Rabbit Seasoning

Rabbit Seasoning is a 1952 Warner Bros. Merrie Melodies cartoon directed by Chuck Jones. Released on September 20, 1952, the short stars Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and Elmer Fudd.

It is the sequel to the previous year's Rabbit Fire, and the second in the "hunting trilogy" directed by Jones and written by Michael Maltese (the only major difference in format between them is that Rabbit Fire takes place during the spring, while Rabbit Seasoning takes place in the autumn. The third cartoon, Duck! Rabbit, Duck!, takes place in the winter). The short was produced by Edward Selzer for Warner Bros. Cartoons, Inc., and is the first WB cartoon on which layout artist Maurice Noble received credit.

It is considered to be among Jones' best and most important films. In Jerry Beck's 1994 book The 50 Greatest Cartoons, Rabbit Seasoning is listed at number 30.

Plot
In the forest, numerous signs proclaiming rabbit season catch the attention of passersby. Daffy Duck is revealed as the culprit behind this deception, leaving false rabbit tracks to ensnare Elmer Fudd into a misinformed hunting spree. When Elmer confronts Bugs Bunny's burrow, Daffy intervenes, insisting that Bugs is the legitimate target, inciting a contentious debate between the two animals over their respective identities and the legitimacy of the hunting season.

Amidst the verbal sparring, Daffy repeatedly falls victim to his own arguments, enduring multiple shots from Elmer's gun. His beak displaced and reinstated with each occurrence, Daffy's frustration grows as Bugs orchestrates further trickery, exploiting Daffy's linguistic missteps to his advantage. Despite Daffy's attempts to redirect Elmer's attention, he remains ensnared in the antics of Bugs and Daffy.

As tensions escalate, Bugs adopts a feminine disguise resembling Lana Turner, briefly fooling Elmer before Daffy's impatience reveals the ruse. The ongoing interplay between the characters culminates in a series of mistaken identities and deceptions, culminating in Daffy's repeated demise at Elmer's hands. Despite Daffy's protests and attempts to outmaneuver Bugs, he ultimately falls prey to Bugs' schemes, concluding with a resigned acknowledgment of his own gullibility.

Reception
Animator J. J. Sedelmaier writes, "Of director Chuck Jones' three "Shoot 'im now!" cartoons, Rabbit Seasoning has always been my favorite. Bugs, Daffy, and Elmer are so tightly defined as the characters we all know and love that they're almost parodies of themselves. Even though this short is the second of the series, it's still fresh and tight. What's also amazing is how it doesn't feel like a cartoon that's almost sixty years old. The timing of the cuts — Daffy's expression when Elmer says to Bugs that he "hasn't even seen a wabbit yet" — and the miscellaneous, eccentric W. C. Fields-like sound effects that seem to ooze out of Daffy are still cool today."

Cast
• Mel Blanc as Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck

• Arthur Q. Bryan as Elmer Fudd (uncredited)

Home media
VHS: Laserdisc: DVD:
 * Salute To Chuck Jones
 * Warner Bros. Cartoons Golden Jubilee 24-Karat Collection: Elmer Fudd's Comedy Capers
 * Bugs Bunny: Winner By A Hare
 * Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 1
 * Looney Tunes Platinum Collection: Volume 2