Honey Bunny

Cover to Bugs Bunny Comic Book #108 (November 1966). Art by Robert McKimson.

An early version of Honey Bunny first appeared in the Bugs Bunny's Album comic book from 1953. Instead of being portrayed as his love interest, this version of Honey Bunny is a small white rabbit (and famous African explorer) who is his cousin.[3]

The better-known version of Honey Bunny debuted in Bugs Bunny Comic Book #108 (November 1966)[4] and was a semi-regular fixture in the series of Looney Tunes comic books published by Gold Key throughout the 1960s and 1970s, usually co-starring with Bugs Bunny.[1] Their relationship through the comics was somewhat variable at times; while they were often depicted as a dating couple, there were times when their relationship could be decidedly un-romantic and even adversarial if a particular story demanded it.

Honey's physical appearance also varied considerably over time. In some appearances, she had yellow or pale tan fur and wore a bow between her ears (which were worn down instead of pointing up).[1] She was later drawn to a very "Bugs Bunny-like" model with gray fur that made her look nearly identical to Bugs himself, aside from her female clothing.[3] Eventually, however, Honey was redesigned to a more visibly feminine model. While she still shared Bugs' basic coloration and design, her facial features (primarily her mouth and muzzle) and tail-tuft were made a bit smaller to give them a softer, more delicate appearance, her eyes were made a little larger and drawn with more prominent feminine eyelashes, and her female curves were given a bit more emphasis.[3] This later version, which began appearing in the early 1970s, became the new "official" model and was used frequently in various Looney Tunes merchandise throughout the 1980s and early 1990s.[2]

In the mid-1990s, Warner Bros. started working on Space Jam (1996). There were plans to feature Honey Bunny in the film as Bugs Bunny's female counterpart. In the concept arts, there is an athletic female rabbit wearing a head bow as well as a leotard themed around the American flag. Some artists commented that she looked too much like Bugs in drag, and eventually created Lola Bunny.[5]

Officially, Honey Bunny is considered a member of the Warner Bros. Looney Tunes characters, even though she has never officially appeared in a single animated short; her appearances were limited solely to promotional and ancillary merchandising items. However, a female rabbit with Honey Bunny's yellow character design (who is unnamed in the cartoon but credited as Honey Bunny) makes a cameo appearance in the closing scene of the Bugs Bunny's Thanksgiving Diet (1978) animated television special.[6] She also appeared in the 1989 video game The Bugs Bunny Crazy Castle and the 1991 video game The Bugs Bunny Crazy Castle 2, [7] as well as a 1990 pinball game, Bugs Bunny's Birthday Ball.[8] The most recent mention of Honey was in the book Looney Tunes: The Official Visual Guide, wherein Honey is referred to as a former travel companion of Bugs Bunny's.[9]