This is the only Bugs Bunny cartoon to win an Academy Award. This may seem strange to a lot of people because there were so many better Bugs shorts that weren't even nominated for Oscars, let alone won. But we have to keep in mind this was only up against the rest of the animated shorts from 1958 and the competition that year might have been pretty slim pickings. As a matter of fact there were only three nominees that year instead of the usual four so it wouldn't surprise me if that was the case. I've seen all three nominees and I can say, for my money, this is the best of the three. I can't readily think of another 1958 cartoon but I do know that the quality of animation across the board was declining by the late '50s. There would still be some great stuff to come but the best days of WB, MGM, and even Disney shorts were behind them by this point.Oscar talk aside, this is a very good Bugs Bunny cartoon. It takes place in the time of King Arthur, here represented as a silly old man. Arthur asks for a volunteer among his knights to retrieve the Singing Sword from the evil Black Knight (Yosemite Sam) and his fire-breathing dragon. All of the knights are chicken so King Arthur orders court jester Bugs to retrieve the sword. If he refuses, he'll be tortured and beheaded! Bugs goes to the Black Knight's castle to complete his task and Sam obviously tries to stop him. Now, reading back over what I just wrote, this sure doesn't sound like a funny cartoon, does it? It actually has a lot of clever bits and great gags. The idea of Arthur and his knights being cowardly is pretty funny, I thought. But the short's strength lies in the Bugs vs Sam stuff. If you've ever seen a Bugs/Sam cartoon before (and I'm sure you have), then you know how much fun these two going toe-to-toe can be. It's very funny with good animation, lively music, and solid voicework from the always reliable Mel Blanc. The scenes of Black Knight Sam trying to get back into the castle are hilarious. Funny stuff with the dragon, too ("Dragons is so stupid!").

It is quite surprising that only five of the Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies films won Academy Awards, and even more surprising that only one starred Bugs Bunny. Most people would hope and assume that What's Opera, Doc? would have been nominated for and won an Oscar, but it doesn't matter, this medieval themed cartoon is a good choice. The story sees King Arthur saying that one of the knights of the round table should recover the Singing Sword, stolen by the Black Knight, but they have turned chicken. The fool/jester, Bugs, comes in laughing saying only a fool would go, and the King says he will go, under penalty of death. So we see the Black Knight, Yosemite Sam, in his castle sleeping with his dumb fire-breathing dragon, that can't help sneezing and breathing. Bugs manages to get the Singing Sword easily, but then he has to escape, and when the knight and dragon chase him, he runs back into the castle and shuts the gates. The Black Knight tries a catapult and rope to get into the kingdom, until Bugs sneaks out across a long plank of wood. They spot him and chase him into a tower of explosives, where Bugs shuts them in, the dragon sneezes fire, blowing them up to the moon, and the film ends with Bugs walking away with the sword singing. It won the Oscar for Best Short Animated Film. Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies were number 20, and Bugs Bunny number 10 on The 100 Greatest Cartoons. Very good!

Directed by the wonderful Isadore "Friz" Freleng, "Knighty Knight Bugs" is an Academy Award-winning Bugs Bunny/Yosemite Sam cartoon set in medieval times. King Arthur orders his court jester (Bugs) to retrieve the so-called "singing sword" from the clutches of the Black Knight (Sam). The Black Knight has an explosive temper, but he ain't no match for Bugs! There is one sequence from "Knighty Knight Bugs" that I find especially amusing. Sam rides atop his fire-sneezing dragon in pursuit of Bugs. The dragon makes a sudden stop at a moat crossing, causing Sam to bump forward on all the dragon's scales and fall into the water. Dashing back to the crossing, Sam orders Bugs to lower the drawbridge, which he does.........right on top of Sam! I must compliment the fine vocal talent of Mel Blanc in "Knighty Knight Bugs", not only for the voices of Bugs Bunny and Yosemite Sam but also for those of King Arthur and his various noble knights. The music score of Milt Franklyn is quite commendable, too, particularly during the opening credits and the chase scenes.

I think this cartoon truly did deserve an Oscar it was hilarious. I especially like when Yosemite Sam/The Black Knight shoots himself out of a cannon and crashes into the wall and when he gets flattened by the drawbridge. Classic line: Sam: "Don't sneeze, you stupid dragon, or you'll blow us to the moon." Sure enough, that's what happens. Highly recommended.