. . . Warner Bros.' Nostradamus-like warnings to America of Coming Cataclysmic Catastrophes, often 50 to 75 years before the fact, through both its live-action features and its animated shorts) often ask, "Why didn't Warner warn us of the Most Terrible Tragedy of All, America's 9-11 Terrorist Attacks?" Of course, such a query only pops up during Warnology 101 Classes, since Warner warned America Early and Often about September 11. (Scandalously, some of these films have been "lost," others were heavily redacted during alleged "restorations," and some may have been buried among the Forbidden Eleven Looney Tunes, which Warner has permanently barred you and me from seeing). However, viewers will note an absence of substance in HARE CONDITIONED. It simply seems notable as the only Looney Tune in which Bugs is falling to his death from a high-rise rooftop as it concludes. That Bugs' fatal plunge is preceded by the Death Dive of the Middle Eastern Taxidermist who's trying to shoot and stuff America's favorite rabbit may have been lost upon the contemporary viewers of 1945, still reeling from Japan's infamous Sneak Attack against Pearl Harbor. But the caricatured sheikh's suicide charge--which takes down Bugs, as well--portends great harm to a nation which insists upon being asleep at the wheel.

A great Bugs Bunny cartoon from the earlier years has Bugs as a performer in an window display at a local department store. After he's done for the day the manager comes in to tell him that he'll be transferring soon. Bugs is happy to oblige into he figures out that the new job is in taxidermy...and that taxidermy has to do with stuffing animals. Animals like say, a certain rabbit. This causes a battle of wits between the rascally rabbit and his now former employer. I found this short to be delightful and definitely one of the better ones of the early 1940's. It still remains as funny nearly 60+ years later. This animated short can be seen on Disc 1 of the Looney Tunes Golden Collection Volume 2.My Grade: A-

This is an above-average pre-1948 Bugs Bunny cartoon, one of my earlier favorites.The story is better than the majority, plus it's completely new. Bugs is the innocent victim here. Often, he antagonizes the predator as well. But here he chooses evasive action.The animation is great, I like the way they drew the manager. Bugs Bunny is basic, he still has to evolve quite a bit. The store is done in great detail. Kudos to the team.The ending is great, and the jokes are good throughout: Bugs dresses not only as a woman, but both hunter and quarry run through different departments, wearing appropriate clothing when they reappear. That sequence was great.Bugs manages to outwit his foe, but there's a nice twist in the tail at the end, with great penultimate and closing jokes.The manager's character is huge, about fifteen times the size of Bugs, and the perfect foil. But he's not nearly as dim-witted as he seems. Bugs has reason to be genuinely insecure about his safety.Hare Conditioned (1945) is a great cartoon, and I certainly recommend it.

Working as part of a `camping life' display in a shop window, Bugs is having a good time until his boss informs him he'll be changing the display. He plans to keep Bugs but put him in another display within the shop – the taxidermy display. Once he realises what this means, Bugs flees and uses his skills to evade the shop manager.Opening with Bugs from the very first scene mean that this is a stronger example of his films and humour. In terms of action it's all business as usual although here it is a department store manager who Bugs has to outwit and evade to avoid the stuffing process. The gags come fast and will be liked by anyone who likes his other cartoons.The character of the store manager is larger than life and works well as a foil for bugs to bounce off. He even has enough presence that Bugs takes a bit of punishment too! The two work well together on screen and there isn't really a moment that sags or is a disappointment in the whole thing.Overall this is a good example of a strong Bugs cartoon. It shows that all he really ever needed was a strong foil or straight man to work with and his usual material and tricks are enough to keep you laughing.