Rabbits are everywhere around my home this year. My dog tells me first by freezing in place and then by clawing at the sliding glass door. Outside, he’s on the hunt, looking under bushes and around corners.
This rabbit proliferation got me thinking about the last time I saw this many rabbits and of course it was on TV and movies in the ’70s.
Welcome to my memories! While not all these shows were originally broadcast in the ’70s, they were popular then.
1. Bugs Bunny in Looney Tunes
“What’s Up Doc?” Anyone growing up in the ’70s knows that is Bugs Bunny’s catchphrase. He is a clever rabbit who outsmarts everyone, including Elmer Fudd, a hunter; Yosemite Sam, a cowboy, and his enemy/friend, Daffy Duck.
While Bugs Bunny first officially appeared in a 1940 feature A Wild Hare (in the clip below) he was the rabbit I saw most often during my ’70s childhood, so he earned the #1 spot.
His animation changed over the years and below is the version of Bugs that I remember. Full of lots of fight scenes. He was originally voiced by “The Man of a Thousand Voices,” Mel Blanc
2. Rabbit in Winnie-the-Pooh
While not the main character, Rabbit is a good friend of Winnie-the-Pooh and likes to take the lead in their various escapades. Like Bugs Bunny, Rabbit walked like a person, but unlike Bugs, things don’t usually go his way.
In the clip below Winnie eats all of Rabbit’s honey and then when exiting, Pooh blames the Rabbit for having a small door.
3. Thumper in Bambi
Watching Bambi in a movie theatre in the ’70s, I had no idea that I was watching a movie from 1942. (Spoiler alert). While I mostly remember being traumatized by Bambi’s mother being killed in a fire, a highlight was Thumper, the rabbit, and his friendship with Bambi.
Thumper comments about Bambi’s wobbly walking when they first meet. Then, Thumper’s mother asks him, “What did your Father tell you? ”
“If you can’t say something nice, don’t say nothing at all,” said Thumper. That later became known as “Thumper’s law.”
Thumper was originally voiced by a child, Peter Behn, a four-year old.
Thumper stands out on this list as the only rabbit who hops.
4. Nesquick Bunny
While Nesquick Bunny, Quicky, was only seen in commercials, he was pitching for my favorite beverage in the ’70s and a special treat in my soda-free household.
First taking on his mascot duties in 1973, the Nesquick Bunny had me singing along as he raved about this chocolate powdered drink that was, “Rich and thick and chocolate.”
5. Richochet Rabbit of Richochet Rabbit and Droop-along
Richochet Rabbit is a sheriff in the town, Hoop ‘n Holler, and set in the American Old West. He introduces himself as “Sheriff Bing, Bing, Bing, Richochet Rabbit.”
Richochet outruns bullets and has trick bullets, such as ones that stop mid-air and become bombs or mallets that hit the villain. His Deputy is a coyote called Droop-along who talks and moves slowly.
While this show originally aired in 1964 to 1966, it was a regular on my TV in the ’70s.
6. White Rabbit in Alice in Wonderland
“I’m late. I’m late. For a very important date.” These nervous words by White Rabbit staring at his watch fob as he runs on his way capture Alice’s attention and she follows him down a hole, and into Wonderland.
While this animated movie based on books by Lewis Carroll was originally released in 1951, I may have first watched it during its 1974 re-release in theaters.
Alice follows the vest-wearing White Rabbit into his home and creates more chaos for him.
7. Skippy Rabbit of Robin Hood
Robin Hood, the 1973 Disney movie, included a family of rabbits, Mrs. Rabbit and her children Skippy, Sis and Tagalong.
Skippy Rabbit, a 7 year old, is not a main character in the story, but appears throughout the film. He is one of the more sympathetic rabbits on the list as he has the feelings of a human child.
In this clip, he has his birthday present, a farthing, stolen by the Sheriff of Nottingham, a wolf, but gets a new present from Robin Hood.
8. The Trix Rabbit
While I wasn’t allowed sugary cereal in my healthy-food home, I still asked for some, especially after seeing the commercials like those below.
The Trix Rabbit was always trying to sneak his way into eating Trix cereal, but his excitement always unfurled his long ears and gave him away. Then, the kids took away his cereal saying, “Silly rabbit, Trix are for Kids.”
Well, those are my top 8 animated rabbits on American TV and movies of the ’70s list! While these rabbits are the ones I remember the most from the ’70s, I’m sure there are some that I missed. What were your favorite animated rabbits of the ’70s?
Karen M. Free 