The first Merrie Melodies cartoon starring Bugs Bunny, “A Wild Hare,” aired 80-years-ago.
Though the first iterations of the character, then known as Happy Rabbit, originally appeared in the WB cartoon ‘Porky’s Rare Hunt‘ (1938), Bugs Bunny finally became the star of his own cartoon, “A Wild Hare” on July 27, 1940.
It was this cartoon where his legendary catch-phrase, “What’s up, doc?” first appeared.