The Haunted Mouse (Looney Tunes Cartoon, 1941)

"The Haunted Mouse" is a black-and-white Looney Tunes cartoon released on February 15, 1941, directed by Tex Avery and produced by Leon Schlesinger. This short marks the first appearance of a prototype version of the character that would later evolve into Bugs Bunny, though he isn’t named in this cartoon. It’s a classic example of early Looney Tunes humor, blending slapstick with a touch of the supernatural.
In the story, a hungry cat arrives at a house looking for food. The house appears abandoned, but it’s actually inhabited by a mischievous mouse and a ghost. The mouse, who has a sly, trickster personality, teams up with the ghost to torment the cat. The cat, expecting an easy meal, instead becomes the victim of a series of gags and scares. The mouse uses his wits to outsmart the cat, while the ghost adds an extra layer of chaos with its spooky antics. The cartoon builds to a frantic pace as the cat is repeatedly foiled, eventually fleeing in terror.
The animation style is typical of the early 1940s Looney Tunes: simple yet expressive, with exaggerated movements and a playful tone. The mouse character here has some traits—like his cunning and taunting nature—that would later define Bugs Bunny, though he’s less polished and lacks the iconic design and voice Mel Blanc would bring to the role. The short runs about 7 minutes and leans heavily on visual comedy and the absurdity of a cat being outwitted by a mouse and a ghost.
It’s a fun, lesser-known entry in the Looney Tunes catalog, showcasing Tex Avery’s knack for wild humor and laying early groundwork for one of animation’s most famous characters.