Rabbits, when made anthropomorphic in fiction, are usually depicted as rascals. The naughty rabbit is a popular motif, but this animal is also associated with various characteristics, just as some of the famous fictional rabbits listed below:
1. Peter Rabbit
First, he ate some lettuce and French Beans, and then he ate some radishes.”
Peter Rabbit perhaps is the world’s only vegetable addict. He is probably the reason why most rabbits in children’s literature are portrayed as addicted to carrots. Peter Rabbit first appeared in The Tale of Peter Rabbit in 1902, then in five more books between 1904 to 1912.
This vegetarian rabbit was first created by Beatrix Potter in 1893 as a letter to Noel Moore, a five-year-old kid of her former governess, Annie Moore. Noel was ill at that time, and Potter wrote him a picture and story letter to help him pass time. The rabbit’s story turned out to be a best-seller of all time, and it’s probably the first fictional rabbits you have met in your life.
Peter’s desire towards vegetables is so intense that he is willing to risk his life and limb just to get into Farmer McGregor’s garden. In his final attempt to steal some veggies, he lost his clothes and the farmer used it to clothe his new scarecrow. Peter went home nude and ended up catching a cold and being scolded.
Peter Rabbit made appearances in more of Potter’s books, but he was never made the main character again.
2. Bugs Bunny
The biggest star of Looney Tunes, Bugs Bunny began his career in the 1940 cartoon short “A Wild Hare.” He is Warner Bros.’ version of Disney’s Mickey Mouse, and the second cartoon character to have a star named after him on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He is one of the most iconic cartoon characters of all time.
Before Bugs, Warner Bros. has been featuring smart-talking rabbits in its cartoons since the 1930s, but Bugs became the most beloved rogue bunny. Bugs has appeared in more films than any other cartoon character, according to the Guinness World Records. He is created and voiced originally by Mel Blanc, the famous voice actor also behind Tweety Bird, Sylvester the Cat, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig and a lot of other cartoon characters.
Bugs Bunny is funny, quick-witted and is capable of outsmarting anyone who torments him. You would never forget that he was from Brooklyn and that he loves to say “Eh… What’s up doc?” while chewing a carrot.
Although Bugs Bunny is 77 years old, he is still very famous up to this time, with a lot of short films, TV series, video games, amusement park rides with his appearance.
3. Easter Bunny
The Easter Bunny is the most prominent secular symbol of the Christian holidays, famous for bringing Easter eggs filled with candy or toys or chocolate to the children. The bunny is introduced to America in the 1700s by the Germans who brought their stories and traditions of an egg-laying hare. They call it “Osterhase” or “Oster Haws” where children made nests in which the mythical rabbit can lay its colored eggs. In addition, children often leave out carrots for the bunny.
Easter Bunny is an anthropomorphic, egg-laying rabbit who sneaks into homes into the night to deliver baskets full of colored eggs filled with treats or toys. Kind of like Santa Claus, eh? Both of them had no historical connection with the holiday, but they’re there every year, anyway.
You might have already thought about how weird it is for rabbits to lay eggs. The exact origins of this mammal are unclear, but it is believed to be a symbol for fertility and new life, together with the egg. Rabbits are prolific breeders that can conceive a second litter of offspring even while still pregnant with the first.
4. Rabbit (Winnie the Pooh)
If you have noticed, most A.A. Milne’s characters in Winnie the Pooh are less creatively named as the animals they are. Piglet is a pig, Tigger is a tiger, Owl is an owl, and Kanga and Roo are well mother-and-son kangaroos. Pooh has another friend named Rabbit, which is quite an appropriate name for what he is.
While most of the characters in the books are based on stuffed animals owned by the creator’s son, Christopher Robin Milne, Rabbit resembles a typical rabbit but he walks on two legs and uses his front paws as hands.
Rabbit is friendly but irritable. He thinks highly of himself and considers himself as the smartest animal in the Hundred Acre Wood since he is not scatter-brained like the intelligent Owl. He is obsessed with rules, planning, and order, and keeps bossing around. He likes doing things his way and pointing out the cons in every plan. He worries a lot because deep down, he cares very much about his friends.
Rabbit first appeared in the first edition of the children’s book self-titled to the main character, which was published in 1926. In 1961, the rights to the story and characters were sold to Disney, and the first appearance of a carrot-loving yellow Rabbit was on a 1966 animated featurette entitled Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree.
5. White Rabbit
Another neurotic rabbit, he is famous for his line, “Oh my fur and whiskers! I’m late, I’m late, I’m late!” He first appeared in Lewis Carroll’s book Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland in 1865 but was popularized by Disney in a 1951 film.
White Rabbit is known as a jittery and seemingly elderly character who is always stressed whenever he’s late. He wears a waistcoat and a trouser outside the castle grounds. He was not kind to Alice because he was just following the orders of an ill-tempered Queen of Hearts. White Rabbit seems antagonistic since he is arrogant towards his servants, but he is just afraid that the Queen would kill him for always being tardy. All in all, he isn’t the villain – he just follows orders.