Bewitched Bunny

The very first cartoon featuring Witch Hazel, a hilarious character who appeared in several Bugs Bunny shorts. This one begins with Bugs reading the story of Hansel and Gretel when he happens upon the real thing as Witch Hazel is luring two little fat kids inside her house to eat them. Bugs decides to save the kids, which puts him in the crosshairs of kooky old Hazel. A funny short with great characters, directed by the always-amazing Chuck Jones. Superior voice work from Mel Blanc and Bea Benaderet. Fun music from Carl Stalling. The animation is colorful and crisp, although the backgrounds are that sketchy style Jones seemed to prefer sometimes. Creatively I suppose there's nothing wrong with it but it just seems a little lazy to me. Anyway it's a terrific cartoon with many funny gags and lines. Love the bit where Prince Charming wanders into the wrong cartoon. Gotta appreciate the non-PC ending.

This is one of the all-time classic Bugs Bunny Cartons. It is so funny, I find myself rolling on the floor with laughter every time that it is on. Witch Hazel is a scream. Look for it the next time Lonney Tunes are on.

I always like it when someone accompanies voice genius Mel Blanc in one of these Looney Tunes cartoons. It gives us a little more variation of the characters since Mel's voice - even with different characters - is pretty easy to spot. Here, Bea Benaderet of "Petticoat Junction" TV fame, adds to the fun with several voices of her own in this offbeat tale of "Hansel And Gretel."

The story involves Bugs rescuing some kids from the mean old "Witch Hazel," who plans to eat them for dinner.....but then later decides a nice rabbit might be a better meal!

There are some clever, dark comedy humor in this cartoon, such as the witch reading a book of recipes for eating children ("waif waffles," "urchin pie," "smorgas boy," etc.)

If you have the opportunity, check out this cartoon on the Looney Tunes Golden Collection Volume 5 because the restoration on it makes this a real visual feast. The colors in here are spectacular!

What can I say about Bewitched Bunny that hasn't been said already? The cartoon is wonderful, a very clever and somewhat cute take on Hansel and Gretel. The animation is lush, with lovely backgrounds and colours, while the music is playful and has plenty of energy. The humour is actually very clever and has a darkly humorous touch to it, this is all reflected in the dialogue. Then there are the characters. Bugs is a delight here, and he is always watchable, and the kids are cute and funny. Witch Hazel stole the show though, Bea Beanderet(in alternative to June Foray, who I marginally preferred) does a wonderful job with the voice. And Mel Blanc is also wonderful, well he always is, so it was not surprising. Overall, cute, funny and clever. 10/10 Bethany Cox

In Witch Hazel's first appearance, she tempts Hansel (Hansel?) and Gretel into her house, only to have Bugs Bunny intervene; of course, he might be just as tasty. If absolutely nothing else, it's always great to see the various and sundry tricks that Bugs comes up with on the spot - always helped, natch, by the fact that any useful substance is immediately at hand. If "Bewitched Bunny" has any problem, it's that the cartoon sort of stereotypes Germans (the children have accents like the characters in "Fargo"). But no matter, this cartoon is purely a joke, and it's impossible not to like. I'd say that Witch Hazel, with her lovable cackling, did as much to advance the cause of witchcraft as Harry Potter or Samantha on "Bewitched". A real classic.