Mad as a Mars Hare

Last updated
Mad as a Mars Hare
Looney Tunes 'Mad as a Mars Hare' - screenshot.jpg
Marvin the Martian threatens to project Bugs Bunny forward into time using his Time-Space Gun
Directed by Chuck Jones
Maurice Noble
Story by John Dunn
Produced by David H. DePatie
Starring Mel Blanc
Music by Bill Lava
Animation by Ken Harris
Richard Thompson
Bob Bransford
Tom Ray
Harry Love
Layouts by Maurice Noble
Backgrounds by Bob Singer
Color process Technicolor
Production
company
Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures
The Vitaphone Corporation
Release date
October 19, 1963
Running time
7 minutes
LanguageEnglish

Mad as a Mars Hare is a 1963 Warner Bros. Merrie Melodies cartoon directed by Chuck Jones and Maurice Noble. [1] The short was released on October 19, 1963, and stars Bugs Bunny and Marvin the Martian. [2] The cartoon's title is a play-on-words of the famous phrase to be "mad as a March hare". This is Marvin's final appearance in the Looney Tunes shorts during the Golden Age of American Animation.

Contents

Plot

Marvin the Martian observes Earth from Mars through a telescope, witnessing a rocket launch. To his dismay, the rocket careens into his observatory, leaving Marvin shaken but resilient. Subsequently, a lone Bugs Bunny emerges from the rocket, having been unwittingly sent to Mars as an expendable "astro-rabbit." Bugs, upon landing, symbolically claims Mars for Earth with a flag-bearing metal carrot, provoking Marvin's vehement objection to relinquishing his planet.

Marvin's initial attempt to eliminate Bugs with a disintegrating pistol backfires, resulting in his own disintegration and subsequent reintegration. Undeterred, Marvin employs a Time-Space Gun to project Bugs into the future as a subservient laborer. However, a misfire transforms Bugs into a formidable Neanderthal rabbit, who effortlessly overpowers Marvin. Defeated once again, Marvin retreats for regeneration, lamenting his perpetual struggle.

Bugs, unfazed by the ordeal, addresses the audience, musing about surprising Earth's hunters upon his return, before nonchalantly consuming the metal carrot.

Crew

Home media

Mad as a Mars Hare is available on the Bugs Bunny: Hare Extraordinare DVD. However, it was cropped to widescreen. The full-screen version is available on the Looney Tunes Platinum Collection: Volume 1 Blu-ray box set and its DVD edition.

Related Research Articles

<i>Looney Tunes</i> Warner Bros. animated short film series and media franchise

Looney Tunes is an American animated franchise produced and distributed by Warner Bros. It began as a series of short films that originally ran from 1930 to 1969, concurrently with its partner series Merrie Melodies, during the golden age of American animation. Following a revival in the late 1970s, new shorts were released as recently as 2014. The two series introduced a large cast of characters, including Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and Porky Pig. The term Looney Tunes has since been expanded to also refer to the characters themselves.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marvin the Martian</span> Warner Bros. theatrical cartoon character

Marvin the Martian is an alien race character from the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series. He frequently appears as a villain in cartoons and video games, and wears a Roman soldier's helmet and skirt. The character has been voiced by Mel Blanc, Joe Alaskey, Bob Bergen and Eric Bauza, among others.

Gossamer (<i>Looney Tunes</i>) Warner Bros. theatrical cartoon character

Gossamer is an animated character in the Warner Bros. Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series of cartoons. He is a large, hairy, orange or red monster. His body is perched on two giant tennis shoes, and his heart-shaped face is composed of only two oval eyes and a wide mouth, with two hulking arms ending in dirty, clawed fingers. The monster's main trait is his uncombed, orange hair. He originally was voiced by Mel Blanc and has been voiced by Frank Welker, Maurice LaMarche, Joe Alaskey, Jim Cummings, Kwesi Boakye, Eric Bauza and currently Fred Tatasciore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cecil Turtle</span> Warner Bros. theatrical cartoon character

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 who were able to outsmart Bugs Bunny, and the only one to do so three times in a row and at the rabbit's own game. Cecil often gives Bugs the taunting nickname of "Speedy" when addressing the rabbit.

<i>Duck Dodgers in the 24½th Century</i> 1953 film by Chuck Jones

Duck Dodgers in the 24+1/2th Century is a 1953 Warner Bros. Merrie Melodies cartoon directed by Chuck Jones. The cartoon was released on July 25, 1953, and stars Daffy Duck as space hero Duck Dodgers, Porky Pig as his assistant, and Marvin the Martian as his opponent. This cartoon marked the first of many appearances of the Duck Dodgers character.

<i>A Wild Hare</i> 1940 Bugs Bunny cartoon directed by Tex Avery

A Wild Hare is a 1940 American animated comedy short film directed by Tex Avery, produced by Leon Schlesinger, and distributed by Warner Bros. as part of the Merrie Melodies series. The film was released on July 27, 1940, and features Elmer Fudd and Bugs Bunny, the latter making what is considered his first official appearance.

<i>Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 1</i> 2003 American DVD box set

Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 1 is a DVD box set that was released by Warner Home Video on October 28, 2003. The first release of the Looney Tunes Golden Collection DVD series, it contains 56 Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons and numerous supplements. The set won the Classic Award at the Parents' Choice Awards.

<i>The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Movie</i> 1979 animated feature film directed by Chuck Jones

The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Movie is a 1979 American animated comedy package film directed by Chuck Jones, consisting of a compilation of classic Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies shorts and newly animated bridging sequences hosted by Bugs Bunny. The bridging sequences, which had been produced in 1978, show Bugs at his home, which is cantilevered over a carrot-juice waterfall. The film was released to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Bugs Bunny.

<i>Haredevil Hare</i> 1948 animated short film directed by Chuck Jones

Haredevil Hare is a 1948 Looney Tunes cartoon directed by Chuck Jones. It stars Bugs Bunny and it is the debut for Marvin the Martian — although he is unnamed in this film—along with his Martian dog, K-9. Marvin's nasal voice for this first film is different from the later one he is most known for. This is also the last pre-August 1948 Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoon whose copyright was sold to Associated Artists Productions.

<i>Hare Ribbin</i> 1944 animated short film by Robert Clampett

Hare Ribbin' is a 1944 animated short film in the Merrie Melodies series, directed by Robert Clampett and featuring Bugs Bunny. The plot features Bugs' conflict with a red-haired hound dog, whom the rabbit sets out to evade and make a fool of using one-liners, reverse psychology, disguises and other tricks. It was released in theaters by Warner Bros. on June 24, 1944. The title is a pun on "hair ribbon".

<i>The Hasty Hare</i> 1952 film by Chuck Jones

The Hasty Hare is a 1952 Warner Bros. Looney Tunes cartoon directed by Chuck Jones. The short was released on June 7, 1952, and features Bugs Bunny and Marvin the Martian. The title is a pun on the film title The Hasty Heart.

Hare-Way to the Stars is a 1958 American animated science fiction comedy short film directed by Chuck Jones and written by Michael Maltese. The short was released by Warner Bros. Pictures on March 29, 1958 as part of the Looney Tunes series, and stars Bugs Bunny and Marvin the Martian. The title is a play on the song "Stairway to the Stars."

<i>Spaced Out Bunny</i> 1980 film

Spaced Out Bunny is a Warner Bros. cartoon starring Bugs Bunny and Marvin the Martian. The cartoon was part of the television special Bugs Bunny's Bustin' Out All Over on CBS, which aired May 21, 1980.

<i>Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 3</i> 2005 DVD compilation of Looney Tunes animated short films

Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 3 is a DVD box set from Warner Home Video that was released on October 25, 2005. It contains 60 Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies theatrical short subject cartoons, nine documentaries, 32 commentary tracks from animators and historians, 11 "vintage treasures from the vault", and 11 music-only or music-and-sound-effects audio tracks.

<i>Looney Tunes Platinum Collection: Volume 1</i> 2011 American cartoon anthology

Looney Tunes Platinum Collection: Volume 1 is a Blu-ray Disc and DVD box set by Warner Home Video. It was released on November 15, 2011. It contains 50 Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons and numerous supplements. A DVD version of the box set was released on July 3, 2012, but contained no extras.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hugo the Abominable Snowman</span> Warner Bros. theatrical cartoon character

Hugo the Abominable Snowman is a character in the Looney Tunes franchise.

Bugs Bunny in Space is a Looney Tunes television special that originally aired on CBS September 6, 1977. Assembled to capitalize on the enormous success of the original Star Wars film in summer 1977, the special is a compilation of clips from science fiction themed Warner Bros. Cartoons, including Duck Dodgers in the 24½th Century.

<i>Chuck Jones: Extremes & Inbetweens – A Life in Animation</i> American TV series or program

Chuck Jones: Extremes & Inbetweens – A Life in Animation is a 2000 American television documentary film directed by Margaret Selby. The film chronicles the career of legendary Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies director, Chuck Jones. The film features interviews with Jones himself, as well as animators Matt Groening, Eric Goldberg, and John Lasseter, critics Roger Ebert and Leonard Maltin, film directors Steven Spielberg, Ron Howard, and Joe Dante, and comedians Whoopi Goldberg, Lorne Michaels, Robin Williams, and June Foray, as well as others. The film was originally broadcast as part of the Great Performances series on November 22, 2000, on PBS, and later released to VHS and DVD by Warner Home Video on October 22, 2002.

<i>Bugs Bunny 80th Anniversary Collection</i> 2020 American film

Looney Tunes: Bugs Bunny 80th Anniversary Collection is a Blu-ray Disc box-set released by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment on December 1, 2020. It contains 60 Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies shorts starring Bugs Bunny and numerous bonus features and supplementary content. The set's packaging includes a slip book, a booklet, and a collectible Bugs Bunny Funko! POP doll.

References

  1. Beck, Jerry; Friedwald, Will (1989). Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies: A Complete Illustrated Guide to the Warner Bros. Cartoons. Henry Holt and Co. p. 344. ISBN   0-8050-0894-2.
  2. Lenburg, Jeff (1999). The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons. Checkmark Books. pp. 60–62. ISBN   0-8160-3831-7 . Retrieved 6 June 2020.
Preceded by Bugs Bunny Cartoons
1963
Succeeded by