Taking a bow in theaters nationwide on December 16, 1950, the Chuck Jones cartoon “The Rabbit of Seville” is based upon the Rossini opera, “The Barber of Seville” which premiered in Rome on February 20, 1816.   (The libretto of the opera, in turn, was based upon the 1775 novel “Le Barbier de Seville” by Beaumarchais.) 

The cartoon, written by Michael Maltese and Chuck Jones, was animated by Phil Monroe, Ben Washam, Lloyd Vaughn, Ken Harris and Emery Watkins with background layouts by Robert Gribbroek and painted by Philip DeGuard.