1945

Odor-able Kitty, the first appearance of Pepé Le Pew

Life with Feathers, the first appearance of Sylvester

Friz Freleng creates a tougher rival for Bugs Bunny in Yosemite Sam in Hare Trigger

1945 saw the conclusion of World War II and Warner Brothers' efforts in fighting the war (including the final Private Snafu shorts), as well as the final departure of Bob Clampett, as well as the emergence of new directors Arthur Davis and animation master Robert McKimson.

History

• Starting with "Herr Meets Hare", the red rings black background is reused from the 1942-43 season. The 1944-45 and 1945-46 seasons would use the same Color Rings and backgrounds. Also, the byline "A WARNER BROS. CARTOON" starts to be used at the ending titles. The bottom byline "RELEASED BY WARNER BROS. PICTURES INCORPORATED" would be removed as well.
• Starting in mid-1945, all shorts produced by Leon Schlesinger that were reissued under the Blue Ribbon program cut all mentions of Schlesinger's name, starting with "When I Yoo Hoo". This also means the original closing titles were also replaced. The last cartoon to be re-released with Schlesinger's credit was "The Fella with the Fiddle".
• The 1945-55 opening rendition of "Merrily We Roll Along" debuts in "Hare Trigger", which is the first to feature full credits. This is also the first to have the WB shield with Bugs sitting and pulling the title card, barring "The Heckling Hare". This variation would be used until "Hare Do".
• Sylvester makes his debut in "Life with Feathers", which is also the final cartoon to not have full credits, the final cartoon to have the 1941-45 opening rendition of "Merrily We Roll Along", and the final cartoon to have the WB shield zoom onto the screen before the "WARNER BROS. PICTURES INC." and "Present" fade-in in a non-Bugs Bunny cartoon.
• The Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies themes are shortened this year to allow for full credits. The Looney Tunes theme would change again in 1946, because the series started using the "That's all Folks!" script, but the Merrie Melodies theme stayed the same. The 1945-46 opening rendition of "The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down" debuts in "Ain't That Ducky".
• Bob Clampett leaves the studio on May 7 and Arthur Davis takes over his unit.

Warner Club News Stories and Art

Back cover of the Jan. 1945 issue

Feb. 1945

Mar. 1945

Front cover of the Apr. 1945 issue

Apr. 1945

May 1945

June 1945

July 1945

August 1945

Shorts

1. "Odor-able Kitty" (Jones/January 6/GC: V3/SS: PLP)
2. "Herr Meets Hare" (Freleng/January 13/GC: V6)
3. "Draftee Daffy" (Clampett/January 27/GC: V3/PC: V3)
4. "The Unruly Hare" (Tashlin/February 10/CC: V1)
5. "Trap Happy Porky" (Jones/February 24/MC)
6. "Life with Feathers" (Freleng/March 24/PC: V3)
7. "Behind the Meat-Ball" (Tashlin/April 7/CC: V2)
8. "Hare Trigger" (Freleng/May 5/GC: V6)
9. "Ain't That Ducky" (Freleng/May 19)
10. "A Gruesome Twosome" (Clampett/June 9/GC: V3/PC: V3)
11. "Tale of Two Mice" (Tashlin and McKimson/June 30/CC: V1)
12. "Wagon Heels" (Clampett/July 26/GC: V5/SS: P&F)
13. "Hare Conditioned" (Jones/August 11/GC: V2)
14. "Fresh Airedale" (Jones/August 25/GC: V6)
15. "The Bashful Buzzard" (Clampett/September 15/GC: V5/PC: V2)
16. "Peck Up Your Troubles" (Freleng/October 20)
17. "Hare Tonic" (Jones/November 10/GC: V3/PC: V1)
18. "Nasty Quacks" (Tashlin/December 1/SS: DD/PC: V3)

Blue Ribbon Reissues

1944-1945 Season

1. "The Fella with the Fiddle" (20-Jan-1945)
2. "When I Yoo Hoo" (24-Feb-1945)
3. "I Only Have Eyes for You" (17-Mar-1945)
4. "Ain't We Got Fun" (21-Apr-1945)
5. "I'm a Big Shot Now" (04-Jun-1945)
6. "Speaking of the Weather" (21-Jul-1945)
7. "Old Glory" (25-Aug-1945)
8. "Busy Bakers" (20-Oct-1945)

1945-1946 Season

1. "A Sunbonnet Blue" (17-Nov-1945)
2. "The Lyin' Mouse" (22-Dec-1945)

Character Debuts

• Pepé Le Pew
• Sylvester
• Yosemite Sam
• Hector the Bulldog

People

Births

• 5 August - Loni Anderson
• 14 August - Steve Martin

References

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1944

Timeline

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