He Hateth Himself

One of the funniest realisation moments in cartoon history has to be when it dawns on the Sheriff of Nottingham that Bugs Bunny has swindled him in “Rabbit Hood.” He slowly stops hammering while constructing his dream home (on the King’s land that Bugs has sold him) looks around, then after a 16-frame hold, bites the nails in frustration.



He lets out a head-shaking scream, stretches himself up, then bangs his head with a hammer to punish himself for being a dope.



And Carl Stalling’s banging of a single piano key when the Sheriff is hammering his head is brilliantly appropriate.

Ken Harris, Ben Washam, Lloyd Vaughan and Phil Monroe are the credited animators. See the comment section for the identity of the animator in this scene. There are so many great moments in this cartoon, it’s got to be considered one of Chuck Jones’ and Mike Maltese’s best.