History WesternAnimation / WhatsOperaDoc

* DownerEnding: This is one of the few times where Elmer succeeds in killing Bugs and Elmer is [[PyrrhicVictory too remorseful by his actions to enjoy his victory]]. {{Lampshade|Hanging}}d by Bugs in an uncharacteristically serious tone while BreakingTheFourthWall.

* OhCrap:

** Then, at the end of the big love song, Bugs’s wig and helmet fall off, and Bugs gives an OhCrapSmile before pulling Elmer’s helmet down and running for his life. All of which is accompanied by a dramatic {{Drum Roll|Please}} which signals the start of Elmer's VillainousBreakdown. When audiences heard it and saw Bugs running for his life, they ''knew'' things were going to REALLY go downhill.

* ShoutOut: The opening scene is a parody of the "Night On Bald Mountain" segment of ''WesternAnimation/{{Fantasia}}''.

* WholesomeCrossdresser: Bugs (as usual) at one point in the short.

* BloodFromAStone: As Bugs lies seemingly dead, rain drops falling from a flower make it seem as if it was mourning him.

* {{Catchphrase}}: Plays magnificently with Elmer's traditional desire to "''Kill the wabbit!!''"

* DownerEnding: This is one of the few times where Elmer succeeds in killing Bugs and Elmer is too horrified by his actions to enjoy his victory. {{Lampshade|Hanging}}d by Bugs in an uncharacteristically serious tone while BreakingTheFourthWall.

Having taken roughly six times as much time and money to produce as most contemporary ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'' shorts[[note]]Chuck Jones wrote that, since [[WesternAnimation/WileECoyoteAndTheRoadRunner Wile E. Coyote]] shorts were faster and cheaper to make, the animators were able to complete all of them within the studio's time and budget constraints[[/note]], "What's Opera, Doc?" is considered by many to be Jones' magnum opus, and is one of the most beloved and critically acclaimed animated shorts of all time, if not ''the'' most. It has topped numerous lists compiled by film critics and professional animators, and in 1992, it became the first cartoon short to be deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" by the United States Library of Congress, being selected for preservation in the UsefulNotes/NationalFilmRegistry.

-->"Well what did you expect in an opera? A ''happy'' ending?"

** Then, at the end of the big love song, Bugs’s wig and helmet fall off, and Bugs gives an OhCrapSmile before pulling Elmer’s helmet down and running for his life. All of which is accompanied by a dramatic {{Drum Roll|Please}} which signals the start of Elmer's VillainousBreakdown. When audiences heard it and saw Bugs running for his life, they ''knew'' things were going to get REALLY downhill.

* BrawnHilda: Averted; Bugs as Brünnhilde is really quite petite. [[https://78.media.tumblr.com/0a510c3d8bdcf6d2034a6b122618b535/tumblr_inline_p8wposC52g1rmndlo_500.png The horse "she" rides in on, however...]] Creator/ChuckJones explained that, denied the traditionally curvaceous opera heroine, they threw every curve they had into her noble steed instead.

** Then, at the end of the big love song, Bugs’s wig and helmet fall off, and Bugs gives an OhCrapSmile before pulling Elmer’s helmet down and running for his life. All of which is accompanied by a dramatic {{Drum Roll|Please}} which signals the start of Elmer's VillainousBreakdown. When audiences heard it and saw Bugs running for his life, they ''knew'' things were going to get REALLY ugly.

Having taken roughly six times as much time and money to produce as most contemporary ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'' shorts[[note]]Chuck Jones wrote that, since [[WesternAnimation/WileECoyoteAndTheRoadRunner Wile E. Coyote]] films were faster and cheaper to make, the animators were able to complete all of them within the studio's time and budget constraints[[/note]], "What's Opera, Doc?" is considered by many to be Jones' magnum opus, and is one of the most beloved and critically acclaimed animated shorts of all time, if not ''the'' most. It has topped numerous lists compiled by film critics and professional animators, and in 1992, it became the first cartoon short to be deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" by the United States Library of Congress, being selected for preservation in the UsefulNotes/NationalFilmRegistry.

* ShoutOut: The opening scene is a parody of the "Night On Bald Mountain" segment of ''WesternAnimation/{{Fantasia}}''.

* PyrrhicVillainy: Elmer succeeds in killing Bugs, yes, but at the same time kills the...er...[[DisguisedInDrag rabbit]] he loved and is overcome by grief and remorse. It makes perfect sense for the character. Every time Bugs fooled Elmer into thinking he got him before, Elmer broke down similarly. Perhaps he's not as cut out for hunting as he thinks he is. Or he should stick to hunting the non-sentient.

* DownerEnding: This is one of the few times where Elmer succeeds in killing Bugs and Elmer is too horrified by his actions to enjoy his victory. {{Lampshade|Hanging}}d by Bugs in an uncharacteristically serious tone.

As the tempest dies down, it reveals the broken form of the "poor wittle wabbit", whom he has, by all appearances, finally killed. [[AntagonistInMourning Overcome with remorse]], Fudd tenderly scoops up the body and marches sniffling into the sunset... at which point Bugs, [[FakingTheDead very much alive]], raises his head and inquires briskly of the audience: "Well what did ya expect in an opera -- [[TrueArtIsAngsty a]] ''[[TrueArtIsAngsty happy]]'' [[TrueArtIsAngsty ending]]?"

* AntagonistInMourning: "What have I done? I've killed the wabbit."

Having taken roughly six times as much time and money to produce as most contemporary ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'' shorts[[note]]Chuck Jones wrote that, since [[WesternAnimation/WileECoyoteAndTheRoadRunner Wile E. Coyote]] films were faster and cheaper to make, the animators were able to complete all of them within the studio's time and budget constraints[[/note]], ''What's Opera, Doc?'' is considered by many to be Jones' magnum opus, and is one of the most beloved and critically acclaimed animated shorts of all time, if not ''the'' most. It has topped numerous lists compiled by film critics and professional animators, and in 1992, it became the first cartoon short to be deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" by the United States Library of Congress, being selected for preservation in the UsefulNotes/NationalFilmRegistry.

''What's Opera, Doc?'' -- yes, with a question mark -- is a [[UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfAnimation 1957]] ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'' short famously described by director Creator/ChuckJones as "[[TheAbridgedSeries our attempt to squish the entire Ring Cycle down to six minutes]]." The incredible part is that they ''succeeded''.

* HeelRealization: Elmer at the end

* CoolHorse: Bugs' horse is a strange mix of a BrawnHilda and a beautiful, white mare. Pretty neat.

-->"What did you expect from an opera? A happy ending?"

-->-- '''Bugs Bunny''', speaking of this cartoon in ''[=The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Movie=]''.