This year brings us more Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies, along with the second season of the unfortunately rare Bugs Bunny Show.

Cannery Woe
Directed by Robert McKimson
Mayor Raton's cheese committee fails to get any cheese, as the shop they always got it from is now guarded by Sylvester. But two mice, José and Manuel, can help – José knows Speedy Gonzales who does the job. Very much in the style of the previous Speedy cartoons, it's certainly fun but besides the mayor character, there's not much that stands out in comparison to the earlier shorts... apart from the great ending, that is!
8.5

Zip 'n Snort
Directed by Chuck Jones
Wile E. Coyote (Evereadii eatibus) chases the Road Runner (Digoutius-hot-rodis), using the likes of a toy airplane and a grenade, a cannon and axle grease. Another great entry, I especially like the gag where the coyote gets electrocuted, turning his nose into a light bulb – one of several scenes where we get the usual expressive animation for him! The last gag reminds me of those used in the first few Road Runner cartoons, but it's been so long since them that it doesn't feel too derivative.
9.5

Hoppy Daze
Directed by Robert McKimson
A tough brown cat keeps failing to catch mice. When he sees Sylvester looking for food in the trash, he lures the black cat to catch mice for him, promising to make him champion mouser and let him keep 20% of the mice caught. But the plans go wrong when Sylvester lets Hippety Hopper out of a crate, leading to failed attempts to beat the "giant mouse". Once again McKimson tries to rejuvenate the Hippety Hopper series by introducing a new co-star – the result is definitely an entertaining one, with the brown cat's tough guy schtick being amusing. There are some cute moments with the kangaroo too, and I like the boxing references (the brown cat is mentoring Sylvester as if he was training a boxer). But despite being a fun entry, I don't quite consider it one of the absolute best in the series – the ones with Sylvester Jr. have the most appeal to me.
8.5

The Mouse on 57th Street
Directed by Chuck Jones
A mouse digs his way into a bakery and gets drunk after chewing his way through a rum cake. Hungover, he snatches the "Sun-Flame" diamond from Spiffany's, mistaking it for a piece of ice. The police set out to get the diamond back, leading to a wacky chase around town. A memorable one-shot with some nice visuals (the mouse is a very cute one!) and comedy with the two bumbling policemen who are the standout characters here. With the increasing focus on specific main characters, this kind of short was something you wouldn't be seeing much longer...
9.5

Strangled Eggs
Directed by Robert McKimson
As the winter's cold is about to arrive, Foghorn goes to court Miss Prissy. But soon a baby is left at the hen's doorstep – Henery Hawk! The chickenhawk keeps getting a craving for chicken, while Foghorn tries to get rid of him. An unusual role for Henery, but it all works very well – certainly something fresher than the last time we saw him in "All Fowled Up"! The little chickenhawk is his usual adorable self, and Foghorn is responsible for much of the comedy, all of his attempts to harm Henery backfiring on him. With this short, we say goodbye to two of Foghorn's most significant co-stars, as this was the last golden age appearance of both Henery and Prissy. I think this was a very nice sendoff for the two, with especially Henery getting to shine here.
9.5

Birds of a Father
Directed by Robert McKimson
Sylvester is horrified to find out his son has made friends with a bird! Despite Junior's unwillingness to harm his friend Spike, his father decides to teach him to be a real cat, showing him how to catch birds. But Sylvester's attempts all fail... This is a sweet short – I liked the unexpected friendship between the cat and the cute little bird! One of Junior's best appearances. Sylvester's attempts to catch the bird are amusing, and he also gets some great lines in.
9

D' Fightin' Ones
Directed by Friz Freleng
A group of dogs is heading to the city pound, along with Sylvester. When the car hits a bump, he falls out along with a dog. The two try to escape, but they're chained together, so they also have to come up with a way to break the chain while trying their best to get along. A nice idea for a cartoon to have the cat and dog working together while still having the usual differences. The cartoon itself is entertaining though rather ordinary with its gags, but a good concept definitely does its job!
8.5

The Abominable Snow Rabbit
Directed by Chuck Jones
Co-director: Maurice Noble
Bugs and Daffy travel to what they think is Palm Springs, but a wrong turn takes them to the Himalayas. Daffy ends up meeting the Abominable Snowman who mistakes him for a bunny rabbit (due to his shirt sleeves looking like rabbit ears) – the snowman plans to name him George and hug him and squeeze him... Bugs and Daffy both then try to convince the snowman that the other is the rabbit. The Abominable Snowman is one of the best remembered one-off characters in the series (Jones would use him again a couple of decades later, giving him the name Hugo). He's indeed a very entertaining character with his silliness and overly affectionate ways. Bugs and Daffy trying to outsmart each other is fun to watch, as always, both characters being portrayed very well, and the visuals are also appealing with Jones' distinctive art style. A definite standout! This was also the first theatrical WB cartoon to credit a "co-director" (episodes of "The Bugs Bunny Show" had already had ones the year before), a role that would be held by various animators and layout artists – Jones and Freleng working on both theatrical and TV productions forced them to get some help with their usual duties.
10

Lickety-Splat
Directed by Chuck Jones
Co-director: Abe Levitow
Wile E. Coyote (Apetitius giganticus) is after the Road Runner (Fastius tasty-us). His attempts involve roller skis, explosive missiles and a boomerang. A couple of recent Road Runner cartoons had extended gags, now Jones and his crew include a running gag with the missiles. These little changes do a lot to keep the series from becoming too formulaic, and that gag is the standout for me here, even with a couple of twists included! The coyote's portrayal is also very appealing: he seems to be happier here for some reason, and he breaks the fourth wall even more than usual (including displaying both characters' Latin names on signs). The early 60s are often considered a period of decline for the WB cartoons, but the Road Runner cartoons are showing no signs of that!
10

A Scent of the Matterhorn
Directeur: M. Charl Jones
A cart painting a white line on the road rolls down the hill, painting stripes on everything, including a cat. You guessed it – Pepé Le Pew sees her and falls in love. This leads to a chase on the snowy and icy mountains. The old Pepé formula is used as is, but I still consider this one of the skunk's better later appearances. His characterization is great – we get plenty of amusing dialogue and a nice rendition of "Tip Toe Through the Tulips with Me". Good visuals and funny gags too, not just restricted to the body of the cartoon: hilariously, all the credits are listed in Pepé's trademark pseudo-French – the first time since the early 40s (especially Tex Avery's cartoons) that the opening sequence has been this much fun!
9

The Rebel Without Claws
Directed by Friz Freleng
In the Civil War, the Confederate signal corps have lost all their carrier pigeons, so Tweety must do the job. He has to deliver an important letter to General Lee. The Union soldiers try their best to prevent this with the help of "messenger destroyer" Sylvester. Surprising that the Confederates are the protagonists here... or was this the crew realizing most people were rooting for Sylvester anyway? In any case, it's another entertaining and fresh take on the Sylvester and Tweety formula. Both characters get to shine, Sylvester being on the receiving end of the violence as usual, and Tweety having some cute moments and the most memorable and surprising line of the cartoon ("I tawt I taw a damn Yankee tat"). A fun short!
9

Compressed Hare
Directed by Chuck Jones
Co-director: Maurice Noble
Wile E. Coyote lures Bugs to his home with a phone call, planning to eat him. But his plans to cook rabbit stew fail due to Bugs' cleverness, despite the coyote's use of the likes of a vacuum cleaner, quick-drying cement and a giant electric magnet. The Bugs and Wile E. cartoons (of which this is the fourth) have all been brilliant, among the best cartoons of their time, and this one is no exception. The coyote's contraptions are fun as always, and Bugs has some great, often sarcastic dialogue, in addition to showing his own kind of ingenuity. The last gag with the magnet is the definite highlight of the cartoon, with the crew taking it to unexpected and hilarious levels.
10

The Pied Piper of Guadalupe
Directed by Friz Freleng
Co-director: Hawley Pratt
Tired of the mice running away from him, Sylvester gets an idea after seeing the book "The Pied Piper of Guadalupe". After getting some music lessons, he uses a flute to lure the mice to him one by one, keeping them in a bottle. But there's one mouse he's unable to get: Speedy Gonzales. A nice entry in the Speedy series – the Pied Piper theme adds some novelty (though it had already been used in a Sylvester cartoon, "Too Hop to Handle" with Hippety Hopper), even if the gags switch to the more typical ones near the end. Nice Mexican-themed music, great use of sound effects and even some in-jokes (former WB animator J.C. Melendez is Sylvester's music teacher). The first short with (co-)directorial work by Pratt since 1946's "Hollywood Daffy"! Also one of three WB shorts nominated for an Oscar this year (the Academy sure liked all the cat and mouse cartoons!), but they all lost to Zagreb Film's surreal "Surogat" (Substitute).
9

Prince Violent
Directed by Friz Freleng
Co-director: Hawley Pratt
Also known as "Prince Varmint" thanks to TV censors. Everyone runs to the castle in fear, as Viking invader Sam the Terrible attacks. Bugs has no fear, though, protecting the castle from Sam and his trusty elephant. Bugs has some nice one-liners and tricks up his sleeve here. But despite being an enjoyable watch, it's not one of my favorites with Bugs and Sam – earlier cartoons had many of the same gags and did it even better. The only thing here that really stands out is the elephant who's an entertaining character and ends up having a surprisingly significant role!
8

Daffy's Inn Trouble
Directed by Robert McKimson
Daffy is sick of cleaning at Porky's Bristle Inn, so he decides to quit and open his own Duck Inn Tavern right next door. After failing to get customers, Daffy starts sabotaging Porky's business with little success. Daffy's portrayal as a villain is something that got increasingly common around this time (and wasn't a very well-received development), but I think this cartoon is an entertaining one with some good gags, with all of Daffy's attempts having comedic consequences. Porky doesn't get to do much in his role, but even the understated role sets up the conflict well.
8.5

What's My Lion?
Directed by Robert McKimson
Rocky the mountain lion runs away from hunters, finding shelter in a lodge. But that's where Elmer Fudd is staying, and Rocky, hiding among mounted animal heads, finds it difficult to not be noticed by the hunter. Essentially a remake of "Cracked Quack" from 1952 with different characters, this is by no means a match for that one, but I find it entertaining in its own right. Rocky, who's the main character here more than Elmer, is quite funny, and the final gag is a brilliant one! The main weakness for me is the same as in the previous Elmer cartoon – Hal Smith is again a bit underwhelming as his voice, emphasizing what a huge loss Arthur Q. Bryan's death was for the series.
8.5

Beep Prepared
Directed by Chuck Jones
Co-director: Maurice Noble
Wile E. Coyote (Hungrii flea-bagius) again tries to catch the Road Runner (Tid-bittius velocitus). He tries everything from tripping him to a spring under the road and a rocket sled. Some funny gags here, like the Road Runner being able to move a manhole to another place – was this one of Calvin Q. Calculus' famous portable holes? The ending is definitely the standout part, though. Another one of WB's Oscar nominees this year – I find it a little surprising that this was the only Road Runner cartoon to get a nomination, as it's not the strongest in the series despite its qualities.
9

The Last Hungry Cat
Directed by Friz Freleng
Co-director: Hawley Pratt
A Hitchcock-esque narrator presents a story about murder. Sylvester tries to catch Tweety, but the cat gets knocked out and the bird escapes. Waking up with Tweety gone and a feather in his mouth, Sylvester thinks he has finally eaten the bird. But after the narrator tells him he has committed murder, he thinks the police are after him, and after getting away, his conscience starts haunting him... An unusual one – while it has its parodic aspects and funny moments, the suspenseful atmosphere is what stands out most here. A Sylvester and Tweety thriller (with the latter in quite a small role) is something unexpected, and this has one of the best characterizations of Sylvester, at times reminiscent of his performance in "Birds Anonymous". A late series highlight!
10

Nelly's Folly
Directed by Chuck Jones
Co-directors: Maurice Noble & Abe Levitow
In an African jungle, Nelly the giraffe entertains the other animals with her singing. Suddenly an explorer hears her and promises her fame and riches, making her sign a contract. Nelly leaves her friends for America, becoming a sensation. But fame is fleeting... An unusual attempt by the WB crew to tell a dramatic story instead of focusing on comedy (though naturally there are some gags included). It definitely makes for a captivating and at times tragic story – one that could very well be real if it didn't star a singing giraffe! The visuals are appealing, very recognizably Jones, but the absolute standout is Gloria Wood's amazing vocal performance! WB's third Oscar nominee this year, and the most interesting of the three.
9.5

The remaining fourteen episodes of season 1 of "The Bugs Bunny Show" aired in 1961. Three of these are available to watch.

Episode 13
Directed by Robert McKimson
Sylvester hosts the Bugs Bunny Show this time, but he's interrupted by his son who wants to be introduced too. Junior soon notices a giant mouse backstage, and Sylvester's attempts to host get derailed by his attempts to catch Hippety Hopper. One of the better Bugs Bunny Shows – while we've seen the giant mouse business in many cartoons, combining it with Sylvester trying to host a show at the same time adds something new to it... and Junior is adorable and funny as always! The characters' charm was retained very well in these hosting segments!
9

Episode 20
Directed by Chuck Jones & Friz Freleng
Co-directors: Abe Levitow & Maurice Noble
Bugs, hosting alone this time, introduces a performance of the classic opera "The Barber of Seville". Elmer sneaks into the performance. Bugs also explains why Daffy isn't appearing on the show tonight and makes a comment on his preferred diet compared to that of Wile E. Coyote. Out of all the episodes I've seen so far, this is the most obvious bridging material, as essentially all of the new footage makes reference to the featured cartoons. We do get a surprisingly seamless transition from the new footage to "Rabbit of Seville", although the late Arthur Q. Bryan is really missed (even Mel Blanc can't match his wonderful performance as Elmer). Some charming quips from Bugs and the usual nice animation, but the other new segments from the show I've seen so far have been more entertaining on their own.
8

Episode 24
Directed by Chuck Jones & Friz Freleng
Co-directors: Abe Levitow & Maurice Noble
As Bugs is trying to introduce today's host Yosemite Sam, he's scared off by Pepé Le Pew's stench, and the skunk takes over as the host. Sam is offended and tries to get rid of Pepé in order to regain his rightful place, but none of his attempts are a match for the terrible smell. My favorite episode so far of the Bugs Bunny Show! The various reactions to Pepé are the funniest we've seen to date, and in one of the most appealing aspects of the show, we get unusual character combinations – not only are Sam and Pepé a very unexpected pairing, but even Taz shows up here! Apart from Pepé's references to the cartoons being shown, this could even work as a stand-alone Looney Tune. These kinds of surprises really make me wish there was more of this show available to watch...
10

Season 2 of the same series also started this year. This time, the episodes were named – some of them shared a title with one of the featured cartoons, while others got all new titles. The episodes also started having more of a theme instead of just random antics involving the hosting characters. Some episodes even featured full-length stories incorporating the older cartoons. Out of the first twelve episodes of the season, only two are available.

Bad-Time Story
Directed by Chuck Jones & Friz Freleng
Co-directors: Maurice Noble & Richard Thompson
In the first episode of season 2, Bugs explains how cartoon physics work, demonstrating zipping into and out of a scene. We also see him introducing the cartoons by reading books of fairytales and wooing Witch Hazel who's been turned into an attractive rabbit. Another fun episode – some entertaining animation especially when Bugs' zipping is shown in slow-motion, and the scenes with Witch Hazel as a rabbit are a nice continuation to "Bewitched Bunny" (which was shown in this episode). Not my favorite episode of the show, but a good one in any case!
8.5

Ballpoint Puns
Directed by Chuck Jones & Friz Freleng
Co-directors: Maurice Noble & Tom Ray
Bugs' guests on the show this week are the dancing pens, Penbrook and Penelope. They demonstrate their skills – more than Bugs expected them to! They also write and draw the title art to each cartoon being shown. A cute and interesting idea! Dancing pens are something that one might have expected to see in the much earlier "things come to life" cartoons, but this handles the concept more appealingly than most of those did. The cartoon title sequences are very beautiful, too (the compilation TV shows would often replace the theatrical title sequences with new ones, but nowhere near as appealingly as here)!
9

Other season 2 episodes aired this year included "Satan's Waitin'", "Daffy Doodling", "Omni-Puss", "Tired and Feathered", "Man's Best Friend", "The Unfinished Symphony", "Prison to Prison", "Go Man Go", "I'm Just Wild About Hare" and "Stage Couch".

Another year with plenty of nice cartoons. Three Oscar nominations in the same year was a record for the studio, though they unfortunately failed to win with any of them. Chuck Jones experimented with some nice one-shots, and the old stars enjoyed some great appearances both in theaters and on TV.