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Bugs Bunny
As the leader of the pack, Bugs was always first to entertain and first to get into trouble. Clearly the smartest of the bunch, he was a natural leader (particularly good in the Space Jam movie) and more often than not, used his quick thinking and confidence to get out of a mess rather than using brawn. Not sure why, but he had a Bronx accent, particularly obvious when he said his catch phrase, “Eh, what’s up Doc?”
According to Wikipedia, Bugs actually has his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame! Not surprising really considering he’s been in more films than any other cartoon character, including Mickey Mouse.
“Some people call me cocky and brash, but actually I am just self-assured. I’m nonchalant, imperturbable, contemplative. I play it cool, but I can get hot under the collar. And above all I’m a very ‘aware’ character. I’m well aware that I am appearing in an animated cartoon….And sometimes I chomp on my carrot for the same reason that a stand-up comic chomps on his cigar. It saves me from rushing from the last joke to the next one too fast. And I sometimes don’t act, I react. And I always treat the contest with my pursuers as ‘fun and games.’ When momentarily I appear to be cornered or in dire danger and I scream, don’t be consoined – it’s actually a big put-on. Let’s face it, Doc. I’ve read the script and I already know how it turns out.”
—Bob Clampett on Bugs Bunny, written in first person
Daffy Duck
Daffy Duck was essentially Bugs’ competition. His character was created second in the bunch, behind Porky Pig and just before the infamous Bugs and he’s been the third most frequent character in the cartoons.
Speaking in a lisp, Daffy is as confident as Bugs but falls short in the likeability and intelligence arena. Although quite popular for some time, his popularity never really reaches the crescendo that Bugs’ reaches and he seems to know this, remaining competitive and jealous of Bugs, despite them being best friends in later cartoons.
When Daffy made his debut in a movie released in 1937, director Bob Clampett stated: “At that time, audiences weren’t accustomed to seeing a cartoon character do these things [be so unrestrained]. And so, when it hit the theatres it was an explosion. People would leave the theatres talking about this daffy duck.”
Tweety
Contrary to popular belief, Tweety is a male yellow canary. He has a very sweet, high pitched voice. Cute and baby-looking, he’s not always as innocent as he seems. His catch phrase is “I tawt I taw a puddy tat…I did, I did tee a puddy tat!”
Sylvester Cat
Sylvester is a Tuxedo cat who chases Tweety Bird in order to eat it.
He appeared in 103 cartoons during the heyday of MGM studios, three of which won Academy Awards, the most for any Looney Tunes character.
Sylvester’s trademark is a lisp because of which he sometimes spits on people. Sylvester’s trademark exclamation is “Sufferin’ succotash!”
He has “died” the most of any Looney Tunes characters.
Roadrunner
Roadrunner is known for making the most recognisable sound in cartoon history: Beep Beep!
He never says anything else and never really stops running from Coyote. He’s got good luck and strong legs.
Wile E. Coyote
Coyote has only spoken a hand full of times but his expressions say it all. In every episode he devises a clever plan, with the help of ACME products, to capture the speeding Roadrunner but usually ends up injured and/or falling down a canyon. Creators based the Coyote on Mark Twain’s book, Roughing It, in which Twain described the coyote as “a long, slim, sick and sorry-looking skeleton” that is “a living, breathing allegory of Want. He is always hungry.”
Coyote has actually caught the Roadrunner once, but because he was in shrunken form the Roadrunner towered over him and he couldn’t eat it. He then holds up signs saying: “Okay, wise guys, you always wanted me to catch him, now what do I do?”
Porky Pig
Porky was the first character created by Warner Bros. to draw in audiences based on his personality . He is known for his stutter and signature line at the end of each episode, “Th-th-th-that’s all folks!“
Porky has always been a loyal sidekick to Bugs Bunny. Being good-natured and shy, he is often pushed to the side-lines but, being the oldest Looney Tunes character, he is sometimes the wisest.
Elmer Fudd
Elmer’s signature catchphrase is, “Shhh. Be vewy vewy quiet, I’m hunting wabbits” and that’s what he does in nearly every episode he’s in.
He’s one of only two human characters in Looney Tunes, the other being Yosemite Sam.
Foghorn Leghorn
One of my all-time favourite characters, Foghorn was neither smart nor wise but he was confident in thinking that he was.
His Southern drawl perfectly encapsulated his catch phrases: “Aaaaaahhhhh, shuuutupp!!“ and”That’s a joke, ah say, that’s a joke, son.“
Yosemite Sam
Short and deadly, the first time I saw a cartoon holding guns was in the hands of Yosemite.
Officially a cowboy, he is highly aggressive, especially towards Bugs. One of his catch phrases is, “I’m the roughest, toughest, root’nest, toot’nest, fastest gun-slinger west of the Pecos!”
Pepé Le Pew
A smelly French skunk with the heart of a true Romeo, Pepe hungered after Penelope Pussycat, who always looked like a skunk as, for some reason or another, she had white paint down her back.
Despite his determination and wooing, he never was successful in getting the girl.
Tasmanian Devil
Violent and sputtering in an incomprehensible language, Taz essentially liked to destroy the landscape by spinning like a vortex and eating everything in sight.
He is the youngest of the Looney Toons characters.
T.J. Bugs - 80s and 90s Cartoons 