I have been a Looney Tunes fan all my life, so I was more than eager seeing Bugs Bunny's Easter Special. Cartoon specials can be hit and miss, luckily for this one it's one of the better ones. No it's not perfect, then again, what is? The most important thing as far as I'm concerned is that the viewer enjoys it, I did.
The story is somewhat standard, then again so are the stories in the compilation films, but it is also fun, sweet and skips by. Perhaps the special could have been longer just by about 5 minutes or so, but that is minor compared to how much I liked this.
The animation is great. More so in the cartoons featured than in the links, but the links themselves are still colourful and lively. Throughout Bugs Bunny's Easter Special, the backgrounds and colours are plentiful and have life to them, and the character designs in the links are in general true to what they were like in the 40s and 50s, with a few differences, Granny being one, in the links her face looks somewhat fuller in proportion.
Just as good is the music. The music has always been a big reason why I love these cartoons, and here my perception still hasn't changed. The background scoring is always quirky, infectious and energetic, with what's going on screen fitting very well with it. And there are also some nice instrumental/vocal arrangements of various pieces/songs, too many to choose from any favourites, but the Barber of Seville overture from the superb Rabbit of Seville is up there definitely.
Another thing I love about the cartoons are that they are very funny. The dialogue was always witty and fresh, with some references that might go over the head at a very young head but today still hold up and make you smile. Just as impressive are the sight gags, some of my favourite gags in a Looney Tunes cartoon are physical rather than verbal. Bugs Bunny's Easter Special does very well in keeping with the witty dialogue and inspired gags.
The characters themselves are delights. Bugs and Daffy have always been my favourites, but it is also a delight to see Granny, Tweety, Sylvester, Pepe Le Pew, Elmer Fudd and Yosemite Sam. Likewise with the cartoons featured, my favourites being The Rabbit of Seville, Robin Hood Daffy and Sahara Hare. Sure most of them, if any, have little to do with Easter, all the same they are delightful to watch.
The voice acting is rock solid. June Foray is great as Granny, and while some of his characterisations are perhaps a little darker than they are in comparison to the 40s and 50s(Sylvester and Daffy occasionally sound eerily similar) Mel Blanc's vocals are still full of exuberance.
In conclusion, a very enjoyable and fun special. 8/10 Bethany Cox
