Bugs Bunny finds himself inCamelot in the year 526 while en route to a peanut festival inGeorgia. He mistakes Camelot forPittsburgh at first, but then meets Sir Elmer of Fudde (Elmer Fudd), a brave knight. Figuring that Bugs is a transformeddragon, Elmer captures him and takes him to the castle ofKing Arthur. There Bugs is presented to Arthur (Daffy Duck) and court magicianMerlin of Monroe (Yosemite Sam). He is sentenced to beburned at the stake, but uses a solar eclipse to pretend to affect the sun's movements, fooling the locals and attaining special status from Arthur. Arthur releases Bugs, and grants him custody of an actual dragon.
Two years later in 528, Bugs takes Porkè of Pigge, the Varlet (Porky Pig), on a tour in his Acme Armour Factory (powered by the dragon), showing him inventions to reform medieval society. Just then, Elmer appears and challenges Bugs to a jousting duel, to which the rabbit accepts. Elmer has allied with Merlin to defeat Bugs, but both find themselves doused in the moat many times during the duel, much to King Arthur's amusement. Bugs then findsExcalibur in the stone. Mistaking the sword for a "carrot slicer", he pulls it out of the stone, upon which a disembodied voice (God) proclaims him as the new king. Porkè, Elmer and Merlin pledge their allegiance to him, and Daffy passes the crown to Bugs as the new ruler.
InThat's All, Folks! The Art of Warner Bros. Animation, Steve Schneider called the special "one of the more highly regardedLooney Tunes specials".[8]Jerry Beck referred to the special as "a legendary lineup of lunacy, making [it] one of the funniest 'knights' in history".[9] Animation historians Kevin McCorry and Jon Cooke stated that the special was "Chuck Jones' newly animated and rather bland return to the days of knights and roundtables".[10] Bert Olton considered the special "not one of the better Bugs Bunny cartoons", citing the lack of "energy, visual detail and sophistication" compared to earlier cartoons andMel Blanc's "tired and unenthusiastic" voice acting.[7] Michael N. Salda reviewed the special in his bookArthurian Animation: A Study of Cartoon Camelots on Film and Television, stating:
A Connecticut Rabbit in King Arthur's Court is an all-star special, casting familiar Warner Bros. properties in prominent Arthurian roles. Chuck Jones follows Twain's basic plot with departures including: capture of the Yankee; conflict with a troublesome knight and Merlin; the newcomer gaining the king's favor by 'ending' the eclipse; the Yankee's factory-building and his inventions to reform medieval society; battle and defeat of Merlin and his allies; and end of story through some means other than the violent, sad one that Twain had described. Jones packs time-honored Arthurian references into his bright and cheerful cartoon; there are a Round Table at this Camelot, pavilions flying the pennons of Lancelot and Galahad, and Merlin of Monroe's mailbox and tower fromKnight-mare Hare. Jones introduces a charmed sword at the end to complete the story, as Bugs innocently pulls a 'neat carrot slicer' from a stone. A disembodied, stately voice proclaims Bugs the 'rightful king'. Daffy quickly abdicates and relinquishes the crown to Bugs, the new ruler in 'King Arth-Hare's Court'. With Daffy unseated, Bugs ruling the realm, and all Camelot's subjects pledging their allegiance to the new king, Jones slyly rebukesFilmation for its dreadfulDaffy Duck and Porky Pig Meet the Groovie Goolies. Jones's long history with the Warner Bros. menagerie had taught him what fans also knew: only Bugs could ever be king.[11][12][13]
Bugs Bunny in King Arthur's Court was released onVHS as part of theWarner Bros. Cartoon Cavalcade series in 1989 and 1997,[14][15][16][17] and was later released on theLooney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 6 DVD in 2008, along withDaffy Duck's Easter Eggcitement.[18]
