Dumb Bunnies
A parody series about a family of bunnies doing everything backward.
The Dumb Bunnies is a series of children's books created by Dav Pilkey under the pseudonym 'Sue Denim'. The series follows the adventures of a family of three bunnies—Poppa, Momma, and Baby—who do everything in reverse or out of order, such as sleeping under beds and putting flowers upside down in vases. The books are known for parodying works like Goodnight Moon and The Stupids Step Out, and have been both popular and controversial.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Animated series
- Creator
- Dav Pilkey
- Developer
- Dale Schott
- Voices
- Rob Smith / Catherine Gallant / Dustin Lauzon
- Narrator
- Peter Wildman
- Composer
- Guy Gross
- Country
- Canada / Australia / China
- Language
- English
- Num Seasons
- 1
- Num Episodes
- 26
- Executive Producer
- Patrick Loubert / Michael Hirsh / Clive A. Smith / Tim Brooke-Hunt / James Wang / Elizabeth Partyka
- Producer
- Yoram Gross
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Dumb Bunnies first appeared in the book The Dumb Bunnies (1994), where they live in a log cabin made of bricks and engage in absurd activities like ice skating in a lake and bowling a home run in the public library. The story includes a parody character, Little Red Goldilocks, who is flushed down the toilet by Baby Bunny. The original cover featured the word 'spam' on a bowl of porridge, which led to a legal threat from Hormel Foods Corporation, resulting in a recall or sticker placement until a reprint removed the word. These 'Spam covers' are now extremely rare.
Subsequent books include The Dumb Bunnies' Easter (1995), where they prepare for Easter in a Christmas-like manner, and Make Way for Dumb Bunnies (1996), where they go to the beach during rain and accidentally steal a car. The series was adapted into an animated television series produced by Nelvana and Yoram Gross, airing on CBS in the U.S. from October 3, 1998 to March 27, 1999.
Reader's Guide
The Dumb Bunnies series holds significance as a playful parody of classic children's literature, particularly Goodnight Moon and The Stupids Step Out. Its humor relies on inversion and absurdity, appealing to young readers while also drawing criticism. The series has faced multiple challenges: in 2010, The Dumb Bunnies Go to the Zoo was placed on the Canadian Library Association's 'Most Challenged Books of 2010' list, and was challenged in Oregon over concerns it might cause 'confusion and stupidity.' The original book was challenged in Texas for alleged violence, and the series was moved from a primary to an intermediate library in Summit County due to its 'sarcastic view of humor.' Despite these controversies, the books have remained in print and were adapted into a 26-episode animated television series. The series' legacy includes its role in sparking debates about children's literature and humor, as well as its connection to Dav Pilkey's broader body of work.
Did You Know?
- The original cover of The Dumb Bunnies had the word 'spam' on a bowl of porridge, leading to a legal threat from Hormel Foods Corporation.
- The series was adapted into an animated television series that aired on CBS from 1998 to 1999.
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