July 5: What’s Up, Doc?

Bugs Bunny’s signature phrase, “What’s up, Doc?”, was trademark registered on this date in 1988. Created by Isidor Friz Freleng of Leon Schlesinger Studio (which later merged with Warner Brothers), Bugs had his official debut (with Elmer Fudd) in 1940 and was voiced for nearly half a century by Mel Blanc. Bugs has appeared in more films than any other cartoon character and has his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The catchphrase was the title of a 1950 cartoon celebrating Bugs Bunny’s tenth anniversary as a cartoon character. To see him and Elmer in action, look below. “Eh, what’s up, Doc?” —Bugs Bunny