Wackiki Wabbit (1943)

On a tropical island a pair of castaways look to Bugs as a source of food.

Director:

Chuck Jones (as Charles M. Jones)

Writer:

Tedd Pierce (story)

Stars:

Mel Blanc, Augie Goupil, Michael Maltese

Cast

Uncredited cast:
Mel Blanc	...	Bugs Bunny (voice) (uncredited)
Augie Goupil	...	Musicians (voice) (uncredited)
Michael Maltese	...	Fat Castaway (voice) (uncredited)
Tedd Pierce	...	Thin Castaway (voice) (uncredited)

Storyline

Two goofy island castaways are dreaming about food (and imagining each other to BE food!) when Bugs Bunny washes up on the island. The castaways are intent on eating the rabbit, but Bugs manages to outsmart them time and again.

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Plot Keywords:

rabbit | bugs bunny character | two word title | castaway | tropical island | 

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Genres:

Animation | Short | Adventure | Comedy | Family

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 July 1943 (USA)

Also Known As:

Merrie Melodies #18 (1942-1943 Season): Wackiki Wabbit

Company Credits

Production Co:

Leon Schlesinger Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

7 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The phrase "Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of the party" used by Bugs is a filler phrase coined by instructor Charles E. Weller as a typing drill in his 1918 book "The Early History of the Typewriter."

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Quotes

[singing & repeating together]
Fat Castaway, Thin Castaway: We're gonna have roast rabbit! We're gonna have roast rabbit!

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Connections

Edited into Everywhere at Once (1985)

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Soundtracks

Asleep in the Deep
(uncredited)
Music by Henry W. Petrie

User Reviews

Colourful, hilarious and wonderfully odd

While not my favourite Bugs Bunny or Chuck Jones cartoon, Wackiki Rabbit is still a great cartoon with lots of colour, great humour and a wonderfully odd atmosphere. One does wish that Bugs had more to do here, despite being the star he does agreed play more of a secondary character to the castaways, albeit a very memorable and funny one at that.

The cartoon does on the other hand some really colourful visuals with beautifully bold colours, impeccably detailed backgrounds, some inventive 'surreal' physical comedy and well-drawn characters (Bugs' design is in early stages but while different he's drawn well and moves easily). The music by Carl Stalling is typically outstanding, giving the cartoon so much energy while also being richly and cleverly orchestrated throughout, it's also a perfect match with the visuals, humour and action and even elevates them to a greater level. The writing is fresh, razor sharp and brilliantly funny, some of it is bizarre but in a hugely entertaining way, while the gags are oddly surreal but inventive and quite hilarious, especially when the castaways are first introduced to Bugs, with the cooked chicken and the ending.

Story-wise, it's crisply paced, has a constantly colourful atmosphere and it's not too routine or predictable because the humour is so well done. Bugs is as always great fun though as said he should have had more to do, while the castaways (caricatures of Michael Maltese and Tedd Pierce, who also voice the characters) are a hilarious and an oddly-but- well-matched double act. Mel Blanc, Maltese and Pierce all give fine vocal characterisations.

Overall, colourful, hilarious and wonderfully odd. Definitely worth seeing at least once. 9/10 Bethany Cox