Acrobatty Bunny

Acrobatty Bunny is a Warner Bros. cartoon released in 1946 as part of the Looney Tunes series, directed by Robert McKimson (his second), and starring Bugs Bunny and Nero the Lion.

An acrobat is a person skilled at high-wire or other high-in-the-air exploits, while "batty" is a slang term for "crazy" (as is "Bugs").

Plot synopsis

A circus is being set up just above Bugs' rabbit hole, causing much noise and vibration. The Lion cage is set up directly above the hole, and the Lion takes deep sniffs (alternatively yanking Bugs towards the hole or throwing him back) to determine that the animal below is Bugs. When the Lion (whom Bugs eventually refers to as "Nero") roars again, Bugs comes to the surface to see what's going on, riding an elevator that makes twists and turns. Bugs tries to reason with the lion ("I'm the tenant downstairs, and there's entirely too much noise!"), but soon makes a hasty escape when Nero takes a swipe at him.

Nero manages to get out of his cage, and chases Bugs around the circus grounds. Bugs at one point ducks into a dressing room, coming out as a clown trying to convince Nero to laugh ("COME ON, LAUGH!"), which he eventually does - until Bugs takes some whacks at the lion with a wooden board. The lion then chases Bugs into the big top, where they swing around acrobat swings. Eventually, Bugs tricks Nero into a cannon and sets the cannon off, causing Nero to do a hula in his 'skirt' (complete with a lei from Bugs) while Bugs plays the ukelele to close the cartoon.

Notes

• This cartoon was the first Looney Tune to end with "That's all, Folks!" written out with the Looney Tunes theme music. The previous Looney Tune, Kitty Kornered, had the aforementioned ending, but oddly used the Merrie Melodies ending music.

Availability

This cartoon can be found on Volume 3 of the Looney Tunes Golden Collection.

Preceded by Hair-Raising Hare

Bugs Bunny Cartoons 1946

Succeeded by Racketeer Rabbit