Poe's Saturday Cartoon: REBEL RABBIT (1949)

Today on Poe's Saturday Cartoon we continue our "seven deadly sins" series by focusing on the sin known as pride. Seeing that Easter is tomorrow it seems only appropriate that I show a Bugs Bunny Cartoon and no short in the rabbit's filmography demonstrates his sense of pride better than 1949's REBEL RABBIT.

Directed by Robert McKimson, REBEL RABBIT showcases Bugs at his most mischievous as he demonstrates to the world why the bounty on a rabbit should be more than just two cents. His sense of pride eventually gets the best of him and his upcommance is quite a surprise as this is one of the few shorts where Bugs looses in the end. Like other McKimson Bugs Bunny shorts made around this time, the cartoon features a more aggressive and stockier rabbit; quite different from the always victorious character featured in the Chuck Jones and Friz Freleng cartoons. McKimson would eventually tone Bugs down as well in both temper and size and it's a shame as his angry Bugs cartoons are among his best.

So sit back and enjoy watching animation's greatest character show off the bitchier side of his personality. If only Daffy had been featured in this one as well; I imagine he would have enjoyed watching Bug's plight.

Zevk,
Poe