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38 Most Famous Bunnies of All Time

38 Most Famous Bunnies of All Time

In fiction, rabbits are often portrayed as playful, cunning tricksters — think Bugs Bunny. Because of Easter, which falls on April 21, bunny rabbits are already everywhere — in stores, on cards, in commercials, and in movie theaters.

The 2018 animated movie “Peter Rabbit” based on the 1901 popular children’s book has grossed more than $350 million worldwide. Vice President Mike Pence’s daughter Charlotte wrote a book about their pet rabbit titled “Marlon Bundo’s Day in the Life of the Vice President.” This inspired Jill Twiss — a contributor on “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” — to write a pro-gay marriage satire titled “A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo.” Launched on comedian’s show, Twiss’s book became a No. 1 best seller on Amazon.

In observance of the season, 24/7 Wall St. set out to identify the most famous bunnies of all time. We were pleasantly surprised to see how many bunnies have made their mark in history.

For many decades they have appeared as characters in comics and literature, as stars of cartoons and films, as heroes and villains, as giants and cute little balls of fur, and even as advertising icons.

Who would have thought bunnies were such big business? Of course, for every celebrity bunny there are millions more living in the wild and in obscurity as pets in homes around the country. 24/7 Wall St. honors them all. These are the most famous bunnies of all time.

 

24/7 Wall St. reviewed rabbits and bunnies of fame throughout history, including both real animals, such as Vice President Mike Pence’s rabbit, and fictional bunnies. These rabbits are featured on folk songs and stories, television, film, advertising, and more. The rabbits on this list are ranked on the total combined Wikipedia page view for each rabbit’s Wikipedia entry.

Source: Courtesy of Washington Post Writers Group

38. Hodge-Podge
> Debut: 1980
> Wikipedia views over the last two years: 2,125
> Average number of views per day: 3

Hodge-Podge is a character in Berke Breathed’s Pulitzer Prize-winning comic strip Bloom County. Bloom County examines social and cultural issues from the perspective of small-town America, albeit one where animals talk. Hodge-Podge is a knee-jerk conservative.

Source: Courtesy of Philomel Books

37. Basil Stag Hare
> Debut: 1986
> Wikipedia views over the last two years: 2,866
> Average number of views per day: 4

Basil Stag Hare is a character in the Redwall series of books by Brian Jacques. As his name suggests, Basil Stag Hare is not a rabbit, but 24/7 is not prejudiced against hares and there are more on our list. Basil’s second name derives from his admiration for stags, which he regards as noble animals. He is a member of the Fur and Foot Fighting Patrol and the Forty-Seventh Hare Border Rangers.

Source: Courtesy of Nintendo

36. Peppy Hare
> Debut: 1993
> Wikipedia views over the last two years: 4,145
> Average number of views per day: 6

Peppy Hare was a member of the Star Fox mercenary team in the Nintendo space shooter series “Star Fox.” He is the oldest member of Star Fox’s team, and dispenses memorable wisdom such as “do a barrel roll!.”

Source: Joshua Quagmire

35. Cutey Bunny
> Debut: 1982
> Wikipedia views over the last two years: 4,550
> Average number of views per day: 6

Cutey Bunny is a comic book superheroine created by Joshua Quagmire, parodying the “Cutey Honey” manga series. Cutey Bunny has appeared in various comic books since the early 1980s. She is the alter ego of special agent Kelly O’Hare, who has been described as “the world’s first African-American rabbit superheroine.”

Source: Courtesy of Archie Comics

34. Thunderbunny
> Debut: 1984
> Wikipedia views over the last two years: 4,657
> Average number of views per day: 6

Thunderbunny is a character created by Martin Greim. His alter ego is a boy called Bobby Caswell who transforms into a superhero rabbit with super strength and the ability to fly.

Source: Courtesy of Nestle

33. Trix Rabbit
> Debut: 1959
> Wikipedia views over the last two years: 6,044
> Average number of views per day: 8

The Trix Rabbit is the marketing icon for the General Mills breakfast cereal of that name. He has been appearing in TV commercials since 1959. He keeps trying to trick children into giving him a bowl of cereal but is rebuffed with the tagline “Silly rabbit! Trix are for kids.” At one time he was voiced by the famous animation actor Mel Blanc.

Source: Courtesy of CBS

32. Mr. Bunny Rabbit
> Debut: 1955
> Wikipedia views over the last two years: 7,662
> Average number of views per day: 10

Mr. Bunny Rabbit was a puppet character on the television show “Captain Kangaroo,” which ran for almost 30 years, beginning in 1955. He wore trademark red horn-rimmed glasses and could trick the Captain into giving him his carrots. Bunny Rabbit was created and manipulated by puppeteer Cosmo Allegretti.

Source: Courtesy of The Walt Disney Company

31. Bean Bunny
> Debut: 1986
> Wikipedia views over the last two years: 10,267
> Average number of views per day: 14

Bean Bunny starred in a 1986 Jim Henson TV special titled “The Tale of the Bunny Picnic.” He reappeared in the MuppeTelevision parts of “The Jim Henson Hour” and in later Muppet productions. He also had a role in the movie “The Muppet Christmas Carol.”

Source: Courtesy of Marvel Worldwide Inc.

30. Hoppy the Marvel Bunny
> Debut: 1945
> Wikipedia views over the last two years: 14,346
> Average number of views per day: 20

Created by Chad Grothkopf, Hoppy the Marvel Bunny first appeared in the Captain Marvel spin-off “Fawcett’s Funny Animals #1.” Hoppy is a pink bunny who can transform himself into Captain Marvel Bunny, a superhero like Captain Marvel, by saying the magic word “Shazam!”

Source: Courtesy of 9 Story International Distribution

29. Buster Baxter
> Debut: 1979
> Wikipedia views over the last two years: 14,507
> Average number of views per day: 20

Buster Baxter is the best friend of Arthur Read, the aardvark and main character of the TV show “Arthur.” Buster’s parents are divorced and he lives with his mother. He’s an upbeat character with some interesting hobbies, including collecting food.

Source: Courtesy of Jamster/Jamba

28. Schnuffel
> Debut: 2007
> Wikipedia views over the last two years: 19,734
> Average number of views per day: 27

Schnuffel was created by German media company Jamba! to promote its ringtones. Schnuffel inspired the “Kuschel Song,” which made it to the top of the European music charts as well as Android apps. He has a girlfriend called Schnuffelienchen.

Source: Courtesy of Frederick Warne & Co.

27. Benjamin Bunny
> Debut: 1904
> Wikipedia views over the last two years: 20,869
> Average number of views per day: 29

“The Tale of Benjamin Bunny” was written by Beatrix Potter in 1904 as a sequel to the highly successful “The Tale of Peter Rabbit.” Benjamin is Peter’s cousin, and the two share adventures in Mr. McGregor’s garden. They reappear as adults in “The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies” and “The Tale of Mr. Tod.” Benjamin also has a role in the 2018 movie “Peter Rabbit.”

Source: Courtesy of DC Comics

26. Captain Carrot
> Debut: 1982
> Wikipedia views over the last two years: 24,847
> Average number of views per day: 34

Captain Carrot is a DC Comics superhero created by Roy Thomas and Scott Shaw. He originally had an alter ego called Roger Rabbit but the name was changed to Rodney Rabbit to avoid legal issues relating to the Toon star of that name. His home also underwent a name change — he originally lived on the other-dimensional world of Earth-C, which later became Earth-26.

Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Animation Studios

25. Thumper
> Debut: 1942
> Wikipedia views over the last two years: 24,963
> Average number of views per day: 34

Thumper, who first appeared in the Disney film “Bambi,” got his name from his habit of thumping his hind foot. He has since appeared in a number of movies, including “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?” and “Lion King 1½.” He was also namechecked in the James Bond movie “Diamonds Are Forever,” which featured two female bodyguards called “‘Bambi” and “Thumper.”

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Television Distribution

24. Ricochet Rabbit
> Debut: 1964
> Wikipedia views over the last two years: 49,222
> Average number of views per day: 67

Ricochet Rabbit is a character in Hanna-Barbera’s “The Magilla Gorilla Show” and “The Peter Potamus Show.” A sheriff in the Wild West town of Hoop ‘n’ Holler, he was named for his habit of bouncing off objects while yelling his catchphrase “Ping-ping-ping!”

Source: Courtesy of Dark Horse Comics

23. Miyamoto Usagi
> Debut: 1987
> Wikipedia views over the last two years: 55,359
> Average number of views per day: 76

Miyamoto Usagi is a character in the Dark Horse Comics book “Usagi Yojimbo.” (Usagi is the Japanese word for rabbit.) He is a ronin, or warrior for hire, and highly skilled with a sword. He has also appeared in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series and video games.

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

22. Harvey
> Debut: 1950
> Wikipedia views over the last two years: 58,258
> Average number of views per day: 80

Harvey was made famous in a 1950 comedy film of the same name. The film was based on a play by Mary Chase. Harvey is a 6-foot-3½-inch tall invisible rabbit and best friend to Elwood P. Dowd, an amiable barfly played by James Stewart. While that sounds like an unlikely setup, Stewart was nominated for an Academy Award for his performance. His costar Josephine Hull, who played Elwood’s sister, took home an Oscar for best supporting actress.

Source: Courtesy of 20th Television

21. Crusader Rabbit
> Debut: 1949
> Wikipedia views over the last two years: 61,416
> Average number of views per day: 84

Crusader Rabbit was the star of the first ever made-for-television cartoon series of the same name. It Debuted in 1949 and ran for 10 years. Each episode, which was only four minutes long, featured the small but bold Crusader Rabbit embarking on an adventure, and ended with a cliffhanger.

Source: Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

20. Marlon Bundo
> Debut: 2018
> Wikipedia views over the last two years: 80,710
> Average number of views per day: 111

Marlon Bundo is the family pet of Vice President Mike Pence and the subject of two best-selling books, both published in March 2018. Pence’s daughter Charlotte wrote a book titled “Marlon Bundo’s Day in the Life of the Vice President.” This inspired Jill Twiss — a contributor on “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” — to write a gay-themed satire titled “A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo.” Launched on comedian’s show, Twiss’s book became a No. 1 best seller on Amazon.

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.

19. Honey Bunny
> Debut: 1953
> Wikipedia views over the last two years: 86,424
> Average number of views per day: 118

Honey Bunny first appeared as Bugs Bunny’s cousin in the Bugs Bunny’s Album comic book in 1953. She later appears as his girlfriend and costar. Honey Bunny was also used for Looney Tunes’ marketing purposes but never appeared in animated cartoons.

Source: Courtesy of Epic MegaGames

18. Jazz Jackrabbit
> Debut: 1994
> Wikipedia views over the last two years: 96,428
> Average number of views per day: 132

Jazz Jackrabbit, a video game that was first released in 1994, draws inspiration from Aesop’s “The Tortoise and the Hare” fable. An evil tortoise named Devan Shell kidnaps princess Eva Earlong of Carrotus, a planet populated by hares, and the king sends Jazz Jackrabbit to rescue her and save the kingdom.

Source: Courtesy of Continuity Comics

17. Bucky O’Hare
> Debut: 1991
> Wikipedia views over the last two years: 110,501
> Average number of views per day: 151

Bucky O’Hare is the hero of a comic book series created by Larry Hama and Michael Golden. Bucky is captain of a ship called The Righteous Indignation, which belongs to the the S.P.A.C.E. organization (Sentient Protoplasm Against Colonial Encroachment). They are part of the United Animals Federation, which is battling the expansionist Toad Empire. The comics spawned an animated TV series and video games.

Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios

16. Rabbit
> Debut: 1926
> Wikipedia views over the last two years: 128,642
> Average number of views per day: 176

Rabbit, a friend of Winnie-the-Pooh, appeared in the book of that name and in the “House at Pooh Corner” by A.A. Milne. Rabbit, Winnie-the-Pooh, and other friends live in Hundred Acre Wood and have various adventures with a young boy, Christopher Robin. The Pooh books were turned into a very successful cartoon franchise by Disney.

Source: Philip Mendoza

15. March Hare
> Debut: 1865
> Wikipedia views over the last two years: 145,643
> Average number of views per day: 200

The March Hare is a character in Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s “Adventures in Wonderland” and “Through the Looking-Glass.” He hosts a Mad Tea Party and is something of a philosopher, but he often plays second fiddle to the Mad Hatter. Carroll’s works have had a major influence on popular culture and have been made into animated and live-action movies by Disney.

Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

14. Roger Rabbit
> Debut: 1981
> Wikipedia views over the last two years: 174,883
> Average number of views per day: 240

Roger Rabbit first appeared in the 1981 book “Who Censored Roger Rabbit?” By Gary K. Wolf and later was the subject of the 1988 Disney movie “Who Framed Roger Rabbit.” In the movie version, Roger lives in Toontown, which is populated by animated characters. He is framed for the murder of the owner of Toontown and hires a private detective to clear his name.

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Television Distribution

13. Bunnicula
> Debut: 2016
> Wikipedia views over the last two years: 195,217
> Average number of views per day: 267

Bunnicula, as his name suggests, is a vampire rabbit who feeds on vegetable juice rather than blood. He appears in a series of books written by James and Deborah Howe. Bunnicula is taken in by the Monroe family, and the stories are told from the perspective of their pet dog Harold. The Bunnicula books have been adapted for an animated TV series and for the stage.

Source: Courtesy of DRi Licensing Limited

12. Miffy
> Debut: 1955
> Wikipedia views over the last two years: 203,590
> Average number of views per day: 279

Miffy is the subject of a series of picture books by Dutch artist Dick Bruna, who died in 2017. The books have sold tens of millions of copies and spawned a number of TV series as well as “Miffy the Movie.” In Bruna’s hometown of Utrecht there is a square named after Miffy (or Nijntje, as she is known in Dutch) that features a statue of the little rabbit. She serves as a celebrity character spokesperson for UNICEF.

Source: Courtesy of Energizer

11. Energizer Bunny
> Debut: 1989
> Wikipedia views over the last two years: 211,132
> Average number of views per day: 289

The Energizer Bunny is the marketing icon for Energizer batteries. He is pink, wears sunglasses, bangs a drum and “just keeps going and going…” He has been appearing in TV ads since 1989. In 2016, Energizer introduced a new slimmed-down version of the famous bunny with more realistic fur.

Source: Courtesy of EMI

 

10. Rabbit of Caerbannog
> Debut: 1975
> Wikipedia views over the last two years: 295,676
> Average number of views per day: 405

The Rabbit of Caerbannog appears in the film “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” and also in the musical adaptation “Spamalot.” Most of the bunnies on our list are heroes, or at least are adorable, but the Rabbit of Caerbannog is a natural-born killer. In “Monty Python and the Holy Grail,” he dispatches several of King Arthur’s knights with ease but is finally killed himself by the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch.

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Family Entertainment

9. Lola Bunny
> Debut: 1996
> Wikipedia views over the last two years: 311,125
> Average number of views per day: 426

Lola Bunny made her debut in the 1996 film “Space Jam,” in which she played Bugs Bunny’s girlfriend, and has since appeared in cartoons and comics. Famously spirited and seductive, she plays a mean game of basketball. Lola has been voiced by Kristen Wiig among others.

Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures

8. Br’er Rabbit
> Debut: 1880
> Wikipedia views over the last two years: 385,580
> Average number of views per day: 528

Br’er Rabbit is the central character in the Uncle Remus stories, a collection of children’s stories set in the Southern United States published by Joel Chandler Harris beginning in 1880. Harris adapted the stories from African-American folktales he collected during his time spent with slaves on plantations. Br’er uses his wits to get out of trouble and to get by. He is featured in the 1946 Disney film “Song of the South.” Br’er was one of the inspirations for Beatrix Potter when she wrote “The Tale of Peter Rabbit.”

Source: Courtesy of Playboy Enterprises

7. Playboy Bunny
> Debut: 1953
> Wikipedia views over the last two years: 398,668
> Average number of views per day: 546

The Playboy Bunny is not really a rabbit, but rather a waitress in a bunny costume at a Playboy Club. The role was created by Hugh Hefner, who was inspired by Bunny’s Tavern in Urbana, Illinois. Some famous women have worked as Playboy Bunnies, including actress Lauren Hutton, Deborah Harry, and judge Kimba Wood, who was a trainee. Gloria Steinem, one of the most renowned women’s rights activists, also went undercover as a Bunny for a journalistic expose.

Source: Courtesy of Doubleday

6. The Velveteen Rabbit
> Debut: 1922
> Wikipedia views over the last two years: 438,915
> Average number of views per day: 601

“The Velveteen Rabbit,” written by Margery Williams, tells the story of a stuffed rabbit who wants to become a real one. First published in 1922, it has had numerous adaptations in the years since.

Source: Courtesy of Sony Pictures Releasing

5. Peter Rabbit
> Debut: 1901
> Wikipedia views over the last two years: 486,165
> Average number of views per day: 666

Peter Rabbit is another famous creation of Beatrix Potter. He first appeared in “The Tale of Peter Rabbit,” published in 1901. In 2018, Sony Pictures released an animated/live-action adaptation of “Peter Rabbit,” which has grossed almost $200 million worldwide and is one of the best animated movies of all time.

Source: Courtesy of The Walt Disney Company

4. Oswald the Lucky Rabbit
> Debut: 1927
> Wikipedia views over the last two years: 637,686
> Average number of views per day: 874

Oswald the Lucky Rabbit was created by Ub Iwerks and Walt Disney in the 1920s. He was one of the first animated characters to have personality and was the Disney Studio’s first character to have its own series. Disney lost the rights to Oswald in 1928 but reacquired them in 2006 in a rather unorthodox trade with NBC that included sportscaster Al Michaels. Oswald reappeared in the 2010 video game Epic Mickey as well as in follow-up games, theme parks, and comic books.

Source: Naked King / Getty Images

3. Easter Bunny
> Debut: 1700’s
> Wikipedia views over the last two years: 959,798
> Average number of views per day: 1,315

This famous bunny has been a symbol of Easter for centuries, although it doesn’t appear in the Bible. The tradition may have began with German Lutherans, who originally adopted the Easter Hare. Immigrants to the United States kept the tradition. Rabbits and hares are highly fertile and mate in spring, so it is not surprising that they became symbols of a holiday that celebrates rebirth. Eggs are also a symbol of fertility and rebirth — and of the empty tomb of Jesus — and the Easter Bunny is often depicted carrying Easter Eggs in a basket.

Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Animation Studios

2. White Rabbit
> Debut: 1865
> Wikipedia views over the last two years: 1,132,262
> Average number of views per day: 1,551

The White Rabbit is another famous bunny from Lewis Carroll’s “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.” He is the one Alice follows down a rabbit hole into Wonderland. In the Disney animated version of the book, he sings the famous song that begins, “I’m late! I’m late! For a very important date!” The White Rabbit has been referenced numerous times in popular culture, including in a psychedelic song of that name by Jefferson Airplane, and he even appeared in the 1966 Star Trek episode “Shore Leave.”

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.

1. Bugs Bunny
> Debut: 1938
> Wikipedia views over the last two years: 1,380,449
> Average number of views per day: 1,891

The instantly recognizable and unforgettable Bugs Bunny was created in 1938 by Leon Schlesinger Productions, which later became Warner Bros. Cartoons. He was first voiced by voice actor Mel Blanc. Bugs is known for his catchphrase “What’s up, doc?” and for his fondness for carrots, among other things. Bugs has appeared in more films, including Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies shorts, than any other cartoon character. He is the official mascot for Warner Bros. And here are the official pets and animals of every state.

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