History WesternAnimation / DuckAmuck

'''Daffy''': ''(sarcastically)'' That's dandy. Ho-ho, that's rich, I'll say. ''(to artist)'' [[BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor Now how about some color, stupid?!]]\\

'''Daffy''': Hey!\\

'''Daffy''': [--''(distant)'' Hey! C'mere... C'mere! Gimme a close-up! A close-up!--]\\

* DrivenToSuicide: Not in the original short, but in the Nintendo DS game, where, [[spoiler: in the secret ending which can only be accomplished by 100% completion, Daffy gets so fed up with the player's torment that, reprising the gag at the end of ''WesternAnimation/ShowBizBugs'', he kills himself by consuming gas, explosives, uranium, and matches to dispose of it.]]

* [[TrailersAlwaysSpoil Posters Always Spoil]]: The lobby card for this cartoon shows Daffy in his sailor outfit, being erased by [[spoiler: Bugs' gloved]] hand.

* RogerRabbitEffect: Subtle, but the background during the last shot [[spoiler: of Bugs animating the cartoon]] is a photo of a real animation desk.

This experiment paid off. The short has since come to be regarded as one of the all-time great cartoon shorts. A couple years later, Jones would direct a somewhat less successful SpiritualSequel in "WesternAnimation/RabbitRampage", this time with WesternAnimation/BugsBunny as the victim. The cartoon even spawned a [[VideoGame/LooneyTunesDuckAmuck game]] for the UsefulNotes/NintendoDS in 2007 in which the player could take the role of the animator and torment Daffy, though Daffy would do his best to fight back.

* BerserkButton: Having Daffy make random animal noises instead of actually speaking really sets him off -- [[PlayedForLaughs as humorous as it was]].
-->'''''[[{{Angrish}} AAAAAAAHHHBBBLBLBLBLBBLB]] -- AND I'VE NEVER BEEN SO HUMILIATED IN ALL MY LIFE!!!'''''

'''Daffy''': ''(distant)'' Hey! C'mere... C'mere! Gimme a close-up! A close-up!\\

'''Daffy''': ''This'' is a close-up?!! ''({{Beat}})'' ''A CLOSE-UP, YOU JERK! A'' '''''CLOSE-UP!'''''\\

* CloningBlues: Daffy is both above the frame and below it. The two Daffys then start arguing with each other.

** Daffy later screams at the animator to give him a close up, which results in an ExtremeCloseUp on his DeathGlare.

* VoiceChangeSurprise: During the SoundDefect spot, Daffy prepares to [[RageAgainstTheAuthor rant at the offscreen animator]], but crows like a rooster instead. Eyes widening with surprise, he clams up. He tries again, only to cackle like a kookaburra. Stopping himself, he briefly opens his beak, producing a creaking sound. He then starts seething with rage, before screaming in {{Angrish}} and declaring, "I've never been so humiliated in all my life!"

* NamedByTheAdaptation: ''Looney Tunes: Acme Arsenal'' calls the mixed up Daffy "Scramble Daffy" while ''VideoGame/LooneyTunesWorldOfMayhem'' calls him "Daffy Amuck".

* RedEyesTakeWarning: Just before his (first) [[BerserkButton tirade]], his eyes turn red with anger until he finishes saying his piece.

-->'''''[[{{Angrish}} BAAAAAAAHHHBBBLBLBLBLBBLB]] -- AND I'VE NEVER BEEN SO HUMILIATED IN ALL MY LIFE!!!'''''

This experiment paid off. The short has since come to be regarded as one of the all-time great cartoon shorts. A couple years later, Jones would direct a somewhat less successful SpiritualSequel in "WesternAnimation/RabbitRampage", this time with WesternAnimation/BugsBunny as the victim. The cartoon even spawned a [[LicensedGame game]] for the UsefulNotes/NintendoDS in 2007 in which the player could take the role of the animator and torment Daffy, though Daffy would do his best to fight back.

* CameraScrew: Towards the end of the cartoon, the frame shifts, leaving Daffy's top half on the bottom and bottom half on the top, inadvertently cloning him. The two them start TalkingToThemself.
-->'''Daffy:''' Ladies and gentlemen, there will be no further delays, so I shall attempt to entertain you in my own iniminnimitable fashion.\\
''(Daffy starts dancing, and then the frame shifts, with Daffy's top half in the bottom frame, and his bottom half on the top frame.)''\\
'''Bottom Daffy:''' ''Now'' what?!\\
'''Top Daffy:''' What are you doing down there?\\
'''Bottom Daffy:''' Down here? What are ''you'' doing ''up there''?! ''(to audience)'' "Down here"--\\
''(Top Daffy snatches Bottom Daffy into the top frame, which then re-centers)''\\
'''Daffy Prime:''' Listen, bub, if you wasn't me, I'd smack you right in the puss!\\
'''Daffy Clone:''' Don't let ''that'' bother ya, Jack!\\
'''Daffy Prime:''' ''([[ExactWords winding up]] a punch)'' Okay, buddy, you asked for it!\\
''(Daffy Clone gets erased just before Daffy throws his punch, making him miss wildly.)''

* CloningBlues: With a CameraScrew, Daffy is both above the frame and below it. The two Daffys then start arguing with each other.

The short has since come to be regarded as one of the all-time great cartoon shorts. A couple years later, Jones would direct a somewhat less successful SpiritualSequel in "WesternAnimation/RabbitRampage", this time with WesternAnimation/BugsBunny as the victim. The cartoon even spawned a [[LicensedGame game]] for the UsefulNotes/NintendoDS in 2007 in which the player could take the role of the animator and torment Daffy, though Daffy would do his best to fight back.

** At the end, when the animator draws a door in front of a ranting Daffy and closes it in his face. Specifically that it's [[spoiler:''Bugs'''hand holding the pencil]].

* BerserkButton: Having Daffy make random animal noises instead of actually speaking really sets him off -- as humorous as it was.

* SureLetsGoWithThat: After erasing Daffy, the animator redraws him dressed as a cowboy with a guitar. Daffy shrugs nonchalantly and tries to play a song -- but sound wasn't included.

* DrivenToSuicide: Not in the original short, but in the Nintendo DS game, where, [[spoiler: in the secret ending, Daffy gets so fed up with the player’s torment that, reprising the gag at the end of ''WesternAnimation/ShowBizBugs'', he kills himself by consuming gas, explosives, uranium, and matches to dispose of it.]]

* GenreDeconstruction: WordOfGod says that this was created in an attempt to take apart how cartoons work, as well as to explore whether or not Daffy would still be Daffy if he was changed beyond being recognizable.

* SoundDefect: What the animator does in response to Daffy holding up a "Sound please!" sign. The animator gives Daffy sound, but all the wrong ones. Daffy's attempts to play a guitar make it sound like a machine gun, an old-timey car horn, a bullet ricocheting off of something, and a donkey braying.

* AuthorPowers: Although Daffy continues to exercise his free will, the animator repeatedly demonstrates godlike powers over the environment, backgrounds, sounds, and even Daffy's body, able to chance anything they want without any real way for Daffy to resist.

* SoundDefect: What the animator does in response to Daffy holding up a "Sound please!" sign.

* {{Troll}}: The animator goes out of his way to antagonize Daffy. It's [[spoiler:Bugs Bunny]], if you haven't realized by now.

"Duck Amuck" is an incredibly [[PostModernism postmodern]] ''[[WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes Merrie Melodies]]'' short directed by Creator/ChuckJones in [[UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfAnimation 1953]], in which WesternAnimation/DaffyDuck finds himself [[RageAgainstTheAuthor tormented by a sadistic animator]]. Seen as a large pencil or paintbrush coming into frame to make alterations, the animator screws around with the backgrounds, erases Daffy, paints him absurd colors, replaces his voice with random sound effects, redraws him as a bizarre four-legged creature, and so forth.

The short was an audacious experiment to see if animation could screw with certain recognizable characters. Could Daffy still be Daffy if every part of him (appearance, voice, environment) was taken away? Can a cartoon still be enjoyable if it has no discernible story and only exists to be a visual experiment?

* AnvilOnHead: Happens as a result of ChuteSabotage.

* AuthorAvatar: [[spoiler:Bugs]] acts as one for director Chuck Jones.

* AuthorPowers: Although Daffy continues to exercise his free will, the animator repeatedly demonstrates godlike powers over the environment, backgrounds, sounds, and even Daffy's body.

* BaitAndSwitchCredits: The opening titles borrow fonts and music from Jones' earlier Bugs Bunny short ''WesternAnimation/RabbitHood'' to suggest a rather conventional "Daffy as swashbuckling would-be hero" cartoon to follow, like ''WesternAnimation/TheScarletPumpernickel''. (Daffy would explore this scenario in 1958's ''WesternAnimation/RobinHoodDaffy''.) Also see FakeOutOpening.
* BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor: See AuthorsRetaliation.

* BerserkButton: Having Daffy make random animal noises instead of actually speaking probably wasn't a good idea -- as humorous as it was.

* BigNo: Daffy pushes away a premature 'The End' card, screaming '''"NO!! NO!!!"''' at the top of his lungs.

* TheCameo: And it's a real dandy. Turns out the animator tormenting Daffy is none other than [[spoiler:WesternAnimation/BugsBunny]].
-->[[spoiler:'''Bugs''']]: Hee, hee, hee. Ain't I a stinker?

* CloningBlues: See CameraScrew above.

* ConcussionsGetYouHigh: Daffy Duck gets rather loopy near the end, reciting "The Village Blacksmith" while banging a hammer on the parachute-turned-anvil (see AnvilOnHead above) that the artist's pencil then changes into an artillery shell.

* ExploitingTheFourthWall: [[spoiler:Bugs]] uses this trope to torment Daffy throughout the episode.

* EyebrowWaggle: [[spoiler:Bugs]] gives one to the camera after saying his only line, "Ain't I a stinker?"

* GenreDeconstruction: WordOfGod says that this was created in an attempt to take apart how cartoons work, as well as to explore whether or not Daffy would still be Daffy if he was changed beyond recognizability.
* HumiliationConga: From beginning to end.

* ItAmusedMe: [[spoiler:Bugs]] seems to be tormenting Daffy for no reason at all other than fun.

* KarmaHoudini: [[spoiler:Bugs]] gets away with tormenting Daffy here. [[WesternAnimation/RabbitRampage Of course karma gets to him in the sequel]].
* MediumAwareness: The basis of the short's humour, from beginning to end.

* MindScrew: By the animator to Daffy.
* NoFourthWall: The FourthWall is utterly ''demolished'' in this cartoon. The sad and sorry remains are washed away the moment the ''animator'' [[spoiler:Bugs Bunny]] addresses the audience.

* RageAgainstTheAuthor: Or animator, in this case.

** At the end, when the animator draws a door in front of a ranting Daffy and closes it in his face. Specifically that it's [[spoiler:''Bugs''']] hand holding the pencil.

** In the DS version, right after Daffy demands to know who is playing the game, the GameOver screen drops down, and it was revealed that it is [[spoiler:Daffy ''himself'']] who was playing on the DS itself.

** This gag is replicated at the start of the DS game, where Daffy is skiing only to come across the same problem. The animator then puts him in a ''VideoGame/MegaMan'' like setting and then a dance floor before removing the background again.