The gang at Termite Terrace later established a (flexible) rule for Bugs Bunny: he must never antagonize anyone without sufficient provocation.
This hilarious film was made during Bugs's early days when the Warners cartoonmakers were still feeling him out. Few complain about the wascally wabbit's obnoxious behavior, though one might reasonably argue that the cartoon would have been even stronger had Elmer given Bugs good reason for tormenting him.
Chuck Jones: "I think that Bugs is different than [sic] all of our characters in that he's a comic hero. And in all my films I try to have the feeling that he was put-upon, that he was minding his own business, and really not interested in being an aggressive character, until somebody comes along and tries to do him hurt."
Quoted from:
Behind the Tunes: Bugs - A Rabbit for All Seasonings (2003) (2003) (V)
