The 5 best Elmer Fudd cartoons

Be vewy vewy excited. We found the best Elmer Fudd shorts!

Image: Everett Collection

Question: Is it rabbit season or duck season? While many a seasoned hunter can certainly say, there is one who never seems to know what he should be looking for. Good ol' Elmer Fudd, hunter extraordinaire.

On July 17, 1937, Tex Avery and Chuck Jones introduced the world to a new addition to the Merry Melodies family with "Egghead Rides Again." Audiences met Egghead, an aptly named character with a large nose, eccentric costumes, and an egg-shaped head. Between 1937 and 1939, 12 more cartoons featured the hapless character.

It wasn't until March 2, 1940, that Egghead took on a more familiar appearance. In his debut in the short film "Elmer's Candid Camera," the character appears to be in transition between the two personalities. In this short, Fudd's face has been defined with proper cheeks and a chin, and his voice has been modified to take on the characteristics that we still associate with him today. He was still, however, clad in Egghead's classic suit jacket and ascot.

Longtime fans even believe this episode is what turns Egghead into Elmer Fudd symbolically, as an early Bugs Bunny gives him the runaround when trying to capture a photo. After spending the day trying to take his photographs, Fudd is driven to madness, crying out, "Wabbits!" over and over again as he jumps into a lake. This, many believe, was the signal that times were changing for Fudd, and would eventually lead to him begging the audience's silence as he hunts down the evasive bunny that started it all.

In honor of 80-plus years of "wascally" fun, here are our top five Elmer Fudd cartoons.

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1. What’s Opera, Doc? (1957)

This cartoon is one of the best Looney Tunes pieces, period. Well, cartoons, period. Actually, short films, period. The opera spoof is a parody heavily influenced by the work of Richard Wagner, a 19th-century German composer. His most famous pieces are cited in this cartoon, which borrows much of it's score from the four operas that make up The Ring Cycle and an additional opera entitled Tannhäuser. Popular tunes that audiences know immediately include "The Ride of the Valkyries" (reframed as the tune "Kill the Wabbit") and the "Pilgrim's Chorus" from Tannhäuser (revamped as "O Bwünnhilde, you'w so wuvwy," "Return my love," and the closing scene.) A seven-minute classical comedy that has made millions laugh time and time again, this cartoon easily takes the top spot.

Image: Warner Bros.

2. The Rabbit of Seville (1950)

This is an all-time favorite of many Fudd fans. When Bugs and Fudd chase their way onto the stage of an opera house, they find themselves in the middle of the Rossini classic The Barber of Seville. Between the various serums and clays that Bugs uses to beautify (and stupefiy) Fudd and the hilarious adaptation of the opera's main plot points, this cartoon is often cited as an introduction to classical music for fans all over the world. Bravo, Elmer!

Image: Warner Bros.

3. The Hunting Trilogy (1951-1953)

Okay, this pick is cheating just a little bit, but there's no way to choose only one! "The Hunting Trilogy" refers to the three hunting-themed cartoons that star Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and Elmer Fudd. These shorts, also known as the Rabbit Season/Duck Season shorts, are titled "Rabbit Fire," "Rabbit Seasoning" and "Duck! Rabbit, Duck!" The plot is similar in all three — Fudd is on a hunt for his seasonal animal, and in an attempt to distract him, either Bugs or Daffy work to redirect his attention. 

Image: Warner Bros.

4. Wideo Wabbit (1956)

Bugs Bunny doesn't see what's coming to him when he an ad in the newspaper wanting a rabbit for a TV show at the QTTV-TV studio. Unbeknownst to Bugs, it is a new hunting show starring Elmer Fudd called The Sportsman's Hour, a show intent on demonstrating the proper way to track, hunt and "b'ow the wabbit to smithereens!"

Image: Warner Bros.

5. Wabbit Twouble (1941)

This episode shows off one of the many iterations of Elmer Fudd. Elmer Fudd is trying to take a vacation by getting in touch with Mother Nature at Jellostone National Park. He sets up camp right on top of Bugs' rabbit hole, which ends his rest and relaxation almost immediately. Between a pesky rabbit and an angry black bear, how is anyone supposed to unwind? This episode is a hilarious new take on the character, giving Elmer Fudd a refreshing new goal to work towards… and audiences, an unexpected shtick. 

Image: Warner Bros.

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34 Comments

crhilbish 37 months ago
What’s Opera, Doc? "Kill the rabbit,........ kill the rabbit!"
idkwut2use 37 months ago
I’d agree with that...except that Easter Yeggs is a top favorite I watch every spring,..
Mark091 38 months ago
I Believe that ELMER FUDD and
EGGHEAD were two different persons
Or two different characters
FIRST of all Why would EGGHEAD
Change his name to ELMER FUDD?
Second of all EGGHEAD AND ELMER FUDD don't even look.alike or even
Resemble each other
Third of all Why did Looney tunes
Quit having Egghead cartoons?
Fourth of all Why would Looney
Tunes change Egghead into Elmer Fudd?? In the cartoon with. Daffy duck and Egghead even Egghead
Loo
Mark091 Mark091 38 months ago
In the cartoon with. Daffy duck and Egghead even Egghead looks different The voice of
EGGHEAD is also different
In the Popeye cartoons what
Happened to Popeyes pal
Shorty? Also was Bluto and
Brutus twin brothers??
STARFIGHTER77 39 months ago
HEY...There was a WB Cartoon that featured OL' ELMER FUDD AS A JUSTICE of the PEACE ....Riding on a Lambretta Italian Scooter.The basis of the plot...was that ELMER FUDD ( As a Peacemaking Justice of the Peace ) was to settle the FEUD Between the Hatfields & the MCCOYS up in the Hills .
STARFIGHTER77 39 months ago
BEST CHOICE .... HANDS DOWN !! Whats' OPERA, DOC ?
Moverfan 39 months ago
While I will always be amazed at Elmer's singing voice, somebody needs to explain to him that...well, that it's not likely he'll ever be happy with a rabbit in drag (every time Bugs dresses as a girl, there's Elmer with his tongue hanging out...).
jeopardyhead Moverfan 37 months ago
Elmer's not the only one who fell for the disguise.
Brad 39 months ago
I disagree. Wabbit Twouble is by far the best of these or all the Elmer episodes. Second is the one where Elmer is prospecting for gold. Third is Elmer working on the railroad. Fourth is Elmer as a Mountie. Fifth is when Elmer gets an inheritance from Uncle Louie.
SharonStevens 39 months ago
My favorite Elmer Fudd cartoon is the Thanksgiving one when he played John Alden!
Sway 39 months ago
I crack up when I hear Bugs singing the "What's Up Doc?" song.
idkwut2use 39 months ago
I would concur with that. =)
dmagoon 39 months ago
Is Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park (the name) inspired by Jellostone Park.
Claude dmagoon 39 months ago
"Jellystone" Park is inspired by Yellowstone National Park.
Never heard of Jellostone Park.
dmagoon Claude 39 months ago
The park names are nevertheless pretty similar.
Mob39 39 months ago
Bugs bunny rocks! Best day was Saturday morning watching the Bugs Bunny and road runner hour👍🏻
Krn Mob39 39 months ago
I still love Bugs!
UTZAAKE 39 months ago
Infamous college basketball head coach Jerry Tarkanian always reminded me of Elmer Fudd. Both were bald and sounded very similar.
jeopardyhead UTZAAKE 37 months ago
Recently, I read a YouTube comment that said Bennet Cerf (best known as a What's My Line? panelist) sounded like Elmer Fudd.
SalIanni 39 months ago
Remember Robin Williams and his tribute to Elmer Fudd by pretending to sing with that unmistakable voice? Bruce Springsteen never sounded better, and that's the truth! "I'm dwiving in my cahhhrrr..."
OldTVfanatic SalIanni 39 months ago
Oh yeah, that was great.

https://youtu.be/VIE2F1K9Q1I
ncadams27 39 months ago
From these cartoons, I learned that if you run off a cliff you won’t fall unless you look down.
jeopardyhead ncadams27 37 months ago
Kind of like Wall Street.
Deleted 39 months ago
This comment has been removed.
Amalthea 39 months ago
My husband & I were just telling our daughters about that one this past weekend!
MandyR135 39 months ago
We have lost talent that will never be replaced.

RIP
Barry22 39 months ago
There was another funny one where Elmer gets frustrated with Bugs and quits Warner Brothers. In the end of the short he is pleading with them to take him back. "Oh, Mister Warner"
VaughnBaskin 39 months ago
Happy Looney Birthday Elmer "Egghead" Fudd!
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