was recently taking the time to admire the animation in this scene and watching it with muted sound (which i couldn’t bring myself to do for the sake of animation analysis here because, come on) and in all my frenzied rewatches of this cartoon, i never caught the rich acting decisions to have Daffy genuinely struggle to maintain eye contact—he’s that kind of storyteller that stares you dead in the eye and immediately draws you into the story with no room for escape, and has that kind of amiability that makes a point to include everyone into the conversation… but is pretty hard to do when you can’t decide who to keep eye contact with. it’s more than just “oh he’s making eye contact!” but the FRENETICISM in which he suddenly jerks his head without warning back and forth; it’s this REALLY convincingly manic, fragmented energy that harkens back to some of his earliest roots. (please take due note of the copious amounts of sugar he is also putting into the coffee—rest assured he still finds it too bitter seconds after)
with the recent—and desperately long overdue—restoration for Brother Brat, i can finally post and view one of my favorite gags dependent on the animation (or lack thereof in this case) alone
On this day, in Looney Tunes history, Frank Tashlin returns to WB with his 1943 short starring Porky Pig and Daffy Duck, “Porky Pig’s Feat”. It is the first time Daffy meets Bugs Bunny officially. Today would be the 80th anniversary.
In honor to this short, let’s learn some facts about Frank Tashlin:
Tashlin directed a lot of Porky films back in the 30s and 40s and most of the Merrie Melodies from 1937-38. Porky was his less favorite character.
He would return to Warner Bros. in 1942 using Bob Clampett's and Norman McCabe's old unit, directing the last set of black-and-white Looney Tunes cartoons.
His last cartoon was "Hare Remover", for which he was uncredited in the short, as he left Warner Bros in 1944 to direct live-action films; his unit was eventually taken over by Robert McKimson.
Tex Avery was a big inspiration for his shorts.
Tashlin worked on camera moves and editing more than any of his peers, using unexpected pans and quick cuts to enhance a gag.
He developed theories of animation design he called “SCOT Art,” which reduced the basic shape of characters to squares, circles, ovals, and triangles.
He is the most daring in using ‘adult jokes’.
He created Petunia Pig.
Let’s see his take on Daffy and Bugs.
Tashlin’s Daffy is a warrior, as always, still having his bad luck on him but facing it like a champ, someone who incites trouble and faces the consequences with no complaint. He is smart, but he uses more muscles than brains.
“I’m a woman hater!” – Plane Daffy
“Now look at me! A has-been! A henpecked duck! A Kansas-back cassanova! And it's your fault!” – The Stupid Cupid
Tahslin doesn’t have a lot of cartoons for Bugs, but he does a good job in his characterization when he does. Even trying to maintain Avery’s quick movements, Bugs’ response to people bothering him, his elegance, smartness, playfuness, feminity and cuteness remain.
“I reiterate: only a big, fat rat would shoot a guy in the back.” – Unruly Hare