POP CULTURE

Many a rabbit has gained fame in television and film. Among the most famous is Bugs Bunny, Warner Brothers' smart grey rabbit whose "What's up, Doc?" has become a household catch phrase. Bugs Bunny was created in 1940 by Ben "Bugs" Hardaway and later developed by Tex Avery. Bugs Bunny first appeared in the Oscar Award nominated "A Wild Hare" in 1940. Since then, he has won an Oscar Award for the 1958 film, "Knightly Knight Bugs"; and starred in four full-length feature films (including the 1996 blockbuster "Space Jam" with Michael Jordan), 175 animated shorts and 14 television specials. Bugs Bunny has a sassy girlfriend named Lola Bunny.

Thumper nearly stole the 1942 Walt Disney animated classic, "Bambi" from under its title character. The rapid beating of Thumper's hind leg at the sight of his beloved mate has delighted audiences around the world for half a century.

Babs and Buster Bunny are the hosts of Steven Spielberg's "Tiny Toon Adventures" animated show. The "tiny, tooney and more-than-a-little-loony" bunnies enjoy plenty of mischief at Looneyversity, their school in Acme Acres.

Roger and Jessica Rabbit appeared in the 1988 feature film, "Who Framed Roger Rabbit." The film enjoyed acclaimed success not only for the lovable white rabbit wrongfully accused of murder but for its then-innovative blending of animation and live footage.

The Volkswagen Rabbit debuted in the United States in January 1975. This compact automobile, a four-cylinder hatchback Golf ("Gulf Wind" in German), was renamed to the "Rabbit" by Volkswagen of America, to prevent consumers from assuming that the Golf vehicle was related to the sport of golf. These vehicles were produced from 1975 to 1984 and have been resurrected as the Citi Golf.