Final answer:
Bugs Bunny was not created by Walt Disney, but by Warner Bros. Despite criticisms linking cartoons to Cold War propaganda, cartoons were not the main source of civil defense instruction; rather, community bomb shelters reflected the era's protection efforts.
Step-by-step explanation:
Bugs Bunny, the iconic cartoon character, was not created by Walt Disney. The lovable trickster rabbit was actually created by the team at Warner Bros. His first official appearance was in the cartoon A Wild Hare in 1940, under the supervision of Tex Avery. Walt Disney was known for creating many other famous cartoon characters like Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck. Still, it was Warner Bros, Disney's industry rival, that developed the character of Bugs Bunny who would become a major part of their Looney Tunes series.
When discussing the culture of the Cold War era, some critics have suggested that cartoons like Bugs Bunny might have been used to influence public perception. However, cartoons were not taken very seriously by adults at the time and were not the primary method of public instruction in safety measures, such as in the event of a nuclear blast. Younger audiences may find it amusing that a cartoon turtle named Bert demonstrated 'duck and cover' techniques, but in reality, American civil defense efforts focused more on practical measures such as the construction of community bomb shelters and individual families creating shelters in their backyards.