Witch Hazel is absent from Space Jam A New Legacy

SPACE JAM A NEW LEGACY opened in theaters on Thursday, July 15. The combination of live-action and animation made the 1997 film an instant hit. There will be one cartoon character who will not be returning for the sequel and that is Witch Hazel. When most people hear the name Witch Hazel they probably think about the plant based astringent that is used as a topical medicinal product. When Looney Tunes or Merrie Melodies cartoons are mentioned it is Bugs Bunny, Yosemite Sam, Marvin the Martian, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, and the Tazmanian Devil who most often come to mind.

Not many think of the animated sorceress when they hear Witch Hazel but she is part of the zany cast that has entertained us for many decades. The cartoon witch was created for WARNER BROTHERS by the legendary Chuck Jones and was modeled after the first Witch Hazel who was in the 1952 DISNEY cartoon Trick or Treat and the name is a pun based on the healing plant. Jones was able to capitalize on the name because it was already in commercial use in various products. This is why there were no issues with DISNEY regarding the character.

Witch Hazel debuted in, Bewitched Bunny (1954), voiced by Bea Benaderet. (Kate Bradley in PETTICOAT JUNCTION). Beginning with Broom-Stick Bunny in 1956, June Foray who had done the voice for DISNEY's witch began voicing the cartoon character for WARNER BROTHERS. Foray who passed away in 2014 has a long list of voice over credits. She has not done as many as the iconic Mel Blanc but her record is p0retty impressive. Foray has provided the voices for Susie in FROSTY THE SNOWMAN, Natasha and Rocky Squirrel in BULWINKLE, Cindy Lou Who, and Jokey Smurf.

Foray said that she began performing the DISNEY version of Witch Hazel using a British accent, but gave the WARNER BROTHERS character an American voice. Witch Hazel is not as prominent as the other Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies animated characters but she is lovable in her own way, especially when she calls Bugs Bummy "Dearie." Witch Hazel's absence may not even be noticed by the masses in SPACE JAM A NEW LEGACY but there will be those who miss her none the less.

The Looney Tunes Witch Hazel is a distinctive and humorous villainess. She is rather plumb with green skin and thin spindly legs. She is always wearing a blue dress with pantaloons underneath. When she runs or jumps on her broom you can see the underwear. She has black hair adorned by a black hat and you often cannot tell one from the other. Hairpins spew from her tresses into the air each time she cackles or rides off on her broomstick.

After "Bewitched Bunny" in 1954 Witch Hazel was seen in the following:

Looney Tunes "Broom-Stick Bunny" (1956)

Looney Tunes "A Witch's Tangled Hare" (1959)

Looney Tunes "A-Haunting We Will Go" (1966)

The Bugs Bunny Show (1960-1962)

Bugs Bunny's Howl-oween Special (1978)

Tiny Toon Adventures (1990-1995)

Tiny Toons' Night Ghoulery (1995)

Animaniacs! (1993-1998)

The Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries episode:

S2E1b "Autumn's Leaving" (1996)

She also made silent cameo's in the film SPACE JAM 1997 and Looney Tunes: Rabbits Run (2015). Witch Hazel was also in the New Looney Tunes segments "It's Snout or Never", "Finders Keepers, Losers Sweepers", and"Hiccups and Downs". If you are a fan of the classic Merrie Melodies and Looney Tunes version of Witch Hazel you can catch these cartoons on MeTV and also various streaming services so check your local listings.