Napoleon Bunny-Part

Entertaining Bugs Bunny short directed by Friz Freleng. In this one Bugs once again makes a wrong turn while tunneling and ends up in France. While there he meets Napoleon Bonaparte (or so it seems) and spends the rest of the cartoon irritating the little dictator. Napoleon (or "Nappy" as Bugs calls him) is not the greatest foil for Bugs but he is amusing enough. His dimwitted guard is worth a few laughs, as well. This isn't going to impress anyone who's seen a lot of Bugs cartoons as it's all pretty predictable. It is fun, though. The animation is very nice with bright, rich colors. Energetic music from Carl Stalling. Great voice work from Mel Blanc. Not one of Bugs' best but good.

A few years ago, I went through a huge phase of reviewing Looney Tunes cartoons on this website, and I thought, "Why not do another one, for the memories?" So I did. I mean, I will. I mean, I am. Whatever.

This is an amusing Bugs Bunny cartoon, not the best by any means, but certainly enjoyable. The backgrounds and the surprisingly realistic portrayals of French architecture were pleasant and Bugs Bunny's lines were funny, his schemes almost as so. Napoleon, the little man maltreated by Bugs Bunny, is a stereotypical and only vaguely amusing character. His guard provides a few giggles, but is nothing special. So, overall, Bugs Bunny, the animation and a few of the gags, particularly the spoken lines, make the episode.

I recommend this to people who like stereotypes of Napoleon, references to old music (I don't want to give away spoilers) and, of course, Bugs Bunny! Enjoy "Napoleon Bunny-Part."

Did I enjoy Napoleon Bunny-Part? Yes I did, it has weaknesses but it is definitely worth watching. The animation is uneven, it has nice backgrounds and colours but the characters look as though they were drawn in a rush. The story lacks a clear structure and is predictable, while the ending is rather abrupt.

But there are a lot of good things. The music alone has energy, the cartoon moves quickly, the sight gags are clever and the dialogue especially Bugs' asides is funny. Bugs is lots of fun, and Napoleon is a great adversary. But it is dim-witted but lovable Mugsy who steals the show. As always Mel Blanc is superb with the voices.

Overall, worth watching but not spectacular. 7/10 Bethany Cox

One of those Bugs cartoons virtually never mentioned in discussions of the rabbit's supreme efforts. Everyone who worked on this short simply shines--Freleng's designers, Pratt & Wyner, outdo themselves for all time with their settings. Mel Blanc does his usual brilliant work, with a supremely strident Napoleon, a kind of surrogate for Yosemite Sam. The animators do exemplary work: Art Davis (who did all the scenes of Nappy & Muggsy being jabbed in the ass), Gerry Chiniquy (who did the very opening where burrowing Bugs topples the palace guards), and Virgil Ross (who did the opening & closing dialogue scenes...fine personality animation not readily apparent to most viewers). Oh yes--and Freleng's superb timing and cutting, especially when he cuts away to those long shots of Muggsy leaping in the air when he's jabbed.

In "Napoleon Bunny-Part", everyone's favorite rabbit takes a wrong turn and meets up with the famous (or is that "infamous"?) French leader. He proceeds to make Napoleon's life a living Hell, and there's not much that Napoleon can do about it.

Maybe this wasn't the greatest Bugs Bunny cartoon of all time, but it's still some good comic relief. I guess that any wacky comedy has to incorporate the French emperor at some point or another ("Bewitched", "I Dream of Jeannie" and "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure" all did). Pretty silly, but still worth your time. After all, who doesn't like to see a world leader get foiled by a sly, playful rabbit?