The Abominable Snow Rabbit is a six-minute 1961 Warner Bros. Looney Tunes theatrical cartoon starring Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck. The cartoon was directed by Chuck Jones and co-directed by Maurice Noble, with a story by Tedd Pierce. The cartoon's title is taken from the phrase and horror film The Abominable Snowman. It was the final original Chuck Jones theatrical cartoon with Daffy Duck.
Plot
I will name him George -
Bugs tunnels through the Himalayan mountains, followed by Daffy. After a failed attempt by Daffy to go swimming in a frozen pond, the two realize that they are not at their intended destination, Palm Springs.
Daffy, whilst underground, crashes into said creature's foot. The Abominable Snowman (whose name is Hugo, but that is not revealed in this short), grabs Daffy, names him George (a reference to Of Mice and Men, casting Hugo as Lennie Small to Daffy's George Milton), and gives him crippling hugs, believing Daffy is a rabbit, when actually Daffy just tied his swimming shirt round his head for warmth, with the sleeves on top. Daffy reveals this by angrily yelling his head off, and Hugo proceeds to spank Daffy for his 'deception'. However, Daffy imparts to him where he can find a real rabbit i.e. Bugs. As Bugs starts experiencing Hugo's overbearing love, Daffy sneaks away. Hugo sits on Bugs, who sneaks out under the snow, carrying Daffy toward Hugo.
As Hugo doubts that Daffy is or is not a rabbit, Daffy asks what a rabbit really looks like. Hugo responds that rabbits have long ears, making Bugs tie down his own ears and stick two of his fingers behind Daffy's head as rabbit ears. After Hugo painfully hugs the duck again but realizes that he has a bill and feathers, Daffy points out the tunneling Bugs to Hugo, who chases him underground. Eager to see the incident's conclusion, Daffy follows.
Later, in Palm Springs, a profusely sweating Hugo, and a disguised Bugs, discuss Hugo's failure to catch Bugs. Hugo believes that he will not be able to see the rabbit again, but Bugs encourages him that "if he loves you, he will come back." When Daffy emerges from the hole, Bugs puts fake rabbit ears on him, causing Hugo to recognize him as a rabbit again. While Daffy is cuddled for the last time, Hugo literally melts due to the intense heat of the environment. Bugs comments, "He really was a snowman!" and Daffy, soaked in water, replies, "Abominable, that is."
Cast
• Mel Blanc as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and Hugo The Abominable Snowman
Home video releases
The Abominable Snow Rabbit is included on the DVD collection Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 5 as well as the VHS collections Looney Tunes After Dark, Bugs Bunny: Big Top Bunny and To Grandmother's House We Go. Most of the footage was also used in the compilation movie, Daffy Duck's Quackbusters except for one part when Bugs and Daffy traveled to the Himalayas.
See also
- List of American films of 1961
- List of Bugs Bunny cartoons
- List of Daffy Duck cartoons
References
External links
- The Abominable Snow Rabbit on IMDb
