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Films

Medieval Merrie Melodies

Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and Porky Pig are among the best known animated cartoon characters in history. Since the 1930s, Warner Brothers studios have been producing the Merrie Melodies series of animated short films, which have become wildly popular. Over a thousand of these films were made between the 1930s and 1960s, with many characters and settings.

A few of the Merrie Melodies films were set in medieval times, including these:

Knighty Knight Bugs

This 1958 cartoon features Bugs Bunny, the court jester of King Arthur, recovering a singing sword from Yosemite Sam (as the Black Knight) and his fire-breathing, often sneezing, dragon. It was the only Bugs Bunny cartoon to win an Academy Award, in 1959, for Best Animated Short Film.

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Rabbit Hood

Created in 1949, the film features Bugs Bunny getting in trouble with the Sheriff of Nottingham after trying to steal the ‘King’s carrots’. Eventually Robin Hood arrives – in the form of a clip of Errol Flynn from his 1938 film The Adventures of Robin Hood.

Quote: Bugs: “Arise, Sir Loin of Beef!”
“Arise, Earl (oil) of Cloves!”
“Arise, Duke of Brittingham!”
“Arise, Baron of Münchhausen!”
“Arise, Essence of Myrrh!”
“Milk of Magnesia”
“Quarter of Ten!”
Sheriff: “You are too kind, your majesty.”

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Robin Hood Daffy


Daffy Duck – (Ep. 90) – Robin Hood Daffy by cartoonNetworks

This 1958 film features Daffy Duck in the role of legendary outlaw Robin Hood, and Porky Pig as Friar Tuck, with Daffy (unsuccessfully) trying to rob a rich, unwarry traveler and give his money “to some poor unworthy slob.”

Quote: Daffy: “Ho! Ha ha! Guard! Turn! Parry! Dodge! Spin! Ha! Thrust!”

Knight-mare Hare


(Ep. 133) – Knight-Mare Hare by ducthangsuachua

This 1955 film has Bugs Bunny taking on Mark Twain’s A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court.

Quote: Knight: “I, knave, am Sir O of K, Earl of Watercress, Sir Osis of the Liver, Knight of the Garter, and Baron of Wooster-cester-shister-shyster­-schuster-shuster-shister-shir­e… shire.”

Robin Hood Makes Good

More Robin Hood-themed action from this 1939 film that features three squirrels and a fox.

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Pied Piper Porky


Looney Tunes "Pied Piper Porky" (1939) by 100X
Also made in 1939, this film stars Porky Pig as the Pied Piper, who thinks he has taken care of all the mice. However, there is one rogue mouse that he is unable to catch.

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