No character -- much less a rabbit -- has captured the American moviegoer's imagination as thoroughly and uproariously as Bugs Bunny. And no character has dominated the medium of animation for as long as the unabashedly bold Brooklyn bunny.

Bugs Bunny is arguably the most popular and recognizable cartoon character of all time.

In a classic role and true to his smart-aleck, self-confident nature, Bugs, rather than flee from a stalking hunter (the ubiquitous Elmer Fudd), faced him down with a disarming, unimpressed "Ehh, what's up, doc?".

Bugs' well-known personality was given depth and dimension from nearly every director at Warner Bros. cartoons. And his Brooklyn-Bronx accent, voiced by actor Mel Blanc, combined with his quick wit, brash resourcefulness, and boisterous independence, gave him the street credentials that have delighted three generations of devoted audiences. Knightly Knight Bugs No 1, in which the "wascally wabbit" stars, won an Academy Award. In addition, Bugs has appeared in full-length motion pictures, over 175 animated shorts and several prime time specials. So how has this rabbit managed to win the hearts of virtually every age of movie fan around the world? Simple. The gregarious but truly lovable , no matter who he's battling, and no matter what the situation. No bully is too big, no hypocrite safe, no pompous adversary so powerful, that Bugs can't joyfully whittle him down to kindling wood.

Bugs' foremost rival was the passive-aggressive, chicken-brained hunter Elmer Fudd, voiced by Arthur Q. Bryan. The pair was famously cast against each other in the Wagner spoof, What's Opera, Doc?, the first animated short-subject to be inducted into the National Film Registry. Bugs and Elmer also appeared together in several theatrical releases including Stage Door Cartoon and Hare Tonic, in which Bugs escapes by tricking Elmer into thinking there is a terrible outbreak of "Rabbit-itus." In Wabbit Twouble, Bugs messes up Elmer's plans for "west" and "wewaxation" in Jellostone Park, and in Chuck Jones' Rabbit Fire, Bugs and Daffy Duck have a famous argument - much to the bufuddlement of Elmer Fudd - about whether it's duck season or rabbit season. The ever-scheming "genius" Wile E. Coyote also matches wits with Bugs - and loses -- in To Hare Is Human, Operation: Rabbit and Hare-Breadth Hurry. Hare-Way To The Stars has Bugs unknowingly stowing away aboard a rocket to Mars, where he has to prevent another adversary, Marvin The Martian, from destroying the Earth. And in the classic Bewitched Bunny, Bugs rescues the fairy tale characters Hansel and Gretel from Witch Hazel's clutches, and narrowly escapes being cooked as dinner himself. Then there's a passel of sidesplitting cartoons, all directed by Friz Freleng, in which Bugs battles the explosive fury of Yosemite Sam.

But Bugs doesn't just succeed against these Looney Tunes characters. In Rabbit Hood, Bugs gets caught by the Sheriff of Nottingham for stealing carrots from the king's garden, and he battles the Merlin of Monroe in Knight-Mare Hare. The ever-victorious Bugs also faces down his adversaries in the sporting arena. In Rabbit Punch, Bugs' big mouth lands him in the boxing ring, and in Baseball Bugs, Bugs takes on every position on the field -- and wins -- against the Gas- House Gorillas. In Bully for Bugs, which originated with studio supervisor Edward Selzer's proclamation that bullfights aren't funny, Bugs accidentally tunnels into an arena on his way to a carrot festival and takes on an angry (and very unhospitable) bull.

Whether it's building an elevator for his rabbit hole, tunneling to Sing Song Prison to hide out from hunters, or commanding the stage as a concert pianist in the cult classic Rhapsody Rabbit, Bugs Bunny has become an international hero. Not only has the world's favorite rabbit made generations of Looney Tunes fans laugh out loud, but he has done it in true prizewinning Bugs style - always cool and ever-so witty. What's up, you ask? Bugs is unbeatable, that's what!