Operation: Rabbit

In a slight break from protocol, Chuck Jones, Michael Maltese, and Mel Blanc pit Wile E. Coyote - aka Supergenius - against Bugs Bunny. But, sure enough, Bugs has ways of avoiding capture...most of which involve Wile E. getting maimed somehow.

The point is that no matter how hard he tries, Wile E. has no success in any field, whether going after the Road Runner or Bugs Bunny. And they play it to great effect. "Operation: Rabbit" is a classic just like the rest of the Looney Tunes cartoons from that era. Having Wile E. talk doesn't diminish the quality at all.

Mud spelled backwards is dum. Exactly!

An over-confident Wile E. Coyote is sure of getting Bugs Bunny. First, he tries to cook Bugs right in his hole. There is a canon. He uses an explosive decoy, a flying saucer, and exploding carrots. He gets run over by a train and finally admits defeat.

This is a very early Wile E. Coyote cartoon. Bugs is his natural nemesis although Road Runner is still his best target. I love trying to cook Bugs right in his home. I do wonder if we should be inside with Bugs as he eats his carrots and relaxes like in a sauna. I think that was a missed opportunity for some good gags. Still, this is a great Wile against Bugs.

Wile E. Coyote versus Bugs Bunny? Wow, this was a new one on me, when I first saw it, but it occurred a couple of times in Loony Tunes cartoons....and we, the viewer, are the winners for it.

Also different for first-time viewers of this collaboration between two LT stars, is hearing Wile speak.. "Allow me to introduce myself," he says right off the bat to Bugs. He gives Bugs his card which reads "Wile E Coyote - Genius." He then proceeds to tell Bugs, in a muted British accent, no less, that he intends to eat him. He's gonna give Bugs "the customary two minutes to say your prayers." Bugs slams the portable door on him, says no thanks, and disappears back into his rabbit hole while Wile goes back to his cave muttering "Why do they always want to do it the hard way?"

After that, it's standard "Roadrunner" material with Wile pulling out every plan he has under "Operation: Rabbit" in his arsenal....and the predictable result. The "smart" guys goes through a half dozen plans while the "dumb" thwarts him every time.

I loved the ending to this cartoon as Wile humbly calls himself something else. This was a lot of fun to watch and a good lesson for those elitists who think they are smarter than most others. Surprise!!!

"I like the way that rolls out. Wile E Coyote, super genius." The real geniuses were the writer and director of this excellent cartoon. The best Coyote cartoon, as well as one of Bugs Bunny's all time best. If this was the first time the coyote spoke, they should have let him speak more often! It worked. His plan was to have Bugs Bunny for dinner. Great fun, as Bugs outsmarts the coyote at every turn. The contrast between these two characters is someone who thinks he is smart, compared to someone who really is smart. The coyote, with his perfect diction, has nothing on the rabbit with the Brooklyn accent. The great Mel Blanc did the voices of both characters, with equal effectiveness. One of my all time favorite cartoons.

Wile E. Coyote just can't catch a break. One of several encounters with Bugs Bunny goes as badly for him as his attempts at catching the Roadrunner do. I feel for his life and accident insurers! It's a pity they only made 5 or 6 of these, because it's a good combination. Wile E. is a good foil for Bugs and most of the shorts are hilarious and all of them are enjoyable. The animators could stretch the characters in ways they couldn't normally. Most recommended