“What’s up, doc?” If those three words instantly conjure up images of wisecracking rabbits, explosive slapstick, and cartoon chaos, then you already know the magic of Looney Tunes. For nearly a century, Warner Bros.’ iconic animated shorts have entertained generations with their wit, artistry, and unforgettable characters—from the ever-clever Bugs Bunny to the explosive antics of Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner. But with hundreds of classics to choose from, which ones truly stand out? Whether you’re a lifelong fan or just hopping into the world of Looney Tunes, this list rounds up the all-time greatest shorts that capture the humor, heart, and zany brilliance that made the series legendary. So grab your Acme gadgets, cue the orchestra, and prepare for a wild ride through the very best of Looney Tunes.
These are the 50 Greatest Looney Tunes Shorts of All Time.
30. Operation: Rabbit (1952)
One of the most underrated pairings between Looney Tunes characters that most forget happened is the one between Wile E. Coyote and Bugs Bunny. It feels like it shouldn’t work but it’s actually an excellent pairing since it’s radically different from Wile’s more famous pairing. Unlike Wile E. Coyote’s usual silent battles with the Road Runner, this short establishes him as an articulate and arrogant antagonist, introducing himself as “Wile E. Coyote, Genius.” Operation: Rabbit highlights the classic dynamic of brains versus brawn, where Wile E. represents overcomplicated intelligence, and Bugs embodies street smarts and adaptability. The cartoon helped cement Wile E. Coyote’s persona beyond his chases with the Road Runner, showing that his failures stem not just from bad luck but from his own hubris.
29. Steal Wool (1957)
Although their rivalry is reminiscent of the classic Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner cartoons, I’ve always preferred the dynamic between Sam Sheepdog and Ralph Wolf more, with Steal Wool being one of the reasons for my love. Like all of their shorts, it follows the familiar formula where Ralph Wolf attempts various clever (but ultimately unsuccessful) schemes to steal sheep, while Sam Sheepdog thwarts every attempt with calm and effortless efficiency. As always, their encounters are framed within the comedic twist that, outside of their jobs, they are polite colleagues who punch in and out of work like any ordinary office employee and it’s that difference that I love. Most Looney Tunes shorts involve two of their characters either teaming up to accomplish a goal or are pitted against one another. Since their rivalry is simply a job (which could also be seen as a meta-joke), this might be the only healthy pairing in the Looney Tunes canon.
28. Bully For Bugs (1953)
Bully for Bugs remains one of the most beloved Bugs Bunny cartoons for good reason. It’s often cited as a textbook example of how to structure a cartoon gag sequence: a clear premise, consistent character motivation, and escalation of conflict through clever set pieces. It also showcases Bugs at his most charming and cunning—a cultural icon who thrives not by brute force but by brains and bravado. After taking another one of those wrong turns at Albuquerque, Bugs accidentally finds himself in a bullfighting arena where he interrupts a match.
When he asks the brutish, silent bull (later dubbed Toro in subsequent appearances) for directions, the bull responds by goring him. Bugs, of course, delivers his trademark line: “Of course you realize this means war!” What follows is a tightly constructed sequence of escalating gags as Bugs dons the matador role and uses his wit, agility, and a bag of cartoonish tricks to outsmart and outmaneuver the bull. It is one of the absolute best examples of the brilliance of Chuck Jones and why there was no one else like him.
27. Little Red Riding Rabbit (1944)
Little Red Riding Rabbit was also added to the National Film Registry in 2013 due to its cultural and historical significance, which is an honor not many shorts have received but it’s well deserved. A parody of the traditional Little Red Riding Hood story but with a twist: In this version, Red is reimagined as an obnoxious, loud-mouthed teenager who speaks with a shrill voice and 1940s slang. She annoys everyone around her, including the audience. Bugs Bunny, the real star of the cartoon, is hiding in the basket and becomes the true target of the Big Bad Wolf. The wolf, expecting a helpless grandma, instead finds himself up against Bugs and is quickly outmatched. Little Red Riding Rabbit is considered one of the standout Bugs Bunny shorts of the Golden Age of American animation. Its mix of parody, wit, and strong visual comedy helped solidify Bugs as a cultural icon. While Red is a bit too effective as an annoying presence, it still has Bugs Bunny at his mischievous best, so it balances out.
26. Bugs and Thugs (1954)
A follow-up to the 1950 short Racketeer Rabbit, but with updated animation, sharper gags, and even more refined character designs, Bugs and Thugs involves Bugs Bunny mistakenly boarding a getaway car, thinking it’s a city bus. Unbeknownst to him, the car belongs to gangsters Rocky (the short, tough-talking boss) and Mugsy (his dim-witted accomplice), who have just robbed a bank. Once Bugs realizes who they are, the usual chaos ensues but it’s the crooks who end up in trouble. What follows is a classic Bugs Bunny scenario: the clever rabbit outwits his adversaries through disguises, trickery, and a total disregard for the fourth wall. Bugs and Thugs is often considered one of the funniest Bugs Bunny cartoons of the decade. It captures the essence of the character: clever, unflappable, and always one step ahead of the bad guys. Rocky and Mugsy would go on to become recurring villains in the Looney Tunes universe, largely thanks to the strength of this short.
25. I Love to Singa (1936)
Widely regarded as one of the studio’s early gems, I Love to Singa represents a transitional period in Warner Bros. animation: the move from Disney-inspired musical shorts to the anarchic, joke-driven style that would soon define the studio. A parody of The Jazz Singer, the short follows a young owlet named Owl Jolson (a nod to Al Jolson), born into a family of classical musicians. His stern father, Professor Fritz Owl, insists that he only sing classical music. However, Owl Jolson has a passion for jazz and swing and all he wants to do is “singa about the moon-a and the June-a and the spring-a.” Over the decades, I Love to Singa has remained beloved among animation fans and is often referenced or quoted in pop culture including South Park and The Looney Tunes Show. The character of Owl Jolson, though not a recurring Looney Tunes star, left a lasting impression through his wide-eyed charm and infectious enthusiasm for music.
24. Devil May Hare (1954)
One of the only shorts on this list not directed by Friz Freleng, Chuck Jones, Tex Avery or Bob Clampett, Devil May Hare still holds a special place in the Looney Tunes legacy as it marks the debut of the Tasmanian Devil (Taz), a wild and ferocious new adversary for Bugs Bunny. The cartoon begins with Bugs Bunny enjoying a peaceful moment in his burrow, reading a book, when he is suddenly disrupted by a loud noise and earth-shaking tremors. Enter the Tasmanian Devil. What follows is a classic game of wit versus brute force. Bugs, ever the clever trickster, uses his brains to outsmart the dim-witted but dangerous Taz. In signature Looney Tunes style, Bugs dons disguises (including a lion tamer and a seductive she-devil) and concocts outlandish traps and distractions to avoid becoming Taz’s next meal. Devil May Hare is notable not just for introducing Taz but for shaping him into one of Warner Bros.’ most iconic characters, despite his minimal screen time in the 1950s. Taz would appear in only a handful of shorts during the original era but gained massive popularity in the 1990s thanks to merchandise and shows like Taz-Mania.
23. Robin Hood Daffy (1958)
Robin Hood is one of those literary classics that inspires a new movie every handful of years and as good as most of them are, I truly believe none of the parodies hold a candle to Robin Hood Daffy. In this irreverent take on the Robin Hood legend, Daffy is convinced that he is the heroic outlaw of Sherwood Forest—stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. Unfortunately, no one else is quite convinced, least of all Porky Pig, who serves as the skeptical straight man. Porky’s calm disbelief contrasts hilariously with Daffy’s increasingly desperate attempts to prove his heroism.
The bulk of the cartoon consists of a string of wildly exaggerated and doomed attempts by Daffy to demonstrate his skills (swinging from vines, shooting arrows, and leaping from cliffs) all of which backfire spectacularly. Robin Hood Daffy is a fan favorite and often cited as one of the best examples of Looney Tunes’ golden age. It exemplifies the studio’s talent for parody and slapstick, and it showcases Daffy at his most hilariously unhinged. The short stands as a brilliant spoof of the Robin Hood mythos while also serving as a character study in Daffy’s enduring hubris.
22. Duck, Rabbit, Duck!! (1953)
This cartoon marks the final installment of Jones’s famous “Hunting Trilogy”, following Rabbit Fire and Rabbit Seasoning, and once again features the classic trio: Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and Elmer Fudd. Set during a snowy winter, the short centers around Elmer Fudd’s attempts to hunt game. Daffy Duck, in his usual manic energy, tries to convince Elmer it’s rabbit season so Bugs will be targeted. However, Bugs, the ever-clever trickster, turns the tables by manipulating Elmer into thinking it’s actually duck season. This results in a series of hilarious misidentifications and Elmer repeatedly shooting Daffy in the face, leading to Daffy’s classic exclamation: “You’re despicable!” The cartoon escalates with a parade of absurd declarations from Bugs: “Pigeon season,” “Moose season,” “Dirty skunk season,” and more, all with signs conveniently placed by Bugs. Daffy, of course, is always the victim of these gags, culminating in a breakdown of logic so completely Looney Tunes that it becomes brilliant in its chaos.
21. Scaredy Cat (1948)
While I can’t find confirmation to back this up, I strongly believe this short was one of the primary inspirations for the creation of Courage the Cowardly Dog. Replace Miriam with Porky the Pig and Courage with Sylvester the Cat and the similarities are striking. After moving into their new home, the duo quickly realize something is terribly wrong. It doesn’t help that their new home happens to be a dark, eerie Victorian mansion. The place is ominously quiet, and creepy shadows loom around every corner. Unbeknownst to Porky, a group of murderous mice is secretly plotting against them. As the sinister rodents scheme and strike from the shadows, it falls on Sylvester—who is terrified but loyal—to protect his clueless owner. In addition to being a solid horror parody, Scaredy Cat also gets points for elevating Sylvester from a secondary character into a more fleshed-out protagonist. His vulnerability, expressions, and timing became a model for many of Jones’ later characters. It also inspired two sequels, Claws for Alarm and Jumpin’ Jupiter which continue the theme of Sylvester trying to save an oblivious Porky in dangerous settings.
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What is your favorite Looney Tunes short? Do you think it will crack the Top 10?
