Buzz
As a child in St. Louis, I spent hours immersed in cartoons like Bugs Bunny, Tom and Jerry, and Popeye, thanks to their frequent airings on the local independent channels. (Disney cartoons weren’t as easily accessible unless they appeared on the Sunday night Wonderful World of Disney.) These iconic cartoons sparked my deep appreciation for classical music. (Apologies, Mom—while you were a major musical influence, Bugs Bunny took the lead in this case!) The cartoons of the 1930s-1950s were masters at incorporating popular music and original scores, but they also beautifully blended in classical compositions, elevating some of the most iconic animated works ever created.
Cartoonists often favored Rossini’s energetic overtures, along with Liszt’s Hungarian rhapsodies and Brahms’ Hungarian dances. In the world of animation, Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata became the soundtrack to serene, moonlit scenes, while the opening notes of his Fifth Symphony were famously used to underscore Nazi characters during World War II. Liszt’s Les Preludes’ final movement was another favorite for many animated sequences. What other classical pieces would you add to this list? Enjoy!
10. The Band Concert 1935
Music: Rossini’s William Tell Overture
Before the William Tell Overture became synonymous with The Lone Ranger, The Band Concert showcased Mickey Mouse conducting an outdoor band performance. As the orchestra plays through the overture, Donald Duck keeps disrupting the show by playing 'Turkey in the Straw' on his recorder.
9. Pigs in a Polka 1943
Music: Brahms’ Hungarian Dances #5, 7, 6, and 17 (in that sequence)
The classic tale of the three little pigs was a frequent choice for animated adaptations. This Warner Bros. version cleverly syncs the pigs’ antics with Brahms’ music, making the soundtrack feel almost like an additional character in the story.
8. Baton Bunny 1959
Music: Von Suppe’s A Morning, Noon, and Night in Vienna
Bugs Bunny takes the role of a conductor for an orchestra with no musicians. He leads Von Suppe’s 'Morning, Noon, and Night in Vienna,' but with a creative twist: He turns part of the piece into a wild cowboys and Indians adventure, using his ears as props.
7. Magical Maestro 1952
Music: Largo al factotum aria from Rossini’s Barber of Seville opera
This iconic aria is brilliantly featured in a cartoon, arguably best showcased in this Tex Avery classic (though Long-Haired Hare comes close). After a down-on-his-luck magician fails to convince Poochini, the 'world’s greatest baritone,' to allow him into the opera singer’s act, he uses his wand to make Poochini’s life a nightmare. It’s one of Avery’s finest works. Although often edited for racial stereotypes, the uncut version can still be found. Be sure to watch for the moment when Poochini 'breaks the fourth wall' and pulls a hair from the 'film.'
6. Tom and Jerry in the Hollywood Bowl 1950
Music: Johann Strauss II’s Die Fledermaus
In this animated classic, Tom takes the role of conductor, leading an orchestra of cats. Naturally, Jerry decides he wants to join in the fun, and, as expected, Tom repeatedly kicks him out. The choreography here is superb, and both Tom and Jerry look quite dapper in their tuxedos.
5. A Corny Concerto 1943
Music: Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto #1, Strauss’ Tales from the Vienna Woods, and The Blue Danube
Warner Bros. often had fun mocking Disney, especially since many animators made the jump from Disney to Warner Bros. (and MGM). A Corny Concerto parodies Disney’s Fantasia (see #2), beginning with Elmer Fudd, who appears as an unshaven Stokowski introducing two segments. The first is a wild chase through the Vienna woods with Bugs, Porky, and an unnamed dog. The second segment is a more traditional scene, where a duck defends a family of swans from a vulture.
4. The Cat Concerto 1947
Music: Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody #2
The Cat Concerto won the Academy Award for Best Short Subject Cartoon in 1947. That same year, Warner Bros. released a nearly identical cartoon, Rhapsody Rabbit, which featured many of the same gags. Both MGM and Warner Bros. accused each other of plagiarism, but no formal action was ever taken. It's a close call whether The Cat Concerto or Rhapsody Rabbit is the superior cartoon. Also worth noting is Rhapsody in Rivets, an Oscar-nominated Warner Bros. cartoon that depicts the construction of the 'Umpire State Building,' with a foreman/conductor leading the workers.
3. What’s Opera, Doc? 1957
Music: Wagner’s Ring Cycle
In this Chuck Jones masterpiece, Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd tackle Wagner’s Ring Cycle. While some may argue Fantasia deserves the top spot, this Bugs Bunny short is often ranked as the greatest Bugs Bunny cartoon and one of the best animated shorts ever made. Jones brilliantly condenses Wagner's epic Ring saga into a hilarious 6½-minute parody—and it's one of the rare occasions where Elmer actually 'gets' Bugs. After watching this, you'll never hear 'Flight of the Valkyries' the same way again, without recalling Elmer’s unforgettable line: 'Kill the wabbit, kill the wabbit, kill the wabbit!'
2. The Sorcerer’s Apprentice 1940
Music: Dukas’ The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
Fantasia stands as one of Disney's finest achievements. It’s likely that many viewers experienced its iconic segments as standalone cartoons on TV, rather than seeing the entire film in theaters. The most famous (and arguably best) segment is 'The Sorcerer’s Apprentice,' where Mickey Mouse plays an apprentice who gets in way over his head. Other notable musical pieces in Fantasia include: Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite, Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring, Beethoven’s Sixth Symphony, Ponchielli’s The Dance of the Hours, Mussorgsky’s Night on Bald Mountain, and Schubert’s Ave Maria.
1. The Rabbit of Seville 1950
Music: Rossini’s Barber of Seville Overture
In this expertly crafted masterpiece, Bugs Bunny takes on Rossini with perfect timing. Elmer Fudd chases Bugs into a theater, and the two engage in a hilarious interpretation of Rossini’s 'Barber of Seville,' with Bugs giving Elmer a thorough head massage. The standout moment is when Bugs uses his ears to rub Elmer’s bald head. Some of the memorable lyrics include: 'Hey you! Don’t look so perplexed/why must you be vexed/can’t you see you’re next? Yes, you’re next. You’re so next!' and 'There! You’re nice and clean! Although your face looks like it might have gone through a machine.' Note: This version uses the overture music, while the music in #7 comes from the opera’s famous aria. Although the film quality isn’t the best, this is the only English version I could find on YouTube.
