Bugs Bunny, the anthropomorphic gray and white rabbit, cracks up viewers with his mischievous personality and the hilarious way he annoys fellow cartoon characters. He was introduced in 1938 as Happy Rabbit in Porky’s Hare Hunt, then the character made his first official appearance as Bugs Bunny in A Wild Hare, which was released 80 years ago in July 1940.

Mel Blanc voiced Bugs in the Warner Bros. Merrie Melodies cartoon, which was directed by Tex Avery. The cartoon starts with Elmer Fudd uttering his famous line, “Be vewy, vewy quiet. I’m hunting wabbits.” The two characters meet when Elmer tempts Bugs with a carrot, but the crafty rabbit snatches the carrot. Frustrated, Elmer sticks his gun into Bugs’ home and after a struggle the barrel is bent into a bow.

Elmer starts digging into the rabbit hole while Bugs emerges from a different hole with another carrot and hits the angry hunter on the head and asks, “What’s up Doc?” He teases Elmer, kisses him and dives back into the rabbit hole, then when Elmer sticks his head in the hole, Bugs gives him another smooch. Elmer then sets up a different trap for Bugs, but the rabbit puts a skunk in its place.

Bugs continues torturing Elmer by giving him a free shot and makes a performance of his “death,” leaving Elmer feeling terrible. As Elmer is sitting in despair, Bugs sneaks up on him, kicks him in the butt, and shoves a cigar in his mouth. Elmer finally gives up his hunt, grumbling about “wabbits, cawwots, and guns” and the cartoon closes with Bugs stating “Ya know, I think the poor guy’s screwy.”