“Bugs Bunny Nips The Nips” remains one of the most controversial cartoons in the entire history of the “Looney Tunes”. It is undoubtedly a piece of war propaganda with some racially insensitive elements but taking that into context, this is still an amusing short.

During WWII, Bugs Bunny finds himself on an island where he comes face to face with Hideki Tojo, the Prime Minister of Japan. Bugs has a lot of tricks up his sleeve as he repeatedly outsmarts and outmanoeuvres Tojo. However, the Japanese leader is prepared to fight until the bitter end. Will Bugs ever be able to leave this dreaded island?

Bugs Bunny is wonderful here. I like the Hideki Tojo depiction here. I know some will see it as racist but you have to remember that Tojo was seen as Japan’s Hitler by the Americans at the time. Of course, the “Looney Tunes” shorts exaggerated aspects of characters’ appearances and cultures. At one point, Bugs even disguises himself as Emperor Hirohito to fool Tojo. The interactions between the two are a lot like the Bugs Bunny cartoons with either Elmer Fudd or Yosemite Sam. I found the other characters that appear here to be amusing too.

“Bugs Bunny Nips The Nips” has been made largely unavailable due to its use of stereotypes. It’s a shame that a lot of these older cartoons are being lost. “All This And Rabbit Stew” is another Bugs Bunny short that is hard to get hold of due to concerns over racism. At the end of the day, I think there is still a world of difference between something made primarily to entertain such as this than something that is overtly meant to increase hatred and division such as the anti-Semitic propaganda films by the Nazis. If you love Bugs Bunny, you may get some laughs out of this cartoon if you manage to find it.