Rabbit's Kin

Shorty, a school-age rabbit who must have learned how to speak from Alvin and the Chipmunks, frantically (he does everything frantically) jumps into Bugs Bunny's rabbit hole to escape the clutches of the villainous, but extremely stupid, Pete Puma, whose distinctive speech climaxes in an ear-splitting screech. Pete tries to trick Bugs and Shorty with an exploding cigar. Doesn't work. The cigar says "El Explodo" right on the wrapper. He tries to trick them by disguising himself as Shorty's mother. Doesn't work either. His rabbit ears are leaves that are inelegantly affixed to his hat. How can this poor, pathetic puma win the day? Smarter opponents than he have failed to outwit the wily Bugs Bunny.

This was not a great picture, but all Warner Brothers cartoon fans remember it for a great character. He appeared only in this film: Pete Puma. Stan Freberg's voice, with that hilarious (and fun-to-imitate) screeching, is the main reason for Pete's enduring popularity. The secondary reason is the hilarious animation. That incredible semi-dance Pete does, when he enters as the mother, is sublime.

This cartoon is available on the "Looney Tunes Golden Collection, Volume One," Disc 1.