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What's Opera, Doc?: Difference between revisions
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'''"What's Opera, Doc?"''' is a [[The Golden Age of Animation|1957]] [[Looney Tunes]] short famously described by director [[Chuck Jones]] as "[[The Abridged Series|our attempt to squish the entire Ring Cycle down to six minutes]]." The incredible part is that they ''succeeded''.
Specifically, the short is an ambitious parody of the operas of [[Richard Wagner]], particularly ''[[The Ring of the Nibelung|Der Ring des Nibelungen]]'' (especially ''Die Walküre''), and (musically) ''Der fliegende Holländer'' and ''[[Tannhaeuser]]''. It was written by Michael Maltese, who twelve years earlier had warmed up for the task with Friz Freleng's similar ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20120103053233/http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1759515648312728369
The plot follows Siegfried Fudd as he attempts to (what else?) kill innocent little forest critter [[Bugs Bunny]] with his "speaw and [[Hat of Power|magic hewmet]]." Along the way Fudd manages to fall in love with what he does not realize is Bugs in drag as Brünnhilde; when he discovers he's been tricked, his [[Elmuh Fudd Syndwome|tewwib]] -- er, ''terrible'' wrath unleashes the full force of the helmet's awesome might: "Nowth winds bwow! South winds bwow! Typhoons! Huwwicanes! Eawthquakes! [[Arson, Murder, and Jaywalking|SMOOOOOOGGGGG!!]]"
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Naturally, as this is an opera, almost all of the dialogue is sung ("O mighty warrior of great fighting stock, / Might I inquire to ask, 'Ehh, what's up Doc?'" to the tune of Siegfried's "Horn Call"). Most famous is Elmer's continual refrain of "Kill da wabbit!" to the tune of the "[[Ride of the Valkyries]]". The brief ballet sequence between Siegfried and "Brünnhilde" was painstakingly choreographed by animators who studied film of actual dancers. There's even a duet, "Return, My Love", with original words by Maltese, to the tune of the "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coLxM2hq_gA Pilgrims' Chorus]" from ''[[Tannhaeuser]]''.
Having taken roughly six times as much time and money to produce as most contemporary [[Looney Tunes]] shorts<ref>Chuck Jones wrote that, since ''[[Wile E. Coyote and The Road Runner|Road Runner]]'' cartoons were faster and cheaper to make, the animators were able to complete all of them within the studio's time and budget constraints</ref>, this is possibly the most beloved and critically-acclaimed animated short of all time, topping numerous lists compiled by film critics and professional animators. In 1992, it became the first cartoon short to be deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" by the United States Library of Congress, and thus was selected for
{{tropelist}}
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* [[Nerd in Evil's Helmet]]: Elmer Fudd wearing a magic helmet instead of his usual hunter cap.
* [[Oh Crap]]: When Bugs realizes Elmer wasn't bluffing about his Helmet's powers, complete with doe eyes and drooping ears.
** And to the audience, the dramatic [[Drum Roll]] which signaled the start of Elmer's [[Villainous Breakdown]]. When they heard it, they ''knew'' things were going to get
* [[Pun-Based Title]]
* [[Recycled in Space|Wecycled IN SPACE!]]: This short is basically just your typical Bugs Bunny being hunted by Elmer Fudd scenario...but this time, '''AS AN OPERA!''' And '''ELMER WINS!'''▼
** Alternately, The Ring Cycle [[The Abridged Series|Abridged]] '''WITH BUGS BUNNY!'''▼
* [[Red Eyes, Take Warning]]: Elmer gets this as well as everything around him glowing red with rage when he catches on to Bugs' tricks.
* [[Scenery Porn]]: Particularly when Elmer carries Bugs away.
* [[Shock and Awe]]: "Stwike, wightning! Stwike da wabbit!"
* [[Elmuh Fudd Syndwome|Siegfwied Fudd Syndwome]]
{{quote|'''[[Villainous Breakdown|Elmer]]''': [[Red Eyes, Take Warning|I'll '''KILL DA WABBIT!
* [[Sophisticated As Hell]]: Opera motifs. Ballet. Love duets. Wagnerian motifs. Yet Siegfried is still out to "kill da wabbit."
* [[Stylistic Suck]]: Not the cartoon itself by any means, but the song "Return My Love" was deliberately written to be as sappy and cliche as possible.
<!-- * [[Team Rocket Wins]]... no, this doesn't happen in the middle of the story. And we already have [[The Bad Guy Wins]] for the ending. Commenting out instead of deleting so that it isn't added back in. -->
* [[Unexplained Recovery]]: Bugs suddenly recovers, to deliver the [[Punch Line]].
* [[Unsettling Gender Reveal]]: Brünnhilde was da wabbit! Leading to Elmer's [[Villainous Breakdown]].
* [[Valkyries]]: Bugs as Brünnhilde, obviously.
* [[Villainous Breakdown]]: When Elmer discovers who his love really is.
▲* [[Recycled in Space|Wecycled IN SPACE!]]: This short is basically just your typical Bugs Bunny being hunted by Elmer Fudd scenario...but this time, '''AS AN OPERA!''' And '''ELMER WINS!'''
▲** Alternately, The Ring Cycle [[The Abridged Series|Abridged]] '''WITH BUGS BUNNY!'''
* [[Wholesome Crossdresser]]: Bugs at one point in the short.
{{reflist}}
{{50 Greatest Cartoons}}
[[Category:Animated Films]]
[[Category:National Film Registry]]
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[[Category:The Fifties]]
[[Category:Films of the 1950s]]
▲[[Category:What's Opera, Doc?]]
[[Category:Film]]
[[Category:What's Opera, Doc?]]▼
[[Category:Looney Tunes in the Fifties]]
[[Category:Pages with working Wikipedia tabs]]
[[Category:Western Animation of the 1950s]]
[[Category:This Index Asked You a Question]]
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