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Bunny Tales

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She’s not bad, she’s just drawn that way. . . . As a result, merchandising executives at ultra-wholesome Disneyland and Disney World aren’t stocking many items featuring va-va-vooooooomy Jessica Rabbit of the “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” live action/cartoon feature movie.

Heck, the “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” coloring book that’s carried by the park doesn’t even include Jessica: It’s all about the adventures of Roger and Baby Herman!

The park does carry a storybook and paint with water book that features cartoon character Jessica. But she’s been “toned down”--no cleavage, and that slit on her skirt doesn’t show much thigh.

“She is a bit racy for the Magic Kingdom,” said one merchandising spokeswoman.

Meanwhile, you can catch a Jessica clone as Playboy’s cover girl for November--in honor of the mag’s annual celebration of “Sex in the Cinema”!

Which marks a kind of first for the folks at Disney.

No, the mag didn’t ask for the studio’s permission to transform September Playmate Laura Richmond into the chanteuse.

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“The whole thing came about in a 24-hour period,” said a Playboy rep. “Our photographer (Stephen Wayda) was doing a session with Laura. And our art director (Tom Staebler) had just seen the movie. And they started talking.

“Anyway we figured (Disney head) Michael Eisner would have a sense of humor about this.”

No, the folks at Disney weren’t laughing: “We don’t have any reaction (to the Playboy cover),” said Tom Deegan, director of corporate communications. But--didn’t he at least think it was a tad amusing? “We don’t think anything about it at all. Anyway, that’s not really Jessica on the cover. It’s Playboy’s interpretation of her.”

As to how that “interpretation” was done: Richmond was photographed with Jessica-ish hair, gown and pose. Then came a dye transfer process--for an animated look. And some air-brushing. “We had to pull in her waist quite a bit,” said a Playboy rep, who added, “Jessica’s waist is pretty exaggerated. You won’t find it on too many people--including Playmates.”

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