Created: 1957
Watch: What's Opera, Doc?
Directed by Chuck Jones, this nearly seven minute short is considered to be one of the greatest cartoons ever created. In fact, in 1992, What's Opera, Doc? was the first cartoon short to be selected by the National Film Registry for preservation. The cartoon superbly satirizes Wagner's famous Ring Cycle, contemporary ballet, Disney's Fantasia, and the classic feud between Elmer and Bugs Bunny. The story centers on Bugs Bunny as Brunhilda, and Elmer Fudd as Siegfried. While watching the cartoon, you'll hear references to The Flying Dutchman during the opening scene; the horn call from Siegfried; Tannhauser's overture, "Pilgrims' Chorus", and the Bacchanal; and the Rienzi overture.
The Rabbit of Seville
Created: 1949
Watch: Rabbit of Seville
Created eight years prior to What's Opera, Doc, Chuck Jones's first operatic parody of Rossini's Barber of Seville features music from the opera's overture. The music remains largely intact to the original with slight changes in tempi to align to the cartoon's action. This is one of my favorite cartoons (I even like it more than the previous). With its signature slap stick comedy, Bugs deliberately performs the opera in an attempt to rid the dubious hunter.
