Tortoise Beats Hare Review

Tortoise Beats Hare is a 1941 animated short film from the Merry Melodies series. It is a very strong short.

Bugs Bunny finally returns in this cartoon where he has to beat tortoise Cecil to prove to the directors of the film that he is faster. Unfortunately for him, the tortoise cheats and brings his cousins to the race and wins. Yes, that twist ending was great and the film’s cheating aspect really set it apart wonderfully from the famous Disney tale.

I wanted more gags as the film becomes somewhat repetitive in the second act, though admittedly very well executed in those action sequences. The beginning is magnificent as it’s an original take on an opening with great humor and characterization for Bugs who is in this film finally reminiscent of his usual, famous self. But Cecil shouldn’t be forgotten as well because he’s pretty memorable here and a worthy rival to Bugs.

Tortoise Beats Hare features a standout beginning and ending while having memorable character moments for both Bugs and Cecil.