Very entertaining Bugs Bunny short directed by Robert McKimson. In this one Bugs is the test subject for a mad scientist who wants to switch Bugs' brain with that of a chicken. The poor scientist has no idea who he's messing with. Beautiful animation with lovely colors and well-drawn characters and backgrounds. The music is whimsical and fun. The immortal Mel Blanc's voice work is, as always, terrific. There are a lot of good gags and lines in this one. The highlights include the oxygen tent gag and, my personal favorite, Bugs doing his impression of Lionel Barrymore's Dr. Gillespie. It's not the best Bugs short but it is a very good one.
6 Reviews
beware when things are too good to be true
lee_eisenberg29 May 2007
"Hot Cross Bunny" may not be the best Bugs Bunny cartoon that I've ever seen, but they sure pull some hilarious stuff here! The premise is that an anonymous, French- or German-accented scientist (it wasn't totally clear which he was; he might have been another ethnicity entirely) is showing his colleagues how to switch a chicken's brain with a rabbit's. Bugs is in another room, and life looks too good to be true for him. That's because the scientist has been pampering him in preparation for the experiment. Sure enough, once Bugs figures out what's up (doc), he starts pulling his usual tricks.
So, once again, Bugs assures that the wrongdoers get their just desserts. Personally, I think that he should have suspected that something was up when the scientist gave him the good life. I mean, don't people often warn us that if things are too perfect or too good to be true, that we should smell a rat? But anyway, it's a really funny cartoon.
Yeah, things go a-fowl at the end.
So, once again, Bugs assures that the wrongdoers get their just desserts. Personally, I think that he should have suspected that something was up when the scientist gave him the good life. I mean, don't people often warn us that if things are too perfect or too good to be true, that we should smell a rat? But anyway, it's a really funny cartoon.
Yeah, things go a-fowl at the end.
Not as racist as many "Merrie Melodies" cartoon shorts . . .
pixrox119 January 2014
Warning: Spoilers
. . . such as the one I viewed previously to HOT CROSS BUNNY, which was called something such as 8 BALL BUNNY. In the latter 'Toon, Bugs goes on a road trip with a penguin. The pair are first confronted in a box car by a murderous Black hobo who will murder anyone for fried chicken. Later they are briefly threatened by a tribe of scantily-clad gyrating natives chanting gibberish in South America. On the other hand, HOT CROSS BUNNY would be guilty at most of racism and sexism by omission, as the horde of doctors pictured in the White male physician's laboratory theater seem to be a homogeneous collection of fellow pale men. Setting that aside, this short also is more clever than 8 BALL BUNNY, which features a title obtuse if not inexplicable. With this pastry title, however, leaving off the final two letters yields "hot cross bun," the name of a confection available in foreign countries, according to kids' stories of the 1940s. The Double Entendre here is that the evil doctor plans on using crossing "hot" (or electric) wires to switch Bugs' brain with a chicken's. You can probably guess how this experiment ACTUALLY ends (and if you can't, you need to view a lot more Merrie Melodies).
Another case for the usual chase
Chip_douglas18 March 2004
A great experiment is about to be completed at the Eureka Hospital Experimental Laboratory (Paul Revere Foundation). The characteristics of a chicken will be transported into an experimental rabbit. The lead scientist (who shall remain nameless) leaves his peers waiting in the auditorium while he gives Rabbit no 46 (a pampered Bus Bunny) a thorough examination. Bugs immediately shows his character by sabotaging even this.
When Bugs finds out he is part of the attraction, he puts on a good show. He starts off with some impressions followed by a magic act and a tap routine, all leading up to his impressive all out jog'. But the auditorium full of stiff scientists (an effective still frame of grim looking know-it-alls) is not easily amused. When Bugs finally finds out what the experiment is all about, make way for the usual chase scenes and disguises. The chase through the halls routine, Bugs the hot dog salesman, the formula for a chocolate malted, you name it, all of them are here.
After being outsmarted and fooled as many times as possible in a 6 minute cartoon, the lead doctor (the only one that's actually animated) still intends to turn the crafty bunny into a chicken. Why he would not have chosen to reverse the polarities having witnessed the obvious improvisation skills and survival instincts of the rabbit is beyond me (unless he was motivated by revenge). During the procedure he becomes a victim of `fowl play'. In my opinion the doctor was asking for it..
7 out of 10 (an extra point for the all out jog)
When Bugs finds out he is part of the attraction, he puts on a good show. He starts off with some impressions followed by a magic act and a tap routine, all leading up to his impressive all out jog'. But the auditorium full of stiff scientists (an effective still frame of grim looking know-it-alls) is not easily amused. When Bugs finally finds out what the experiment is all about, make way for the usual chase scenes and disguises. The chase through the halls routine, Bugs the hot dog salesman, the formula for a chocolate malted, you name it, all of them are here.
After being outsmarted and fooled as many times as possible in a 6 minute cartoon, the lead doctor (the only one that's actually animated) still intends to turn the crafty bunny into a chicken. Why he would not have chosen to reverse the polarities having witnessed the obvious improvisation skills and survival instincts of the rabbit is beyond me (unless he was motivated by revenge). During the procedure he becomes a victim of `fowl play'. In my opinion the doctor was asking for it..
7 out of 10 (an extra point for the all out jog)
"How about getting me a rabbit nurse Doc? I might take a turn for the worse!"
TheLittleSongbird30 August 2012
As I have said many times already I adore Looney Tunes and Bugs Bunny has always been one of the main reasons why. While not among his very best, there is much to love about Hot Cross Bunny. First off, it is hilarious. The gags, revolving around Bugs outsmarting the scientist, are as clever as you'd expect, I especially love the part where Bugs comes out of the skeleton closet, his body language(almost floppy and dehydrated) is priceless. The dialogue is full of wit and quotable punch-lines, "How about getting me a rabbit nurse Doc? I might take a turn for the worse!" and "seems as though doc was a victim of fowl play" particularly made me laugh out loud. Bugs is great fun, just doing what he does best as well as bagging the best lines. The scientist while not on the same level as Elmer Fudd and Yosemite Sam is a worthy foil regardless. The pacing is crisp and never dull, while the animation is colourful and vibrant and the music is characterful and beautifully orchestrated. Mel Blanc's vocals are right on point. Overall, a vibrant, crisply paced and hilarious short. 10/10 Bethany Cox
Bugs Bunny, lab animal
llltdesq14 June 2014
Warning: Spoilers
This is a Warner Brothers short featuring Bugs Bunny. There will be spoilers ahead:
This Bugs short has him trading barbs with a one time opponent, a doctor intent on experimenting with our stalwart hero. The doctor sets up the plot and then goes to get Experimental Rabbit 46 (aka Bugs) who is luxuriating in grand style. The doctor examines Bugs and we see the standard medical gags. Bugs is then wheeled into the operating theater.
Seeing an audience, Bugs immediately decides he's expected to perform, he impersonates Lionel Barrymore, does a magic act, a dance and riffs on a Danny Kaye-style act, to no avail, when the doctor hits him.
More general silliness ensues before the doctor hits him again and our hero discovers he's to be turned into a chicken. Bugs escapes again and there's even more silliness until the climax of the short, where (naturally) Bugs prevails.
This short is available on DVD and is well worth getting. Recommended.
This Bugs short has him trading barbs with a one time opponent, a doctor intent on experimenting with our stalwart hero. The doctor sets up the plot and then goes to get Experimental Rabbit 46 (aka Bugs) who is luxuriating in grand style. The doctor examines Bugs and we see the standard medical gags. Bugs is then wheeled into the operating theater.
Seeing an audience, Bugs immediately decides he's expected to perform, he impersonates Lionel Barrymore, does a magic act, a dance and riffs on a Danny Kaye-style act, to no avail, when the doctor hits him.
More general silliness ensues before the doctor hits him again and our hero discovers he's to be turned into a chicken. Bugs escapes again and there's even more silliness until the climax of the short, where (naturally) Bugs prevails.
This short is available on DVD and is well worth getting. Recommended.
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