Bewitched Bunny

This cartoon alone may be enough for me to buy the newest DVD collection. The Looney Tunes, especially with Bugs, have done some great twists on fairy tales and this is one of their best - I love Chuck Jones' take on Hansel and Gretel as walking ham hocks with blank doll eyes!

This one takes the flattened-out, stylized UPA-style graphics of the time to a unique level in Witch Hazel's house interiors, that loudly defy gravity and physics. Hazel herself scuttles crablike across the screen as a hilarious and literally two-dimensional presence. I'm impressed at how seamlessly the classic Looney characters fit into this new design scheme in this and other cartoons of the time.

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 liked the cartoons that featured Bugs and Witch Hazel--in this case she is voiced by Bea Benaderet while in others she's voiced by June Foray. I think that I actually liked this one best because of its depiction of Hansel and Gretel. They are pretty much simple-minded nincompoops that are completely oblivious to the impending danger. All they want to do is eat and they are just plain silly fun to watch. They are only saved by the intervention of Bugs who FINALLY convinces them to run away while he does battle with the evil witch. While the animation of this cartoon isn't the best, the story is a delight and it's a wonderful version of the old Grimm fairy tale.

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

As he's reading the book "Hansel and Gretel", Bugs Bunny is walking to that very house in which the story is taking place. So he disguises himself as a truant officer to warn the kids but then Witch Hazel has another idea what she wants for her supper...Directed by Chuck Jones this cartoon has all the visual touches you expect from his works during this period in the '50s. And, of course, all the visual and verbal gags that could only come from the Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies gang at Warner Bros. Nice voice work from Bea Benaderet as Hazel and, of course, Mel Blanc as Bugs. This one has the original closing line that got some complaints. Personally, I found nothing wrong with it even though it may not hold water today. So that's a recommendation of Bewitched Bunny.