Backwoods Bunny

Bugs Bunny travels to the Ozarks in this short directed by Robert McKimson. Once there he draws the attention of two hillbilly vultures who want to turn Bugs into their next meal. Funny stuff but most of the humor comes from the hillbilly stereotypes. If that sort of thing doesn't sit well with you, then this probably isn't the cartoon for you. I enjoyed watching Bugs outsmart these two knuckleheads, though. The animation is okay but far from the best. The colors are somewhat muted and the backgrounds are flat-looking. Nice music from Milt Franklyn. Excellent voice work from Mel Blanc and Daws Butler. The hillbilly vultures would return in The Dixie Fryer, a Foghorn Leghorn short released the following year. This one's a little better than that one but neither are real classics.

Love animation, it was a big part of my life as a child, particularly Disney, Looney Tunes and Tom and Jerry, and still love it whether it's film, television or cartoons.

'Backwoods Bunny' is not one of Robert McKimson's best overall. To me though, it is somewhere in the top middle of his later efforts. His late period, which 'Backwoods Bunny' was in or nearing, saw a fair share of pretty weak cartoons (though nowhere near as bad-faring as the worst of Alex Lovy and Rudy Larriva), in what was in all fairness a patchy decade, particularly the latter part, generally for Looney Tunes. A decent cartoon is always nice, and 'Backwoods Bunny' was that.

Is 'Backwoods Bunny' a perfect cartoon? No. The story is pretty simplistic and predictable and budget limitations and time constraints is sometimes evident in some roughness here and there.

There is a lot to enjoy though. The plot is fairly standard but has tremendous energy and enough freshness and amusement to keep one interested.

While never quite hilarious, the gags are at least fun and amusing, with lively timing, while the dialogue has a good amount of sharpness and wit. Likewise with the chemistry between the characters.

Bugs is true to character, is a very compelling lead and has great comic timing. The Ozark vultures make just as much, perhaps even more so, an impression with some of the best moments.

Generally, the animation could have been so much worse considering the period. It is very colourful and there is fluidity and detail here, though there clearly wasn't the budget or time to be more imaginative or elaborate.

Am more of a Carl Stalling person myself, but Milt Franklyn's music is full of energy and lush and clever orchestration, while not quite enhancing the action that Stalling did so consistently brilliantly Franklyn's music always added a lot.

Mel Blanc very rarely put a foot wrong, he was an unequalled master at giving individuality to more than one (often multiple) character, always sounded like he was having fun and never phoned it in when his material was weak. As ever he is outstanding and clearly was enjoying himself a lot, helped by that his dialogue allowed him to do so.

Overall, not bad at all if not particularly mind-blowing. 7/10 Bethany Cox