User:Quiche23/Mirror Shot

The mirror shot is a recurring gag in animated cartoons, in particular those produced by the studios MGM (Tom and Jerry) and Warner Bros (Looney Toons). Though the form of the gag can vary between animated shows, the main concept is always the same, and relies principally on the exploitation of one character's foolishness by the other.

Procedure
The mirror shot almost always involves a pursuit between the principle characters of the film (Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd, Tweety and Sylvester, Tom and Jerry, etc.). The protagonists are separated by a partition (wall, fence, etc.), so that the "predator" and the "prey" cannot see one another. The "predator" pursues his adversary along the length of the partition, and eventually encounters a hole in the wall, which his "prey" passes at the same time. Upon this reunification, animators employ the "delayed reaction" gag, in which the "predator," after a few seconds, realizes what he has seen, and backtracks to the hole in the partition. He finds himself face-to-face with his adversary, and the "prey" proceeds to mimic the "predator's" gestures and expressions (grimaces, pirouettes, etc.).

The conclusion of the gag can vary depending on which characters are involved. Bugs Bunny often reveals his deception, and completes the gag by kissing his antagonist on the mouth. Others simply stop mirroring and continue along the partition for a few moments, before realizing that they have been mocked and becoming enraged.

When this gag is performed by Bugs Bunny, he makes a face at his enemy, who then continues to make the same face while Bugs drops the expression (and flees). Most of the time, before mimicking his adversary, Bugs holds up a sign which reads "Silly, isn't it?"