Bewitched Bunny

Bewitched Bunny
File:Bewitchedbunny.jpg Bugs Bunny is unaware of his nemesis, Witch Hazel. Adapted from unrestored version of the cartoon.
Directed by	Charles M. Jones
Animation by	Lloyd Vaughan Ken Harris Ben Washam
Layouts by	Maurice Noble
Backgrounds by	Philip DeGuard
Color process	Technicolor
Distributed by	Warner Bros. Pictures
Running time	6:56

Bewitched Bunny is a Looney Tunes cartoon featuring Bugs Bunny directed by Chuck Jones and written by Michael Maltese. Jones created the character Witch Hazel who debuted in this cartoon. Witch Hazel later appeared in Broom-Stick Bunny (1956), A Witch's Tangled Hare (1959), and in A-Haunting We Will Go (1966). She also has a brief cameo appearance in Transylvania 6-5000 (1963).

This was also the final Looney Tunes cartoon to air on Cartoon Network, prior to 2009. This final airdate was on October 3, 2004.

Plot

The story begins with Bugs reading the classic fairy tale Hansel and Gretel. Witch Hazel plays the witch who tries to cook and eat the children. (Her cookbook has such recipes as "Waif Waffles", "Kiddie Kippers" and "Smorgas Boy".) Bugs witnesses Witch Hazel coaxing the children inside and goes in her house, disguised as a truant officer, and saves the youths from her clutches. The children both turn to Hazel as they leave and say in a thick German accent: "Ach - your mother rides a vacuum cleaner!"

However, once Hazel realizes that Bugs is a rabbit, she tries to cook him instead, using a carrot (filled with sleeping potion) as a lure. Bugs eats the carrot and falls asleep and Witch Hazel puts him into a pot to make rabbit stew.

While the witch is occupied, a character resembling Prince Charming enters the house and kisses Bugs' hand. Bugs wakes up and says: "You're looking for Snow White, this is the story of HAHHN-sel and Gretel", and the Prince leaves, confused about how Hansel is pronounced. Bugs then tries to escape down a corridor but is trapped by Hazel. As she approaches, Bugs finds her magic power and uses it to transform her into a gorgeous lady bunny who has a feminine voice but still has Hazel's laugh.

As he gets ready to leave with the bunny beauty, Bugs looks at the audience, breaking the fourth wall, and comments: "Ah sure, I know. But aren't they all witches inside?".

Controversy

• This cartoon caused some controversy in Canada due to Bugs' end line about the Witch Hazel being turned into a rabbit being perceived as misogynistic [1]. And Bugs' closing line, "Ah sure, I know. But aren't they all witches inside?" was edited out of commercial broadcasts in the 1980s, and was replaced in later versions with "Sure uh, I know. But after all, who wants to be alone on Halloween?" (Bugs was wise beyond his years.) This controversy was briefly mentioned by Eric Goldberg on the DVD commentary of the fifth volume of the Looney Tunes Golden Collection DVD set.

Availability

Bewitched Bunny is available on the second disc of Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 5, and the first disc of Looney Tunes: Spotlight Collection, Volume 5.