My Top 11 Favorite Looney Tunes Cartoons

There are very few characters out there that can make the world laugh like they can. For decades, they've delighted audiences everywhere with their ridiculous antics, insane rivalries, and wacky adventures. They are the Looney Tunes.

I watch the 30 minutes of classic "Looney Tunes" on Cartoon Network on every morning. I love that they are uncut and presented in their best quality. Though at the same time, I'm a bit disturbed that so many references to suicide are included. In one cartoon, after Pepe Le Pew has been rejected so many times, he pulls out a gun, walks off screen and pulls the trigger! I was like, "WHAAT?!" Of course, he was fine, but that's an incredibly dark moment in that character's psyche. Even still, it just goes to show you that back then, cartoons weren't made to just make kids laugh. They were made to make EVERYBODY laugh. 

So today, I've decided to talk about my top 11 favorite Looney Tunes cartoons. Why Top 11? "Because I like to go one step beyond."

11. Wabbit Twouble (1941)
Directed by Robert Clampett ("Wobert Cwampett")



Elmer decides to leave behind the woes of the city and seek a "westful wetreat [with] west and wewaxation" at Jellostone National Park (predating Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park by about 20 years). However, after he arrives at his campsite, he realizes he's not alone as Bugs is there and prepared to give him as much trouble as he can stand. In the middle of a trick, Bugs confesses to the audience, "I do this sort of thing to him all through the picture". You might notice that Elmer is fat here, whereas in other appearances he is thin. This was because the WB animators believed that a fatter Elmer (mirroring his voice actor Arthur Q. Bryan and his physique) would be funnier. After a few cartoons, they decided it would be better to slim him down. Personally, I think his added makes you feel bad for Elmer, considering here he's not portrayed as a hunter. He's plenty dumb, but sometimes too much is too much; keeping him slim in his hunting outfit and giving him a gun keeps him lovable but not pitiful. 

10. My Favorite Duck
Directed by Chuck Jones


This was the first time (and thank goodness, not the last) that Daffy and Porky were put together. Porky's out on a camping trip where he encounters the incessant Daffy, who (like Bugs to Elmer from #11) proceeds to give him a hard time. One of the main differences between Clampett and Jones as directors is that Clampett would go for the easy joke; not that they're bad, mind you. Jones adds little acting touches in the animation that makes the situation even funnier without either character having to say a word. Examples including Daffy eyeballing Porky, Porky realizing he's been had by Daffy after drying off with a towel, Daffy fashioning Porky with a bonnet and that great shot of Daffy realizing he's in trouble while Porky grins evilly. Something that bothers me though: giving Porky a shotgun. Maybe it's just me.

9. The Wabbit Who Came to Supper (1942)
Directed by Friz Freleng


We've come back again to Bugs and Fat Elmer. In the midst of a hunting trip, Elmer (suspiciously without his hunting gear; who goes hunting in a bowler hat and a tie?) receives a telegram from his dying Uncle Louie. As long as Elmer never harms another animals "especiawwy wabbits", he will inherit $3 million. This prompts Bugs to follow Elmer home and irritate him as much as possible. This cartoon is notorious for a brief shot of Bugs exiting a shower and a slight droop of a towel reveals Bugs' "doodle". Warner Bros. has tried to suggest that's not what people think it is, it's just a brief look at the tub from between Bugs' legs. Nope, it's a "doodle". A surprising shot at Disney is Bugs commenting, "Hey, this scene oughta get me the Academy Award" while "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" plays briefly in the background. In fact, Fantasia did end up taking two honorary Academy Awards. Disney never made fun of the "Looney Tunes", but that's what makes WB's cartoons so irreverent.

9. A Pest in the House (1947)
Directed by Chuck Jones


One of the great unsung duos in the Looney Tunes' history is that of Elmer and Daffy. They balance each other so well with Daffy's inherent madcap nature and Elmer's more cautious and reluctant behavior. A few cartoons did take advantage of this from the silly To Duck or Not To Duck ("Daffy 'Good to His Mother' Duck") and the slightly racist Wise Quackers ("Yessir, Massah Elmer"). Elmer is the proprietor of a hotel and Daffy is his loyal bellboy ("bellduck"?). In walks a very tired muscular man who demands peace and quiet, "BECAUSE IF I'M DISTURBED AT ANY TIME, I'M GONNA PUNCH YOU RIGHT IN THE NOSE!". Daffy doesn't get the message and causes untold audio damage. My favorite moment is when Daffy has heard a funny joke and is laughing so hard when he tries to describe it to the poor guy. "HE ASKED THE FARMER -- HAHA -- HE ASKED THE FARMER!" Every time I see that, I get a smile on my face.

8. Operation: Rabbit (1952)
Directed by Chuck Jones


Wait a second! Wile E. Coyote can talk?! Yes, indeed, Mel Blanc did provide the voice for the famous coyote in a few cartoons; Blanc used a slightly more "know-it-all" lilt to his own voice. It's quite a shock for those who have only seen the numerous Road Runner cartoons. Bugs meets his new neighbor, Wile E. Coyote, "genius". The Coyote proclaims he is going to eat Bugs for supper, on account that he is faster and larger than Bugs is. Of course he learns, when facing an opponent as cunning as Bugs Bunny, one often has to go back to the drawing board. Two of my personal favorite line deliveries in any "Looney Tunes" cartoons are Wile E. desperately exclaiming, "Oh no..." as he realizes he's about to be caught in an explosion and his final line, "Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Mud". It's a testament to the "sheer, unadulterated brilliance" of a master vocal performer as Mel Blanc.

7. Daffy Dilly (1948)
Directed by Chuck Jones


I first saw this cartoon as part of the '80s "Looney Tunes" anthology film, Daffy Duck's Quackbusters (which completely fails to capture the possibilities of the Looney Tunes characters with Ghostbusters references). It's this cartoon that launches Daffy into his paranormal investigations agency featured in the film. Daffy, here a down-on-his-luck prank salesman ("salesduck"?), hears about J.B. Cubish, a local millionaire who is offering $1 million to anyone who can make him laugh before he dies. Willing to give it a try (by using Sylvester's catchphrase "Sufferin' Succotash"; Daffy's voice is actually Sylvester's, but simply sped-up), Daffy goes over to Cubish's place where he encounters a stubborn butler willing to kill Daffy rather than let him get the $1 million. Daffy eventually decides to scare the butler away by accusing him of wanting his master dead. Fearing for his life, the butler flees. It's a classic Daffy cartoon that doesn't always get the appreciation I think it should.

6. Hare Brush (1955)
Directed by Friz Freleng


After countless Bugs vs. Elmer cartoons, you could imagine that the WB animators were desperately seeking a way to find to keep the characters fresh. In this cartoon, they did the last thing anybody suspected: completely reverse the roles between Elmer and Bugs. During a board meeting, millionaire Elmer bounds in on all fours and chomps on a carrot like a rabbit. Elmer is immediately thrown into an insane asylum. As Bugs is wondering by, Elmer is able to trick him into taking his place in the asylum. As Elmer hops away, Bugs is taken away by a doctor who, mistaking him for Elmer, hypnotizes him into believing he is Elmer. Suprisingly, it works and Bugs begins to behave like Elmer. Once he is released, Bugs goes hunting in Elmer's clothes and finds Elmer dressed like a rabbit. The usual shenanigans ensue, just from different perspectives. Something intriguing to note is that in the beginning of the short: Elmer clearly pronounces the word "rabbit" rather than his usual "wabbit". Elmer drops a huge hint that he might not actually be crazy at the end of the cartoon. It's really refreshing and a bit strange to see the role-reversal here, but it's really well-done.

5. The Old Grey Hare (1944)
Directed by Robert Clampett


There are a few "Looney Tunes" cartoons that try to explain the origins of the conflict between Bugs and Elmer, but this is the one that I accept for myself. Elmer is shown crying to himself about how he'll never be able to catch Bugs. Suddenly, "the voice of God" (I question this; not that I don't believe in God - I do - but I don't think the Almighty would use time travel to help a hunter kill a talking rabbit, but that's just me) tells Elmer that he will eventually catch Bugs. The voice takes him far into the future -- 2000 A.D. ("GWACIOUS!") -- and Elmer wakes up as an old man. After making a few jokes that made sense then and are pretty dated by now, Bugs shows up, just as elderly as Elmer. A short chase ensues, with Elmer finally "shooting" Bugs with his Buck Rogers gun. As he lies "dying", Bugs remembers the first time he and Elmer met as babies. I love the scene where Baby Bugs pulls over Baby Elmer in his stroller and then proceeds to slap the $#*! out of him and hit him with a baseball bat. It never fails to make me smile. This cartoon just goes to show no matter what time period they're in, the great Bugs vs. Elmer rivalry will never go away.

4. Blooper Bunny (1997)
Directed by Greg Ford and Terry Lennon


I truly think this was the last great "Looney Tunes" cartoon. Unfortunately, Mel Blanc had passed by this time, but another great voice actor - Jeff Bergman - took up the characters for this long-delayed cartoon. Originally, this was supposed to be released theatrically in 1991, but because Warner Bros. objected to a few of the self-parody jokes ("Warner Bros. doesn't have an original bone in its-"!), the film was shelved until it premiered on Cartoon Network in 1997. Warner Bros. has since changed their view of the cartoon, fully embracing it. The short starts with a wacky celebration of the career of Bugs Bunny's career and then reveals the countless hilarious botched rehearsal that it took to create it. I love its edginess, the jokes never fail and the 3D scenery is very cool to see.

3. Rabbit Fire
Directed by Chuck Jones


This is the pinnacle Bugs vs. Daffy episode. One of the greatest cartoons ever created. "Rabbit season, duck season" is a highlight among all other "Looney Tunes" cartoons. Not much more that I can say about it that hasn't already been said.


2. Duck Amuck
Directed by Chuck Jones


I'll just put Chuck Jones' words here: "Who is Daffy Duck anyway? Would you recognize him if I did this to him? What if he didn't live in the woods? Didn't live anywhere? What if he had no voice? No face? What if he wasn't even a duck anymore?" It's the best Daffy Duck cartoon ever made.

1. Show Biz Bugs
Directed by Friz Freleng


This is like 5 different cartoons put into one. They even borrow the Yosemite Sam xylophone gag from "Ballot Box Bunny". Daffy is constantly being upstaged by Bugs at a stage show, and is willing to do anything to keep himself first-billed; even kill himself! I know most prefer Duck Amuck, but I wanted my list to have a different #1 and so I chose this. "That's terrific, Daffy! They loved it! They want more!" "I know, I know! But I can only do it once!"


So, that's my Top 11 Favorite Looney Tunes Cartoons. I hope you had a lot of fun reading this and watching these cartoons again. If you have your own favorites, be sure and leave them in the comments below. Only one way to end this!





Note: Today would have been Chuck Jones' 100th birthday.