While Porky’s Hare Hunt was the first Warner Bros. cartoon to
feature a prototype of Bugs Bunny, A Wild Hare, directed by
Tex Avery character designed by Bob Givensand released on
July 27, 1940, is widely considered to be the first official Bugs
Bunny cartoon. It is the first film where both Elmer Fudd and
Bugs, both redesigned by Bob Givens, are shown in their fully
developed forms as hunter and tormentor, respectively; the first
in which Mel Blanc (below) uses what became Bugs’ standard
voice; and the first in which Bugs uses his catchphrase, "What’s
up, Doc?" A Wild Hare was a huge success in theaters and
received an Academy Award nomination for Best Cartoon
Short Subject.