Plot Summary

A Wild Hare (1940) Plot Summary Explained

Name: A Wild Hare
Genre: Comedy, Animation
Released: 1940-07-27
Duration: 8 min

Release, runtime and language: 1940 · 8 mins · English; Loading streaming availability…
Directed by: Tex Avery
Starring: Mel Blanc, Arthur Q. Bryan

While hunting rabbits, Elmer Fudd comes across Bugs Bunny who tricks and harasses him.

Comedy Animation Cast, crew & box office

On this page (6)

1 Where to watch
2 What happens: full plot
3 Plot questions answered
4 Movie threads
5 Movies like A Wild Hare
6 Every angle

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Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in A Wild Hare: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of A Wild Hare (1940) explained, from the opening scene to the final frame: every key event, every twist and what it all adds up to. Read it as a quick recap before the sequel, to check a scene you missed, or to finally understand what really happened.

In a sun-dappled woodland setting, Elmer Fudd moves with quiet precision, muttering his iconic line as he stalks near Bugs Bunny's warrens, laying a carrot as bait and concealing himself among the leaves. The scene unfolds with a playful rhythm: Bugs retrieves the carrot, and a lighthearted scuffle erupts as Bugs teases with Elmer’s firearm, bending the metal into a goofy, bent bow that suits the cartoon world they inhabit. The chase zigzags through brush and shadow, each beat punctuated by quick wit, visual gags, and a sense that nothing here is truly dangerous—just mischievous entertainment between two legendary characters.

> Shh. Be very, very quiet. I'm hunting wabbits.

As the pursuit continues, the rabbit reappears almost nonchalantly, brandishing another carrot and flaunting his understanding of rabbit traits. Bugs uses the moment to toy with Elmer, revealing his true identity and turning the game into a game of perceptions. The hunter’s confidence frays as Bugs slips away again, leaving Elmer both confounded and briefly amused by the rabbit’s apparent cunning. Elmer’s attempts to trap his taunting quarry backfire in a series of comic misreads, culminating in a moment where he mistakes a skunk for Bugs, triggering a humorous and humiliating encounter that sideslides into embarrassment for the hunter.

Bugs then threads together a flawless ruse: he pretends to be defeated or dead, prompting Elmer to swing between victory and doubt, only to be struck with a final, playful reversal that leaves him dazed and defeated. The rabbit’s clever deception dissolves Elmer’s composure, and the hunt dissolves into a cartoonish shrug of inevitability as Bugs escapes with a wag of his tail and a sly smile. The chase ends with Elmer storming off, red-faced and muttering in disbelief at his own misadventure.

As the dust settles, Bugs pauses by his burrow and—still in the mood for mischief—offers a final, whimsical toast: he transforms a carrot into a tiny fife and begins to march, almost proudly, toward his home in a little display that nods to patriotic imagery. The moment leaves a lingering sense of clever triumph—the kind that only a Bugs Bunny caper can deliver—while Elmer’s latest snafu lingers as a humorous reminder of the rabbit’s cunning and the hunter’s persistent, tongue-in-cheek misfortune.

Last updated: February 24, 2026 at 09:31

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Plot questions answered

A Wild Hare Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about A Wild Hare (1940): what happens in the confusing scenes, why the characters do what they do, the twists, hidden details and what the ending means. Each answer contains spoilers.

Why does Bugs Bunny trick Elmer Fudd?

Bugs tricks Elmer as a form of self-preservation and playful retaliation. Since Elmer is actively hunting him with the intent to kill, Bugs uses his wits to outmaneuver the hunter. Beyond survival, Bugs also finds entertainment in toying with Elmer, his tricks are a way to assert dominance and amuse himself, establishing the dynamic that will define their future encounters.

bugs bunny
elmer fudd
trick
hunting
self defense
cartoon logic

Why does Bugs pretend to be dead during the climax?

Bugs pretends to be dead as a final trick to humiliate Elmer. This ruse makes Elmer believe he's succeeded, causing his confidence to spike. When Bugs suddenly springs back to life, the reversal becomes even more comedic, Elmer goes from triumph to bewilderment, and Bugs delivers the ultimate comeuppance while the hunter is off-guard.

bugs bunny fake death
climax trick
comeuppance
elmer fudd fooled

What happens when Elmer mistakes a skunk for Bugs Bunny?

Elmer, desperate to catch his quarry, charges at what he believes is Bugs hiding in the bushes. Instead of catching the rabbit, he encounters a skunk, which sprays him immediately. The mistake turns the hunt against the hunter, humiliating Elmer while Bugs watches safely from a distance.

skunk scene
elmer sprayed
mistaken identity
cartoon punishment

How does Bugs bend Elmer's gun into a bow?

During their first confrontation, Bugs disarms Elmer and manipulates the gun barrel with his teeth and hands, reshaping it into a contorted bow. This defies real-world physics, but in the cartoon world, it demonstrates Bugs' physical cunning and transforms the weapon into a harmless prop, emphasizing that the hunter's tools are useless against the rabbit's wits.

gun bent
bugs bunny strength
cartoon physics
weapon disarmed

Why does Bugs turn a carrot into a fife at the end?

After Elmer leaves in defeat, Bugs celebrates his victory by transforming a carrot into a fife and playing a marching tune. This whimsical act serves as a playful victory lap, a signature Bugs Bunny moment that blends humor with a subtle nod to patriotic imagery. It reinforces his confident, theatrical personality.

carrot fife
victory celebration
patriotic
bugs bunny character
ending scene

Why does Elmer Fudd never catch Bugs Bunny?

Elmer never catches Bugs because the cartoon operates on a formula where the hunter is always outwitted. Elmer's flaws, his predictability, his temper, and his gullibility, make him an easy target for Bugs' cleverness. This dynamic was established as the core of their relationship, ensuring Bugs always stays one step ahead.

elmer never wins
hunter vs rabbit
outwitted
bugs bunny dominance
cartoon formula

What makes A Wild Hare historically significant?

A Wild Hare (1940) is widely considered the first official Bugs Bunny cartoon and established many defining traits of the character, including his personality, catchphrases, and the dynamic with Elmer Fudd. It set the template for their hunter-versus-trickster relationship that would become one of the most iconic pairings in animation history.

first bugs bunny cartoon
history
significance
looney tunes
character debut

Why does Elmer use a carrot as bait?

Elmer uses a carrot because it's a rabbit's natural food, making it a logical trap. The irony is that Bugs simply takes the bait without falling into any trap, he's smart enough to retrieve the carrot on his own terms, turning Elmer's strategy against him.

carrot bait
trap
elmer fudd hunting
rabbit food

Movie threads

More Movies Like A Wild Hare, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes A Wild Hare tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Trickster Triumphs like in A Wild Hare

Clever underdogs use wit and humor to outsmart their clumsy pursuers. If you enjoyed watching Bugs Bunny outsmart Elmer Fudd, explore more movies like A Wild Hare featuring clever underdogs who triumph through wit and humorous trickery. These cartoons and comedies deliver a lighthearted, fast-paced experience.

playful
humorous
defiant
cheeky
triumphant
lighthearted
Tone: whimsical, playful
Pacing: fast, gag-driven

Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives follow a simple but effective pattern: a cunning protagonist is pitted against a persistent but foolish adversary. The conflict is driven by a series of escalating gags and pranks where the trickster always maintains the upper hand, leading to a conclusive and satisfying victory for the clever character.

Why they belong together: Movies in this thread share a core dynamic of a triumphant trickster, resulting in a consistent feel of playful defiance and lighthearted humor. They are grouped together because they prioritize cleverness over conflict and deliver a joyful, fast-paced viewing experience with a guaranteed happy ending for the underdog.

Trick or Treat

1952

A Coy Decoy

1941

A Wild Hare

1940

Tortoise Beats Hare

1941

Slick Hare

1947

Home, Tweet Home

1950

The Villain

1979

A Wizard's Tale

2018

Classic Cartoon Slapstick like A Wild Hare

Fast-paced animated comedies where physics-defying antics create relentless humor. Fans of the fast-paced, whimsical humor in A Wild Hare will love this collection of movies featuring cartoon slapstick and chaotic antics. Discover similar comedies and animations with exaggerated gags and lighthearted, consequence-free fun.

slapstick
chaotic
exaggerated
silly
lighthearted
energetic
Tone: whimsical, humorous
Pacing: fast, relentless

Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative in these films is often a loose framework designed to chain together a rapid series of comedic set pieces. The plot is straightforward, serving primarily to set up humorous situations where characters engage in exaggerated, physics-defying antics that defy realism for comedic effect.

Why they belong together: These movies are united by their core commitment to whimsical, fast-paced humor built on cartoon logic and slapstick. They share a light emotional weight, low intensity, and a focus on generating laughs through visual gags and chaotic, playful interactions between characters.

Porky in Wackyland

1938

Wet Blanket Policy

1948

She Was an Acrobat’s Daughter

1937

China Jones

1959

The Simple Things

2015

Dog Tales

1958

Little Rural Riding Hood

1949

Crazy Over Daisy

1950

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Movies Like A Wild Hare

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Hare Remover

1946

The Wacky Wabbit

1942

Wild and Woolly Hare

1959

The Hare-Brained Hypnotist

1942

Rabbit Seasoning

1952

Wabbit Twouble

1941

Hare Tonic

1945

The Heckling Hare

1941

Elmer’s Pet Rabbit

1941

Upswept Hare

1953

The Wabbit Who Came to Supper

1942

The Fair Haired Hare

1951

Every angle

A Wild Hare (1940) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about A Wild Hare in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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