Bugs Bunny bouncy & bright at 80
You grew up with Bugs Bunny, among other Looney Tunes characters, didn’t you? Those cuddly creatures have been giving you and me comfy company, especially when we’re feeling low, don’t they? That piece of carrot and those big front teeth tickle your funny bone all the time, don’t they?
As a nod to Bugs Bunny’s 80th anniversary, Funfare is giving space to an exclusive Q&A with Pete Browngardt (Looney Tunes executive producer/showrunner) and Eric Bauza (the voice behind Bugs Bunny as well as Daffy Duck, Tweety and Marvin the Martian).
How do you characterize Bugs Bunny at 80?
Pete Browngardt: Our version of Bugs is a bit like the ‘40s version of Bugs. His character is so relatable and rich. We all see a little bit of ourselves in Bugs; he has all these great traits that we aspire to have. He is the funniest, wittiest person in the room, stands up for the little guy, fights against bullies, is a traveler, a prankster, can play many roles and parts — be a barber, a bullfighter. He is an iconic character, won an Oscar, has a star on the Walk of Fame. I think the consistency of his character overall is what brings us here talking about him after 80 years.
Why did you decide to focus on his ‘40s persona and look in your version?
PB: Bugs Bunny was more complex in the ‘40s than he became in later years. In the cartoons of the ‘40s, he had flaws, like when he raced with Cecil Turtle and could not beat him. Bugs could fail at times, get angry and be more emotional. In the later years, we got used to Bugs Bunny being the perfect, flawless character. Bugs Bunny in the ‘40s had a dynamic range of emotions. His design was also more energetic, he was not standing upright all the time. We loved that and wanted to honor it.
Did you update the world of Bugs Bunny? Does he have a smartphone, does he use the Internet?
PB: There are a few gags where he has some modern things, but we did not make it mandatory to put modern technology into cartoons. We used it if it was convenient to help further the story and fit in organically. We are modern people and no matter what we do, even if it looks like the old design of Bugs Bunny, the modern sensibility will come through in the writing, editing, sound design, music.
Is it difficult to write stories about a character who is so beloved by generations around the world?
PB: It is very intimidating, but I love Looney Tunes and I know that the people I work with love them, too. I knew that if we come from a place of affection for it, we would do right by it. Being a true fan of it, you feel what is right and wrong. The classic shorts are special for a reason and we were trying to honor them, do our best to bring the characters to a new age and hopefully make people laugh.
Is there any global vision about Bugs’ evolution as a character that you have for the next years?
PB: No, the way we approach it is to stay true to his personality. It is about finding funny situations to put him in and then those situations write themselves. Bugs’ character is so defined that his personality can be seen in any situation.
What do you hope younger and older audiences get from Bugs after 80 years?
PB: The animation is for every age and it is wrong to write it thinking it is only for children. If you try to tell stories through animation, you should tell stories that all people can relate to. During this difficult time, I want people to turn on the Looney Tunes, either the older classics or the ones we are creating, and laugh; escape their daily routine.
Who is Doc and where did the phrase “What’s up, Doc?” come from?
PB: I think Doc is whoever Bugs is talking to at the time. It could be you, could be me, could be anybody. If Bugs comes up and talks to you, he is referring to you as Doc. The legend has it that Tex Avery, who was from Texas, had a friend in high school who used to say “What’s up, Doc?”. They even traced it back to his high school yearbook and found it in there. I think when Tex was making the first Bugs Bunny cartoon, A Wild Hare, he, not knowing how famous it would become, proposed that Bugs should come out of a hole
and approach Elmer from behind and just casually say “What’s up, Doc?” And that was it. It stuck, made people laugh and now it is a part of our culture.
How are you going to honor this big anniversary?
PB: Personally? I am going to have a huge carrots dinner: All carrots. Carrot appetizer, main course, dessert. On a serious note, I honor him every day. With the people making the Looney Tunes, we honor the characters by trying to make the cartoons as great as possible.
Have you always been a Bugs Bunny fan, and how big of a fan are you?
Eric Bauza: Oh Yes! I’ve been a Bugs Bunny fan ever since I was a little boy! Aside from watching the Looney Tunes, I would learn how to draw by copying the characters. I also have the world’s largest Bugs Bunny T-shirt collection.
What do you love most about this character?
EB: The thing I love most about Bugs, is that he always keeps his cool no matter what kind of situation he’s in. He always gets the last word, and his jokes are timeless.
Your fondest/most favorite episode and why?
EB: Every Saturday morning, my brother and I would watch The Bugs Bunny & Tweety Show. We would laugh at all of the original animated shorts, but our favorite one was called Hillbilly Hare directed by Bob McKimson.
Why do you think you were cast to voice Bugs Bunny; did you have any special training beforehand?
EB: Other than decades of cartoon watching, I would practice doing the voice, even as a child, long before I decided to become an actor. You could say I’ve been training all my life for this role. There are so many different factors that come into play when deciding on who books a part. One hundred percent of the time it is out of the actor’s hands when it comes down to the final decision. The most I can do is try my hardest to deliver the best performance of the character. I’ve loved each and every performance of Bugs since the original actor, Mel Blanc, passed away in 1989. Each individual actor has been able to bring their own flair to Bugs, at the same time remind us of what we loved about the character. If there’s one thing I want to leave behind, it’s how much energy went into the performance of Bugs Bunny.
Top 3 most favorite lines?
EB: “Eh, What’s Up Doc!?”...“Stop steaming up my tail, what are ya trying to do wrinkle it?” and “Oooooooo, I’m dyyyyyying!”
What do you think Bugs would say to his Looney Tunes squad in times of a pandemic?
EB: I think Bugs would say, “Ok gang... Remember to wash your hands for at least 20 seconds, wear a mask, practice social distancing, and if you’re like me, live in a hole in the ground! Ain’t I a stinker!”
(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos, visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on Instagram @therealrickylo.)
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