I always liked "Rabbit of Seville" better too, it's just funnier and they're more creative with the lyrics. Plus "What's Opera Doc?" isn't as original either, as it borrows the Brunhilde gag from "Herr Meets Hare" and has elements of Bugs' first cartoon "A Wild Hare". That said "What's Opera Doc?" is still an awesome short. I'd probably still put in the top ten of the 50GreatestCartoons, but I dunno about it being number one.
My tropes launched: https://surenity2.blogspot.com/2021/02/my-tropes-on-tv-tropes.html
The sadness of the ending of "What's Opera, Doc?" is seriously undercut by the fact that Bugs is obviously alive at the end — corpses rarely break the fourth wall. It's easy to overstress that point.
One may actually be on sounder ground criticizing it as a work of art. The originality of the concept has been somewhat overrated, as it was clearly derived from the earlier Friz Freleng cartoon mentioned in the description — an idea that was only too easy to conceive in the context of Those Wacky Nazis. "The Rabbit of Seville" does at least have the freshness of a completely original treatment (though it, too, may have been vaguely suggested by Woody Woodpecker's earlier "The Barber Of Seville," the conduct of the whole is entirely different — more consistent, less sinister, arguably wittier).
The great originality of "What's Opera, Doc?" is, in my opinion, to be sought much more in its style — and much of the credit therein must go to Maurice Noble. His extremely stylized layouts add enormously to the effectiveness of the short, with its hovering partway between a fantasy world and an obviously theatrical one.
In the matter of which cartoon is funnier, there is little point in arguing. What makes one person laugh as opposed to another is more YMMV territory than nearly any other thing.
No, you're not. Or at least I find Rabbit of Seville more entertaining (there might be a difference there). Love them both, of course.
I always liked this one better, though they're both exceptionally well-made.
That's a hard questions. What's Opera Doc? is just a gorgeous cartoon. It's hard to hard complain about it being not original as it's "stolen" from "Herr meets Hare"" as they are both Looney Tunes cartoons. It seems hard to steal from yourself? Both of these catroons use the source (classical music) brilliantly. I think final word is to say I like "Rabbit of Seville" at least as well as "What's Opera Doc?"
I have to add that I like "Rhpsody Rabbit" as well as either one of the. This further begs the question - Rhapsody Rabbit or Concerto Cat?
I like "Rabbit of Seville" better too, because it is more original, and keeps Elmer and bugs more in character, and the slapstick is a little faster paced. I'd also like to note that in a lot of cartoons, Opera is depicted by a performer standing on a bare stage, singing in a tuxedo—these cartoons depict Opera with costumes and backdrops.
Yes, I like \"Rabbit of Seville\" better. If there was an easy way to explain why Bugs\' closing line — \"Next!\" — is hilarious, then maybe I could explain why the whole cartoon is just funnier.
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Am I the only one who likes "Rabbit of Seville" better?
Don't get me wrong, this is a top notch cartoon. It's significant in all the right ways, and it deserves its reputation as a work of art. But its humor just kind of falls a little flat for me at times. It certainly has its moments, but... compared to "Rabbit of Seville," I just don't find it as funny. And the ending... I gotta agree with The Nostalgia Critic... I don't expect happy endings at opera, but I do in Bugs Bunny cartoons!
I guess what it comes down to is this: What's Opera, Doc succeeds as art. It falls somewhat flat as a Bugs Bunny cartoon. "Rabbit of Seville" proved you can mix culture and comedy; it's just a shame the balance wasn't a little more to my personal liking (because I realize that's what this is) here.