Famous Bunnies, Bunny Characters

Bugs is certainly one of the most beloved rabbits after the Easter Bunny — a true American icon. Since his introduction in 1940, his mischievous antics have delighted millions. And everyone knows his singular catchphrase, “What’s up, doc?”

When Alice found herself transported to Wonderland, the first denizen she encountered was the anxious White Rabbit, who proclaimed himself “late for a very important date.” That date turned out to be a tea party, which was also attended by the delirious March Hare.

English author Beatrix Potter created several animal protagonists for her stories, but none is more famous than Peter Rabbit. Peter was the archetype for many fictional bunnies; like the later Bunnicula and Were-Rabbit, his predilection for devouring others’ vegetables frequently got him into trouble.

In the 1950 film Harvey, James Stewart plays Elwood P. Dowd, an affable fellow whose best friend is an imaginary, six-foot tall bunny. In keeping with the grand Hollywood tradition of ennobling lunatics, the film ends when everyone realizes that Elwood would be a much more boring fellow without Harvey around.

Br’er Rabbit is a folkloric figure with roots in the American South, but he’s probably best known today for his appearance in the notorious Disney film Song of the South. Portions of the film’s animation were adapted for use in the Splash Mountain ride at Walt Disney World.

What do you get when you combine a cuddly house pet with the terrifying affliction of vampirism? You get Bunnicula, of course, the star of almost two dozen children’s books. He seems scary, but don’t worry — his preferred victims are carrots.

Expertly melding animation with live action, Who Framed Roger Rabbit? is a quirky take on cartoon conventions. Amid a supporting cast of classic Disney and Warner Bros characters, not to mention a buxom wife, the manic Roger Rabbit escapes injustice and helps improve “human-toon” relations.

Considering all of the devastating moments in Bambi – such as the death of Bambi’s mom and the forest fire – Thumper is memorable for his good cheer as much as for his signature foot stomping. In one famous scene, Thumper teaches Bambi how to ice skate, with mixed results.

Pound for pound, Max is one of the toughest bunnies on this list. Along with his more cerebral partner Sam (a talking hound), Max provides the muscle in a series of criminal investigations spanning comics and video games. His methods may be unorthodox, but they get results.

Like Bunnicula, the Were-Rabbit is a hybrid: a fuzzy bunny crossed with a classic monster. The Were-Rabbit exists in human form during the day, but moonlight causes him to transform into a ravenous beast with an insatiable hunger for the vegetable gardens of Lancashire, England.