Stop steamin’ up my tail! What’re ya tryin’ ta do, wrinkle it? … Our August Film Feature, ‘Bully for Bugs’ is a 1953 Warner Bros. Looney Tunes cartoon directed by Chuck Jones and written by Michael Maltese, featuring the iconic Bugs Bunny.

To celebrate the anniversary of this animated short, we are offering a Contemporary Art Print Poster gift with any ‘Bully for Bugs’ art purchased during the month of August … mention ‘GULLA-BULL’ to receive yours with any qualifying art purchase.

This animated masterpiece showcases the witty and mischievous nature of Bugs working a day gig as a matador facing off against a formidable adversary. Chuck Jones often put Bugs Bunny against large adversaries and this film is no exception.

Centering around a comedic rivalry between Bugs and a bull named Toro, Bugs finds himself in the middle of a bullfighting ring, where Toro is the main attraction. However, instead of being intimidated by the bull, Bugs uses his wit and cleverness to outsmart Toro at every turn. The cartoon showcases Bugs Bunny’s trademark humor and quick thinking as he navigates through various humorous situations.

According to Chuck Jones, he never thought about making a film about bullfights until Eddie Selzer, the head of Warner Bros. Animation at the time, stuck his head into the story room one day and proclaimed, “I don’t want any gags about bullfights. Bullfights aren’t funny!”

Since it was common knowledge among the directors and animators that Selzer had never been right about anything, Chuck Jones and Michael Maltese thought a cartoon about a bullfight might just be the one!

Jones and Maltese read everything from Hemingway’s ‘Death in the Afternoon to ‘The Brave Bulls’ and even ventured to Mexico City to watch a bullfight as part of their research. The team used their research and comedic skills to produce a vibrant and lively short, capturing the essence of Bugs Bunny by keeping his casual demeanor in this zany adventure. Turns out Jones and Maltese were right. Bullfights can be funny!

The matador at the beginning of the short was based on a caricature of the great Spanish bullfighter Juan Belmonte on the outside with a trembling Jones on the inside. As Toro rumbles forward like a steamroller, the all-muscle bull stays extremely close to the ground. To make the enormous weight and power of the bull believable, the animation team kept him close to the ground.

The American director-animator, Darrell Van Citters once wrote, “This film hits squarely in director Chuck Jones’ sweet spot and features most of the creative team we’ve come to associate with his best work … Both the writing and directing are self-assured, and there is no wasted effort anywhere in the film. Jones was a master of timing and the expressive hold. Often his holds would be followed up by the movement of one body part, such as an eyebrow raise, making the statement even more effective. In his best films, such as Bully for Bugs, his timing revealed character, making the moment all the funnier” (100 Greatest Cartoons by Jerry Beck, 2020).

Known for its memorable gags and comedic timing, this animated short has become a beloved classic, showcasing the timeless appeal of Bugs Bunny’s mischievous personality. Whether you’re a long-time fan or new to Looney Tunes cartoons, ‘Bully for Bugs’ is sure to leave you laughing and appreciating the comedic genius of Chuck Jones and his animation team behind this timeless animation.