Água por Todos os Lados

A HAIR-RAISING HARE was a wonderful cartoon featuring Bugs Bunny and the attempts by a mad scientist to use him for his evil experiments. The film also featured the orange monster as the scientist's evil assistant.

Well, they are back, though slightly changed due to the passing of six years between the two cartoon shorts. Plus this time the scientist is not modeled after Peter Lorre, but is a large cranium-ed Boris Karloff wannabe. But the cute orange monster is pretty much the same and Bugs is once again at the top of his game in his attempts to foil these two. This cartoon only receives a slightly lower score because it was less original and ground-breaking that A HAIR-RAISING HARE.

The water in the title refers to a flood that takes Bugs and his bed to and from the mad scientist's home.

Chuck Jones's 'Water, Water Every Hare' is significantly better than its truly dreadful title. Pitting Bugs against a bulbously headed green faced scientist and his furry orange, sneaker wearing monster (later dubbed Gossamer but here referred to as Rudolph), 'Water, Water Every Hare' features some breathtaking visuals in the opening minutes. His home beset by flooding, an oblivious, soundly-sleeping Bugs is washed away on his mattress. This sequence is glorious to behold with its flowing water and cascading waterfall. Ultimately, this watery subplot plays only a small part in the cartoon, making the dreadful title even more unforgivable. Most of the action takes place inside the castle. The most famous sequence is the hairdressing scene in which Bugs assumes the role of a camp beautician spouting a monologue about all the "inter-resting" monsters he's met (this is actually a rehash of a similar routine in the previous Gossamer cartoon 'Hair-Raising Hare'). Far more memorable, however, is the climactic chase scene in which Bugs and the green faced scientist are both under the influence of ether and bound across the screen in slow motion. It's an appropriately striking climax to a particularly handsome and dreamlike cartoon which proves to be inventive and entertaining in equal measures. A lesser talked-about classic, no less.

This is an in-between short for me on the scale of my favourite to my least favourite Bugs Bunny episode (at the top is "Bugs and Thugs" and at the bottom is "Easter Yeggs"). In this episode, I enjoyed the plot, the animation and the jokes. I do not find these three parts incredibly good, but I find them pretty good. I think my favourite part of the episode is when Bugs becomes a hair-stylist - classic! :-) I shall remember that till I am 40 if I do not watch this episode again until then.

Basically this episode starts when Bugs Bunny is asleep in his flooded house (this part is also very funny). It continues when Bugs, along with his duvet and mattress, floats out of his burrow down a river. At the edge of a waterfall, an evil scientist has nearly completed his giant robot and he needs a living brain to finish him. When he spots Bugs, he "fishes" him into his castle, with exciting results...

I recommend this Bugs Bunny episode to people who like unusual Bugs Bunny episodes and to people who like funny Bugs Bunny quotes. Enjoy! :-)

Water, Water Every Hare (1952)

*** 1/2 (out of 4)

A great imagination is really what pushes this Looney Tunes short into the classic territory. A flood forces Bugs Bunny out of his hole when he ends up in a strange castle where a deranged scientist puts Rudolph, a red headed monster onto him. This is one of the more famous shorts in the series and it's easy to see why because of the brains known as Chuck Jones. Not only is his animation of Rudolph, the scientist and the robot monster all perfect but he also does plenty of small things that many might not notice. One of my favorite moments is when the hole is flooded and Bugs gets up to get a drink of water. While walking back the top of his ears are outside the water and while many might not see the comedy here I see it as a small, magical moment by Jones. There are plenty of laughs from start to finish as Bugs is in classic shape and he's got two great villains to work with.

Water Water Every Hare is a great Looney Tunes cartoon, helped by chiefly the beautiful artwork, the voice work and the script.

The story I do think is the weakest element here. Don't get me wrong, it is great and compelling enough, but everything else was even stronger.

The artwork is a thing of true beauty. You can never go wrong with beautiful backgrounds and sharp character features and this cartoon succeeded in both areas.

The music is also beautiful. Featured is the Raindrop Prelude by Frederic Chopin, and you know what, it works orchestrated. It gives a somewhat lyrical feel to it.

The script is fine, Bugs has some very snappy lines and the Evil Scientist is really sinister with his appearance, lines and especially his voice. The monster is hideous at first, but really is quite cute.

The voices are perfect. Mel Blanc excels as always, and John T Smith does a superb job as the evil scientist. All in all, excellent cartoon. 10/10 Bethany Cox