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Rabbit's Kin is a 1952 Merrie Melodies short directed by Robert McKimson.
Title
The title is a play on "rabbit skin", but is also a literal term in that Bugs is caring for a "kin", here, another rabbit.
Plot
A cute little bunny named Shorty, with a high-pitched voice, is running from Pete Puma, until he stumbles down Bugs Bunny's rabbit hole. The little guy tells Bugs his problem, "My heart pounded, my legs trembled, I was frozen with fear!" Bugs agrees to help him out. Bugs then proceeds to play tricks on Pete. Firstly, he asks Pete to stay for tea. He then holds up the sugar bowl and asks the puma how many lumps he wants, to which Pete Puma replies "Oh, three or four". Bugs repeatedly hits Pete Puma on the head, leaving him with three or four lumps on his head. Bugs then decides he gave him "one lump too many", flattening it with a reflex hammer. Pete had also offered Bugs an exploding cigar, and while Pete is dazed, Bugs puts the cigar in Pete's mouth and lights it.
Pete next tries to disguise himself as the little rabbit's mother. Once again, Bugs wants to have him for tea, but this time Pete declines the offer. He says, "But I don't want no TEA! It gives me a HEADACHE!" Instead, Pete suggests that he and Bugs have coffee instead. The "lumps" gag repeats itself, only this time the puma has protection in the form of an "ACME Stovelid" on his head. Bugs removes it with his "ACME Stovelid Lifter", revealing more lumps on Pete's cranium, which flatten him out.
Shorty enjoys the shenanigans so much that he wants to get involved. So, as the little bunny hops down the road alone, Pete grabs him and runs home to his cave, intending to cook him. Bugs shows up in a costume disguised as Pete's second cousin, Paul Puma. He insists on helping his "cuz" get the fricasseeing off to a good start by getting coal for the fire and asking how many lumps Pete wants for the stove. Pete says "You better give me a lotta lumps, a whoooooooole lotta lumps", then catches himself just as Bugs rears up to hit him again. "Oh no, ya don't", he says. "I'll help myself!"
Availability
- (1997) VHS\LaserDisc - Bugs and Speedy: Hare Today, Gone Tomorrow (1997 dubbed version) (only in pal regions)
- (1998) VHS - Looney Tunes Presents: Bugs Bunny: Big Top Bunny (1997 dubbed version)
- (1999) VHS - Looney Tunes: The Collectors Edition Volume 6: Supporting Players
- (2003) DVD - Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 1 Disc One (restored with DVNR)
- (2011) DVD - Looney Tunes Super Stars' Bugs Bunny: Wascally Wabbit (restored with DVNR)
- (2013) DVD - Best of Warner Bros. 50 Cartoon Collection: Looney Tunes (restored with DVNR)
- (2017) Streaming - Boomerang App (restored with DVNR)
- (2020) DVD - Looney Tunes Bugs Bunny Golden Carrot Collection, Disc 1 (restored with DVNR)
Streaming
- (2020) HBO Max (restored without DVNR)
Notes
- This short marks the debut of Pete Puma. Though Pete was originally a one-shot character, his cult-following brought him back for cameos in later spin-off shows like The Looney Tunes Show (2011). Pete even got another role in "Pullet Surprise", which was produced by Chuck Jones and directed by Darrell Van Citters.
- In the HBO Max print, an error on the opening shows Warner Bros. Pictures Inc. was not faded out when shows Merrie Melodies title.
Gallery
External Links
- "Rabbit's Kin" at SuperCartoons.net
- "Rabbit's Kin" at B99.TV
- Baxter's Breakdowns animator breakdown at Cartoon Research
| Preceded by Rabbit Seasoning |
Bugs Bunny Cartoons 1952 |
Succeeded by Hare Lift |
