Title - Tortoise Wins by a Hare
Director - Bob Clampett
Released - 1943
Reason for Placement --
Essentially a sequel to Tex Avery's Tortoise Beats Hare in 1941, Tortoise Wins by a Hare features Bugs (who lost the previous race) challenging Cecil Turtle to a rematch. Bob Clampett was known for using a unique approach in his Bugs Bunny cartoons: namely, he didn't like to let the rabbit win. In a majority of Bugs' toons he directed, another character would often be the one to come out victorious in the end, and this toon is no exception.
As we find out, Cecil attributes his win in the previous race to his streamlined build, leading Bugs to create a metal shell that will allow him to win. However, this proves to be his undoing: the entire rabbit community in the forest is determined to let "the rabbit" win this time, going so far as to attack Bugs (who now looks like Cecil) while he runs! And where is Cecil during all this? He's taken advantage of the scenario and dresses in a grey rabbit costume, allowing the other rabbits to cheer him on.
This toon always stood out for me when I was a kid, not because of its humor or style, but because it was so different. Bugs isn't the cool, calm hero we all know from his other toons: he's angry, he's throwing fits, he's cheating to win a race... for me, the whole thing was just weird! And any toon that leaves an impression like that definitely earns its place on this countdown.
BTW, if you get a chance, look at one of the newspaper headlines when they highlight Bugs' interview. It reads "Hitler Commits Suicide".
ReplyDeleteBTW, if you get a chance, look at one of the newspaper headlines when they highlight Bugs' interview. It reads "Hitler Commits Suicide".
ReplyDelete