''Rabbit Transit'' is a 1947 ''

Looney Tunes ''Looney Tunes'' is an American Animated cartoon, animated comedy short film series produced by Warner Bros. starting from 1930 to 1969, concurrently with its partner series ''Merrie Melodies'', during the golden age of American animation.

cartoon A cartoon is a type of visual art that is typically drawn, frequently animated, in an unrealistic or semi-realistic style. The specific meaning has evolved over time, but the modern usage usually refers to either: an image or series of images ...

, directed by

Friz Freleng Isadore "Friz" Freleng (August 21, 1905May 26, 1995), credited as I. Freleng early in his career, was an American animator, cartoonist, director, producer, and composer known for his work at Warner Bros. Cartoons on the ''Looney Tunes'' and '' ...

. The short was released on May 10, 1947, and features

Bugs Bunny Bugs Bunny is an animated cartoon character created in the late 1930s by Leon Schlesinger Productions (later Warner Bros. Cartoons) and voiced originally by Mel Blanc. Bugs is best known for his starring roles in the '' Looney Tunes'' and '' ...

and

Cecil Turtle Cecil Turtle is a fictional character in the Warner Bros. ''Looney Tunes'' and '' Merrie Melodies'' series of films. Though he made only three theatrical appearances, Cecil has the unusual distinction in that he is one of the very few characters w ...

. The title is a play on "

rapid transit Rapid transit or mass rapid transit (MRT), also known as heavy rail or metro, is a type of high-capacity public transport generally found in urban areas. A rapid transit system that primarily or traditionally runs below the surface may be c ...

". Cecil and Bugs had previously raced each other in 1941's ''

Tortoise Beats Hare ''Tortoise Beats Hare'' is a 1941 ''Merrie Melodies'' animated short supervised and laid out by Tex Avery (solely supervisal credited as "Fred A-Very," as read by Bugs Bunny). It was released on March 15, 1941. The short, loosely based on Aesop's ...

'' and 1943's ''

Tortoise Wins By a Hare ''Tortoise Wins by a Hare'' is a ''Merrie Melodies'' cartoon released on February 20, 1943, and directed by Bob Clampett. It stars Bugs Bunny and Cecil Turtle. It is a sequel to 1941's ''Tortoise Beats Hare'', with footage from said cartoon briefl ...

'', making this their third and final encounter. Unlike ''Tortoise Wins by a Hare'', this cartoon presumes that Bugs and Cecil have never met before now.

Plot

While relaxing in a steam bath, Bugs reads about the original fable and, as he did reading the credits of ''Tortoise Beats Hare'', becomes incensed at the idea of a turtle outrunning a rabbit. Cecil, also in the steam bath, claims that he could outrun Bugs, but Bugs is still mocking turtles that which Cecil challenges him to a race. This time, Bugs and Cecil agree to no

cheating Cheating generally describes various actions designed to subvert rules in order to obtain unfair advantages. This includes acts of bribery, cronyism and nepotism in any situation where individuals are given preference using inappropriate cr ...

(only after Bugs searches Cecil for roller skates, scooters and other vehicles). Cecil, however, quickly reveals that his shell is now rocket propelled, allowing him to go a surprising combination between fast ''and'' slow. Bugs tries to counter Cecil's advantage, first by snagging the shell and trying to dismantle the rockets, then later catching a ride on the shell and dumping water into to choke the engine out. Bugs also tries to set up a false tunnel, but Cecil (in a gag later repeated in Road Runner-Wile E. Coyote cartoons) goes right through it like a regular tunnel. Bugs makes a last desperate dash to the finish line. Cecil is in the lead but notices something and turns off his rockets, letting Bugs beat him. Bugs gloats to Cecil at the finish line that he was " doing 100 easy" in his last dash, and Cecil reveals to Bugs that he did it in a speed zone. As Bugs is taken away by the police to enjoy his victory—behind bars and insults him, Cecil closes the cartoon by restating one of Bugs's famous catch-phrases: "Ain't I um...a stinker?"

Home media

*VHS- ''Bugs!'' *VHS- ''Bugs Bunny's Zaniest Toons'' *VHS- ''Golden Age of Looney Tunes Vol 10: The Art of Bugs'' *VHS- ''Looney Tunes Collectors Edition: A Looney Life'' *Laserdisc- ''Bugs! And Elmer!'' *Laserdisc- ''Golden Age of Looney Tunes Vol. 1'' *DVD- ''Looney Tunes Golden Collection Vol. 2'' *Blu-ray- ''Looney Tunes Platinum Collection Vol. 2'' *Streaming-

HBO Max HBO Max is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. Launched in the United States on May 27, 2020, the service is built around the libraries of HBO, Warner Bros., Cartoon Netw ...

References

External links

* 1947 films 1947 short films 1947 animated films 1940s Warner Bros. animated short films Looney Tunes shorts American track and field films Short films directed by Friz Freleng Films based on the Tortoise and the Hare Films scored by Carl Stalling Bugs Bunny films Films set on beaches Films with screenplays by Michael Maltese {{LooneyTunes-stub