Watch BUGS BUNNY Looney Tunes Cartoons 1942-1943 Golden-Era Collection

In the 1940s, the Looney Tunes franchise had established itself as a powerhouse in the world of animated entertainment, thanks in no small part to the incorrigible Bugs Bunny. This Golden-Era Collection from 2016 brings together some of Bugs' seminal appearances from 1942-1943, voiced by the inimitable Mel Blanc. The collection is a trip back in time to the early days of animation, where hand-drawn illustrations and zany sound effects ruled the roost. Despite the relatively primitive technology of the era, the animators managed to imbue Bugs and his fellow Looney Tunes characters with an incredible amount of personality and charm.

The opening credits offer a glimpse into the sensibility of the time – a boisterous orchestral score accompanies a parade of cartoon characters, each of whom seems intent on overshadowing the others. And then, finally, Bugs himself makes his appearance. He nonchalantly chomps on a carrot, smirks at the camera, and we know we're in for a wild ride.

The first cartoon in the collection is "Case of the Missing Hare", which sees Bugs accidentally hopping into the lab of a mad scientist who wants to extract his brain. Bugs, of course, has other plans. He outwits the scientist at every turn, with his trademark wit and ability to break the fourth wall.

Next up is "The Wabbit Who Came To Supper", in which Bugs invades Elmer Fudd's home and kitchen with hilarious results. There's a moment where Bugs disguises himself as a wallpaper pattern that is particularly memorable, and the scene where he outsmarts Elmer using a meat grinder will have viewers in stitches.

"The Wacky Wabbit" is another highlight of the collection, with Bugs taking on a hapless hunter named J. Evil Scientist. The two engage in a series of increasingly absurd battles, with Bugs always managing to stay one step ahead.

Throughout the collection, Bugs shows off his impressive range of skills, from playing a game of tennis in "The Heckling Hare" to playing the piano in "The Hep Cat". There's even a cartoon called "Bugs Bunny Gets the Boid", in which Bugs and a hapless penguin team up to outwit a pair of dim-witted buzzards.

One of the things that make the Looney Tunes cartoons so enduring is the way they mix slapstick with clever wordplay. In "A Corny Concerto", Bugs introduces a group of singing birds by saying, "and now, we present the greatest singer of them all – none other than Me, Myself, and I!" The line is typical of Bugs' irreverent humor and is just one of many examples of the wordplay that peppers the collection.

But perhaps the most remarkable thing about the collection is the innovation on display. In an era where animation was still a relatively new art form, the creators of Looney Tunes were constantly pushing the envelope. In "The Ducktators", they tackled the issue of World War II head-on, with ducks representing the Allied and Axis powers engaging in a devastating battle.

Another remarkable cartoon is "Super Rabbit", which sees Bugs ingesting a super-carrot that gives him a range of unbelievable powers, including the ability to fly and shoot lasers out of his eyes. The special effects in this cartoon are miles ahead of anything else that was being done at the time, and it really feels like a lost classic.

All in all, the BUGS BUNNY Looney Tunes Cartoons 1942-1943 Golden-Era Collection from 2016 is a must-see for fans of classic animation. The humor is timeless, and the creativity and innovation on display are truly impressive. It's no wonder that Bugs Bunny and his fellow Looney Tunes characters have endured for so many years – with material like this, they'll always have a place in our hearts.