "Tasmanian Devil" could be, Bugs pops down to his bookshelf to look one up. Meanwhile, Taz is coming closer and closer...

I recommend this episode particularly to anyone who likes Taz, or to people who like traditional Bugs Bunny. Enjoy "Devil May Hare"! :-)

This is the first of four (or five, if you include a cartoon done in 1979 as part of a special half-hour Christmas cartoon) battles between Bugs and the Tasmanian Devil and in many ways it's the best of them. While Taz is really a one-note character in these and was only in five cartoons between 1954 and 1964, the cartoons are all very good. The ones with Bugs pretty much all revolve around Taz's efforts to have rabbit added to his diet. Mostly sight gags, mainly revolving around food, but Taz has some good lines, particularly in the effort. The ending on this one is very funny. Recommended.

Devil May Hare (1954)

*** 1/2 (out of 4)

All of the animals in the forest are running away when a Tasmanian Devil is on the loose. All except for Bugs Bunny who decides to stay and mess with the creature. This is a wonderful Looney Tunes short that contains great action, wonderful characters and an even better amount of laughs. The movie contains one great scene after another and we also get some rather cute ones including one scene with a baby deer. The best moment has to be the sequence where Bugs gives the Devil a lot of bubble gum and you know madness is going to follow. Another plus is that the Devil actually has some rather funny lines instead of just being a fast mess.