"Toodle-oo!"
Lighter Than Hare is a 1960 Merrie Melodies cartoon staring Bugs Bunny and Yosemite Sam. It was directed by Friz Freleng and features Sam in the unique role of a being from space.Yosemite Sam of Outer Space lands on Earth in search of a creature to capture and bring back to his planet, then sets his eyes on Bugs. Unfortunately, he and his team of robots are no match for the rabbit's wits... and his homemade gadgets built from war surplus junk.
Tropes appearing in this cartoon:
- Ash Face: Sam doesn't notice that his jetpack has been replaced by a live powder keg. He finds out only when he's one word away from completing his battle cry.Sam: Yosemite Sam of Outer...
[KABOOM!]
Sam: [feebly] Space? note - Being Watched: When Robot CX-29-B is peering down his burrow at him, Bugs gives an Aside Glance and says, "Do you ever have the feeling you were being watched?".
- Bowdlerization:
- The CBS version of this cartoon cuts the part where Bugs replaces Yosemite Sam's rocket pack with a stick of dynamite ("Yosemite Sam from outer [boom!]...space?")
- The FOX and The WB airings of this cartoon left in the dynamite/rocket pack part, but cut out the very end, where Bugs, after listening to the radio broadcast of Yosemite Sam and his planet getting blown up, fiddles with the radio dial and says, "I wonder if Amos and Andy is on yet"note , instead irising-out on the close-up of the radio as we hear the robotic Bugs decoy explode.
- By the Power of Grayskull!: Pointing in the direction he wants his jetpack to go, Sam goes, "YOSEMITE SAM OF OUTER SPACE!"
- Coincidental Accidental Disguise: Sam sends Robot CX-29-B, a short guy with a dome-shaped head, to capture Bugs. The robot peers down Bugs' hole, then hides among the garbage cans. Cue Bugs coming over to take out the trash.Bugs: Well, what do you know? We've got a new garbage can.
[He opens Robot CX-29-B's head like a lid, dumps in his trash, and walks off. Sam, on his monitor, watches Robot CX-29-B coughing up the garbage.]
Sam: Ooohhh, I knew I shouldn't have sent CX-29-B! He's the most stupidest robot I've got. - Heli-Critter: Bugs is able to fly away by spinning his ears like a helicopter.
- Hoist by His Own Petard: When each robot in the Demolition Squad dumps a live powder keg down a metal shaft, Bugs counters by tossing a huge magnet inside. Bye-bye, Squad.
- Informed Flaw: After Bugs dumps trash into Robot CX-29-B in the mistaken assumption that the robot is a garbage can, Sam claims that CX-29-B is the stupidest robot he has. CX-29-B survives, though, while the other, presumably more competent robots, are all destroyed.
- Instantly Proven Wrong: Bugs first demonstrates his Heli-Critter ability when Sam boasts that Earth creatures can't maneuver as well as someone with a Jet Pack.
- I Surrender, Suckers: Bugs installs a Time Bomb in a robot and dresses it up like himself, then sends it out when Sam orders him to surrender. He tunes in on his ham radio just as the robot is presented to Sam's leader and explodes.Sam: O High and Mighty Potentate, I've brought back an Earth creature!
Commander: Earth creature, step forward. [Beat] What have you got to say for yourself?
[KABOOM!]
Commander: Sheesh, those Earth creatures, always shooting off their mouths. - Jet Pack: Sam uses one to get around. At one point, Bugs replaces it with a TNT keg.
- Schmuck Bait: As Sam sends a robot to get Bugs, Bugs makes a robot of his own to deal with it. Bugs' robot agrees to go with Sam's robot, on the condition that it doesn't press the red button on the former's torso. Sam's robot, balking at being told what not to do, presses the button... and is hit with an Extendo Boxing Glove mallet that pulverizes it. Which is probably what Bugs intended to happen.Bugs' robot: Eh, what's up, doc?
Sam's robot: I'll show you what's up. [Pulls ray gun] Come with me, or I'll blast you!
Bugs' robot: I'll go with you on one condition. That you don't press this button. [Points to a red button on his body frame]
Sam's robot: Oh, yeah? Well, no Earth robot is going to tell me what button I can press. I'm a-pressin'!
[Sam's robot presses the button and gets clobbered by a mallet shooting out of Bugs' robot.]
