[theme song playing]
- ♪ We're tiny ♪ - ♪ We're toony ♪
♪ We're learning to be looney ♪
♪ And we'll be famous sooney At the college of our dreams ♪
♪ We got our admissions ♪
♪ Important for tuitions ♪
♪ Fulfilling our ambitions With our faculty esteemed ♪
♪ At Acme Looniversity We'll earn our toon degree ♪
♪ The teaching staff's Been getting laughs ♪
♪ Since 1933 ♪
- ♪ We're classmates ♪ - ♪ And roommates ♪
♪ We paid The out-of-state bills ♪
♪ Let's grab the books and go Class is about to start ♪
♪ They're furry They're funny ♪
♪ We're Babs and Buster Bunny ♪
♪ Their comedy is funny ♪
♪ And their friendship's Guaranteed ♪
♪ Hamton is worried And Sweetie's a tough birdie ♪
♪ And if you're lucky Plucky is the perfect... ♪
Frenemy!
♪ So here's where The greatest toons ♪
♪ All got their humble start ♪
♪ There's quite A lot of history ♪
♪ For teaching looney arts ♪
♪ We're tiny, we're toony We can't wait to be looney ♪
♪ Ring the bell Let's all come in And join the fun ♪
[bell rings]
♪ And now class has begun ♪
[Hamton] Mmm. Mmm-hmm.
Eating outside.
Can't believe I let myself be talked into a picnic.
How can you complain when we have seven different types of jams?
Jams are for traffic, toes, and hippie bands.
I eat preserves.
- [screams] - Stop, stop, stop!
If you're gonna take a sandwich,
do it with passion, emotion...
Theatre!
You, enter stage right. You, stage left.
Hit your marks.
All right!
Let's take that again, from the top.
And action!
[ants grunting]
Still working on my directing style.
Babs, you're doing great.
Actors can be tricky.
I gotta know how to speak to them in just the right way.
[Dean Granny on speakers] Today's the day,
Looniversity players.
A reminder about the reminder I sent out last week,
reminding you about auditions today
for our annual Acme Loo production
of Wabbit Season.
[all gasp] Wabbit Season!
It's the annual student play about Acme Looniversity's
first freshman class, which included all of the icons
that went on to define toon-ing as we know it.
Granny, Elmer Fudd,
the random cactus, and Bugs Bunny!
[gasps]
But more importantly,
Wabbit Season is a chance for Acme's biggest talent
to play the lead.
[laughs]
[thuds]
[sighs]
You, Plucky? Playing the Bugs Bunny?
The most important bunny in Acme history?
Can you even hop? Hmm?
[growls] Pish posh.
What a ridiculous question.
[Plucky grunting]
[sighs wearily]
Bugs Bunny is the starring role,
so it must be played by a star.
You've got stiff competition.
I've been rehearsing this role since I was a kid.
Yeah, we played Wabbit Season all the time.
Buster was always Bugs.
Oh, no! You didn't tell me you played pretend as a child.
I hope I get the cactus role.
Not to brag, but I was vegetation
in 17 different school plays, growing up.
Really? It doesn't have any lines.
[stuttering] Precisely.
[chuckles nervously] But... uh... uh...
per... performing brings out my ner... nervous stutter.
Well, the juiciest role is behind the curtain.
Stage manager!
It has a lot of smaller responsibilities,
that are whatever, but the most exciting part
of the job is the prop table!
- What about you, Babs? - [Babs clears throat]
Allow me to reintroduce myself.
Babs Bunny, director extraordinaire.
My style is unorthodox.
My vision is avant-garde,
and my resume is short.
This will be my first play with a cast
that's not entirely made up of my siblings.
Hmm.
Uh-huh.
[chomping]
- [splatters] - [Babs gasps]
- [radio static] - Okay, folks. We're now one pen over budget.
So we're officially in the red.
Not a great way to start out auditions,
but let's go!
Fifi La Fume, auditioning for the role of Lola.
The coolest female in all of Acme history.
What a cool campus. I hope I'm not...
the only girl.
Thank you.
Buster Bunny, reading for the role
of Bugs Bunny. [clears throat]
Eh, what's up, Doc?
[Babs] Hmm.
Busters really got Bugs Bunny down.
It's almost as if it's--
Destiny? The role he's meant to play?
I was gonna say, "Too obvious."
- Wha... - [wheels squeaking]
Before I blow you away with emotion,
I need complete assurance that nepotism
won't be poisoning this production.
Thank you. Lighting!
I need my beak to look strident, yet supple.
The sun! The sun kissing my rabbit face
after these long winter months
in my borough,
where I hopped so much.
Alone. [snaps fingers]
Give me the strength needed to persevere, delicious carrot.
[gulps]
[gags, sputters]
Mmm, mmm. So good. [chuckles nervously]
Clearly food.
[Babs] Mmm-hmm.
Great. Thank you. Next!
Uh... Uh... Uh... [sneezes]
[bowl humming]
- [wind howling] - [tumbleweed rustling]
[Sweetie gurgling]
[stuttering] Thank you.
Really appreciate the hard work
you all put into these auditions.
I have some tough choices to make,
but casting will be up soon.
[Dizzy] Dizzy drop out.
Dizzy realize this non-union production.
What do you think? We have a show on our hands?
Gotta know, 'cause I gotta get ahead of these props.
Some are going to be custom,
some will be ready-made.
- Just get ahead of it. - [metal clanks]
Oh, yeah.
I'm gonna show Acme Loo what kind of director I am.
Casting's up!
[Hamton mumbles nervously]
[all exclaim]
I'm playing the role of Granny?
She... But she's not glamorous.
She only wears...
[gasps] neutrals.
The role of cactus?
[gasps] But that part does not speak!
And it's a background character.
[hyperventilating]
Oh, I'm gonna be sick.
Not everyone can be Bugs Bunny.
Babs had to make some tough choices.
[screaming] Me!
N... Uh, No.
I... I can't...
be... be on st... stage,
[stuttering] unrooted and speaking.
Buddy, calm down. What part did you...
Hamton Pig as Bugs Bunny?
What?
And I'm playing Elmer Fudd?
The villain!
No, no, no, no, no!
There's been a terrible mistake!
Babs! Babs, Babs!
Huge problem.
Sweetie posted the wrong cast list.
It's full of typos, grammatical errors,
identity fraud!
- No, no. This is indeed the correct casting. - [Buster gasps]
Everyone, listen up!
I know these might not be the parts you were hoping for,
but I have a vision.
A grand vision.
[stuttering] Goodnight.
Welcome, actors.
Thank you for taking this journey with me.
It will test your sillies,
dig deep into your personal experiences,
expose your greatest fears.
A world without mirrors!
Now, some of you know the story of Wabbit Season,
all about the first freshman class of Acme Loo.
[Buster scoffs]
Forget everything you think you know.
This show will be unlike
any other Wabbit Season ever seen!
It'll be big.
It'll be artsy.
It'll be challenging.
And it will have fireworks.
Will the cactus have a grand soliloquy?
No.
But if you follow my lead, we'll have an amazing show.
It'd only be amazing if you gave me the right part.
Places!
[whimsical music playing]
[clanks]
[slurping]
Babs, this is an ambitious production.
It's a pretty simple play.
Are we sure we need 75 background mannequins?
I mean, don't get me wrong.
I'm here for the props, and prop management,
and prop procurement,
but this just seems, well, like a lot.
Don't worry. It's all part of the vision.
Okay, boss. What do I know?
Just the prop bird here.
[stuttering] First day on this glorious campus.
How about instead of saying the monologue I pantomime it?
Shirley, I need more lights!
Stagehands, bring in the rings!
[exclaims nervously]
F... First d... day on the campus.
[groans]
[Babs groans]
Props on the prop table!
Is it so hard?
[stuttering] First d... day
on this gl... glorious ca... campus.
[sobbing] Oh, no.
That's not r... right?
Everything okay, Hamton?
I... I do... don't know if you can help.
I've been dealing with this nervous stutter
my whole life.
Shirley, spots are looking hot. Thank you.
Lil' Beeper, fake snow is flying in.
Everything okay here?
Hamton's a little nervous.
- Oh, well, good news. - [screams]
I've got a director trick that will help you calm down.
- Really? - Oh, yeah, take a seat.
Been so stressed with the prop list. [sighs]
- Now, Hamton. Oink in... - [Hamton snorts]
- Oink out. - [Hamton exhales]
- Oink in. - [Hamton snorting]
- Oink out. - [Hamton sighs]
- Oink in. - [Hamton snorts]
- Hold... and oink out. - [Hamton exhales]
[Babs] Now, let's try a line.
F... First d... day on this glorious campus.
- [gasps] - That sounded great.
- How do you feel? - I was barely nervous that time.
Thanks, Babs.
[Babs] Okay, dress rehearsal.
Our show opens tomorrow.
How's everyone feeling?
- [all murmuring] - I'm fine! How are you?
I'm ready for my close up, Ms. Bunny.
Hmm. Interesting costume addition.
Ready to light everyone's auras and performances.
Okay, Buster, I know that during the last few rehearsals,
we've not seen eye to eye.
But tomorrow is our performance,
and we need any everyone
working towards the same vision.
Sweetie, please tell Babs
that Buster doesn't understand her vision.
- Uh, Babs, Buster just said-- - I heard him.
A bunny fight. Oh, goodie.
Sweetie, could you tell Buster
that a toon actor needs more than a loud mouth
to be a great performer?
Uh, Buster. Babs said that toon actor--
Toon actor, she says?
[laughs] Well, actors usually have actual directors.
I don't see any of those here.
A real director would cast the show correctly.
Correctly? Buster. You wouldn't know directing
if it hit you in the face.
How dare you?
I can't rehearse under these conditions.
If a real director shows up, I'll be in my dressing room,
which is also the bathroom, which is also the wig closet.
Behold a real thespian.
As a consummate professional,
I am here to help you express your artistic vision.
Wow, I thought you would have the biggest problem.
So, I took it upon myself to make some adjustments,
including a two-hour monologue
about the cactus' heartbreaking upbringing
in a plant store,
where one day, a hipster in blush overalls bought it,
drove it to Arizona,
and set it free among the mighty saguaros.
Two hours?
Yes, I agree, it is too short.
[growls] Okay.
I appreciate all of your notes,
but I have a vision,
and that's what we're going to stick with this year.
So we could have the best Wabbit Season
this school has ever seen!
So, I can have lines?
You're not speaking in this show!
[indistinct chatter]
Wait, where's Buster?
If he bails, I think I can still return the props.
I have the receipts,
and it's been less than 90 days.
But now I see that's not
what you're upset about.
Places!
Don't worry. Buster's entrance isn't till the third scene.
He'll be here.
[Hamton stuttering] Why did they sell all the seats?
- [groans] - [Sweetie] Places!
[softly] "First day."
Welcome to the first day of Acme Loo.
This isn't how I remember the first day at Acme Loo.
[gasps]
This is the story of my rise
to be the perfect paradigm for cacti everywhere.
Those aren't the words in the script.
Ga-ga, ooh, goo-goo.
I look to my cactus mother.
Spines aren't the only prickly thing about her.
[whispers] Plucky! Plucky! What are you doing?
Father!
Father! How could you?
- I'm just a teen... - [slurping]
- ...succulent. - Oh! You're here!
I might not be the lead
and I'm definitely not happy about it,
but I've never missed a performance in my whole life.
Wait, you haven't rehearsed the harness.
[Buster screams]
[stuttering] F... First
d... day on th... this...
[screaming]
[all] Whoa!
[Hamton screaming]
[screams, grunts]
[Fifi shuddering]
[whimpering]
Yeah, no. Uh-uh.
[creaking, crashing]
[all gasping]
[flames blazing]
We've reached our completely planned
ten-minute intermission.
There are extra women's restrooms,
so you've plenty of time to return to the show,
that is not at all over.
[extinguisher hissing]
[Babs crying]
Bucket to cry in.
[sobbing] I know my vision seems out there.
But I really thought I could make a show
that would be fresh, new, and exciting.
Instead, we got catastrophic,
messy, and shredded.
Maybe I'm just a bad director?
You're a great director.
Sure, you got a little ambitious
and my prop budget was tough to work with,
and maybe you could've shared your vision a little more
- with all of us. - [sighs]
I just want the play to be an explosion of joy and history.
Like a book wearing a birthday hat.
Oh, I totally understand
you wanted to do non-traditional casting,
see unexpected faces in those roles.
Exactly!
Maybe explain to the cast the whole
"non-traditional casting" thing
and skip the book wearing a birthday hat,
just for clarity.
Now, let's get out there and do this!
But the stage was destroyed.
You're talking to me like I don't have back up props.
I owe you all an apology.
I haven't been good at communicating.
Instead of throwing a bunch of ideas at you,
I should've been very clear about my vision for this play,
- which is like a textbook ready to party. - [party music playing]
[music stops]
I wanted to see surprising faces in these roles.
[confused murmurs]
There's no reason I should be cast in a non-speaking role.
Except that it's more interesting.
Plucky, you don't need dialogue.
You could express more with your face
than most actors could with words.
And, Hamton, there's a reason I cast you as the lead.
I didn't wanna tell you earlier
because I was afraid it might make you more nervous.
I don't think that's possible.
[thuds]
[groans]
I cast you as Bugs Bunny 'cause you got a lot in common.
Uh, Bugs Bunny went as a lint roller
for seven Halloweens in a row?
What? No. He had a stutter when he was young.
J... Just like me?
Yeah, and it's not just that you both stutter.
I know you can achieve great things, Hamton,
just like Bugs Bunny.
Even if you get nervous.
I really believe in all of you.
Your performances are unlike anything that's been done
at Acme Loo.
And they deserve to be seen.
- [all speaking indistinctly] - [Plucky] This is creative and unexpected.
Buster, I know you'd be a great Bugs Bunny,
the hero, but the villain is the juiciest role.
And I knew you could make even boring Elmer Fudd,
more exciting.
Oh, I never thought of it that way.
I should have trusted you. I'm really sorry.
I'm sorry, too.
[Sweetie on megaphone] Places!
Oh, wait.
[thuds]
[snoring]
[thuds]
F... Fir...
[shuddering]
[gulps]
B... Bugs had a stutter.
It didn't stop him and it won't stop me.
[inhales, exhales]
F... First day on this glorious campus.
Wh... What's up, Doc?
[scattered applause]
[audience laughing]
Oh-ho! Now this is my kind of show.
[Sam] Ooh!
Looks like, the first day of school is also
the first day of wabbit season. [chuckles]
[laughs]
[fireworks crackling]
[laughs]
[fireworks bursting]
[cheering]
Great job up there, kids.
And, uh, Hamton, you did me proud.
Way to celebrate that old stutter of mine.
S... Still comes back from time to time,
[slurping]
Okay, let's see what the reviews says.
"Even though the first act was wildly uneven,
with one particular actor sucking up all the oxygen..."
Oh, Buster. Always so over-the-top!
[scoffs] When will you learn? Less is more.
"There were some exciting risks taken the act two,
including an electric performance
of the lead role that was not only historically accurate,
but it ended the show on a high note.
Keep your eye out for emerging director, Babs Bunny!"
- [Hamton] Yay! - Congratulations, Babs.
- Congratulations, all of you! - [all] Aw!
Th... That's all folks! [chuckles]
[theme music playing]