The first drawn bunny appeared in children’s lives in the 1700s at Easter. Nowadays, you can see the Easter Bunny everywhere, in movie theaters, stores, commercials, and cards. However, it is not the only famous rabbit that makes kids laugh.
Since most people like these adorable creatures, it sometimes seems that there is no cartoon, movie, or commercial without at least one. Therefore, it is hard to choose the most famous cartoon rabbit among dozens of those that smile on TV and entertain kids with their fantastic adventures. Let’s meet them.
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Most Famous Cartoon Rabbit
It is surprising how many rabbits have made their traces in literature, comics, cartoons, and movie history. They have been heroes and villains when needed, but most captured children’s hearts forever. Let’s check the list.
Most famous cartoon rabbit |
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| Rabbit | Cartoon | Original | Debuted |
| Bugs Bunny | Bugs bunny cartoon | Porky’s Hare Hunt cartoon | 1938 |
| Thumper | Bambi cartoon | Life in the Woods novel | 1923/1942 |
| White Rabbit | Alice in Wonderland cartoon | Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland book | 1865/1951 |
| Skippy Bunny | Robin Hood animated movie | Animated movie | 1973 |
| Benjamin Bunny | Peter Rabbit movie | Tale of Benjamin Bunny book | 1904/2018 |
| Crusader Rabbit | Crusader Rabbit series | The first cartoon series for TV | 1949 |
| Ricochet Rabbit | Magilla Gorilla Show, Peter Potamus Show | Magilla Gorilla Show | 1964 |
| Roger Rabbit | Who Framed Roger Rabbit? movie | Who Censored Roger? book | 1981/1988 |
| Jessica Rabbit | Who Framed Roger Rabbit? movie | Who Censored Roger? book | 1981/1988 |
| Miyamoto Usagi | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series | Comic book | 1987/2014 |
| Mr. Bunny Rabbit | Captain Kangaroo TV show | TV show | 1955 |
| Br’er Rabbit | Song of the South cartoon | Children’s stories | 1880/1946 |
| Miffy Rabbit | Miffy the Movie | Picture books | 1955/2013 |
| Lola Bunny | Space Jam sports comedy movie | Space Jam movie | 1996 |
| Rabbit | Winnie-the-Pooh cartoon | Winnie-the-Pooh book | 1926 |
| March Hare | Alice in Wonderland cartoon | Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland book | 1865/1951 |
| Buster Baxter | Postcards from Buster spin-off series | TV show Arthur | 1979/2004 |
| Oswald the Lucky Rabbit | 27 animated Oswald shorts | Disney animated shorts | The 1920s |
| Easter Bunny | The legend | About Easter eggs essay | 1682 |
1. Bugs Bunny
Bugs Bunny is probably the most famous rabbit in history, besides the beloved Easter Bunny. This adorable animated male rabbit debuted as Happy Rabbit in the PORKY’S HARE HUNT cartoon in 1938, but it became well-known Bugs Bunny in the cartoon A WILD HARE in 1940.
Tex Avery created this beloved rabbit, while five artists designed its portrait, changing its appearance over time. Its popularity increased during the Golden Age of American Animation, mainly thanks to Warner Bros theatrical short films.
This gray rabbit is relaxed, funny, and speaks with a weird mixture of Brooklyn and Bronx accents. Mel Blanc initially gave his voice to Bugs Bunny, but numerous different actors do that now.
After appearing in series like MERRIE MELODIES and LOONEY TUNES, this bunny became a Warner Bros mascot and an American cultural icon. Its star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame proves that a bunny well-known for the catchphrase Eh, what’s up, doc? is a real movie star.
2. Thumper
Everyone who has ever watched the Disney cartoon BAMBI remembers Thumper, the naughty male bunny. Besides a comical habit of thumping the hind foot, it is famous for the scene when it taught Bambi how to ice-skate.
After debuting in 1942, this cutie has appeared in numerous movies, including LION KING 1 1/2 and WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT. It was always full of advice that typically gets its friends into trouble.
Only a few people know that this beloved bunny is actually a character from Felix Salten’s novel LIFE IN THE WOODS from 1923. Its personality was based upon Benjamin Bunny, created by Beatrix Potter.
3. White Rabbit
Lewis Carroll created this weird rabbit as a character in her book ALICE’S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND, written in 1865. It became famous thanks to a Disney cartoon ALICE IN WONDERLAND that appeared in 1951.
You probably enjoy its constant whining I’m late! I’m late! since it has tons of obligations as a royal herald in the Queen of Hearts kingdom. Thanks to this rabbit, Alice began her fantastic adventure in Wonderland. The curiosity is that it also appeared in the SHORE LEAVE, the STAR TREK episode from 1966.
4. Skippy Bunny
Seven years old Skippy bunny was one of the supporting characters in the Robin Hood animated film Disney created in 1973. Even though you can’t see it in many scenes, you will enjoy it when this brave and mischievous rabbit shoots an arrow into Little John’s courtyard.
5. Benjamin Bunny
Benjamin Bunny appeared for the first time in 1904 in Beatrix Potter’s book TALE OF BENJAMIN BUNNY. It was also Peter’s cousin in the famous book TALE OF PETER RABBIT.
Benjamin is a constantly worried and cautious brown rabbit spending most of its time stealing vegetables from Mr. McGregor’s garden. Will Gluck directed Peter Rabbit, a 3D computer-animated movie in 2018, with this lovely bunny in one of the roles.
6. Crusader Rabbit
Crusader Rabbit debuted in 1949 in the first cartoon series ever designed for TV. Each episode lasted only four minutes, but the series made this rabbit the star. This lovely bold creature was a part of numerous exciting adventures and entertained the children with its adventures for a decade.
7. Ricochet Rabbit
You could see Ricochet Rabbit in Hanna-Barbera MAGILLA GORILLA SHOW for the first time. This bunny, recognizable for repeating Ping-ping-ping!, debuted in 1964 as a sheriff in the Wild West.
Besides that unusual saying, it was famous for its speed, which allowed it to outrun bullets. Don Messick did an excellent job by giving his voice to this unique and funny character.
8. Roger Rabbit
After appearing in the book WHO CENSORED ROGER RABBIT? in 1981, Roger Rabbit became a movie star in the Disney film WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT? in 1988. In this version, this charming bunny was a cartoon character during the Golden age of American animation in Hollywood.
Comedian Charles Fleischer gave this accident-prone, over-anxious, and pretty frantic bunny his voice. Even though Roger was married to an attractive nightclub singer, Jessica Rabbit, its life was a mess and culminated with a charge for the murder.
9. Jessica Rabbit
Jessica Rabbit is probably the best-known sex symbol appearing in cartoons. Everyone who watched the movie WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT? remembers her famous replica I am not bad, I am just drawn that way.
Gary K. Wolf created it after Hollywood icons Rita Hayworth, Lauren Bacall, and Veronica Lake. After Kathleen Turner gave it a voice, Jessica was complete and prepared for a new adventure.
10. Miyamoto Usagi
Miyamoto Usagi debuted in 1987 as the main character of a comic book series and the animated series TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES. This rabbit with ears bound in a samurai topknot style was created after the real man, Miyamoto Musashi, a legendary swordsman.
It was a Ronin walking the warrior’s journey, the so-called Musha Shugyo path. Initially, it was supposed to be a human. Still, creator Stan Sakai chose a rabbit living in Feudal Japan, where animals evolved into the dominating species instead of humans.
11. Mr. Bunny Rabbit
A puppet character Mr. Bunny Rabbit appeared in the CAPTAIN KANGAROO TV show in 1955. Even though it wasn’t a cartoon character, it deserved its place here because it entertained kids for thirty years.
Puppeteer Cosmo Allegretti created the bunny with red horn-rimmed glasses. He manipulated the puppet that tried to trick the Captain and grab his carrots.
12. Br’er Rabbit
Br’er Rabbit was actually an abbreviation of the name Brother Rabbit. It was a part of an African-Americans’ oral tradition in the Southern US, the Caribbean, and Bahamians.
This bunny officially debuted in Joel Chandler Harris’ collection of children’s stories in 1880. These Uncle Remus stories were popular in the Southern states, but this bunny became famous worldwide after becoming a character in Disney’s movie SONG OF THE SOUTH, introduced in 1946.
13. Miffy Rabbit
Miffy (Nijntje) debuted in Dutch artist Dick Bruna’s picture books in 1955 sold in tens of million copies. After this success, Hans Perk directed MIFFY THE MOVIE in 2013.
The plot includes Miffy and its friends starting a treasure hunt at a local ZOO. Nowadays, you can visit a square named after this bunny in Utrecht with its little statue. It is also UNICEF’s character spokesperson.
14. Lola Bunny
In a sports comedy movie, SPACE JAM, Lola Bunny debuted in 1996 as Bugs Bunny’s girlfriend. It is a spirited and seductive rabbit playing a mean game of basketball and enchants the audience with the voice Kristen Wiig lent to it.
This femme fatale is an independent, wise-talking character and the best basketball player besides Michael Jordan. It is not the most popular cartoon bunny, but most admirers appreciate its creation.
15. Rabbit of Caerbannog
This rabbit appeared for the first time in the MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL movie in 1975. In the musical adaptation of SPAMALOT, you can also see this atypically aggressive and bloodthirsty rabbit.
Unlike sweet bunnies you are probably used to, this natural-born killer and rabbit-like monster guarded the cave where King Arthur and his knights wanted to come in. It is also a rare bunny killed in the movie and the only one that was blown up by the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch.
16. Rabbit
Unlike other bunnies appearing in cartoons, this one has no particular name. Everyone knows it as Winnie-the-Pooh’s best friend. It was mentioned for the first time in the book HOUSE AT POOH CORNER in 1926.
However, it became popular after Disney created the animated featurette WINNIE THE POOH AND THE HONEY TREE in 1966. This fussy and compulsive bunny lives in the wood and is frustrated with other wood residents’ behavior.
17. March Hare
March Hare was meant for the first time in ALICE’S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND, an excellent Lewis Carroll’ book from 1865. This philosopher rabbit hosted a Mad Tea Party and enjoyed playing second fiddle.
Disney added this character in the animated cartoon of the same name. In the funniest scene, it distractedly offered and pulled out Alice a cup of tea. Jerry Colonna voiced this unique bunny.
18. Buster Baxter
Buster Baxter debuted in the TV show ARTHUR in 1979 as the best Arthur Read’s friend. This odd but easy-going and fun-loving rabbit was recognizable after a cyan polo shirt and red and white sneakers.
Its cartoon debut was in the first season of ARTHUR’S EYES as an elementary-school third grader. You can also see this rabbit in the spin-off series POSTCARDS FROM BUSTER, which premiered in 2004.
19. Oswald the Lucky Rabbit
Disney created Oswald the Lucky Rabbit (Oswald Rabbit, Oswald the Rabbit) in the 1920s. Unfortunately, it wasn’t so popular, and its career lasted from 1927 to 1938. It was a character in only twenty-seven animated shorts before Mickey Mouse replaced it.
Now, Oswald is returned, thanks to Epic Mickey, the Disney video game released in 2010. Interestingly, the game is based on genuine Oswald’s destiny, including envy towards Mickey Mouse after Disney replaced them.
20. A special guest rabbit – Easter Bunny
The Easter Bunny (Easter Hare, Easter Rabbit) is a recognizable symbol of Easter that brings Easter eggs to well-behaved and obedient kids. Initially, German Lutherans created this bunny carrying a basket full of colored eggs, candy, and toys.
Georg Franck von Franckenau was the first to mention this custom in his essay ABOUT EASTER EGGS from 1682, describing this German tradition. Eggs were a symbol of rebirth in Christianity from the very beginning.
However, the idea of an egg-giving bunny became popular in the US in the 18th century and was soon generally accepted worldwide.
This rabbit basically doesn’t fit this article since it is not a cartoon character. However, how could we possibly talk about the bunny heroes crucial for children without this special generous creature? Justice for the Easter Bunny!
Summary
Dozens of rabbits were the stars of cartoons, literature, movies, and comics. They were cute little fluffy creatures or scary criminals with machine guns in their hands. In any case, bunnies are irresistible, and children love them. Let’s not be fooled! Everyone loves them. Long live rabbits!
