Broom-Stick Bunny
Bugs Bunny faces Witch Hazel on Halloween.
Broom-Stick Bunny is a 1956 Warner Bros. Looney Tunes short directed by Chuck Jones. It was released on February 25, 1956, and features Bugs Bunny. The short marks June Foray's first collaboration with Jones; she had previously voiced characters in a few shorts for other directors. After Warner Bros. closed its animation department, Foray continued to work with Jones. She remained a collaborator with Warner Bros. until her death.
The plot takes place on Halloween night. A membership plaque for "The Malevolent Order of Witches," affiliated with an AF of Elves, is shown. Witch Hazel brews a potion while consulting her magic mirror, which reveals her fear of aging. Bugs Bunny, disguised as a witch, arrives for trick-or-treating. Hazel mistakes him for a fellow witch, and the mirror suggests Bugs is uglier, making her jealous. She invites him in, planning to use him in her beauty potion. Bugs discovers her intentions and tries to escape, leading to a comical chase through the house. Hazel pursues him with a cleaver until Bugs convinces her of his innocence with a tearful plea. She spares him but accidentally drinks the beauty potion meant for Bugs, transforming into a stunning redhead—a caricature of June Foray, who used her real voice after the transformation. Shocked by her own beauty, Hazel seeks validation from her magic mirror, but the mirror's reflection becomes infatuated with her. Terrified, she flees on her broomstick, pursued by the enamored reflection. Bugs, now free, alerts the authorities to the surreal chase.
The cast includes Mel Blanc as Bugs Bunny, and June Foray as Witch Hazel (uncredited).
- Director
- Chuck Jones
- Release date
- February 25, 1956
- Studio
- Warner Bros.
- Series
- Looney Tunes
- Starring
- Bugs Bunny
- Notable voice actor
- June Foray (as Witch Hazel, uncredited)
Lore & Background
The short opens on Halloween night with a membership plaque to 'The Malevolent Order of Witches,' affiliated with an AF of Elves. Witch Hazel brews a potion while consulting her magic mirror, revealing her fear of aging. Bugs Bunny, disguised as a witch, visits her for trick-or-treating. Mistaking Bugs for a fellow witch, Hazel becomes jealous when the mirror suggests Bugs is uglier. She invites Bugs in, intending to use him in her beauty potion.
Reader's Guide
Broom-Stick Bunny is significant as the first collaboration between director Chuck Jones and voice actress June Foray, who would continue to work with Jones after Warner Bros. closed their animation department. Foray herself would continue to collaborate with Warner Bros. up until her death. The short features a notable transformation scene where Witch Hazel accidentally drinks her beauty potion and becomes a stunning redhead, said to be a caricature of Foray, who used her real voice after the transformation. The short is also listed among films set around Halloween.
Did You Know?
- June Foray's first time working with director Chuck Jones was on this short.
- Witch Hazel's transformation into a redhead is said to be a caricature of her voice actress, June Foray.
- The short was released on February 25, 1956.
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