Rabbit Transit (film)

Rabbit Transit is a 1947 Looney Tunes cartoon, directed by Friz Freleng.^[1] The short was released on May 10, 1947, and features Bugs Bunny and Cecil Turtle.^[2] The title is a play on "rapid transit".

Rabbit Transit
Directed by	Friz Freleng
Story by	Michael Maltese Tedd Pierce
Produced by	Edward Selzer
Starring	Mel Blanc
Music by	Carl W. Stalling
Animation by	Manuel Perez Ken Champin Virgil Ross Gerry Chiniquy Morey Reden A. C. Gamer
Layouts by	Hawley Pratt
Backgrounds by	Philip DeGuard
Color process	Technicolor
Production company	Warner Bros. Cartoons, Inc.
Distributed by	Warner Bros. Pictures The Vitaphone Corporation
Release date	May 10, 1947 (1947-05-10)
Running time	8:04
Language	English

Cecil and Bugs had previously raced each other in Tortoise Beats Hare (1941) and Tortoise Wins By a Hare (1943) making this their third and final encounter. Unlike Tortoise Wins by a Hare, this cartoon presumes that Bugs and Cecil have never met before now.

Plot

Bugs Bunny engages in a heated debate with Cecil Turtle while relaxing in a steam bath, spurred by their reflection on the classic fable of the tortoise and the hare. This debate escalates into a challenge, prompting Bugs to participate in a race against Cecil, with both parties agreeing to uphold fair play.

However, Cecil unveils an unexpected advantage by revealing his rocket-propelled shell, disrupting Bugs' initial confidence. Undeterred, Bugs employs various tactics to counter Cecil's newfound speed, including attempts to disable the rocket mechanism and construct a deceptive tunnel along the racecourse.

Despite Bugs' efforts, Cecil maintains his lead, prompting Bugs to make a final, desperate sprint to the finish line. In a surprising turn, Cecil graciously relinquishes his advantage, allowing Bugs to claim victory. However, Bugs' triumph is short-lived as he discovers he has violated speed regulations, leading to his apprehension by law enforcement.

Production notes

Cecil and Bugs had previously raced each other in 1941's Tortoise Beats Hare and 1943's Tortoise Wins By a Hare, making this their third and final encounter. Unlike Tortoise Wins by a Hare, this cartoon presumes that Bugs and Cecil have never met before now.

Home media

• VHS - Bugs!
• VHS - Bugs Bunny's Zaniest Toons
• VHS - The Golden Age of Looney Tunes Vol 10: The Art of Bugs
• VHS - Looney Tunes The Collector's Edition: A Looney Life
• LaserDisc - Bugs! & Elmer!
• LaserDisc - The Golden Age of Looney Tunes Vol. 1
• DVD - Looney Tunes Golden Collection Vol. 2
• Blu-ray - Looney Tunes Platinum Collection Vol. 2
• Streaming - HBO Max