Mad as a Mars Hare

Mad as a Mars Hare is a 1963 Warner Bros. Merrie Melodies cartoon directed by Chuck Jones and Maurice Noble.^[1] The short was released on October 19, 1963, and stars Bugs Bunny and Marvin the Martian.^[2] The cartoon's title is a play-on-words of the phrase "mad as a March hare". This is Marvin's final appearance in the Looney Tunes shorts during the Golden Age of American Animation.

Mad as a Mars Hare
Marvin the Martian threatens to project Bugs Bunny forward into time using his Time-Space Gun
Directed by	Chuck Jones Maurice Noble
Story by	John Dunn
Produced by	David H. DePatie
Starring	Mel Blanc
Music by	Bill Lava
Animation by	Ken Harris Richard Thompson Bob Bransford Tom Ray Harry Love
Layouts by	Maurice Noble
Backgrounds by	Bob Singer
Color process	Technicolor
Production company	Warner Bros. Cartoons
Distributed by	Warner Bros. Pictures The Vitaphone Corporation
Release date	October 19, 1963 (1963-10-19)
Running time	7 minutes
Language	English

Plot

Marvin the Martian observes Earth from Mars through a telescope, witnessing a rocket launch. To his dismay, the rocket careens into his observatory, leaving Marvin shaken but resilient. Subsequently, a lone Bugs Bunny emerges from the rocket, having been unwittingly sent to Mars as an expendable "astro-rabbit." Bugs, upon landing, symbolically claims Mars for Earth with a flag-bearing metal carrot, provoking Marvin's vehement objection to relinquishing his planet.

Marvin's initial attempt to eliminate Bugs with a disintegrating pistol backfires, resulting in his own disintegration and subsequent reintegration. Undeterred, Marvin employs a Time-Space Gun to project Bugs into the future as a subservient laborer. However, a misfire transforms Bugs into a formidable Neanderthal rabbit, who effortlessly overpowers Marvin. Defeated once again, Marvin retreats for regeneration, lamenting his perpetual struggle.

Bugs, unfazed by the ordeal, addresses the audience, musing about surprising Earth's hunters upon his return, before nonchalantly consuming the metal carrot.

Crew

• Co-Director & Layouts: Maurice Noble
• Story: John Dunn
• Animation: Ken Harris, Richard Thompson, Bob Bransford & Tom Ray
• Backgrounds: Bob Singer
• Effects Animation: Harry Love
• Film Editor: Treg Brown
• Voice Characterizations: Mel Blanc
• Music: Bill Lava
• Produced by David H. DePatie
• Directed by Chuck Jones

Home media

Mad as a Mars Hare is available on the Looney Tunes Super Stars' Bugs Bunny: Hare Extraordinaire DVD. However, it was cropped to widescreen. The full-screen version is available on the Looney Tunes Platinum Collection: Volume 1 Blu-ray box set and its DVD edition.