US #5495
2020 Basketball Player – Bugs Bunny
- One of 10 stamp designs celebrating Bugs Bunny’s 80th birthday
Stamp Category: Commemorative
Set: Bugs Bunny
Value: 55¢ First Class Mail Rate (Forever)
First Day of Issue: July 27, 2020
First Day City: Burbank, California
Quantity Issued: 50,00... more
US #5495
2020 Basketball Player – Bugs Bunny
- One of 10 stamp designs celebrating Bugs Bunny’s 80th birthday
Stamp Category: Commemorative
Set: Bugs Bunny
Value: 55¢ First Class Mail Rate (Forever)
First Day of Issue: July 27, 2020
First Day City: Burbank, California
Quantity Issued: 50,000,000
Printed by: Banknote Corporation of America
Printing Method: Offset
Format: Panes of 20
Tagging: Phosphor, overall
Why the stamp was issued: To commemorate the 80th anniversary of Bugs Bunny’s official screen debut.
About the stamp designs: Pictures a one of Bugs Bunny’s iconic personas – a basketball player. The artwork came directly from Warner Bros. animation artists who also created the sketches on the reverse side of the complete pane of 20 stamps.
First Day City: The First Day of Issue Ceremony was held virtually due to the Covid-19 pandemic with a First Day of Issue postmark from Burbank, California, home of Warner Bros.
About the Bugs Bunny set: Includes 10 different stamp designs issued in honor of Bugs Bunny’s debut on screen in 1940. Each design pictures a different on of Bugs’ famous personas: a barber, basketball player, Hollywood celebrity, court jester, Brünhilde, mermaid, piano player, super-rabbit, baseball player, and soldier. The set also honors Bugs’ place in popular culture and animation history.
History the stamp represents: In 1996, Bugs Bunny and his Looney Tunes cast members starred in the blockbuster hit Space Jam alongside basketball legend Michael Jordan. The movie was inspired by a series of 1992 and 1993 Nike ads selling “Hare Jordan” sneakers, featuring Bugs Bunny and Michael Jordan.
Space Jam opens with a diabolical character from outer space deciding to capture the Looney Tunes and make them an attraction at his amusement park. Of course, Bugs Bunny and friends want nothing to do with the idea. They challenge the villain and his minions to a basketball game, with their freedom at stake.
Meanwhile, Michael Jordan is playing golf with friends. Suddenly, he is lassoed down a hole and into the cartoon world by Bugs Bunny. The Looney Tunes ask Jordan to help him win their basketball game, and he reluctantly agrees after hearing trash talk from the opposing team.
Bugs and his friends, including a new love interest named Lola Bunny, play hard against their enemies from space. Bugs shows off his abilities on the court, proving he can do more than just wear a costume and trick his opponent.
It just goes to show that you never know where Bugs is going to end up or the situations he’ll get into.
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