This year will bring us several debuts of memorable secondary characters, one of whom would eventually become one of the best-known Looney Tunes characters in the later decades. There's also a technological advance of sorts: as many theaters had started showing films in widescreen, the WB cartoon studio also started taking this into account. While the cartoons continued to be produced in full-screen for the rest of the run, they were now designed with both aspect ratios in mind, at least to some extent (this is especially obvious in the opening and closing titles).

Dog Pounded
Directed by I. Freleng
Sylvester is desperately trying to find food when he sees Tweety in a tree. The only problem is that there's a dog pound in the yard, forcing the cat to come up with various methods to catch the bird. The cartoon is very similar to "Ain't She Tweet" from two years earlier (which was one of my favorite Tweety cartoons), but the gags are funny enough to make up for the slight derivativeness. Some great shots with surprise appearances from the bulldogs, and speaking of surprises, there's a funny cameo here...
9

Captain Hareblower
Directed by I. Freleng
Everyone abandons ship when Pirate Sam attacks, except for Bugs Bunny. The rabbit proves more than a match for the pirate who repeatedly gets blasted by cannons. A good cartoon, but I can't help but find it highly derivative at times. Some of the gags are virtually the same as in "Buccaneer Bunny", though there are some nice new additions like a funny ending. With more new gags, this would have been even more enjoyable.
8.5

I Gopher You
Directed by I. Freleng
The Goofy Gophers plan to harvest, but their vegetables get taken away. The gophers follow the truck to a food processing plant and wackiness ensues when they try to get the vegetables back. Another cute short with the gopher duo (this time without a rival character), with some fun moments when they get caught up in the machines in the factory. Little creatures interacting with machines was already a source of humor in the series much earlier (like in "Dog Gone Modern" and its remake "House Hunting Mice"), but this is one of the best of its kind. The gophers with their polite personalities and nice dialogue contribute a lot to this.
9

Feline Frame-Up
Directed by Charles M. Jones
Claude Cat keeps tormenting fellow pet cat Pussyfoot, but when Marc Anthony defends his little friend, the owner just blames the bulldog for bullying Claude. Claude then frames Marc Anthony for trying to harm Pussyfoot, getting him thrown out. The bulldog tries to get justice, but the owner keeps catching him in the act. While not quite reaching the level of the first two Pussyfoot and Marc Anthony cartoons, this is another good one, but less sweet (with Pussyfoot in a much smaller role) and with more slapstick. Claude is extremely unlikable here, making it very satisfying to see Marc Anthony give him his just deserts. A fun entry!
9.5

Wild Wife
Directed by Robert McKimson
John comes home from work and is annoyed at his wife Marsha for not mowing the lawn – despite having all the time in the world, she still didn't find the time to get anything done. She then tells him about everything she did on the busy day. An unusual WB cartoon – not only is it a one-shot, but one featuring only human characters. It plays on the everyday life of a family and gender roles. While I can't say it's the funniest cartoon the studio made (despite some amusing scenes), it's definitely an interesting one in how different it is – and for the time, it comes off as a surprisingly feminist cartoon, too! Worth a watch!
8.5

No Barking
Directed by Charles M. Jones
Claude Cat is trying to look for food (especially birds) in the dump, but he soon runs into Frisky Puppy who scares him with his loud barking. This leads to a chase around the dump, with Claude repeatedly getting startled by the dog. There are some funny moments here (including another surprise cameo), but I have to say it again – I'm not a big fan of the Frisky Puppy cartoons, they're among Jones' weaker efforts of the time. This type of cartoon (such as the Curious Puppies) was more appealing in the late 30s and early 40s, now it doesn't really hold a candle to the wilder, more anthropomorphic characters of the time. Frisky Puppy is cute apart from his loud barking, some of Claude's expressions are entertaining... but this kind of cartoon just doesn't do much for me.
7

Bugs and Thugs
Directed by I. Freleng
Bugs mistakes the car of bank robbers Rocky and Mugsy for a taxi cab and they take him hostage. Bugs comes up with a clever scheme to outwit the gangsters. Bugs has been always been very appealing for his trickster personality, and this short takes full advantage of it! While Bugs had faced gangsters before (in "Racketeer Rabbit"), this cartoon is the first to pit him against the final version of Rocky (who had previously appeared with Daffy and Sylvester and Tweety) and his dumb sidekick Mugsy who makes his debut here. Clever gags, amazing characterizations, brilliant lines – Bugs in his prime!
10

The Cats Bah
Directed by Charles M. Jones
Pepé Le Pew tells the story of how he found love in the Casbah. Penelope is the pet cat of an American tourist. Some white paint falls on her, leading to the skunk setting his sights on her. Another good Pepé cartoon, largely with the same formula as the previous ones, but with some appealing fourth wall breaking as part of the narrative. This is also the first short to name Penelope.
8.5

Design for Leaving
Directed by Robert McKimson
Daffy is a salesman, installing a new push-button home for Elmer while he's at work. However, the way the devices work doesn't really impress Elmer... While this doesn't quite reach the level of some previous salesman Daffy cartoons like "Daffy Dilly" and "Fool Coverage", it's an entertaining one, with the unexpected ways the devices (mal)function. Daffy is very fun with his sales pitches, but Elmer's portrayal isn't one of his absolute best – I feel his reactions to Daffy's antics could have been more over the top and funnier.
8.5

Bell Hoppy
Directed by Robert McKimson
Sylvester tries to join the Loyal Order of Alley Cats, but he keeps getting rejected. But once the leader fails to beat a giant mouse (Hippety Hopper, of course), he tries to find someone to bell the mouse, but since no one else agrees to do it, Sylvester is invited to do it as his initiation to join the brotherhood. His attempts keep resulting in failure and getting beaten by the other cats... A new variation on the Hippety Hopper cartoons, and a very funny one at that! The cats' antics are entertaining to watch, especially Sylvester's attempts to avoid getting beaten – the kangaroo is overshadowed by the rest of the cast here. McKimson was doing well to keep the series from becoming too formulaic.
9.5

No Parking Hare
Directed by Robert McKimson
A freeway is being built, and Bugs' rabbit hole is in the way. When he refuses to move out of his home, a construction worker tries to destroy it, but the rabbit keeps outwitting him. The second time Bugs has met an unpleasant construction worker, the first one having been "Homeless Hare", and like that one, it's a brilliant cartoon! Bugs is witty, there are various funny gags with the man failing to destroy Bugs' home (with some amusing reactions from him), lively animation...
10

Dr. Jerkyl's Hide
Directed by I. Freleng
Two dogs, Alfie and Chester, go beat up cats and come across Sylvester again. The cat hides in Dr. Jerkyl's laboratory and drinks a potion that keeps turning him into a monster. Whenever Alfie faces the cat, the monstrous cat beats him badly, while Chester only keeps seeing the normal cat. This pretty much reuses the plot of "Tree for Two", to the extent of featuring the same dog characters (except they now have Cockney accents, and Spike has been renamed Alfie). The accents add new personality and appeal to the characters, and there's also an addition to the plot near the end... However, I don't think this otherwise quite reaches the level of its predecessor (mostly because the concept doesn't have the same novelty), but it's still a very entertaining cartoon. The Jekyll and Hyde theme has been used in the WB cartoons many times, and this wouldn't be the last time even for Sylvester...
9

Claws for Alarm
Directed by Charles M. Jones
Porky decides to spend the night in Hotel Dry Gulch despite his pet cat Sylvester's worries. The cat prevents mice from harming his owner multiple times, but the unaware pig just thinks his pet has gone mad. A sequel to 1948's "Scaredy Cat" – while the horror elements in that one were stronger, I think this is the funnier short with Porky's great lines and a hilarious last scene! While the suspenseful atmosphere of the Porky and Sylvester shorts was rare for the WB cartoons, they seem to have been somewhat popular, as one more would be released the following year.
10

Little Boy Boo
Directed by Robert McKimson
The cold winter is coming, and Foghorn Leghorn needs a warm place to stay in. He decides to propose to widow hen Prissy in order to stay with her. She wants to know if Foghorn is a good father to her son before marrying him. He goes to play games with the kid, but the boy's mathematic genius proves to be at odds with Foghorn's methods. The first appearance of Prissy's son, later known as Egghead Jr. The way the boy genius plays Foghorn's games (solving everything with equations) and reacts to the things he says is hilarious – unlike Foghorn's previous foils, he doesn't even try to do anything against the rooster, but things just end up going badly for Foghorn, mostly due to his own foolishness (contrasting well with Egghead Jr.'s intelligence). Very simple but also very funny! The smart kid would return for a couple more appearances in later Foghorn cartoons.
10

Devil May Hare
Directed by Robert McKimson
All the animals are running away from the Tasmanian Devil who eats pretty much any species there is. He meets Bugs Bunny, who tries to outwit him by pretending to help him hunt various animals. The first appearance of the Tasmanian Devil, or Taz, as he's often called. Similarly to Marvin the Martian, he would only make a few appearances in the classic era, but has since become one of the most popular characters in the series with his appearances in later series and merchandise. Based on his debut, it's easy to understand why Taz became such a beloved character. Besides his unique design, the character is an entertaining one – while he mostly communicates with grunts and growls, what little dialogue he has is hilarious. Bugs' attempts to defeat him are likewise great, and he also gets some nice lines in. A worthy debut for a significant secondary character!
10

Muzzle Tough
Directed by I. Freleng
Granny is moving into a new home, and Sylvester notices Tweety among the things being moved. He comes up with various schemes to sneak in and catch the bird, with Granny's bulldog proving an obstacle. Some funny and violent gags here, with strong portrayals of all characters. An above average entry in the series... and that title pun is a winner, too!
9.5

The Oily American
Directed by Robert McKimson
Moe Hican is a rich Mohican, living in a mansion. His riches allow him to do everything while at home, including hunting in a special forest room. Today he's hunting a moose, but it proves hopeless, with his servant Jarvis constantly getting hurt. The idea of a rich character doing everything inside his mansion is a fun one, maybe it could have been utilized for even more gags. The characters in this one-shot are decently entertaining despite being a bit one-note – there's obviously some stereotypical content here, but not as bad as in some earlier shorts. The little moose is my favorite with his cleverness, constantly outwitting the hunter. Not bad, but not a real standout either.
8

Bewitched Bunny
Directed by Charles M. Jones
Bugs is reading the story of Hansel and Gretel (Hansel? Hansel?) when he sees the witch inviting the two kids into her house. He saves them from a terrible fate, but the witch now decides to have rabbit stew for supper instead! The first appearance of Witch Hazel, as she would be named later. The cartoon is a very entertaining one, with memorable gags, entertainingly portrayed characters (especially the witch, voiced brilliantly by Bea Benaderet) and some great quotes from the characters. An excellent take on a fairytale that surprisingly hadn't got a Looney Tunes parody until now!
10

Satan's Waitin'
Directed by I. Freleng
While chasing Tweety once again, Sylvester falls off a roof and dies. Having been a bad pussycat, he ends up in Hell. Thankfully, cats have nine lives, but chasing birds can be dangerous... This is a strong candidate for my favorite cartoon in the entire Sylvester and Tweety series. The theme is something very different from the usual cartoon in the series, and the cartoon manages to be both disturbing and funny at different times. The characters are great: The devil (a bulldog) is fittingly creepy and plays a big part in the plot (tempting Sylvester to chase Tweety again and again). Tweety has some cute moments, but Sylvester is definitely the big star here – Mel Blanc gives him a brilliant vocal performance (as he does for the other characters), he's likable despite being the villain, and while gruesome, his deaths are also quite comedic. One of Freleng's greatest masterpieces.
10

Stop! Look! And Hasten!
Directed by Charles M. Jones
Wile E. Coyote (Eatibus Anythingus) chases the Road Runner (Hot-roddicus Supersonicus). Besides the usual boulders and dynamite, his plans include a Burmese tiger trap and leg muscle vitamins. One of the strongest cartoons in the Road Runner series – there's some very expressive animation for the coyote, some of the gags are quite surprising, and the opening humorously emphasizes the coyote's hunger. Jones even includes a nice variant of the end titles, as he would do a few times in the Road Runner cartoons.
10

Yankee Doodle Bugs
Directed by I. Freleng
Bugs' nephew Clyde is having a test on American history today, but he is struggling to memorize the names and dates. His uncle helps him by telling him how it all (supposedly) happened and the role rabbits played in the events. A funny and random take on history, with various entertaining puns and visual gags. Clyde Bunny's second appearance resembles his first in that his uncle Bugs is again telling him a story of questionable validity, but this is easily better than "His Hare Raising Tale" was – better gags, no recycled footage, and even Clyde's slightly refined design is better. This was the last we saw of him in the classic era, but a good farewell, even if it's mostly down to Bugs.
9

Gone Batty
Directed by Robert McKimson
In the baseball game between the Greenville Goons and the Sweetwater Shnooks, the Goons dominate and eventually the Shnooks' pitchers are all injured. Their mascot Bobo the elephant takes over, showing quite a lot of skill at the game. Freleng's classic "Baseball Bugs" immediately comes to mind – some of the gags here are essentially the same, though that short admittedly also recycled gags from earlier baseball cartoons. It doesn't quite reach the level of that short, but it's certainly a nice one in any case. Bobo had debuted in 1947's "Hobo Bobo", and seeing him brought back so many years later is a surprising decision. But the cute elephant manages to add a lot of appeal to the cartoon, even if I preferred his debut. And hey, it looks like his dream in that one of becoming a baseball player did come true in the end!
8.5

Goo Goo Goliath
Directed by I. Freleng
A stork is drunk after the last parents he delivered a baby to gave him champagne. As he's unable to deliver a giant baby to his parents at the top of a beanstalk, he leaves him with a regular-sized family and chaos ensues. A funny and cute short with some nice gags related to how the family takes care of the huge baby (and even gets helped by him on occasion). The stork character is my favorite here, though – besides again being the catalyst for the plot, he's just as amusing as he was in "A Mouse Divided".
8.5

By Word of Mouse
Directed by I. Freleng
Hans, a German mouse from Knöckwurst-on-der-Rye, tells his family about his trip to America. There he's amazed by the living standards of both humans and mice. The American mouse Willie gets his professor friend to explain how competition in business keeps prices low for the customers. However, the mice also have to avoid getting eaten by Sylvester. The start to a strange chapter in the WB cartoon history: the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation paid the studio to produce cartoons promoting capitalism – the studio had made many commissioned shorts before, but this was the first time such films would be released as Looney Tunes or Merrie Melodies. Three of these would be made (all directed by Freleng and featuring Sylvester), this one being the first. It feels a bit strange to have the characters give an economy lesson in the middle of the cartoon antics, but thankfully the educational/propaganda aspect isn't too on the nose in most parts. It still manages to be an entertaining cartoon – and fittingly, there are even some economy-related puns!
8

From A to Z-Z-Z-Z
Directed by Charles M. Jones
Ralph Phillips is a student at Valley View school, but he tends to get distracted while studying due to his tendency to daydream. Despite the teacher's best attempts to stop him from doing so, Ralph keeps dozing off and going on exciting adventures. Another cartoon with a largely human cast. Creating a short entirely based on a little boy's dreams is an unusual concept... but Jones does this brilliantly! The dream sequences are obviously the highlight of the cartoon, with Ralph being shown in various fantastic settings, with some interesting visuals. A simple idea done very impressively! This cartoon even got the studio another Oscar nomination (for 1953) after three years of being ignored, but it lost to Disney's "Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom" (which coincidentally also took place at a school).
10

Quack Shot
Directed by Robert McKimson
When Daffy sees Elmer hunting ducks, he comes up with various schemes to annoy the hunter. But most of Daffy's attempts backfire and end with him getting shot over and over. An unusual cartoon in that Elmer seems to have the upper hand most of the time (even in cartoons with Daffy, this was generally only the case when Bugs was involved too). It's a fun cartoon, Daffy and Elmer are a combination that always seems to work well!
9

My Little Duckaroo
Directed by Charles M. Jones
The Masked Avenger (Daffy Duck) and his comedy relief sidekick (Porky Pig) go to arrest the notorious criminal Nasty Canasta. But the Masked Avenger's attempts to arrest the villain don't seem to have any effect on him. This is very much in the vein of "Drip-Along Daffy", with Daffy and Porky having similar roles and the same villain making an appearance. This might in fact be the cartoon's big flaw: while it certainly has some amusing gags (especially Daffy's extended attempts to get a reaction from the villain), it will inevitably be compared to its predecessor, and that comparison will be pretty one-sided. An entertaining Daffy cartoon in any case, even if it's not a standout like Canasta's debut was.
8.5

Sheep Ahoy
Directed by Charles M. Jones
Ralph Wolf (called George here) is again trying to steal sheep, with Sam Sheepdog (called Fred, or Ralph in another scene) foiling his attempts. He uses an ACME smoke screen bomb, a rock costume and a giant balloon among other things. Very much in the style of the characters' debut in "Don't Give Up the Sheep", I found this one to have great and imaginative gags – possibly even better than the first time around (the artificial rock scene being my favorite). The clock punch gag is also here, but there's a twist on it, which I think further improves it!
10

Baby Buggy Bunny
Directed by Charles M. Jones
Little bank robber Ant Hill Harry, also known as Baby-Face Finster, gets away by disguising himself as a baby. When his loot falls in Bugs' rabbit hole, he pretends to be an abandoned baby in order to get it back, while the rabbit takes care of "Finster". One of the funniest Bugs shorts – a great idea for a cartoon, with excellent gags! Baby-Face Finster is an amusing character with his act, and Bugs himself is portrayed hilariously, showing his usual cleverness.
10

Three more theatrical compilations of earlier cartoons were released this year: "Bugs Bunny's Cartoon Carnival", "Bugs Bunny's Cartoon Jamboree" and "Bugs Bunny's Cartoon Festival". These also had specifically made trailers produced by the studio, again consisting of footage of the featured shorts and new illustrations of the characters rather than actual new animation.

Another strong year, maybe not quite the all-time best but up there anyway. The debut of Taz is obviously the most notable event in retrospect, though Egghead Jr. and Witch Hazel would also become memorable recurring characters. With the Oscar nomination, the studio was also again getting some acclaim within the industry – could 1955 prove even better?