If you’ve ever found yourself typing "show me a picture of the easter bunny" into a search bar, you're usually looking for one of two things: a cute, fuzzy illustration to show a toddler or a slightly terrifying photo of a 1970s mall mascot. It's a weird tradition. We take a woodland creature, dress it in a vest, and tell kids it breaks into the house to leave sugar-filled eggs. Honestly, the more you think about it, the weirder it gets. But that’s the charm.
The imagery we associate with the Easter Bunny has shifted wildly over the centuries. It isn't just one "look." Depending on where you are in the world—or even what decade you grew up in—the bunny might look like a realistic hare, a cartoon character with giant eyes, or a literal guy in a felt suit.
Where the First Pictures Came From
Long before digital cameras, the "Easter Bunny" wasn't even a bunny. It was a hare. Specifically, the Osterhase. German Lutherans started this whole thing back in the 1600s. If you look at the earliest woodcuts or drawings of the Osterhase, they aren’t "cute." They look like wild animals. Hares have long, muscular legs and lean bodies. They look a bit more intense than the floppy-eared lop bunnies we see on greeting cards today.
In these old-school depictions, the hare was often shown carrying a basket. Sometimes it wore a little hat. The idea was that the hare would judge whether children were being good or bad at the start of the season of Eastertide. It was basically a spring-themed version of Santa Claus.
By the time German immigrants moved to Pennsylvania in the 1700s, they brought these stories with them. The pictures changed as the culture changed. American artists started making the rabbit look softer and more approachable. By the late 1800s, Victorian postcards were everywhere. These were the first mass-produced "pictures of the Easter Bunny." They featured soft pastels, flowers, and rabbits that looked increasingly human-like, walking on two legs and holding umbrellas.
Why Some Easter Bunny Photos Are Actually Terrifying
We have to talk about the mall bunny.
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If you grew up between 1950 and 2000, you probably have a grainy photo in a box somewhere of you crying on the lap of a giant rabbit. These pictures are a staple of American childhood, but they are objectively bizarre. Most of these costumes featured giant, unblinking plastic eyes and a fixed, toothy grin.
Why do they look so creepy? It’s usually a phenomenon called the Uncanny Valley. This is a concept often discussed by robotics experts like Masahiro Mori. It suggests that when something looks almost human—but not quite—it triggers a sense of revulsion or fear in our brains. A six-foot-tall rabbit with human hands falls squarely into that valley.
Despite the "creepy" factor, these photos are culturally massive. They represent a specific era of retail history. Before the internet, if you wanted to see a picture of the Easter Bunny, you had to go to the Sears or the local town square and see him in the flesh (or felt).
The Modern Digital Bunny
Nowadays, when you ask your phone to show me a picture of the easter bunny, you’re likely getting a high-definition 3D render. Think Pixar style. Big eyes, expressive eyebrows, and fur that looks so soft you could touch it.
The 2011 movie Hop really solidified this modern look. E.B., the main character voiced by Russell Brand, is the template for the 21st-century bunny. He’s cool. He plays drums. He isn’t a mysterious forest spirit; he’s a teenager with a job to do. This version of the rabbit is built for screens.
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Social media has also changed the visual landscape. On Instagram and Pinterest, "Easter Bunny" imagery has leaned heavily into the "Cottagecore" aesthetic. These aren't cartoons. They are photos of real rabbits—usually Holland Lops or Netherland Dwarfs—surrounded by real flowers and hand-dyed eggs. It’s a move back toward nature, but with a highly curated, "aesthetic" filter.
Different Styles You’ll Find Online
- The Classic Folk Art Hare: Lean, brown, and a bit wild. Often found in European woodblocks.
- The Mid-Century Cartoon: Think Bugs Bunny vibes but more festive. These are the ones on vintage candy boxes.
- The Realistic Pet: Just a literal rabbit. No vest, no basket, just a "floof" sitting in some grass.
- The Hyper-Realistic CGI: The kind you see in big-budget commercials for chocolate.
Is the Easter Bunny Even a Rabbit?
Technically, no. In the original folklore, it was a hare (Lepus europaeus). There’s a biological difference. Hares are born with fur and their eyes open. Rabbits (bunnies) are born "altricial," meaning they are hairless and blind.
The switch in imagery happened because bunnies are, frankly, easier to market. They have shorter ears and rounder faces, which humans find more "neotenous." Neoteny is the retention of juvenile features. We are biologically hardwired to find round faces and big eyes cute. It’s why we want to buy the chocolate version of a bunny but might be intimidated by a chocolate hare with long, wiry limbs.
How to Get the Best Easter Photos This Year
If you are trying to capture your own "picture of the Easter Bunny" with your kids or pets, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, don't force it. If you're going to a mall or a community event, the "scary bunny" effect is real. If a kid is screaming, the photo isn't going to be the "cute" memory you want—though it might be a hilarious one twenty years later.
For those using real pets, safety is the biggest deal. Most rabbits hate being picked up. They are prey animals. If you want a great photo of a real bunny, get down on their level. Lie on the floor. Use a "portrait mode" setting to blur the background. This makes the rabbit pop and gives it that professional, high-end look without needing a studio.
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Also, avoid the chocolate. Real rabbits cannot eat chocolate; it's toxic to them. If you're styling a photo, stick to safe props like carrots (in moderation), parsley, or plain wicker baskets.
The Cultural Impact of the Image
The reason we keep searching for these images is that the Easter Bunny represents a transition. It’s the visual cue that winter is over. When we see that rabbit, we think of spring, rebirth, and, let’s be honest, a massive sugar rush.
The image has been used to sell everything from Cadbury Creme Eggs to high-end fashion. It’s a versatile icon. It can be a religious symbol of new life, a corporate mascot, or a chaotic figure in a cult classic movie like Donnie Darko. That’s the thing about folk icons; they belong to whoever is drawing them at the time.
Creating Your Own Easter Bunny Visuals
If you are a creator or a parent looking to make something special, you don't have to rely on generic stock photos.
- Use AI responsibly: Tools like Midjourney or DALL-E can generate specific versions of the bunny—like "a Victorian-style Easter Bunny in a steampunk outfit"—if you want something unique for a card.
- Filter for "Vintage": If you hate the modern look, search for "1920s Easter postcards" to find images that have more character and historical weight.
- Go Local: Often, the best "pictures" are found in local history museums or old newspapers. They show how your specific town celebrated the holiday decades ago.
The Easter Bunny isn't a fixed figure. It's a shapeshifter. Whether you want the cute, the creepy, or the classic, the imagery is a reflection of how we view spring and childhood. Next time you look at a picture of that rabbit, remember you're looking at a tradition that has survived over 400 years of redesigns.
Actionable Steps for Easter Imagery:
Check your local library’s digital archives for vintage holiday clippings to find unique, non-commercial bunny art. If you are taking photos of children with a mascot, try to capture the "behind the scenes" moments rather than just the posed shot; the candid reactions are often more valuable than the perfect pose. For those using digital tools, look for "vector" illustrations if you need to print decorations, as they won't lose quality when scaled up for posters or lawn signs.