Overview: The Essential Bugs Bunny Collection is a comprehensive compilation that features some of the best of Bugs Bunny’s body of work. It consists of theatrical shorts, television episodes and specials. How Bugs Bunny Won The West, Bugs Bunny’s Wild World Of Sports and Hare and Loathing In Las Vegas are new to DVD.

DVD Verdict: Come on now, how long does the deceased Mr. Clampett have to continue to pay in popularity for pissing off every other director and animator from Termite Terrace in the 1960's?!

His 'toons are the wildest, zaniest, most violent and funny ever produced at Warner Bros, yet when compilations appear he his barely represented.

True, many of Clampett's gags and plots may be considered dated as they were extremely topical to the 1940s, but is this ommision indicative of his actual popularity or some low-key vengeance executed via the studio by those who've sided with Chuck Jones over the course of the last fifty years?

At any rate, this set's contents are a nice step towards getting all the Bugs collated into an ongoing series of collections.

Now, one would think WB would strive to push for more sales of the old, excellent Golden Collections. To do that, WB would NOT release new DVDs containing cartoons from these collections, but, like Hare Extraordinaire and Frustrated Fowl, would release DVDs containing more previously-unreleased cartoons, and anyone who wanted certain cartoons from the GC could easily buy those collections.

Still with me? Good. Anyway, once again, WB has released a double-dip set, trying to convince people into buying what they already own by including a tiny few previously-unreleased cartoons. I've bought all 6 GCs and the recent Hare Extraordinaire and Frustrated Fowl because I'm a collector, and I would like to have the previously-unreleased cartoons in this release.

But, we can't have everything now, can we. However, for those just starting out with getting Bugs on DVD, this disc has a nice selection. [JNY] This is a Full Screen Presentation (1.33:1) enhanced for 16x9 TVs and comes with the Special Features of:

Ain’t I a Stinker – This new featurette is a mini-documentary that details Bugs Bunny’s vast career.
Invasion of the Bunny Snatchers – Available for the first time in its original uncut form, this 1990 short was originally released on the Space Jam DVD in a cut version.
Bug’s Bunny Bustin’ Out All Over – Emmy nominated TV Special.
The Carnival of the Animals – 1976 television special set against an orchestral backdrop which was directed by Chuck Jones.