Roger Rabbit (Disney)
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- For the 1988 film, see Who Framed Roger Rabbit
Roger Rabbit is a fictional anthropomorphic rabbit. The character first appeared in the book, Who Censored Roger Rabbit? by Gary K. Wolf, which was loosely adapted into the academy award winning film, Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Mixing both live action and animation to create a believable "toon" universe Disney studios set up an animation studio in Camden town, London, whilst the live action was shot at Elstree film studios. Both the animation and live action were then composited by ILM fx studios in LA. In the book, Roger is a sidekick in a popular comic strip called "Baby Herman," his murder is being investigated by a Detective named Eddie Valiant and a slowly evaporating stunt doppelganger of himself that he created hours before being shot. In the film version, he is re-envisioned as a 1940's character in animated cartoons and a resident of the fictional Los Angeles enclave, Toontown. He is framed for a murder and seeks out Valiant to help clear his name. In the film, the voice of Roger is performed by comedian Charles Fleischer, who was known for electing to wear an actual rabbit costume on the set to get into the role. One of his famous traits is his voice, "P-b-b-b-b-bleeeease!", which is seen as hilarious by many. He is a white clownish rabbit with a gap between his front teeth, a voice that resonates of Huntz Hall in "The Bowery Boys", a blue Porky Pig-like bowtie with yellow pokadots, a red-haired Bugs Bunny-like head with blue eyes, a pink nose and round-tipped ears, red Goofy-like pants with a green patch behind and yellow Mickey Mouse-like gloves.
Roger also starred in a comic book series from April 1990 to September 1991 and a spin-off series called Roger Rabbit's Toontown, published from June to October 1991, which featured Roger in the first story and supporting characters like Jessica Rabbit (Roger's voluptuous humanoid wife), Baby Herman (his co-star in Maroon Cartoons), Benny the Cab (Roger's taxicab friend), and The Weasels (Roger's enemies).
Other Appearances
- Roger was also prominently featured in the Wonderful World of Disney television special Mickey's 60th Birthday. At the beginning, Roger is supposed to provide Mickey's birthday cake, but in his attempt to do so, he mistakenly places a stick of dynamite on said cake, thinking it to be a candle. When he realizes his mistake, he tries and fails to put it out, destroying the set in the process. Roger's act there causes Mickey to magically fix it, thus getting the special's main plot started. Afterwards, Roger doesn't appear until the end when he "finds" Mickey, who has been thought to be missing. In-between, though, his film is referenced twice.
- Rumors point out that an early version of Roger has a cameo in the rare animated short Sport Goofy in Soccermania. Because the short came out before the release of Roger's film a cameo may seem impossible, but both were in production within the same time frame.
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Early Roger Rabbit
- Roger has a cameo appearance (of sorts) in Aladdin and the King of Thieves. When Genie is showing Jasmine images of various outfits, one of them is Jessica Rabbit's body, with Roger's head peeking out from behind.
- Roger also made a cameo appearance in the Tiny Toons episode "Buster and Babs Go Hawaiian". After Ralph the Guard kicks Babs and Buster Bunny out of the Warner Brothers front gate, he allows Roger and his Limo on. Ralph greets Roger while Roger plays with the guard's shirt. Jessica Rabbit's leg is also seen in the limo in the same scene.
- In Back to the Future Part II, a Roger Rabbit doll is in the window of Cafe 80's restaurant, and in a Back to the Future Part III blooper Michael J. Fox as Seamus McFly replies he has supper and then brings in a Roger Rabbit doll instead.
Attempted Sequel/Series
- Disney and Amblin Entertainment attempted to resurrect Roger for a sequel, Roger Rabbit II: Toon Platoon. However, a preliminary budget was deemed too large and the film never got past the script stage. Several 3D CGI tests and a 3D CGI rendering of Roger were completed, however, despite the fact that no actual footage was actually shot or completed.
- Roger Rabbit was originally going to be the star of the animated series now known as Bonkers, however the show was forced to create original characters due to copyright issues.
Popularity
- Roger made his footprints and handprints with his signature phrase "P-p-p-p-lease" in front of the Chinese theatre at Disney-MGM Studios on its opening day along with Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Minnie Mouse, and Goofy.
- Roger is also the inspiration for a popular dance move in the early 1990s, called "the Roger Rabbit" due to the floppy movements of the Disney/Amblin character.
- Roger Rabbit is a popular character at Disneyland and Tokyo Disneyland (both of which contain identical versions of the Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin attraction), but is hardly ever heard of at Walt Disney World, Disneyland Paris and Hong Kong Disneyland.