Editing Rabbit Fire (section)

==Reception==
''Rabbit Fire'' is generally considered among [[Chuck Jones]] and [[Michael Maltese]]'s best works, and is noted for its use of dialogue gags in lieu of the physical gags more typical in animation.<ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Beck |editor1-first=Jerry |title=The 100 Greatest Looney Tunes Cartoons |date=2020 |publisher=Insight Editions |isbn=978-1-64722-137-9 |pages=146–149}}</ref> Besides the two sequels to this film, a number of other Jones shorts, including ''[[Beanstalk Bunny]]'' and ''[[Ali Baba Bunny]]'', paired quick-witted Bugs and self-serving Daffy with (or rather against) each other.

It is also worth noting that in this episode, Mel Blanc showcased his ability to make one character imitate another character's voice, in this case, Daffy Duck impersonating Bugs Bunny and vice versa. Actor and voice actor [[Hank Azaria]] pointed out that as a voice actor, it is almost impossible to accomplish. At one point, he tried to do that in ''[[The Simpsons]]'', along with the other cast members, but none of them could do it.<ref>{{cite web|last1=YouTube|title=Mel Blanc did over a 1000 different Voices in over 5000 CARTOONS ! - UNIQUE GENIUS|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnmJALXh_sI|website=YouTube|access-date=1 March 2018|archive-date=8 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180208080813/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnmJALXh_sI|url-status=live}}</ref>

The "rabbit season/duck season" argument from this short became one of the references in the ''Looney Tunes'' franchise to have been analyzed both by scholars and by Jones himself (although this gag was actually used by Daffy against Porky six years earlier in the cartoon ''[[Duck Soup to Nuts]]''). According to an essay by Darragh O'Donoghue, ''Rabbit Fire'' "stands in close relation to human experience, striving and generally failing to grasp an elusive quarry or goal."<ref name="senses">[http://www.sensesofcinema.com/contents/cteq/03/28/chuck_jones/whats_opera_doc_rabbit_fire_feline_frameup.html Darragh O'Donoghue's review] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050702055625/http://www.sensesofcinema.com/contents/cteq/03/28/chuck_jones/whats_opera_doc_rabbit_fire_feline_frameup.html |date=2005-07-02 }} of ''[[What's Opera, Doc?]]'', ''Rabbit Fire'', and ''Feline Frameup''. ''sensesofcinema.com''</ref> Richard Thompson said that in the film, there is "the clearest definition of character roles: Elmer never knows what's going on; Bugs always knows what's going on and is in control of things; Daffy is bright enough to understand how to be in control, but never quite makes it." Jones himself refers to ''Rabbit Fire'' as a "corner" picture, among his works that, "as in turning a corner in a strange city, reveal new and enchanting vistas."

The short earned an honorable mention for animation historian [[Jerry Beck]]'s list of ''The Fifty Greatest Cartoons: As Selected by 1000 Animation Professionals''. Its 1952 sequel, ''[[Rabbit Seasoning]]'', made the actual list at number 30. The style, setup, and plot of ''Rabbit Fire'' were adapted into the opening sequence of Warner Bros.' 2003 film ''[[Looney Tunes: Back in Action]]''.

The ''[[non sequitur (humor)|non sequitur]]'' elephant character based on Joe Besser was the inspiration for [[List of fictional elephants|Horatio the Elephant]], a recurring character on [[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS]]' ''[[Sesame Street]]''.{{citation needed|date=April 2018}}

The Elephant from ''[[The Major Lied 'Til Dawn]]'' reappeared, but was redesigned.