My Bunny Lies over the Sea
Encyclopedia
My Bunny Lies over the Sea, a Warner Bros.
Merrie Melodies
cartoon, was released on December 14, 1948. This theatrical cartoon was directed by Chuck Jones
and written by Michael Maltese
. Mel Blanc
played both Bugs Bunny
and the Scotsman. Some of the animators included Ken Harris
, Lloyd Vaughan, and Phil Monroe.
The title is an obvious play on the second line of the old song, "My Bonnie Lies over the Ocean
". The seven minute short has been released on DVD
multiple times in different compilation discs, and is available on the Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 1
. And, though this cartoon was the Scotsman's (named Angus MacRory) only theatrical appearance, he also made his second major role in "It's a Plaid, Plaid, Plaid, Plaid World" episode (released on February 3, 1996) in The Sylvester and Tweety Mysteries
. The Scotsman can briefly be seen on a couple of Animaniacs episodes. He can also be seen in the 1996 hit film, Space Jam, watching the Tunesquad
/Michael Jordan
basketball game.
once again gets lost when he is tunneling to his vacation spot. He accidentally ends up in Scotland
, instead of the La Brea Tar Pits
. Upon his arrival, he accidentally mistakes a Scotsman dressed in traditional clothes and playing the bagpipes
for a lady being attacked by a monster. Bugs Bunny jumps the Scotsman trying to rescue the "woman", and in the process he smashes the man’s bagpipes into little pieces. The Scotsman, named Angus MacRory, becomes enraged that his bagpipes have been absolutely ruined and the angered MacRory eventually chases Bugs with a blunderbuss. When Bugs dives back into his hole and comes back out disguised as an old Scotsman accusing MacRory of "poaching on my property!", MacRory challenges the disguised Bugs Bunny to a duel—a game of golf. Of course, throughout the game of golf Bugs Bunny manages to outsmart MacRory and eventually wins, much to the Scotsman's wrath. MacRory accepts defeat after Bugs clears himself of cheating, but still claims that he can't be beaten when it comes to playing bagpipes. After playing, he dares Bugs to 'try and top that,' which the rabbit does by dressing like a Scot and playing not only bagpipes, but also a trombone
, saxophone
, trumpet
, two clarinets, cymbals on his feet, and a bass drum
with his ears. Bugs takes one last glimpse at the audience before iris out.
: The Scotsman from the cartoon makes his second major role in the "It's a Plaid, Plaid, Plaid, Plaid World" episode. His full name, "Angus MacCrory" is revealed. He is revealed to be Granny's fourth cousin twice removed.
Animaniacs: In the Dot's Quiet Time segment, When Dot is in Scotland, having finally found a quiet place, the Scotsman walks by Dot playing his bagpipes, disturbing her. In the Hurray for Slappy segment, he can be spotted in the crowd at the end of the short.
Space Jam
: The Scotsman from the cartoon can be spotted on the bleachers watching the basketball playoff between the Toon Squad and the Monstars.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
Merrie Melodies
Merrie Melodies
Merrie Melodies is the name of a series of animated cartoons distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures between 1931 and 1969.Originally produced by Harman-Ising Pictures, Merrie Melodies were produced by Leon Schlesinger Productions from 1933 to 1944. Schlesinger sold his studio to Warner Bros. in 1944,...
cartoon, was released on December 14, 1948. This theatrical cartoon was directed by Chuck Jones
Chuck Jones
Charles Martin "Chuck" Jones was an American animator, cartoon artist, screenwriter, producer, and director of animated films, most memorably of Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies shorts for the Warner Bros. Cartoons studio...
and written by Michael Maltese
Michael Maltese
Michael "Mike" Maltese was a long-time storyboard artist and screenwriter for classic animated cartoon shorts.-Career:...
. Mel Blanc
Mel Blanc
Melvin Jerome "Mel" Blanc was an American voice actor and comedian. Although he began his nearly six-decade-long career performing in radio commercials, Blanc is best remembered for his work with Warner Bros...
played both Bugs Bunny
Bugs Bunny
Bugs Bunny is a animated character created in 1938 at Leon Schlesinger Productions, later Warner Bros. Cartoons. Bugs is an anthropomorphic gray rabbit and is famous for his flippant, insouciant personality and his portrayal as a trickster. He has primarily appeared in animated cartoons, most...
and the Scotsman. Some of the animators included Ken Harris
Ken Harris
Ken Harris was an American animator who worked for several film studios. He is widely considered as one of the master animators of his time....
, Lloyd Vaughan, and Phil Monroe.
The title is an obvious play on the second line of the old song, "My Bonnie Lies over the Ocean
My Bonnie Lies over the Ocean
"My Bonnie Lies over the Ocean" is a traditional Scottish folk songwhich remains popular in Western culture.-History:The origin of the song is unknown, though it is often suggested that the subject of the song may be...
". The seven minute short has been released on DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
multiple times in different compilation discs, and is available on the Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 1
Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 1
Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 1 is a DVD box set that was released by Warner Home Video on October 28, 2003. It contains 56 Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons and numerous supplements...
. And, though this cartoon was the Scotsman's (named Angus MacRory) only theatrical appearance, he also made his second major role in "It's a Plaid, Plaid, Plaid, Plaid World" episode (released on February 3, 1996) in The Sylvester and Tweety Mysteries
The Sylvester and Tweety Mysteries
The Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries, produced by Warner Bros. Animation, is an animated television series which aired from 1995 to 2001 on Kids' WB and was later re-run on Cartoon Network...
. The Scotsman can briefly be seen on a couple of Animaniacs episodes. He can also be seen in the 1996 hit film, Space Jam, watching the Tunesquad
Space Jam
Aside from Jordan, a number of NBA players and coaches appeared in the film. Larry Bird portrays a friend of Jordan who joins him for a game of golf. When the Monstars steal the NBA players' talent, they invade a game between the Phoenix Suns and the New York Knicks, causing the Knicks' Patrick...
/Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan
Michael Jeffrey Jordan is a former American professional basketball player, active entrepreneur, and majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats...
basketball game.
Plot synopsis
This cartoon begins as Bugs BunnyBugs Bunny
Bugs Bunny is a animated character created in 1938 at Leon Schlesinger Productions, later Warner Bros. Cartoons. Bugs is an anthropomorphic gray rabbit and is famous for his flippant, insouciant personality and his portrayal as a trickster. He has primarily appeared in animated cartoons, most...
once again gets lost when he is tunneling to his vacation spot. He accidentally ends up in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, instead of the La Brea Tar Pits
La Brea Tar Pits
The La Brea Tar Pits are a cluster of tar pits around which Hancock Park was formed, in the urban heart of Los Angeles. Asphaltum or tar has seeped up from the ground in this area for tens of thousands of years. The tar is often covered with water...
. Upon his arrival, he accidentally mistakes a Scotsman dressed in traditional clothes and playing the bagpipes
Bagpipes
Bagpipes are a class of musical instrument, aerophones, using enclosed reeds fed from a constant reservoir of air in the form of a bag. Though the Scottish Great Highland Bagpipe and Irish uilleann pipes have the greatest international visibility, bagpipes of many different types come from...
for a lady being attacked by a monster. Bugs Bunny jumps the Scotsman trying to rescue the "woman", and in the process he smashes the man’s bagpipes into little pieces. The Scotsman, named Angus MacRory, becomes enraged that his bagpipes have been absolutely ruined and the angered MacRory eventually chases Bugs with a blunderbuss. When Bugs dives back into his hole and comes back out disguised as an old Scotsman accusing MacRory of "poaching on my property!", MacRory challenges the disguised Bugs Bunny to a duel—a game of golf. Of course, throughout the game of golf Bugs Bunny manages to outsmart MacRory and eventually wins, much to the Scotsman's wrath. MacRory accepts defeat after Bugs clears himself of cheating, but still claims that he can't be beaten when it comes to playing bagpipes. After playing, he dares Bugs to 'try and top that,' which the rabbit does by dressing like a Scot and playing not only bagpipes, but also a trombone
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
, saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
, trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
, two clarinets, cymbals on his feet, and a bass drum
Bass drum
Bass drums are percussion instruments that can vary in size and are used in several musical genres. Three major types of bass drums can be distinguished. The type usually seen or heard in orchestral, ensemble or concert band music is the orchestral, or concert bass drum . It is the largest drum of...
with his ears. Bugs takes one last glimpse at the audience before iris out.
Other Appearances
The Sylvester and Tweety MysteriesThe Sylvester and Tweety Mysteries
The Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries, produced by Warner Bros. Animation, is an animated television series which aired from 1995 to 2001 on Kids' WB and was later re-run on Cartoon Network...
: The Scotsman from the cartoon makes his second major role in the "It's a Plaid, Plaid, Plaid, Plaid World" episode. His full name, "Angus MacCrory" is revealed. He is revealed to be Granny's fourth cousin twice removed.
Animaniacs: In the Dot's Quiet Time segment, When Dot is in Scotland, having finally found a quiet place, the Scotsman walks by Dot playing his bagpipes, disturbing her. In the Hurray for Slappy segment, he can be spotted in the crowd at the end of the short.
Space Jam
Space Jam
Aside from Jordan, a number of NBA players and coaches appeared in the film. Larry Bird portrays a friend of Jordan who joins him for a game of golf. When the Monstars steal the NBA players' talent, they invade a game between the Phoenix Suns and the New York Knicks, causing the Knicks' Patrick...
: The Scotsman from the cartoon can be spotted on the bleachers watching the basketball playoff between the Toon Squad and the Monstars.
Censorship
- The version of this cartoon shown on CBS in the 1970s/1980s cut the part after the Scotsman McCrory shoots his rifle at Bugs where the bullet falls, McCrory picks it up, and asides to the audience that, "It's been in the family for years".