Big Top Bunny

"Big Top Bunny" is an odd (in a negative way) Bugs Bunny cartoon - and I'm sure many people think the reason is because Robert McKimson directed it. Personally, I think that theory is ridiculous. All the other Looney Tunes directors have produced equally odd (in a negative way) cartoons sometime or other. Robert McKimson is a very good Looney Tunes director, but personally I think this is one of his weaker cartoons (his second weakest, in my opinion).

Despite its oddities (which I will list later), "Big Top Bunny" is still a cartoon worth watching, even if only once. Bugs Bunny is a good character here, not disappointing and as likable as ever. The animation is reasonable as well, but not something to rant on about (just a good quality). Parts of the humour are laughable, but overall, this cartoon is not the funniest Looney Tune ever.

The oddities of the cartoon are Bug's side character (who is a rather annoying, drawling circus bear), the length of the cartoon (it feels too short even though it is average Looney Tune length) and a deal of the jokes are also unfunny and odd as well.

In this cartoon, Bruno the bear, a circus bear, is complimenting his lovely circus life, when he hears that there will be a new animal in the ring - an acrobatic rabbit. Bruno is furious that he should be paired alongside a "leetle rabbit" and bears a grudge against Bugs Bunny when they first meet. Bugs Bunny is determined to earn his revenge against this annoying bear...

I recommend this cartoon to people who enjoy the repetitive, slapsticky side of Looney Tunes and to people who like annoying side characters to make things "interesting." Enjoy "Big Top Bunny"! :-)

When the circus hires Bugs Bunny as an attraction, Bruno-an Eastern European bear, gets jealous and tries to sabotage him. He succeeds the first time but the rabbit catches on. The gag where Bruno ends up in the band's kettle drum isn't funny but everything else is. I especially liked the one when Bugs, after being given a handle with bear hands by Bruno on his trapeze, uses that handle and "peddles" his way back to the bear's starting base. Robert McKimson didn't make the greatest Warner Bros. cartoons compared to Chuck Jones, Friz Freling, Bob Clampett, Tex Avery, or Frank Tashlin but because of all that talent that surrounded him, he could still make good animated shorts that can be entertaining in themselves. Big Top Bunny is one of them.

It is Colonel Korny's World Famous Circus. Bruno is the star Slobokian Acrobatic Bear. The Colonel is offered a performing rabbit and decides to combine the rabbit with Bruno's act. Bruno is not happy. The rabbit is Bugs Bunny. During their act, Bruno starts playing tricks on Bugs, but Bugs smells the rat right away.

I really like this battle under the big top. I would like a bigger name for the Colonel Korny role. The best gag is the high dive platform. I love that they have to ratchet up the platform in such a hilariously non-sensical way. It is great in so many ways especially visually. This is great.

I love Bugs Bunny and I love Looney Tunes, but I am sorry to say I am not a fan of Big Top Bunny. It definitely wasn't awful, but it is one of my least favourite Bugs Bunny cartoons.

Starting with the good things, I did like the animation in general. The colours are great, as are the backgrounds and Bugs looks fine. The music has its usual energy and quirkiness, while the dialogue is reasonably amusing and the sight gags while slightly lacking in originality are decent especially with the idea with the heights. And as always Mel Blanc's voice work is superb.

However, there are things that make Big Top Bunny somewhat decidedly lacklustre. The story is incredibly predictable and offers little to no surprises, while the pacing is uneven, it starts off slow and then it suddenly feels as though a bomb has hit it and it doesn't slow down. My main problem with Big Top Bunny is the character of Bruno. I do not like him... at all. In this cartoon, Bruno's character design is the only one I don't care for, it is ugly and I think inconsistent too, while the voice was rather tiresome and some of his dialogue did little for me either.

Overall, not terrible but sadly not particularly good either. 6/10 Bethany Cox

Bruno, a Slobokian bear (whatever that is) and a circus acrobat, does not take kindly to having Bugs Bunny join his previously solo act at Colonel Korny's World Famous Circus. Somehow, during a performance, an anvil ends up where Bugs's head should go. Fool him once, shame on the Slobokian bear. But Bugs won't be fooled twice. He's ready for Bruno's dirty tricks throughout the rest of the act and has a few tricks of his own. Somehow Bruno ends up taking several falls into a bass drum before finding himself competing with Bugs in a high diving act. Will Bugs or Bruno take the dip?

Robert McKimson, a flaccid director, does a better-than-average job here. Bruno is a funny creation, thanks in large part to Mel Blanc doing the Russian-accented voice. The character animation is particularly strong; the gags are reasonably funny; and we're made particularly eager to see Bugs triumph over this bullying jerk. This is a good cartoon: no more, no less.

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