Elmer's Pet Rabbit

Elmer's Pet Rabbit is a 1941 Merrie Melodies cartoon starring Elmer Fudd and, ostensibly, Bugs Bunny. The short was released on January 4, 1941. It is the first cartoon in which the name Bugs Bunny is given (on a title card, edited onto the end of the opening title following the success of A Wild Hare), but the rabbit is also somewhat the same as the one seen and heard in Elmer's Candid Camera and other pre-Bugs shorts. It was directed by Chuck Jones, written by Rich Hogan, and animated by Rudy Larriva. Voices are provided by uncredited Mel Blanc and the music was directed by Carl Stalling. It was produced by Leon Schlesinger and the sound effects were by Treg Brown, who was uncredited.

Plot
Elmer buys Bugs Bunny in a pet shop (for 98¢). When they get home, Elmer builds an enclosure for Bugs, and then serves him dinner (a bowl of vegetables) which Bugs acts awfully towards. Then Bugs is seen grumbling in the night and he eventually takes Elmer's bed as his own. Throughout the short, Bugs irritates Elmer in various ways - from dancing to attempts getting in the shower, etc. - which culminates when Elmer severely attacks Bugs (in a dark room with humorous fireworks exploding) and sending him out of the house. Only does Bugs manage to get inside and reclaim Elmer's bed.

Evolution of Bugs Bunny
Bugs Bunny's voice is pitched noticeably lower than in later incarnations of the character. His character is also very different from the more familiar version of himself (and even the earlier prototype versions), having a much more aggressive, arrogant, almost thuggish personality. This short is the only one where Bugs has yellow gloves and no front teeth and claims to not eat carrots (yet he eats them and other vegetables while complaining).



The song
The music in the cartoon includes a variation on "While Strolling Through the Park One Day," arranged by Carl Stalling, performed by Elmer and the rabbit. Elmer, of course, has trouble with many of the words, due to his "rounded L and R" speech impediment.