Bugs Bunny Walkaround Costumes

I am continuing this series of posts because I want to.  This time we take a look at a certain wascally wabbit who has been at many amusement parks for years.  Specifically, the Six Flags franchise.  Bugs had a lot of looks over the years too at these parks just like he did in his cartoons

NOTES: 1. This is only about Bugs Bunny.  The rest of the Looney Tunes characters will not be featured here at this time.
               2. This will feature Bugs Bunny as used in amusement/theme parks and some shows.  Even with such, it would be almost IMPOSSIBLE to list all the outfits.  There were also bootlegged costumes out there as those will not be mentioned.
               3.  The names given to these costumes are chosen by me; no official name has been given to any of these costumes.
               4. All dates are approximate, not official.  Many of these costumes have overlapped each other.  Unfortunately, specific details as where you can see them are unknown by me as Six Flags is a huge franchise.
              5.  This post is specifically about the suits, not the outfits warn by Bugs.  However, I will try to sneak in a photo of these costumes if he is wearing his at one point signature tuxedo tails (ala Mickey Mouse).

 

The above shows an unofficial Bugs Bunny costume used in the 1950's.  This is to show that WB never really invested in actual full bodied suits for the characters like Disney did for the Ice Capades.

 "Very Fury Bugs" 1971

This is the earliest known appearance of Bugs Bunny in an amusement park.  The year was 1971, and Magic Mountain opened in southern California.  That first year they decided to license the Looney Tunes characters to compete with Disneyland.  This version of Bugs had a lot of fur on him and looked more like a scary Easter Bunny.  After the 1971 season, Magic Mountain lost the rights with Looney Tunes and replaced them with their own theme park characters called the Trolls.  Eventually, however, Six Flags purchased the park and would end up getting the Looney Tunes characters back.

"Jungle Habitat Bugs" 1972-mid 1970's

Although each of these costumes varied, the principles are still the same.  Bugs looks more on model.  His eyes are looking to the left and his head has material hanging out on the neck instead of tucked in.  Two versions came out.  One had straight ears and a red bow tie.  The other had floppier but still standing ears, thicker fur, and no bow tie.  And yes, both versions have his signature carrot.

"Talking Bugs" 1973-mid 1970's

Somewhat beating Disney to the punch is this version of Bugs that appeared at the live Bugs Bunny Follies shows as well as a Saturday Morning Line Up TV special on ABC.  This version was skinnier than the first few outfits, and what's more, it has a working mouth.  While I'm unsure how the mouth actually works, it had to have been done manually as the mouth would sometimes not move (technical advances would have the characters speak with the slight move of a finger pushing a button).  

"Follies Bugs" mid 1970's-late 1970's

This version of Bugs was used for Bugs Bunny at the Follies as well as Jungle Habitat during its final years.  He bares some resemblance to the previous version, but his eyes a bit droopier and a mouth that does not move.  There was no consistency of the costume design.  Depending on the costume, it may have full netting on his eyes or just on the pupils of his eyes.  Also, the mold always looked slightly different.  For example, This compared to This.

"Marriott's Bugs" 1976-early 1980's

Bugs Bunny finally and officially began being a part of theme parks for a while starting with the Marriott's Great America parks in Gurnee, IL and Santa Clara, CA.  This was the version used the most in the parks.  His mouth is completely closed and his ears tend to stand straight up sometimes.  Most versions have an Uncle Sam like costume since this was Great America.  This costume was also used for a brief moment at Playland in Rye, New York when Marriott's was a sponsor (it didn't last due to the park no longer being free and thus ended the partnership).  

 "Rodent Bugs" 1976-late 70's

This costume is very similar to Marriott's Bugs except for the eyes.  His pupils are bigger.  His mouth looks like a frown making him more rodent like.  Probably another creepier version of Bugs.  This may have only been used in California's Marriott's park.

"Wide Cheeked Bugs"  1976-late 1970's

This version of Bugs was mostly used for shows since this may be more comfortable for the actor inside to perform.  His cheeks are much wider.  His eyes are bigger with big pupils.  This version is totally off model compared to others.  

"80's Bugs" early 1980's-early 1990's

The next version of Bugs was used throughout most of the 1980's first at Mariotts, then when one of the Mariotts parks was acquired by Six Flags, they started using Looney Tunes at their parks.  Two versions were made: one with dots in the eyes and one without dots.  This costume would be used the most during Bugs's 50th.  His mouth is now open and his teeth bigger.

"Gadgets Bugs" 1983-mid 1980's or whenever all Gadgets locations closed

With Gadgets being a new concept from Warner Communications, they commissioned a new Bugs Bunny outfit specifically for these places.  These would be used for character appearances throughout

Reconstruction on what Gadget Bugs may have looked like

the restaurant, usually for birthday parties and such like at Chuck E Cheese.  Once Gadgets closed, these costumes died with it.  Only a pic of a head exists, but I tried to recreate what it could've looked like.   

"ABC Bugs" 1985

An oddball costume that would be a precursor to a future "WB Store Bugs".  This costume as far as I know was used for ABC shows for children in hospitals.  His cheeks are wider, and his eyes are bigger.  Also, his whiskers are really thick.

"Astroworld Bugs" 1985-mid 1980's"

This version of Bugs was used in live shows at Six Flags Parks.  Most of the footage found would be from the defunct Astroworld theme park, hence the name.  His head is more narrow, but his eyes makes him more off model.  It is assumed that this version would be much more comfortable for the actor to perform inside rather than the standard "80's Bugs".

"WB Store Bugs" 1991-2000

With the opening of the new WB Stores to compete with The Disney Store, and with Mickey's costume looking much fancier at the Disney Parks, it was time to give Bugs a change to make him more appealing.  The performer can now only see through the pupils of his eyes (making the whole eye not made out of netting as previously beforehand).  His cheeks are much wider and his his eyes much bigger.  Bugs begins to become more on model as according to the original classics of the 50's and 60's.  Half the time, Bugs would be wearing a vest and tuxedo just like Mickey would.

"New era Bugs" 2001-current

As new merchandise began using Bugs being more streamlined, it was decided that the Bugs Bunny costume should be too.  From this point on, Bugs would be much streamlined and slim.  Usually, a girl would be inside the suit although some skinny dudes could sneak inside.  His eyes are more slimmer, his ears not prone to being floppy unlike previous versions.  His smile is much bigger.  Most of the time he is not wearing the suit as shown in the top image, but sometimes if its a big event such as Bugs Bunny at the Symphony is happening, he may wear a tux.

 At one point during the early 2000's, there was a more elaborate version of the costume that has since disappeared.  He cheeks are thicker and his smile is smaller, but the premise is still the same.

"Furry Bugs" 2007-current

The problem with "New era Bugs" is that the actor has a hard time seeing inside the costume since his eyes are smaller.  One actor described them having to look up in order to see.  Very uncomfortable.  So around 2007, they made modifications to make Bugs Bunny as on model as possible while making it easier for the actor to see out of.  He would have bigger eyes and a bigger mouth as a backup see through.  His teeth are smaller too.  Also, a much thicker fur was added to the costume making him a little softer than the previous version.  

"Looney Tunes Show Bugs" 2011-at most 2012

To help promote the new Looney Tunes Show for Cartoon Network, a specific version based off the show was used in promotional usage such as the White House Egg Roll and Atlantis Resort Hotels.  While looking off model, this version is based off of the design used in The Looney Tunes Show and is not used at any Six Flags them parks.

"Hopi Hari Bugs version 1" around 2012

The folks in Brazil believed that the Looney Tunes Show was here to stay just like the recent My Little Pony reboot (outside of reruns, it wasn't).  So all the Looney Tunes characters were redesigned specifically for Hopi Hari's "Looney Tunes Show themed area".  So naturally Bugs was like he was in The Looney Tunes Show, but the costume was slightly different than the one used in the US.  His mouth is closed, his eyes are much slimmer, and his ears more narrow.  In addition, Bugs was colored purple in the first season of The Looney Tunes Show, so the costume was colored purple as well.

"Hopi Hari Bugs version 2" around 2013-2022

Changes were made in the second season of the Looney Tunes Show having the characters closely resembled to that of their original versions.  Bugs is now grey again, but the costume continued to use the same eyes and narrow ears.  His mouth is opened slightly.  This costume was only being used at Hopi Hari in Brazil.  By 2022/23, Hopi Hari lost their Warner Bros. license thus automatically bringing an end to this costume.

"Warner Bros. World Bugs" 2018

Warner Bros. was getting ready to open their brand new theme park in Abu Dhabi.  It was time to freshen up some of the Looney Tunes characters like Bugs, Daffy, Tweety, and Taz, plus new costumes of The Flintstones and Tom and Jerry.  Bugs does gain a little weight, but still looks similar in body type.  His head is brand spankin new making him look like the classic headshots from the classic Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies.   His cheeks are more pointy than previous versions, and it has many new detailed features than previous versions.  Currently, it is only being used at Warner Bros. World in Abu Dhabi 

"Articulated Bugs" 2018-2020

That's not All Folks!  Just like Disney and their articulated versions of Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy (plus others), WB also made for their new theme park articulated versions of Daffy Duck and Bugs Bunny.  Very similar to the newest costume for Abu Dhabi, Bugs can now move his eyelids and mouth.  How is it done?  Here are the secrets: the performer wears a special head with wires.  Each one has a button on each hand.  The performer presses the button lightly which signals the movements.  One controls the eyelids while the other controls his mouth.  Done on a pre-recorded track, this makes the illusion that Bugs and Daffy are actually talking.  Click here to watch in action.  When the pandemic hit in 2020, social distancing protocols caused the end of this attraction.  Many live shows still happened at the hub of the theme park.  However, they would not use this costume anymore.  It's a real shame because it had a great opportunity to expand this costume to other places.

"Warner Bros World Bugs version 2" July 2018-present

Another Bugs Bunny costume is also making its rounds at Warner Bros. World.  Mostly seen at the front gates, this version presents Bugs in a softer feature.  His mouth is closed, and his cheeks are much rounder.  His ears are shorter and has much rounder eyes.  It's been suggested that this may have replaced the first version so that it appears his mouth is closed except for when he talks in the Bugs and Daffy show using his articulated version.  This version for a while was only being used at Warner Bros. World in Abu Dhabi, but in 2021, the costume was spotted at Six Flags America and Six Flags Great Adventure during the Holiday at the Park event 

"New Legacy Bugs" 2021

With Space Jam a New Legacy coming out, Warner Bros. decided to redesign Bugs and Lola for costume characters.  This costume looks a little odd compared to the other recent costumes.  The head is big and Bugs looks short in stature.  His eyes are much bigger and rounder.  This could be due to the lighting, but Bugs looks a little bit more purple, but not as purple as on The Looney Tunes Show.  It's not clear where the performer can see through the head, but the mouth could for sure be where they see through, but the eyes could be plastic and not netting.  While this costume was made for the premier of Space Jam, this premiere took place at Six Flags Magic Mountain.  Could Six Flags end up using this costume?  Well.....no.  After the hype of the new Space Jam movie, the costume would easily end up being retired.  And all the new costumes coming to Six Flags parks ended up being the version 2 mold from Abu Dhabi.

BONUS:  Baby Looney Tunes Bugs (various forms mid-late 2000's)

Not seen at any theme parks, but costumes that are worth noting as used officially for live events and stuff.  Here are a few of these costumes.