Dr. Rabbit (also known as Professor Lepus in order to avoid trademark infringement) is an anthropomorphic bunny dentist originally created by Colgate-Palmolive as a mascot for the company's Bright Smiles, Bright Futures campaign. Originally created in 1979 for the Colombian market as Dr. Muelitas before debuting in the United States, he has starred in seven videos: Dr. Rabbit in the Incredible Ride (1994), Dr. Rabbit's World Tour (1998), Dr. Rabbit Comes to School (2003), Dr. Rabbit and the Legend of Tooth Kingdom (2004), How to Have a Bright Smile (2009), Dr. Rabbit and the Tooth Defenders (2012) and Adventures in the Molar System (2020).
In World Tour, Dr. Rabbit travels around the world to promote oral hygiene, and meets several kids along the way. In Tooth Kingdom, he and his new female assistant tell a story to a group of children about a kingdom under attack by the evil sorcerer Plaqula. In Comes to School, he — as a puppet joined by Alpha Betty and Doogan the dog — teach some schoolchildren how to brush and become Super... Duper... Brushing... CHAMPIONS!!!
This series contains examples of:
- Amazing Technicolor Wildlife: Dr. Rabbit is purple.
- Bunnies for Cuteness: Dr. Rabbit is a bunny, and he's pretty cute.
- Depending on the Artist: Because each video has a different animation team, Dr. Rabbit looks slightly different in each video.
- Friend to All Children: Dr. Rabbit gets along quite well with children, and the children get along with him well back. World Tour shows that kids already know who he is.
- Fully-Dressed Cartoon Animal: Minus Adventures in the Molar System, Dr. Rabbit's main look consists of dental gear, including a dental coat, some visors, and a surgical mask.
- Nice Guy: Dr. Rabbit is friendly to almost everyone, and is shown to be very patient with kids should they be neglecting dental hygiene.
- Serious Business: Colgate-Palmolive once filed DMCA claims against several YouTube Poops, leading to the uploaders' bans.note Though the company has loosened up since.
Dr. Rabbit in The Incredible Ride contains examples of:
- Butt-Monkey: David always seems to get trolled throughout the episode due to his lack of knowledge on how to properly take care of his teeth.
- Big Fun: It almost seems like Dr. Rabbit planned the whole thing out just to teach David a lesson about maintaining his dental health, and just wanted to have fun with the kids.
- Covers Always Lie: Despite being called "The Incredible Ride" they only are on a rollercoaster for a second in a rather boring-looking tunnel, but the rest is more of a tour.
- Early-Installment Weirdness: There is almost some reversed Flanderization with Dr. Rabbit here, hinting by how overly dramatic and forced all of the characters appear.
- Disney Acid Sequence: A lot of scenes in this special are prime examples of this.
- Irony: Despite being called a "ride" it's no more than a tour.
- Large Ham: Dr. Rabbit is way more expressive and dramatic here.
- Or Was It a Dream?: Silvia literally says this towards the end when the kids arrive back in the amusement park.
- Rescue Arc: A huge portion of the special is about saving David from the Acid Monsters.
- Suddenly Shouting: Dr. Rabbit whenever they go falling through the holes into another level.
- 2D Visuals, 3D Effects: There is a brief scene that plays of a tunnel going through a lip-shaped door that is 3D.
- Toon Transformation: There are live-action segments at the beginning and end, but when the kids all go on the ride, they all turn into cartoon characters.
- Shout-Out: The opening scene of Silvia and friends following Dr. Rabbit evokes the beginning of Alice in Wonderland.
- Where the Hell Is Springfield?: It is unknown what theme park/amusement park this is all located in. Although the live-action segments were filmed at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, it isn't mentioned by name.
Dr. Rabbit's World Tour contains examples of:
- Advertised Extra: The back of the VHS features illustrations of the six main kids, but also features the Indian boy who only appears very briefly in the closing musical number.
- Animal Gender-Bender: The kangaroo has a pouch despite being male.
- Artistic License – Geography: Dr. Rabbit goes from continent to continent via bicycle, kangaroo, etc, disregarding distances and oceans.
- Free-Range Children: None of these children inform their parents before running off to another continent with a giant purple rabbit.
- Glove Snap: On two occasions.Dr. Rabbit: Open wiiiiiide.....
- Kangaroo Pouch Ride
- Scare Chord: A short organ chord plays when Dr. Rabbit introduces plaque monsters.
- Villain Song: The plaque song.
- Vocal Dissonance: Olivia, the Australian girl, sounds like a 30-year-old woman. Averted with the other kids, though, who actually sound like kids.
Dr. Rabbit and the Legend of Tooth Kingdom contains examples of:
- Chekhov's Gun: The floss that Paul used as a belt for his pants is later used to tie many toothbrushes to wake up the knights.
- Creepy Crossdresser: A plaque monster disguises itself as a girl as part of a trap for children.
- Level Ate: Plaqula's castle sits atop a mountain of candy.
- Punny Name: Dr. Brushwell.
Dr. Rabbit Comes to School contains examples of:
- Live-Action Adaptation: Also with puppets.
- Moniker As Enticement: Those who can brush their teeth correctly are declared to be Super... Duper... Brushing... CHAMPIONS!!!
- Punctuated! For! Emphasis!: Doogan is a Super... Duper... Brushing... CHAMPION!!!
How to Have a Bright Smile contains examples of:
- Art Shift: This short is animated in a construction paper style reminiscent of South Park.
