Foxy by Proxy

Disturbed in his rabbit hole by the noise of foxhounds, Bugs decides to show them what a real sport is all about. Putting on his old Halloween costume (a fox outfit) Bugs picks on the dumbest dog in the pack and starts to wind him up. This continues even when the rest of the pack get involved.

I haven't seen this short on TV or anything, in fact I had to hunt it down and found it on a video that was more than 10 years old. I can't help wondering if the reason for this is that networks in the UK are a bit sensitive about showing a cartoon that deals with such an explosive issue as fox hunting. You may not know, but the banning (or not banning) of fox hunting is a big issue in the UK and I'm sure the Countryside Alliance (pro-hunt) would not be that keen to see Bugs coming down on the side of the lefty hunt-saboteurs!

Regardless of the political asides (although they add spice) this film is basic stuff but still quite funny. The standard trickery is all still there and funny, even if it feels a little strange to see Bugs in a full fox costume for most of the film. Some jokes are straight lifts from other cartoons and have been done elsewhere (Fudd himself has felt the wrath of that log-turning gag). Despite this it is still worth seeing and is pretty amusing. Bugs is his usual self despite the outfit, although the dumb dog almost feels too easy a plaything for Bugs!

Overall this is a well animated short that has some funny material even if can be recognised from other cartoons. Those in the UK will enjoy it simply because it is funny to see Bugs cocking a snook at an issue that is a political hot potato. Bugs as a hippy, hunt-saboteur? Who'd have thought it!

Fox hunting hounds disturb Bugs' peace and quiet, so he decides to mess with them by dressing up as a fox. Now, honestly, this plan doesn't make a lick of sense because he's just endangering himself. Of course this is a cartoon and therefore doesn't have to make sense so we just go with it. Anyway, Bugs spends most of the short tormenting a fat dimwitted hound that is yet another in a long line of Looney Tunes characters inspired by Lennie from "Of Mice and Men." It's a funny short with many good gags and lines. The train gag is my favorite. Energetic music from Carl Stalling. Great voice work from Mel Blanc and Stan Freberg. The animation is beautiful with bright, rich colors and well-drawn characters and backgrounds. An unofficial remake of a Tex Avery short called Of Fox and Hounds but with enough charms of its own to make it feel fresh.

Awakened by a fox hunt, Bugs Bunny turns his attention to the dumbest dog and proceeds to play a series of tricks on him. Well, either the dog was just a plain old idiot, or he somehow became one upon meeting Bugs. Either way, Bugs plays some great - and even nasty - tricks on the guy. Once I saw the log, I knew what was going to happen, since that trick has appeared in other cartoons.

OK, so how many times can Bugs pull these gags on his enemies, none of whom really has a noticeable IQ level? Who cares? The point is that it's funny! "Foxy by Proxy" definitely is. I'm certainly not one to throw away Halloween costumes either.

Stubby indeed.

It's a shame that this classic Bugs Bunny short is not aired on TV much anymore. To me, it's one of Bugs' best films! With all issues about fox hunting set aside, this cartoon is extremely funny! Bugs starts out just wanting to tease a group of hunting dogs in the classic "Elmer Fudd/Looney Tunes" style. The main object of Bugs' trickery is a big, dopey looking hunting dog. This pooch is the classic cartoon "idiot" that Bugs really loves to pester and pester he does! However, this is one of the few times that Bugs' tricks actually backfire on him. The first time my son saw this cartoon, he was very shocked at the ending. A laughfest from start to finish!

Bugs versus the absolutely stupidest (in my opinion) rival of all the rivals he's faced: a bumbling fox hound who is looking for a fox to cut his tail off!!!

This dog is so laugh out loud dumb that I just don't know what else to say, but Bugsy said it best!!!