Development of Bugs Bunny Development of Bugs Bunny A prototypical version of Bugs Bunny appeared in four cartoon shorts before making his first official appearance in Tex Avery's "A Wild Hare". While this prototype version is commonly referred to as "Happy Rabbit", animation historian David Gerstein disputes this, saying that the only usage of the term was from Mel Blanc himself; the name "Bugs Bunny" was used as early as August 1939, in the Motion Picture Herald, in a review for the short "Hare-um Scare-um". Several published first person accounts, encyclopedic references, and Warner Bros.' own published material describe the inception of the name
Bugs Bunny Rides Again and the "William Tell Overture" were already associated with the Old West, cowboys, and cattle, and were familiar to audiences. "Der Erlkönig", the "Inflamatus", and the "Sonata Pathétique" fit the function of generic dramatic or agitated music used in genre films. In contrast, the titular tune of "Bugs Bunny Rides Again" is styled after the music of vaudeville shows.* Bugs Bunny Rides Again Bugs Bunny Rides Again is a 1948 Warner Bros. "Merrie Melodies" short, released in 1948, directed by Friz Freleng, and written by Tedd Pierce and Michael Maltese. The short is both part of the Western and a