Elmer's Candid Camera

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Elmer's Candid Camera is a 1940 Merrie Melodies cartoon directed by Chuck Jones, and first released on March 2, 1940 by Warner Bros. It markes the first appearance of Elmer Fudd (who had evolved from Tex Avery's "Egghead" character)].

Elmer is voiced by Arthur Q. Bryan and Happy Rabbit by Mel Blanc.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

The plot of the short has Elmer interested in taking photos of the country landscape, but Happy Rabbit finds him a convenient victim to harass, just for the fun of it, especially after Elmer rejects the rabbit's seemingly friendly nature. This tormenting eventually drives Elmer insane, causing him to jump into a lake and nearly drown. Happy saves him, ensures that Elmer is all right now - and then kicks him straight back in the lake.

[edit] Trivia

Happy Rabbit is very similar to/is Bugs Bunny paryotype, and the personality is somewhat similar to the famous rabbit. The major differences are that Happy Rabbit in this short has apricot-colored gloves and mouth, furrier tail, black nose, black-tipped ears, and a different voice. The rabbit's voice sounds "rural", and at times sounds rather like Daffy Duck's early voice. The laugh at the end of the cartoon, "Her-her-her-HER-her!", is similar to that of another Blanc character, the early version of Woody Woodpecker, which would debut later in the year.
Elmer's voice is fully developed, and his appearance his similar to later cartoons, except for having shiny cheeks and nose. When in a mild-mannered mood, he is very much like the familiar Elmer. When enraged, as shown in the frame here, his appearance is decidedly uncharacteristic, nearly maniacal.
This is the most famous cartoon to feature Happy Rabbit.