Yosemite Sam
Commercial
Brand: Tang - Instant Drink
Release date: 1963-??-??
Name and role:
Sam realizes he's been bamboozled by Bugs and launches into a furious chase for his Tang Drink, showcasing a glorious era when drink commercials apparently thought nothing of people blasting each other with firearms.
Brand: Tang - Instant Drink
Release date: 1963-??-??
Name and role:
Sam realizes he's been bamboozled by Bugs and launches into a furious chase for his Tang Drink, showcasing a glorious era when drink commercials apparently thought nothing of people blasting each other with firearms.
Bugs Bunny in King Arthur's Court
Release date: 1978-02-23
Plot: Bugs, while digging a hole, ends up in medieval Britain and is mistaken for a "dwagon" by Sir Elmer of Fudde. He encounters King Arthur, played by Daffy Duck, and Merlin, portrayed by Yosemite Sam. The story follows Bugs's adventures as he navigates knights, magic, and courtly intrigue, using his wits to face challenges and find his way back to his own time.
Name and role: Yosemite Sam takes on the role of Merlin of Monroe, the royal court wizard. He's immediately suspicious of Bugs and wants nothing more than to see him defeated (because of course he does). He teams up with Elmer during the joust, loading him up with every trick in the book, from enchanted gadgets to straight-up cannons. Needless to say, the outcome is exactly what you'd expect.
Trivia and other appearances: Sam appears in another medieval-themed short, Knighty Knight Bugs (1958), where, instead of a wizard, he plays the role of the Black Knight.
Release date: 1978-02-23
Plot: Bugs, while digging a hole, ends up in medieval Britain and is mistaken for a "dwagon" by Sir Elmer of Fudde. He encounters King Arthur, played by Daffy Duck, and Merlin, portrayed by Yosemite Sam. The story follows Bugs's adventures as he navigates knights, magic, and courtly intrigue, using his wits to face challenges and find his way back to his own time.
Name and role: Yosemite Sam takes on the role of Merlin of Monroe, the royal court wizard. He's immediately suspicious of Bugs and wants nothing more than to see him defeated (because of course he does). He teams up with Elmer during the joust, loading him up with every trick in the book, from enchanted gadgets to straight-up cannons. Needless to say, the outcome is exactly what you'd expect.
Trivia and other appearances: Sam appears in another medieval-themed short, Knighty Knight Bugs (1958), where, instead of a wizard, he plays the role of the Black Knight.
How Bugs Bunny Won the West
Release date: 1978-11-15
Plot: The storyline is constructed from segments of earlier cartoons, including "Barbary-Coast Bunny," "14 Carrot Rabbit," "Aqua Duck," "Bonanza Bunny," "Wild and Woolly Hare," and "Drip-Along Daffy" . In these adventures, Bugs faces off against characters like Yosemite Sam, Nasty Canasta, and Blacque Jacque Shellacque, using his wit and cunning to overcome obstacles and outsmart his foes.
Name and role: There's nothing more classic than this duo as cowboys, so for this special about "west" I choose them as main rappresentation
Trivia and other appearances: Yosemite Sam made his explosive debut in Hare Trigger (1945). His persona as the ultimate short-fused gunslinger is further developed in Bugs Bunny Rides Again (1948), Wild and Woolly Hare (1959), and Horse Hare (1960) each short placing Sam in iconic frontier roles, from saloon duelist to cavalry commander. These western-themed cartoons not only solidify his image as the quintessential Western foil but also cement his place as one of the most versatile and enduring villains in the Looney Tunes stable.
Release date: 1978-11-15
Plot: The storyline is constructed from segments of earlier cartoons, including "Barbary-Coast Bunny," "14 Carrot Rabbit," "Aqua Duck," "Bonanza Bunny," "Wild and Woolly Hare," and "Drip-Along Daffy" . In these adventures, Bugs faces off against characters like Yosemite Sam, Nasty Canasta, and Blacque Jacque Shellacque, using his wit and cunning to overcome obstacles and outsmart his foes.
Name and role: There's nothing more classic than this duo as cowboys, so for this special about "west" I choose them as main rappresentation
Trivia and other appearances: Yosemite Sam made his explosive debut in Hare Trigger (1945). His persona as the ultimate short-fused gunslinger is further developed in Bugs Bunny Rides Again (1948), Wild and Woolly Hare (1959), and Horse Hare (1960) each short placing Sam in iconic frontier roles, from saloon duelist to cavalry commander. These western-themed cartoons not only solidify his image as the quintessential Western foil but also cement his place as one of the most versatile and enduring villains in the Looney Tunes stable.
Bugs Bunny's Christmas Tale
Release date: 1979-11-07
Plot: Bugs Bunny's Looney Christmas Tales features three new Christmas-themed shorts: Bugs Bunny's Christmas Carol, Freeze Frame, and Fright Before Christmas; all linked together by brand-new animated bridging sequences starring Bugs Bunny and the Looney Tunes gang, giving the special a continuous and festive flow.
Name and role: In the grand finale, Sam doesn't exactly do as Scrooge did but, you know, back then, nobody was dressing up as Santa Claus. But there he is, our microscopic cowboy, strutting down, red dressed, the street hurling banknotes into people's faces like festive confetti.
Trivia and other appearances: Sam's been through dozens of costumes and roles, but this is the one true moment where he's dressed in full, classic red holiday spirit.
Release date: 1979-11-07
Plot: Bugs Bunny's Looney Christmas Tales features three new Christmas-themed shorts: Bugs Bunny's Christmas Carol, Freeze Frame, and Fright Before Christmas; all linked together by brand-new animated bridging sequences starring Bugs Bunny and the Looney Tunes gang, giving the special a continuous and festive flow.
Name and role: In the grand finale, Sam doesn't exactly do as Scrooge did but, you know, back then, nobody was dressing up as Santa Claus. But there he is, our microscopic cowboy, strutting down, red dressed, the street hurling banknotes into people's faces like festive confetti.
Trivia and other appearances: Sam's been through dozens of costumes and roles, but this is the one true moment where he's dressed in full, classic red holiday spirit.
Bugs Bunny's Christmas Tale
Release date: 1979-11-07
Plot: Bugs Bunny's Looney Christmas Tales features three new Christmas-themed shorts. Bugs Bunny's Christmas Carol, Freeze Frame, and Fright Before Christmas; all linked together by brand-new animated bridging sequences starring Bugs Bunny and the Looney Tunes gang, giving the special a continuous and festive flow.
Name and role: In the "Bugs Bunny's Christmas Carol" segment, Sam plays Scrooge, and Bugs, as you can see, plays a really cheap version of the Ghost of Christmas. We've definitely seen him put in way more effort than this. I've always found it super creepy how tiny his eyes look through the sheet, so I left them exactly as they were. It's one of those details I just can't unsee.
Trivia and other appearances: We've seen these two torment each other in the past, the present, and no doubt we'll see it again in the future. Since Hare Trigger (1945), the two have clashed (during the Golden Age alone) a total of 15 times. If you're interested in other Warner Bros. takes on A Christmas Carol, the movie Bah, Humduck! gives you the full story but with Daffy taking on the role of Scrooge.
Release date: 1979-11-07
Plot: Bugs Bunny's Looney Christmas Tales features three new Christmas-themed shorts. Bugs Bunny's Christmas Carol, Freeze Frame, and Fright Before Christmas; all linked together by brand-new animated bridging sequences starring Bugs Bunny and the Looney Tunes gang, giving the special a continuous and festive flow.
Name and role: In the "Bugs Bunny's Christmas Carol" segment, Sam plays Scrooge, and Bugs, as you can see, plays a really cheap version of the Ghost of Christmas. We've definitely seen him put in way more effort than this. I've always found it super creepy how tiny his eyes look through the sheet, so I left them exactly as they were. It's one of those details I just can't unsee.
Trivia and other appearances: We've seen these two torment each other in the past, the present, and no doubt we'll see it again in the future. Since Hare Trigger (1945), the two have clashed (during the Golden Age alone) a total of 15 times. If you're interested in other Warner Bros. takes on A Christmas Carol, the movie Bah, Humduck! gives you the full story but with Daffy taking on the role of Scrooge.
The Looney, Looney, Looney Bugs Bunny Movie
Release date: 1981-11-20
Plot: An anthology film hosted by Bugs Bunny, featuring a spoof of the Oscars called the Oswald Awards. It presents three segments built around classic cartoons, with new animation linking the stories. Yosemite Sam, Daffy Duck, Rocky, and Bugs himself all take the spotlight in this chaotic tribute to the Looney Tunes universe.
Name and role: The first act presented in the film is structured like a mini-movie, divided into three consecutive episodes, all centered around Sam and connected by a common theme: his eternal struggle with Bugs... and with Hell. Dandy Sam falls straight into the underworld, and if he doesn't want to stay there forever, he must return to Earth and perform some good deeds.
Trivia and other appearances: Sam quite literally takes Sylvester's place and reenacts the events of the 1954 short Satan's Waitin', where Sylvester repeatedly dies in his attempts to catch Tweety, losing all of his nine lives one by one. Anyway this design is from "Hare Trimmed" (1953)
Release date: 1981-11-20
Plot: An anthology film hosted by Bugs Bunny, featuring a spoof of the Oscars called the Oswald Awards. It presents three segments built around classic cartoons, with new animation linking the stories. Yosemite Sam, Daffy Duck, Rocky, and Bugs himself all take the spotlight in this chaotic tribute to the Looney Tunes universe.
Name and role: The first act presented in the film is structured like a mini-movie, divided into three consecutive episodes, all centered around Sam and connected by a common theme: his eternal struggle with Bugs... and with Hell. Dandy Sam falls straight into the underworld, and if he doesn't want to stay there forever, he must return to Earth and perform some good deeds.
Trivia and other appearances: Sam quite literally takes Sylvester's place and reenacts the events of the 1954 short Satan's Waitin', where Sylvester repeatedly dies in his attempts to catch Tweety, losing all of his nine lives one by one. Anyway this design is from "Hare Trimmed" (1953)
The Looney, Looney, Looney Bugs Bunny Movie
Release date: 1981-11-20
Plot: An anthology film hosted by Bugs Bunny, featuring a spoof of the Oscars called the Oswald Awards. It presents three segments built around classic cartoons, with new animation linking the stories. Yosemite Sam, Daffy Duck, Rocky, and Bugs himself all take the spotlight in this chaotic tribute to the Looney Tunes universe.
Name and role: One of Sam's deaths is caused by a lion. Sam starts slapping the lion in the face to make it stop roaring, until Bugs casually lifts the cage door, allowing the lion to get a little sweet, and deadly, revenge.
Trivia and other appearances: This segment is taken from Roman Legion-Hare (1955).
Release date: 1981-11-20
Plot: An anthology film hosted by Bugs Bunny, featuring a spoof of the Oscars called the Oswald Awards. It presents three segments built around classic cartoons, with new animation linking the stories. Yosemite Sam, Daffy Duck, Rocky, and Bugs himself all take the spotlight in this chaotic tribute to the Looney Tunes universe.
Name and role: One of Sam's deaths is caused by a lion. Sam starts slapping the lion in the face to make it stop roaring, until Bugs casually lifts the cage door, allowing the lion to get a little sweet, and deadly, revenge.
Trivia and other appearances: This segment is taken from Roman Legion-Hare (1955).
The Looney, Looney, Looney Bugs Bunny Movie
Release date: 1981-11-20
Plot: An anthology film hosted by Bugs Bunny, featuring a spoof of the Oscars called the Oswald Awards. It presents three segments built around classic cartoons, with new animation linking the stories. Yosemite Sam, Daffy Duck, Rocky, and Bugs himself all take the spotlight in this chaotic tribute to the Looney Tunes universe.
Name and role: In this sequence, we're in the Sahara. Sam the Bedouin is riding his elephant when Bugs releases a wind-up toy mouse. Terrified, the elephant uses Sam to try and squash it.
Trivia and other appearances: This segment is taken from "Sahara Hare" (1955)
Release date: 1981-11-20
Plot: An anthology film hosted by Bugs Bunny, featuring a spoof of the Oscars called the Oswald Awards. It presents three segments built around classic cartoons, with new animation linking the stories. Yosemite Sam, Daffy Duck, Rocky, and Bugs himself all take the spotlight in this chaotic tribute to the Looney Tunes universe.
Name and role: In this sequence, we're in the Sahara. Sam the Bedouin is riding his elephant when Bugs releases a wind-up toy mouse. Terrified, the elephant uses Sam to try and squash it.
Trivia and other appearances: This segment is taken from "Sahara Hare" (1955)
The Looney, Looney, Looney Bugs Bunny Movie
Release date: 1981-11-20
Plot: An anthology film hosted by Bugs Bunny, featuring a spoof of the Oscars called the Oswald Awards. It presents three segments built around classic cartoons, with new animation linking the stories. Yosemite Sam, Daffy Duck, Rocky, and Bugs himself all take the spotlight in this chaotic tribute to the Looney Tunes universe.
Name and role: In this sequence, Sam tries to rob a moving train; but this time, he ends up being the cause of his own demise. For a supposed top-notch cowboy, he might want to retake a riding course... and learn to look where he's going.
Trivia and other appearances: This sequence is taken from Wild and Woolly Hare (1959).
Release date: 1981-11-20
Plot: An anthology film hosted by Bugs Bunny, featuring a spoof of the Oscars called the Oswald Awards. It presents three segments built around classic cartoons, with new animation linking the stories. Yosemite Sam, Daffy Duck, Rocky, and Bugs himself all take the spotlight in this chaotic tribute to the Looney Tunes universe.
Name and role: In this sequence, Sam tries to rob a moving train; but this time, he ends up being the cause of his own demise. For a supposed top-notch cowboy, he might want to retake a riding course... and learn to look where he's going.
Trivia and other appearances: This sequence is taken from Wild and Woolly Hare (1959).
The Looney, Looney, Looney Bugs Bunny Movie
Plot: An anthology film hosted by Bugs Bunny, featuring a spoof of the Oscars called the Oswald Awards. It presents three segments built around classic cartoons, with new animation linking the stories. Yosemite Sam, Daffy Duck, Rocky, and Bugs himself all take the spotlight in this chaotic tribute to the Looney Tunes universe.
Name and role: The final sequence of Sam's segment shows him choosing Hell over having to face that darn rabbit ever again. Without hesitation, he throws on a devil costume and starts enjoying his new life in the underworld.
Trivia and other appearances: Once again, this is a clear reprise of the 1954 short Satan's Waitin', where Sylvester made the exact same choice.
Plot: An anthology film hosted by Bugs Bunny, featuring a spoof of the Oscars called the Oswald Awards. It presents three segments built around classic cartoons, with new animation linking the stories. Yosemite Sam, Daffy Duck, Rocky, and Bugs himself all take the spotlight in this chaotic tribute to the Looney Tunes universe.
Name and role: The final sequence of Sam's segment shows him choosing Hell over having to face that darn rabbit ever again. Without hesitation, he throws on a devil costume and starts enjoying his new life in the underworld.
Trivia and other appearances: Once again, this is a clear reprise of the 1954 short Satan's Waitin', where Sylvester made the exact same choice.
Bugs Bunny's 3rd Movie: 1001 Rabbit Tales
Release date: 1982-11-19
Plot: Daffy and Bugs end up in the palace of Sultan Yosemite Sam, who forces them to tell stories to his spoiled son, Prince Abba-Dabba. In a desperate attempt to save their skins, Bugs begins spinning a series of fairy tales, which are, in reality, classic Looney Tunes shorts cleverly tied together with newly animated sequences. Among the tales we get to revisit are Jack-Wabbit and the Beanstalk (1943), Ali Baba Bunny (1957), Goldimouse and the Three Cats (1960), and Bewitched Bunny (1954).
Name and role: Abba-Dabba is the spoiled and bratty son of Sultan Yosemite Sam. In the film, Bugs Bunny finds himself forced to tell him an endless string of stories to keep him entertained or face being dunked in boiling oil. Abba-Dabba's character design bears a strong resemblance to Junior, the bespectacled kid from the short A Waggily Tale (1958). Both share distinctive traits like round glasses and a wonderfully petulant attitude.
Trivia and other appearances: Despite only appearing in this film, Abba-Dabba was included in some promotional materials and collectible merchandise. 1001 Rabbit Tales is notable for being one of the very first Looney Tunes anthology films to use an original framing story to connect the classic shorts together.
Release date: 1982-11-19
Plot: Daffy and Bugs end up in the palace of Sultan Yosemite Sam, who forces them to tell stories to his spoiled son, Prince Abba-Dabba. In a desperate attempt to save their skins, Bugs begins spinning a series of fairy tales, which are, in reality, classic Looney Tunes shorts cleverly tied together with newly animated sequences. Among the tales we get to revisit are Jack-Wabbit and the Beanstalk (1943), Ali Baba Bunny (1957), Goldimouse and the Three Cats (1960), and Bewitched Bunny (1954).
Name and role: Abba-Dabba is the spoiled and bratty son of Sultan Yosemite Sam. In the film, Bugs Bunny finds himself forced to tell him an endless string of stories to keep him entertained or face being dunked in boiling oil. Abba-Dabba's character design bears a strong resemblance to Junior, the bespectacled kid from the short A Waggily Tale (1958). Both share distinctive traits like round glasses and a wonderfully petulant attitude.
Trivia and other appearances: Despite only appearing in this film, Abba-Dabba was included in some promotional materials and collectible merchandise. 1001 Rabbit Tales is notable for being one of the very first Looney Tunes anthology films to use an original framing story to connect the classic shorts together.
Daffy Duck's Movie: Fantastic Island
Release date: 1983-08-05
Plot: Daffy Duck and Speedy Gonzales, stranded on a deserted island, stumble upon a treasure map that leads them to a talking wishing well. Ever the greedy opportunist, Daffy decides to turn the island into a tourist resort, selling wishes to eager visitors. The guests' wishes are granted through the projection of classic Looney Tunes shorts, cleverly woven into the plot. Meanwhile, pirate Yosemite Sam and his partner Taz are hot on their trail, determined to reclaim the map that once belonged to them.
Name and role: Sam plays the villain in this film (WOW, what a shocker!) the rightful owner of the treasure map that grants control over the magical wishing well... though he doesn't seem entirely aware of that detail. He spends the entire movie chasing after the black-feathered thief who stole it from him: none other than Daffy Duck. In this outing, Sam appears in full pirate mode, complete with the attitude, the ship, and probably a closet full of striped shirts.
Trivia and other appearances: The two shorts featuring him in this context are Captain Hareblower (1954) and From Hare to Heir (1960), in which a more aristocratic Sam tries (and fails) to earn a fortune by keeping his temper in check which goes exactly as well as you'd expect.
Release date: 1983-08-05
Plot: Daffy Duck and Speedy Gonzales, stranded on a deserted island, stumble upon a treasure map that leads them to a talking wishing well. Ever the greedy opportunist, Daffy decides to turn the island into a tourist resort, selling wishes to eager visitors. The guests' wishes are granted through the projection of classic Looney Tunes shorts, cleverly woven into the plot. Meanwhile, pirate Yosemite Sam and his partner Taz are hot on their trail, determined to reclaim the map that once belonged to them.
Name and role: Sam plays the villain in this film (WOW, what a shocker!) the rightful owner of the treasure map that grants control over the magical wishing well... though he doesn't seem entirely aware of that detail. He spends the entire movie chasing after the black-feathered thief who stole it from him: none other than Daffy Duck. In this outing, Sam appears in full pirate mode, complete with the attitude, the ship, and probably a closet full of striped shirts.
Trivia and other appearances: The two shorts featuring him in this context are Captain Hareblower (1954) and From Hare to Heir (1960), in which a more aristocratic Sam tries (and fails) to earn a fortune by keeping his temper in check which goes exactly as well as you'd expect.
Bugs Bunny's Overtures to Disaster
Release date: 1991-02-14
Plot: The special features Bugs Bunny conducting a classical music concert, completely unaware of a newspaper headline announcing the escape of an experimental fly that can't be killed. As the show unfolds, various Looney Tunes characters perform musical numbers, while the fly wreaks havoc among the audience and performers alike.
Name and role: Apparently, Sam and Granny have kept seeing each other since Hare Trimmed. Their outfits as they find their seats are color variations from the classic short, but the style remains the same. Sam will attempt to give the fly a taste of lead, but the only thing he ends up perforating is the evening's program. A terrible date.
Trivia and other appearances: As already mentioned, you can witness the misadventures of this odd couple in Hare Trimmed from 1953 if you can handle the cringe.
Release date: 1991-02-14
Plot: The special features Bugs Bunny conducting a classical music concert, completely unaware of a newspaper headline announcing the escape of an experimental fly that can't be killed. As the show unfolds, various Looney Tunes characters perform musical numbers, while the fly wreaks havoc among the audience and performers alike.
Name and role: Apparently, Sam and Granny have kept seeing each other since Hare Trimmed. Their outfits as they find their seats are color variations from the classic short, but the style remains the same. Sam will attempt to give the fly a taste of lead, but the only thing he ends up perforating is the evening's program. A terrible date.
Trivia and other appearances: As already mentioned, you can witness the misadventures of this odd couple in Hare Trimmed from 1953 if you can handle the cringe.
The Warners' 65th Anniversary Special
Release date: 1994-05-23
Plot: The Warner siblings are honored in a mockumentary-style TV special celebrating their (fake) 65th anniversary in showbiz. Through interviews, archival clips, and behind-the-scenes antics, the segment parodies Hollywood retrospectives while exploring the "history" of Yakko, Wakko, and Dot.
Name and role: I may sound like a broken record with these cameo descriptions: every famous Looney Tunes character has something terrible to say about the Warners. Each one gets their moment in the spotlight via mock interviews, reminiscing about the chaotic past they shared with Yakko, Wakko, and Dot... sometimes through gritted teeth and cartoon trauma.
Trivia and other appearances: These cameos are peak vintage Warner Bros.: pure, distilled metanarrative. For an actual documentary experience though, go check out 100th Anniversary Looney Tunes Cartoons (2023, streaming on Max).
Release date: 1994-05-23
Plot: The Warner siblings are honored in a mockumentary-style TV special celebrating their (fake) 65th anniversary in showbiz. Through interviews, archival clips, and behind-the-scenes antics, the segment parodies Hollywood retrospectives while exploring the "history" of Yakko, Wakko, and Dot.
Name and role: I may sound like a broken record with these cameo descriptions: every famous Looney Tunes character has something terrible to say about the Warners. Each one gets their moment in the spotlight via mock interviews, reminiscing about the chaotic past they shared with Yakko, Wakko, and Dot... sometimes through gritted teeth and cartoon trauma.
Trivia and other appearances: These cameos are peak vintage Warner Bros.: pure, distilled metanarrative. For an actual documentary experience though, go check out 100th Anniversary Looney Tunes Cartoons (2023, streaming on Max).
Carrotblanca
Release date: 1995-08-25
Plot: Bugs Bunny runs a nightclub during World War II. When he gets tangled up in a plot involving secret documents, he must choose between helping his old flame, Kitty Ketty, or maintaining his cherished neutrality.
Name and role: Sam plays the main villain: General Pandemonium. He's the short, mustachioed version of Major Strasser, portrayed by Conrad Veidt in Casablanca. He's the one most obsessed with the MacGuffin documents and ultimately the one who pays the highest price.
Trivia and other appearances: A similar role would be Dumb Patrol (1964), where Sam plays the German baron Sam Von Schpamm.
Release date: 1995-08-25
Plot: Bugs Bunny runs a nightclub during World War II. When he gets tangled up in a plot involving secret documents, he must choose between helping his old flame, Kitty Ketty, or maintaining his cherished neutrality.
Name and role: Sam plays the main villain: General Pandemonium. He's the short, mustachioed version of Major Strasser, portrayed by Conrad Veidt in Casablanca. He's the one most obsessed with the MacGuffin documents and ultimately the one who pays the highest price.
Trivia and other appearances: A similar role would be Dumb Patrol (1964), where Sam plays the German baron Sam Von Schpamm.
The Maltese Canary
Release date: 1995-11-25
Plot: In San Francisco, Granny steps into the role of a real detective, taking over Sam Spade's office. Tweety is mistaken for the legendary "Maltese Canary" by three shady characters: Mr. Greenstreek, Joel Ferret, and Jingleheimascmitt. While Sylvester relentlessly tries to catch Tweety, Granny unravels the mystery and exposes the true culprits.
Name and role: When the tale of the Maltese Canary is recounted, one of its last known sightings is within a pirate's treasure hoard. The ship's cat tries to eat it, finds it way too hard, and tosses it into the sea. Ancestors of Sam and Sylvester, perhaps?
Release date: 1995-11-25
Plot: In San Francisco, Granny steps into the role of a real detective, taking over Sam Spade's office. Tweety is mistaken for the legendary "Maltese Canary" by three shady characters: Mr. Greenstreek, Joel Ferret, and Jingleheimascmitt. While Sylvester relentlessly tries to catch Tweety, Granny unravels the mystery and exposes the true culprits.
Name and role: When the tale of the Maltese Canary is recounted, one of its last known sightings is within a pirate's treasure hoard. The ship's cat tries to eat it, finds it way too hard, and tosses it into the sea. Ancestors of Sam and Sylvester, perhaps?
Go Fig
Release date: 1996-02-17
Plot: We're in Figdale, a Texan town where every single thing in the economy runs on figs! Granny, Sylvester, Tweety, and Hector arrive at the ranch of Sam Ficus to investigate the mysterious disappearance of his fig harvest.
Name and role: Sam Ficus (that's Yosemite Sam, dammit!!) is the biggest fig grower in the area, and he's the one who hires Granny to get to the bottom of the mystery.
Release date: 1996-02-17
Plot: We're in Figdale, a Texan town where every single thing in the economy runs on figs! Granny, Sylvester, Tweety, and Hector arrive at the ranch of Sam Ficus to investigate the mysterious disappearance of his fig harvest.
Name and role: Sam Ficus (that's Yosemite Sam, dammit!!) is the biggest fig grower in the area, and he's the one who hires Granny to get to the bottom of the mystery.
Space Jam
Release date: 1996-11-10
Plot: Basketball legend Michael Jordan teams up with Bugs Bunny and the Looney Tunes to win a wild basketball game against alien villains called the Monstars. The aliens stole NBA players' talents, so it's up to Jordan and the Tunes to slam, jam, and bring the chaos. It's sports meets cartoons in the most 90s crossover ever.
Name and role: Yosemite Sam is the first to stand up to the Nerdlucks and gets absolutely blasted for his trouble. Think a dynamite temper would let that slide? Not a chance. Naturally, he suits up and storms the court, moustache blazing, ready to shoot, dribble, and probably explode something.
Trivia and other appearances: For more classic moments with Yosemite Sam: Hare Trigger (1945), Buccaneer Bunny (1948), High Diving Hare (1949), Knighty Knight Bugs (1958) and Looney Tunes Show (2011) Reimagined as a grumpy neighbor with a criminal past and a love for heavy artillery
Release date: 1996-11-10
Plot: Basketball legend Michael Jordan teams up with Bugs Bunny and the Looney Tunes to win a wild basketball game against alien villains called the Monstars. The aliens stole NBA players' talents, so it's up to Jordan and the Tunes to slam, jam, and bring the chaos. It's sports meets cartoons in the most 90s crossover ever.
Name and role: Yosemite Sam is the first to stand up to the Nerdlucks and gets absolutely blasted for his trouble. Think a dynamite temper would let that slide? Not a chance. Naturally, he suits up and storms the court, moustache blazing, ready to shoot, dribble, and probably explode something.
Trivia and other appearances: For more classic moments with Yosemite Sam: Hare Trigger (1945), Buccaneer Bunny (1948), High Diving Hare (1949), Knighty Knight Bugs (1958) and Looney Tunes Show (2011) Reimagined as a grumpy neighbor with a criminal past and a love for heavy artillery
Space Jam
Release date: 1996-11-10
Plot: Basketball legend Michael Jordan teams up with Bugs Bunny and the Looney Tunes to win a wild basketball game against alien villains called the Monstars. The aliens stole NBA players' talents, so it's up to Jordan and the Tunes to slam, jam, and bring the chaos. It's sports meets cartoons in the most 90s crossover ever.
Name and role: Costume change and cinematic reference served for Sam and Elmer in this scene, accompanied by Tarantino music, where dressed like the Reservoir Dogs they shoot at Bupkus's teeth. A strange choice for a kids' movie, but absolutely epic.
Release date: 1996-11-10
Plot: Basketball legend Michael Jordan teams up with Bugs Bunny and the Looney Tunes to win a wild basketball game against alien villains called the Monstars. The aliens stole NBA players' talents, so it's up to Jordan and the Tunes to slam, jam, and bring the chaos. It's sports meets cartoons in the most 90s crossover ever.
Name and role: Costume change and cinematic reference served for Sam and Elmer in this scene, accompanied by Tarantino music, where dressed like the Reservoir Dogs they shoot at Bupkus's teeth. A strange choice for a kids' movie, but absolutely epic.
Commercial
Brand: Target - Harmonious Holyday - Holyday in your Heart
Release date: 1996-11-26
Name and role:
LeAnn Rimes sings her new Christmas single, capturing the attention of every Looney in the room: from Sylvester, who forgets all about chasing Tweety, to Witch Hazel and Crusher, and even Taz, who gets so caught up in the rhythm he starts spinning and accidentally sucks in Daffy.
Brand: Target - Harmonious Holyday - Holyday in your Heart
Release date: 1996-11-26
Name and role:
LeAnn Rimes sings her new Christmas single, capturing the attention of every Looney in the room: from Sylvester, who forgets all about chasing Tweety, to Witch Hazel and Crusher, and even Taz, who gets so caught up in the rhythm he starts spinning and accidentally sucks in Daffy.
Blooper Bunny!
Release date: 1997-06-12
Plot: This short offers a hilarious and satirical behind-the-scenes look at the making of a special celebrating Bugs Bunny's 51st anniversary. In this animated mockumentary, iconic Looney Tunes characters (Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd, and Yosemite Sam) are getting ready for the big show, but a series of bloopers and technical disasters turns rehearsals into total chaos.
Name and role: Mr. Dynamite Temper himself doesn't care one bit about the bloopers or the chaos. He lounges in his cake like a Western grumpy diva, letting a team of cowgirl stylists powder his face as if he's the highest-paid star on set. We've got to wonder... does Sam have a better agent than the rest of them?
Trivia and other appearances: Sam has been clashing with Bugs since Hare Trigger (1945), so it's only natural to see him show up for the 51st anniversary of his arch-nemesis. Love him or hate him, Sam's earned his spot in Bugs Bunny's rogue's gallery
Release date: 1997-06-12
Plot: This short offers a hilarious and satirical behind-the-scenes look at the making of a special celebrating Bugs Bunny's 51st anniversary. In this animated mockumentary, iconic Looney Tunes characters (Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd, and Yosemite Sam) are getting ready for the big show, but a series of bloopers and technical disasters turns rehearsals into total chaos.
Name and role: Mr. Dynamite Temper himself doesn't care one bit about the bloopers or the chaos. He lounges in his cake like a Western grumpy diva, letting a team of cowgirl stylists powder his face as if he's the highest-paid star on set. We've got to wonder... does Sam have a better agent than the rest of them?
Trivia and other appearances: Sam has been clashing with Bugs since Hare Trigger (1945), so it's only natural to see him show up for the 51st anniversary of his arch-nemesis. Love him or hate him, Sam's earned his spot in Bugs Bunny's rogue's gallery
From Hare to Eternity
Release date: 1997-11-04
Plot: The fearsome pirate Yosemite Sam, lone captain of his ship, is on the hunt for buried treasure. Upon landing on an island, he finds a treasure chest... with none other than Bugs Bunny casually sitting on top of it. This marks the final short directed by Chuck Jones, closing out a legendary career that began all the way back in 1938 with The Night Watchman.
Name and role: In this short, Sam plays the archetypal gruff, blustering pirate, captain of the H.M.S. Friz Freleng, armed with pistols, pride, and absolutely zero chill. Bugs, of course, orchestrates the whole comedic ballet: slipping into mermaid disguises, bursting into operetta songs, and pulling off trick after trick. And the treasure? Just a chest full of carrots. Bugs wins again, as always: with brains, not brawn.
Trivia and other appearances: Looking for more pirate-themed duels between these two? Check out Buccaneer Bunny (1948), Mutiny on the Bunny (1950), and Captain Hareblower (1954). And don't forget the beginning of Daffy Duck's Fantastic Island, where Sam starts as a full-blown pirate and stays in the role all the way through the adventure.
Release date: 1997-11-04
Plot: The fearsome pirate Yosemite Sam, lone captain of his ship, is on the hunt for buried treasure. Upon landing on an island, he finds a treasure chest... with none other than Bugs Bunny casually sitting on top of it. This marks the final short directed by Chuck Jones, closing out a legendary career that began all the way back in 1938 with The Night Watchman.
Name and role: In this short, Sam plays the archetypal gruff, blustering pirate, captain of the H.M.S. Friz Freleng, armed with pistols, pride, and absolutely zero chill. Bugs, of course, orchestrates the whole comedic ballet: slipping into mermaid disguises, bursting into operetta songs, and pulling off trick after trick. And the treasure? Just a chest full of carrots. Bugs wins again, as always: with brains, not brawn.
Trivia and other appearances: Looking for more pirate-themed duels between these two? Check out Buccaneer Bunny (1948), Mutiny on the Bunny (1950), and Captain Hareblower (1954). And don't forget the beginning of Daffy Duck's Fantastic Island, where Sam starts as a full-blown pirate and stays in the role all the way through the adventure.
Back in Style
Release date: 1997-11-08
Plot: After the closure of Warner Bros. Animation in 1962, studio head Thaddeus Plotz fires all animated characters to various other animation studios to keep the company afloat. The Warners find themselves in parodies of different animation styles.
Name and role: Yosemite Sam makes a brief appearance when the studio closes in 1962. In this scene, Friz Freleng walks out of the studio speaking in the same tone and with the same voice actor as Sam. The real Yosemite Sam then pops up and compliments him on how he talks. This line is a metanarrative nod to the fact that the character of Yosemite Sam was actually inspired by Friz Freleng himself.
Trivia and other appearances: Sam appears in more prominent roles in other Looney Tunes television series, such as The Looney Tunes Show (2011), Looney Tunes Cartoons (2020), and in several episodes of The Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries (1995).
Quote: "I just LOVE the way he talks!"
Release date: 1997-11-08
Plot: After the closure of Warner Bros. Animation in 1962, studio head Thaddeus Plotz fires all animated characters to various other animation studios to keep the company afloat. The Warners find themselves in parodies of different animation styles.
Name and role: Yosemite Sam makes a brief appearance when the studio closes in 1962. In this scene, Friz Freleng walks out of the studio speaking in the same tone and with the same voice actor as Sam. The real Yosemite Sam then pops up and compliments him on how he talks. This line is a metanarrative nod to the fact that the character of Yosemite Sam was actually inspired by Friz Freleng himself.
Trivia and other appearances: Sam appears in more prominent roles in other Looney Tunes television series, such as The Looney Tunes Show (2011), Looney Tunes Cartoons (2020), and in several episodes of The Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries (1995).
Quote: "I just LOVE the way he talks!"
Tweety's High Flying Adventure
Release date: 2000-02-29
Plot: In the same vein as The Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries, here comes a charming little direct-to-video movie with Tweety in the spotlight. A globe-trotting adventure, reuniting with the rest of the Looney Tunes gang and staying one tiny step ahead of Sylvester and a whole slew of hungry cats of all shapes and sizes
Name and role: Yosemite Sam plays a tram driver. His cameo features a chaotic gag where Sylvester makes him lose control of the vehicle... and they crash gloriously, of course.
Quote: YOU GOT US STUCK ON THIS STUPID ROCK, YOU GOOD-FOR-NOTHING FELINE! YOU NO GOOD RASON-FRASON KITTY CAT! GET BACK HERE AND TAKE THE FUR! COME HERE, BOY!
Release date: 2000-02-29
Plot: In the same vein as The Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries, here comes a charming little direct-to-video movie with Tweety in the spotlight. A globe-trotting adventure, reuniting with the rest of the Looney Tunes gang and staying one tiny step ahead of Sylvester and a whole slew of hungry cats of all shapes and sizes
Name and role: Yosemite Sam plays a tram driver. His cameo features a chaotic gag where Sylvester makes him lose control of the vehicle... and they crash gloriously, of course.
Quote: YOU GOT US STUCK ON THIS STUPID ROCK, YOU GOOD-FOR-NOTHING FELINE! YOU NO GOOD RASON-FRASON KITTY CAT! GET BACK HERE AND TAKE THE FUR! COME HERE, BOY!
Looney Tunes: Back in Action
Release date: 2003-11-01
Plot: Daffy Duck, feeling overshadowed by Bugs Bunny, is fired from Warner Bros. and teams up with security guard DJ Drake. They embark on a globe-trotting adventure to rescue DJ's father and thwart the evil plans of the Acme Corporation's chairman, who seeks to use the Blue Monkey diamond to turn humans into monkeys.
Name and role: Sam owns a design nightmare called Sam's Wooden Nickel, a Las Vegas casino. Everything's Western-themed, but more importantly, Sam-themed, including the dancers. Blinded by greed, he lets Acme bribe him into getting in the way of our heroes.
Quote: Yikes! Ooooh! Dad-burned slapstick cliché !
Release date: 2003-11-01
Plot: Daffy Duck, feeling overshadowed by Bugs Bunny, is fired from Warner Bros. and teams up with security guard DJ Drake. They embark on a globe-trotting adventure to rescue DJ's father and thwart the evil plans of the Acme Corporation's chairman, who seeks to use the Blue Monkey diamond to turn humans into monkeys.
Name and role: Sam owns a design nightmare called Sam's Wooden Nickel, a Las Vegas casino. Everything's Western-themed, but more importantly, Sam-themed, including the dancers. Blinded by greed, he lets Acme bribe him into getting in the way of our heroes.
Quote: Yikes! Ooooh! Dad-burned slapstick cliché !
Bah, Humduck! A Looney Tunes Christmas
Release date: 2006-11-14
Plot: Daffy Duck is a greedy megastore owner who despises Christmas and mistreats his employees. On Christmas Eve, he's visited by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future, who show him the error of his ways. After witnessing the impact of his actions, Daffy reforms, embraces the holiday spirit, and... Well I think you already heard about this story.
Name and role: Yosemite Sam is the rowdy Spirit of Christmas Present, bashing Daffy every time he acts like a jerk. He was Scrooge himself in Bugs Bunny's Christmas Carol (1979), but this role suits him way better.
Release date: 2006-11-14
Plot: Daffy Duck is a greedy megastore owner who despises Christmas and mistreats his employees. On Christmas Eve, he's visited by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future, who show him the error of his ways. After witnessing the impact of his actions, Daffy reforms, embraces the holiday spirit, and... Well I think you already heard about this story.
Name and role: Yosemite Sam is the rowdy Spirit of Christmas Present, bashing Daffy every time he acts like a jerk. He was Scrooge himself in Bugs Bunny's Christmas Carol (1979), but this role suits him way better.
Looney Tunes: Rabbit Run
Release date: 2015-08-04
Plot: Lola Bunny, a perfume salesgirl, accidentally creates a fragrance that grants invisibility. This discovery propels her and taxi driver Bugs Bunny into a globe-trotting escapadeacross New York, Paris, and even Mars, they ultimately thwart Marvin's plan and return safely to Earth.
Name and role: Yosemite Sam is, of course, a small-time crook (what a shocker!) who catches wind of the perfume's value. He chases Lola to steal it and get rich... but ends up getting clobbered instead. Repeatedly. With style.
Release date: 2015-08-04
Plot: Lola Bunny, a perfume salesgirl, accidentally creates a fragrance that grants invisibility. This discovery propels her and taxi driver Bugs Bunny into a globe-trotting escapadeacross New York, Paris, and even Mars, they ultimately thwart Marvin's plan and return safely to Earth.
Name and role: Yosemite Sam is, of course, a small-time crook (what a shocker!) who catches wind of the perfume's value. He chases Lola to steal it and get rich... but ends up getting clobbered instead. Repeatedly. With style.