Rabbit's Kin

Rabbit's Kin
Lobby card.
Production company	Warner Bros. Cartoons
Distributor	Warner Bros. Pictures The Vitaphone Corporation
Release date	September 20, 1952
Run time	7:00
Starring	Mel Blanc Stan Freberg
Producer(s)	Edward Selzer
Music composed by	Carl Stalling
Story by	Tedd Pierce
Animation	Chales McKimson Herman Cohen Rod Scribner Phil DeLara
Director(s)	Robert McKimson
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Rabbit's Kin is the three hundred and fifty-eighth Merrie Melodies theatrical short. It was released by Warner Bros. Pictures and The Vitaphone Corporation on November 15, 1952. It was written by Tedd Pierce, written by Edward Selzer, and directed by Robert McKimson.

When a small rabbit informs Bugs that Pete Puma is going after him, he decides to play several tricks on the predator and safely escort the little rabbit to his home.

Memorable quotes

Bugs: Suddenly, a big snarlin' beast jumped out of you from behind the tree? And then...
Shorty: My heart pounded. My legs trembled. I was frozen with fear!
Bugs: You was terrified? Yeah, yeah...
Shorty: I knew he couldn't eat me up. And I ran, I ran, I ran!
Bugs: And you ran for your very life... Hmm, sounds like dat sneakin' Pete Puma. And there he is now! I know dat grimy paw anywheres.

Pete: I got a little rabbit in this hole, and I'm gonna catch the little rabbit and eat him up! Eeeeeeee!!

Bugs: There's nothing as sociable as a nice cup of tea, I always say. How many lumps do you want?
Pete: Oh, three or four...

Bugs: I thought I'd better see your home, Shorty, on da account that I don't trust dat sneakin' puma no further than I can throw a big mow.

Pete: But I don't want no tea. It give me a headache!
Bugs: Well, uh... What shall we have then?
Pete: Coffee! Eeeeeeee!!

Pete: Oh, better give me a lotta lumps. A whole lotta lumps...

Bugs: C'mon, Shorty. We better get outta here. He's much too smart for us. Eeeeeeee!!

Characters

Legend
Character debut	Speaking debut	Ep. debut	No lines	Mentioned

In order of appearance:

Character	Actor
Shorty	Mel Blanc
Bugs Bunny	Mel Blanc
Pete Puma	Stan Freberg

Organization

• Acme

Locations

• Earth
  • United States
    • Bugs' residence
    • Pete's cave
    • Shorty's home (mentioned)

Objects

• Fake dynamite rabbit
• El Explodo Cigar
• Tea
• Sugar cubes
• Mallet
• Coffee
• Acme Stovelid
• Acme Stovelid Lifter

Production

Development

Stan Freberg's voice for Pete Puma was taken from his impersonation of Frank Fontine's character, John L. C. Silvoney, from The Jack Benny Show and later, Crazy Guggenheim on The Jackie Gleason Show.

Filming

Blanc used a variation of Sylvester's voice for Shorty before adjusting the pitch.

The film was copyrighted in 1951 (MCMLI).

Music

The music was composed by Carl W. Stalling.

Crew credits

• Layouts: Robert Givens
• Backgrounds: Richard H. Thomas

Release

Dates are in order of release:

• United States: September 20, 1952 in theatres

Behind the scenes

• The title is either a play on "rabbit skin" or the literal use of the word "kin," which may refer to Bugs taking care of another rabbit in this short.
• The MPAA certificate number is 15474.

Errors

• The 2020 restored print, which was used on the HBO Max streaming service, contains several goofs for the opening titles; the "Warner Bros. Pictures Inc." does not fade out when the Merrie Melodies title appears, and a card for McKimson's director credit appears distorted as a result of errors with Photoshop. The titles were fixed once the short was reinstated on the rebranded Max service in 2024.

Legacy

• Despite only appearing in one short during the golden age of American animation, Pete would later appear in various media of the larger Looney Tunes franchise, such as Tiny Toon Adventures and The Looney Tunes Show.
  • Pete would also appear in two more theatrical cartoons after the golden age: both as a cameo in Carrotblanca, and in a guest appearance with Foghorn Leghorn in Pullet Surprise.

Home availability

• In the United States:
  • October 28, 2003: Warner Home Video releases Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 1 on DVD.
  • May 4, 2011: Warner Home Video releases Looney Tunes Super Stars' Bugs Bunny: Wascally Wabbit on DVD.
  • April 14, 2020: Warner Bros. Home Entertainment releases Looney Tunes: Bugs Bunny Golden Carrot Collection on DVD