Wile E Coyote
The Electric Company
Release date: 1973-01-01
Plot: "The Electric Company" was an educational children's television series produced by the Children's Television Workshop (the same masterminds behind Sesame Street), and it aired on PBS from 1971 to 1977. Designed to help elementary school kids master reading and grammar, the show used live-action sketches, catchy songs, and lively animations to keep young minds engaged. During its third season, the series introduced a set of short animated segments starring Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner, directed by the legendary Chuck Jones, bringing a dash of classic Looney Tunes chaos into the educational mix.
Name and role: In one of the segments, Wile E. Coyote chases Road Runner and encounters a series of signs telling him to "Walk," "Jump," "Run," until he sees a sign that says "Jump" and ends up leaping off a cliff.
Trivia and other appearances: Again, we're not talking about Wile E. Coyote's ongoing career, but if we stick to the educational angle, believe it or not, Wile E. Coyote cartoons have been analyzed in university courses on physics and narrative writing. Some professors use them to discuss the laws of dynamics (which the Coyote constantly ignores) or to teach narrative structure, comedic escalation, and tension-building.
Release date: 1973-01-01
Plot: "The Electric Company" was an educational children's television series produced by the Children's Television Workshop (the same masterminds behind Sesame Street), and it aired on PBS from 1971 to 1977. Designed to help elementary school kids master reading and grammar, the show used live-action sketches, catchy songs, and lively animations to keep young minds engaged. During its third season, the series introduced a set of short animated segments starring Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner, directed by the legendary Chuck Jones, bringing a dash of classic Looney Tunes chaos into the educational mix.
Name and role: In one of the segments, Wile E. Coyote chases Road Runner and encounters a series of signs telling him to "Walk," "Jump," "Run," until he sees a sign that says "Jump" and ends up leaping off a cliff.
Trivia and other appearances: Again, we're not talking about Wile E. Coyote's ongoing career, but if we stick to the educational angle, believe it or not, Wile E. Coyote cartoons have been analyzed in university courses on physics and narrative writing. Some professors use them to discuss the laws of dynamics (which the Coyote constantly ignores) or to teach narrative structure, comedic escalation, and tension-building.
Freeze Frame
Release date: 1979-11-07
Plot: Thanks to the ACME Little Giant Snow-Cloud Seeder, Wile brings winter to the desert, or at least he tries. Apparently, Road Runners are easier to catch on snow, so for the first time we leave behind the yellow sands for white snow-capped peaks. The chase, of course, goes on.
Name and role: In this short, Wile shows off his adaptability in new terrain: he skates, he skis, and, as always, he gets absolutely wrecked. In the finale, he's flattened by a massive snowball, and his little umbrella folds down over his head, accidentally turning him into a makeshift Santa Claus, for the first and only time.
Trivia and other appearances: There are two other snowy links in Wile's career: Winter Blunderland (2017), and a vintage AD with Shamu for Green Cross, where Wile somehow shares the stage with a killer whale to promote winter safety.
Release date: 1979-11-07
Plot: Thanks to the ACME Little Giant Snow-Cloud Seeder, Wile brings winter to the desert, or at least he tries. Apparently, Road Runners are easier to catch on snow, so for the first time we leave behind the yellow sands for white snow-capped peaks. The chase, of course, goes on.
Name and role: In this short, Wile shows off his adaptability in new terrain: he skates, he skis, and, as always, he gets absolutely wrecked. In the finale, he's flattened by a massive snowball, and his little umbrella folds down over his head, accidentally turning him into a makeshift Santa Claus, for the first and only time.
Trivia and other appearances: There are two other snowy links in Wile's career: Winter Blunderland (2017), and a vintage AD with Shamu for Green Cross, where Wile somehow shares the stage with a killer whale to promote winter safety.
Portrait of the Artist as a Young Bunny
Release date: 1980-05-21
Plot: Bugs Bunny enters a dream in which he relives his youth. In the dream, a young Bugs and a young Elmer Fudd find themselves caught in a series of classic-style gags, with all the gunfire replaced by harmless cork poppers. In the end, Bugs wakes up, reflecting on how he and Elmer were among the youngest rivals to ever get started.
Name and role: Young Elmer Fudd is determined to hunt Bugs, but his lack of knowledge and childlike innocence leave him wide open to Bugs' tricks. One standout moment comes when Elmer doesn't fall off a cliff because he hasn't "studied gravity" yet. After reading a book Bugs left behind, Elmer immediately plummets, prompting him to declare that he'll "stay ignorant" from now on to avoid such pitfalls.
Trivia and other appearances: Other shorts that explore the childhood or younger versions of Bugs and Elmer include The Old Grey Hare (1944) and This Is a Life? (1955). Also this is the olny time Wile and Elmer pairs in a shoot
Release date: 1980-05-21
Plot: Bugs Bunny enters a dream in which he relives his youth. In the dream, a young Bugs and a young Elmer Fudd find themselves caught in a series of classic-style gags, with all the gunfire replaced by harmless cork poppers. In the end, Bugs wakes up, reflecting on how he and Elmer were among the youngest rivals to ever get started.
Name and role: Young Elmer Fudd is determined to hunt Bugs, but his lack of knowledge and childlike innocence leave him wide open to Bugs' tricks. One standout moment comes when Elmer doesn't fall off a cliff because he hasn't "studied gravity" yet. After reading a book Bugs left behind, Elmer immediately plummets, prompting him to declare that he'll "stay ignorant" from now on to avoid such pitfalls.
Trivia and other appearances: Other shorts that explore the childhood or younger versions of Bugs and Elmer include The Old Grey Hare (1944) and This Is a Life? (1955). Also this is the olny time Wile and Elmer pairs in a shoot
Soup or Sonic
Release date: 1980-05-21
Plot: And so the dance continues into the 1980s. Wile E. Coyote tries out a fresh batch of tricks to catch the Road Runner, only to meet the same old fate. From pole vaulting disasters to tennis mishaps, and even a sticky trap involving flypaper that ends up attracting a massive, monstrous fly, everything backfires spectacularly. In the finale, Wile is sucked into a series of tubes that shrink him down to the size of a toenail. He actually catches Road Runner, but being bite-sized, all he can do is turn to the audience and ask: "Now that I've caught him... what do I do?"
Name and role: The intro sets the tone: Wile rushes into a dust cloud left behind by Road Runner, completely misses the curve, and goes flying off a cliff. But not before doing a little peek over the cloud to confirm just how far down it is.
Trivia and other appearances: This 1980 entry marks their last animated short together before a long hiatus, with no new appearances until Little Go Beep in 2000, at least as far as official theatrical shorts go.
Quote: "Okay, wise guys, you Always wanted me to catch him. now what do I do?"
Release date: 1980-05-21
Plot: And so the dance continues into the 1980s. Wile E. Coyote tries out a fresh batch of tricks to catch the Road Runner, only to meet the same old fate. From pole vaulting disasters to tennis mishaps, and even a sticky trap involving flypaper that ends up attracting a massive, monstrous fly, everything backfires spectacularly. In the finale, Wile is sucked into a series of tubes that shrink him down to the size of a toenail. He actually catches Road Runner, but being bite-sized, all he can do is turn to the audience and ask: "Now that I've caught him... what do I do?"
Name and role: The intro sets the tone: Wile rushes into a dust cloud left behind by Road Runner, completely misses the curve, and goes flying off a cliff. But not before doing a little peek over the cloud to confirm just how far down it is.
Trivia and other appearances: This 1980 entry marks their last animated short together before a long hiatus, with no new appearances until Little Go Beep in 2000, at least as far as official theatrical shorts go.
Quote: "Okay, wise guys, you Always wanted me to catch him. now what do I do?"
Soup or Sonic
Release date: 1980-05-21
Plot: And so the dance continues into the 1980s. Wile E. Coyote tries out a fresh batch of tricks to catch the Road Runner, only to meet the same old fate. From pole vaulting disasters to tennis mishaps, and even a sticky trap involving flypaper that ends up attracting a massive, monstrous fly, everything backfires spectacularly. In the finale, Wile is sucked into a series of tubes that shrink him down to the size of a toenail. He actually catches Road Runner, but being bite-sized, all he can do is turn to the audience and ask: "Now that I've caught him... what do I do?"
Name and role: The only running gag in the short is Wile's repeated attempts to ride the iconic red Acme rocket. Each time ends in a uniquely explosive failure, even Wile starts to question why he keeps trying it.
Trivia and other appearances: This 1980 entry marks their last animated short together before a long hiatus, with no new appearances until Little Go Beep in 2000, at least as far as official theatrical shorts go.
Quote: "Okay, wise guys, you Always wanted me to catch him. now what do I do?"
Release date: 1980-05-21
Plot: And so the dance continues into the 1980s. Wile E. Coyote tries out a fresh batch of tricks to catch the Road Runner, only to meet the same old fate. From pole vaulting disasters to tennis mishaps, and even a sticky trap involving flypaper that ends up attracting a massive, monstrous fly, everything backfires spectacularly. In the finale, Wile is sucked into a series of tubes that shrink him down to the size of a toenail. He actually catches Road Runner, but being bite-sized, all he can do is turn to the audience and ask: "Now that I've caught him... what do I do?"
Name and role: The only running gag in the short is Wile's repeated attempts to ride the iconic red Acme rocket. Each time ends in a uniquely explosive failure, even Wile starts to question why he keeps trying it.
Trivia and other appearances: This 1980 entry marks their last animated short together before a long hiatus, with no new appearances until Little Go Beep in 2000, at least as far as official theatrical shorts go.
Quote: "Okay, wise guys, you Always wanted me to catch him. now what do I do?"
Commercial
Brand: VolksWagen - Beetle
Release date: 1981-05-20
Name and role:
For some reason, we see Wile E. Coyote trying to catch a VW Beetle, only to end up, as usual, falling off a cliff and getting hit by a train after his dragster runs out of gas. Only at the very end does the Beetle pull over, revealing Road Runner behind the wheel.
Brand: VolksWagen - Beetle
Release date: 1981-05-20
Name and role:
For some reason, we see Wile E. Coyote trying to catch a VW Beetle, only to end up, as usual, falling off a cliff and getting hit by a train after his dragster runs out of gas. Only at the very end does the Beetle pull over, revealing Road Runner behind the wheel.
Who Framed Roger Rabbit
Release date: 1988-06-22
Plot: Private detective Eddie Valiant, still haunted by the death of his brother at the hands of a toon, is hired to investigate the suspected infidelity of Jessica Rabbit, wife of the famous Roger Rabbit. When tycoon Marvin Acme turns up dead, Roger becomes the prime suspect. Eddie soon finds himself entangled in a conspiracy that unveils a dark plot to destroy Toontown and its animated residents.
Name and role: One of the most magical aspects of Who Framed Roger Rabbit was the historic collaboration between Disney and Warner Bros. According to the agreements, only the stars had to share screen time. Among the singing characters in the film's finale, we find Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner, who, true to the spirit of the storyline, are finally off the clock and can drop the act, singing together like two simple friends.
Trivia and other appearances: I've really looked everywhere, but this unrepeatable scene is one of a kind. The closest thing to a truce between the two happens in 1990, during a Cheerios commercial.
Release date: 1988-06-22
Plot: Private detective Eddie Valiant, still haunted by the death of his brother at the hands of a toon, is hired to investigate the suspected infidelity of Jessica Rabbit, wife of the famous Roger Rabbit. When tycoon Marvin Acme turns up dead, Roger becomes the prime suspect. Eddie soon finds himself entangled in a conspiracy that unveils a dark plot to destroy Toontown and its animated residents.
Name and role: One of the most magical aspects of Who Framed Roger Rabbit was the historic collaboration between Disney and Warner Bros. According to the agreements, only the stars had to share screen time. Among the singing characters in the film's finale, we find Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner, who, true to the spirit of the storyline, are finally off the clock and can drop the act, singing together like two simple friends.
Trivia and other appearances: I've really looked everywhere, but this unrepeatable scene is one of a kind. The closest thing to a truce between the two happens in 1990, during a Cheerios commercial.
Bumbie's Mom
Release date: 1993-09-22
Plot: Skippy Squirrel is traumatized after watching the film Bumbie the Dearest Deer, particularly the scene where Bumbie's mother is shot. To comfort him, Slappy Squirrel takes Skippy to meet Vina Walleen, the actress who portrayed Bumbie's mom, helping him understand that it's all just acting.
Name and role: When Slappy and Skippy arrive at their destination by bus, they're immediately overtaken by Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner. Moments later, Wile gets flattened by the same bus that just dropped them off. Slappy, of course, can't resist pointing out how much she hates these kinds of cameos.
Trivia and other appearances: Road Runner makes another solo cameo with Slappy in The Old Lady from Pasadena, and also appears in the Taz-Mania episode Instant Replay. As for Wile, he returns in Buttons in Ows here on Animaniacs, and also pops up in Boulder Museum on Taz-Mania.
Release date: 1993-09-22
Plot: Skippy Squirrel is traumatized after watching the film Bumbie the Dearest Deer, particularly the scene where Bumbie's mother is shot. To comfort him, Slappy Squirrel takes Skippy to meet Vina Walleen, the actress who portrayed Bumbie's mom, helping him understand that it's all just acting.
Name and role: When Slappy and Skippy arrive at their destination by bus, they're immediately overtaken by Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner. Moments later, Wile gets flattened by the same bus that just dropped them off. Slappy, of course, can't resist pointing out how much she hates these kinds of cameos.
Trivia and other appearances: Road Runner makes another solo cameo with Slappy in The Old Lady from Pasadena, and also appears in the Taz-Mania episode Instant Replay. As for Wile, he returns in Buttons in Ows here on Animaniacs, and also pops up in Boulder Museum on Taz-Mania.
the Boulder Museum
Release date: 1994-11-08
Plot: A tiny little interlude in the classic Taz-Mania style, where the show takes a weird left turn just to revel in its own lunacy. Here, we get a rare treat: not just more lore about the world of Taz, but also a sideways wink at the greater Looney Tunes mythos. Welcome, dear visitors, to the Boulder Museum of Tazmania.
Name and role: Inside this prestigious institution we examine every type of rock that's ever clobbered a noggin in animated history. Igneous, sedimentary, comedic. And who better to provide a live demonstration than the undisputed heavyweight champ of head injuries via falling debris: Wile E. Coyote himself.
Trivia and other appearances: We're talking about a creature so committed to slapstick that he's probably got his own geological layer of crushed dreams and broken ACME gear. Honestly, I could list every short where Wile gets pancaked by a boulder, but there isn't enough time in a single human lifetime.
Release date: 1994-11-08
Plot: A tiny little interlude in the classic Taz-Mania style, where the show takes a weird left turn just to revel in its own lunacy. Here, we get a rare treat: not just more lore about the world of Taz, but also a sideways wink at the greater Looney Tunes mythos. Welcome, dear visitors, to the Boulder Museum of Tazmania.
Name and role: Inside this prestigious institution we examine every type of rock that's ever clobbered a noggin in animated history. Igneous, sedimentary, comedic. And who better to provide a live demonstration than the undisputed heavyweight champ of head injuries via falling debris: Wile E. Coyote himself.
Trivia and other appearances: We're talking about a creature so committed to slapstick that he's probably got his own geological layer of crushed dreams and broken ACME gear. Honestly, I could list every short where Wile gets pancaked by a boulder, but there isn't enough time in a single human lifetime.
Chariots of Fur
Release date: 1994-12-21
Plot: Yet another chase after the Road Runner packed, as always, with cliffs, explosions, and a generous dose of physical pain.
Name and role: Wile E. Coyote remains undeterred, trying to catch the Road Runner with increasingly ridiculous ACME contraptions: a giant mousetrap that ends up snaring an enormous mouse (who's not amused), a massive spring, an instant ACME road that leads straight into nowhere, a cactus costume, ACME lightning bolts, and a bow that jams, launching absolutely nothing.
Trivia and other appearances: This was the final short directed by Chuck Jones featuring Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner, marking the end of an era that began in 1949.
Release date: 1994-12-21
Plot: Yet another chase after the Road Runner packed, as always, with cliffs, explosions, and a generous dose of physical pain.
Name and role: Wile E. Coyote remains undeterred, trying to catch the Road Runner with increasingly ridiculous ACME contraptions: a giant mousetrap that ends up snaring an enormous mouse (who's not amused), a massive spring, an instant ACME road that leads straight into nowhere, a cactus costume, ACME lightning bolts, and a bow that jams, launching absolutely nothing.
Trivia and other appearances: This was the final short directed by Chuck Jones featuring Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner, marking the end of an era that began in 1949.
Buttons in Ows
Release date: 1995-02-04
Plot: Mindy is transported to a magical world similar to Oz, where she meets characters inspired by the classic film. Buttons follows her to keep her safe, facing numerous dangers along the way. Despite the obstacles and comedic chaos, Buttons manages to protect Mindy, though he often ends up hurt in the process.
Name and role: Parodying The Wizard of Oz, a few familiar faces fly past the window in the middle of the storm, including the caped vigilante of the plains: Wile E. Coyote, clearly not enjoying the ride.
Trivia and other appearances: The costume he wears in this cameo is a reference to Gee Whiz-z-z-z-z-z-z (1956), though the colors are completely altered due to the sepia-toned storm effect.
Release date: 1995-02-04
Plot: Mindy is transported to a magical world similar to Oz, where she meets characters inspired by the classic film. Buttons follows her to keep her safe, facing numerous dangers along the way. Despite the obstacles and comedic chaos, Buttons manages to protect Mindy, though he often ends up hurt in the process.
Name and role: Parodying The Wizard of Oz, a few familiar faces fly past the window in the middle of the storm, including the caped vigilante of the plains: Wile E. Coyote, clearly not enjoying the ride.
Trivia and other appearances: The costume he wears in this cameo is a reference to Gee Whiz-z-z-z-z-z-z (1956), though the colors are completely altered due to the sepia-toned storm effect.
Commercial
Brand: Raisin Bran
Release date: 1995-03-??
Name and role:
In this commercial for Raisin Bran, Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner chase each other inside a TV set positioned in front of a cereal bowl. Road Runner zips out of the screen unharmed, while Wile E. Coyote slams straight into it, leaving a classic faceprint as the chase ends in typical Looney Tunes fashion.
Brand: Raisin Bran
Release date: 1995-03-??
Name and role:
In this commercial for Raisin Bran, Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner chase each other inside a TV set positioned in front of a cereal bowl. Road Runner zips out of the screen unharmed, while Wile E. Coyote slams straight into it, leaving a classic faceprint as the chase ends in typical Looney Tunes fashion.
Superior Duck
Release date: 1996-08-23
Plot: Daffy stars as "Superior Duck" a superhero determined to do good but constantly sabotaged by an inept narrator who repeatedly botches the introduction. Throughout the short, various Looney Tunes characters make cameos, while Daffy grows increasingly fed up with the narration. By the end, he's had enough, fires the narrator, and vows to save humanity on his own terms.
Name and role: The final Daffy Duck short directed by Chuck Jones (57 years after his directorial debut) becomes a wild farewell party, filled with a flood of gratuitous Looney Tunes cameos. The narrator also dares to compare him to the Road Runner: bad move. The bird zips in instantly and flattens Daffy into the dirt, leaving him dazed and in the clutches of Wile E. Coyote. And hey, desperate times... Wile's more than happy to snack on a roadkilled duck if that's what fate offers.
Release date: 1996-08-23
Plot: Daffy stars as "Superior Duck" a superhero determined to do good but constantly sabotaged by an inept narrator who repeatedly botches the introduction. Throughout the short, various Looney Tunes characters make cameos, while Daffy grows increasingly fed up with the narration. By the end, he's had enough, fires the narrator, and vows to save humanity on his own terms.
Name and role: The final Daffy Duck short directed by Chuck Jones (57 years after his directorial debut) becomes a wild farewell party, filled with a flood of gratuitous Looney Tunes cameos. The narrator also dares to compare him to the Road Runner: bad move. The bird zips in instantly and flattens Daffy into the dirt, leaving him dazed and in the clutches of Wile E. Coyote. And hey, desperate times... Wile's more than happy to snack on a roadkilled duck if that's what fate offers.
Space Jam
Release date: 1996-11-10
Plot: Basketball legend Michael Jordan teams up with Bugs Bunny and the Looney Tunes to win a wild basketball game against alien villains called the Monstars. The aliens stole NBA players' talents, so it's up to Jordan and the Tunes to slam, jam, and bring the chaos. It's sports meets cartoons in the most 90s crossover ever.
Name and role: The weirdness in the real world begins right in the middle of a Wile E. Coyote cartoon which, rudely interrupted by Porky Pig, cuts off and leaves the audience hanging. Naturally, Wile joins the big game too, dragging his full ACME arsenal onto the court. Maybe not the most regulation-approved gear... but hey, it gets results.
Trivia and other appearances: If you want a crash course in the genius/disaster that is Wile E. Coyote, check out these classic shorts: Fast and Furry-ous (1949), Beep Prepared (1961), Zoom and Bored (1957), Ready, Set, Zoom! (1955) and Operation: Rabbit (1952)
Release date: 1996-11-10
Plot: Basketball legend Michael Jordan teams up with Bugs Bunny and the Looney Tunes to win a wild basketball game against alien villains called the Monstars. The aliens stole NBA players' talents, so it's up to Jordan and the Tunes to slam, jam, and bring the chaos. It's sports meets cartoons in the most 90s crossover ever.
Name and role: The weirdness in the real world begins right in the middle of a Wile E. Coyote cartoon which, rudely interrupted by Porky Pig, cuts off and leaves the audience hanging. Naturally, Wile joins the big game too, dragging his full ACME arsenal onto the court. Maybe not the most regulation-approved gear... but hey, it gets results.
Trivia and other appearances: If you want a crash course in the genius/disaster that is Wile E. Coyote, check out these classic shorts: Fast and Furry-ous (1949), Beep Prepared (1961), Zoom and Bored (1957), Ready, Set, Zoom! (1955) and Operation: Rabbit (1952)
Commercial
Brand: Pepsi
Release date: 1997-01-26
Name and role:
In this 1997 Pepsi Super Bowl commercial, Wile E. Coyote attempts to catch the Road Runner using a Pepsi vending machine as bait. However, his plan backfires when NFL star Deion Sanders appears, and Wile E. is comically transformed into a Pepsi can.
Brand: Pepsi
Release date: 1997-01-26
Name and role:
In this 1997 Pepsi Super Bowl commercial, Wile E. Coyote attempts to catch the Road Runner using a Pepsi vending machine as bait. However, his plan backfires when NFL star Deion Sanders appears, and Wile E. is comically transformed into a Pepsi can.
Commercial
Brand: Pontiac - Grand Prix Wide Track
Release date: 1998-??-??
Name and role:
In this 1998 commercial for the Pontiac Grand Prix Wide Track, Wile E. Coyote uses the powerful car in yet another failed attempt to catch Road Runner. Classic Looney Tunes chaos meets sleek automotive marketing in this humorous ad.
Brand: Pontiac - Grand Prix Wide Track
Release date: 1998-??-??
Name and role:
In this 1998 commercial for the Pontiac Grand Prix Wide Track, Wile E. Coyote uses the powerful car in yet another failed attempt to catch Road Runner. Classic Looney Tunes chaos meets sleek automotive marketing in this humorous ad.
Little Go Beep
Release date: 1999-12-17
Plot: The young Wile E. Coyote receives a strict education from his father, Cage E. Coyote. Determined to prove his worth, the young coyote throws himself into a series of attempts to catch the little Road Runner. Naturally, every plan ends in hilarious disaster, keeping alive the tradition of the ill-fated Acme inventions.
Name and role: Young Wile E. is already hell-bent on catching the Road Runner, following in his father's pawprints. Despite his tender age, he shows a surprising knack for crafting elaborate traps using gadgets from Acme Jr., including a jack-in-the-box and a water-powered rocket bike. (You know, just your average toddler death machines.)
Trivia and other appearances: If you're looking for other baby-fied versions of our Looney Tunes stars, there's Nasty Quacks (1945), where Daffy gets a baby duckling roommate; Portrait of the Artist as a Young Bunny (1980), which shows a mini Bugs and mini Elmer in a dream sequence; Taz Babies (1992), the fever dream we didn't know we needed; and a cute flashback sequence in The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie (2024), which is all kinds of bonkers in the best way. And of course, there's the whole Baby Looney Tunes series... but let's be honest, we all kind of agreed to collectively pretend that never happened, didn't we?
Release date: 1999-12-17
Plot: The young Wile E. Coyote receives a strict education from his father, Cage E. Coyote. Determined to prove his worth, the young coyote throws himself into a series of attempts to catch the little Road Runner. Naturally, every plan ends in hilarious disaster, keeping alive the tradition of the ill-fated Acme inventions.
Name and role: Young Wile E. is already hell-bent on catching the Road Runner, following in his father's pawprints. Despite his tender age, he shows a surprising knack for crafting elaborate traps using gadgets from Acme Jr., including a jack-in-the-box and a water-powered rocket bike. (You know, just your average toddler death machines.)
Trivia and other appearances: If you're looking for other baby-fied versions of our Looney Tunes stars, there's Nasty Quacks (1945), where Daffy gets a baby duckling roommate; Portrait of the Artist as a Young Bunny (1980), which shows a mini Bugs and mini Elmer in a dream sequence; Taz Babies (1992), the fever dream we didn't know we needed; and a cute flashback sequence in The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie (2024), which is all kinds of bonkers in the best way. And of course, there's the whole Baby Looney Tunes series... but let's be honest, we all kind of agreed to collectively pretend that never happened, didn't we?
The Big Game XXVIII: Road Runner vs. Wile E. Coyote
Release date: 2000-01-29
Plot: An epic four-hour marathon dedicated to the classic Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner shorts, presented as a parody of the Super Bowl. During the event, they aired a selection of the best episodes, interspersed with sports-style segments featuring commentators like Len Dawson, Cris Collinsworth, and Nick Buoniconti. There are full-on ESPN-style segments, with player analysis, replays, and (fictional, of course) "interviews" It's all played with meta-humor and sports commentary language.
Name and role: Wile E. Coyote is described as an "elite technician" equipped with brains, strategy, and ACME engineering... which unfortunately always fails miserably. He's compared to a constantly injured quarterback: brilliant but unlucky. The special wraps up with an irresistible post-game-style montage, showcasing his failure statistics: 0 Road Runners caught, 1,420 gadgets deployed, 317 canyon falls, and an emotional resilience worthy of a fur-covered Rocky Balboa.
Trivia and other appearances: For more matchups in this style, check out The Big Game XXVII: Sylvester vs. Tweety (1999) and The Big Game XXIX: Bugs vs. Daffy (2001).
Release date: 2000-01-29
Plot: An epic four-hour marathon dedicated to the classic Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner shorts, presented as a parody of the Super Bowl. During the event, they aired a selection of the best episodes, interspersed with sports-style segments featuring commentators like Len Dawson, Cris Collinsworth, and Nick Buoniconti. There are full-on ESPN-style segments, with player analysis, replays, and (fictional, of course) "interviews" It's all played with meta-humor and sports commentary language.
Name and role: Wile E. Coyote is described as an "elite technician" equipped with brains, strategy, and ACME engineering... which unfortunately always fails miserably. He's compared to a constantly injured quarterback: brilliant but unlucky. The special wraps up with an irresistible post-game-style montage, showcasing his failure statistics: 0 Road Runners caught, 1,420 gadgets deployed, 317 canyon falls, and an emotional resilience worthy of a fur-covered Rocky Balboa.
Trivia and other appearances: For more matchups in this style, check out The Big Game XXVII: Sylvester vs. Tweety (1999) and The Big Game XXIX: Bugs vs. Daffy (2001).
Looney Tunes: Back in Action
Release date: 2003-11-01
Plot: Daffy Duck, feeling overshadowed by Bugs Bunny, is fired from Warner Bros. and teams up with security guard DJ Drake. They embark on a globe-trotting adventure to rescue DJ's father and thwart the evil plans of the Acme Corporation's chairman, who seeks to use the Blue Monkey diamond to turn humans into monkeys.
Name and role: Wile is summoned back to Acme HQ for a good old-fashioned chewing out. Later, he becomes the star of the final trap, which is clearly his way of making everyone else feel the daily pain he lives with. TNT, dynamite, anvils, rogue robots, and a train thrown in for flavor. But wait... who ordered the double axe of doom??
Quote: They don't pay me enough.
Release date: 2003-11-01
Plot: Daffy Duck, feeling overshadowed by Bugs Bunny, is fired from Warner Bros. and teams up with security guard DJ Drake. They embark on a globe-trotting adventure to rescue DJ's father and thwart the evil plans of the Acme Corporation's chairman, who seeks to use the Blue Monkey diamond to turn humans into monkeys.
Name and role: Wile is summoned back to Acme HQ for a good old-fashioned chewing out. Later, he becomes the star of the final trap, which is clearly his way of making everyone else feel the daily pain he lives with. TNT, dynamite, anvils, rogue robots, and a train thrown in for flavor. But wait... who ordered the double axe of doom??
Quote: They don't pay me enough.
The Whizzard of Ow
Release date: 2003-11-01
Plot: There's a magical duel between two archetypal sorcerers here! Their battle culminates in a massive energy explosion that obliterates both, leaving their magical artifacts falling into the hands of Wile E. Coyote, who was, as usual, in pursuit of the Road Runner. Seizing the opportunity, Wile E. attempts various magical strategies to capture the Road Runner.
Name and role: In this version we can see a mix up between Acme gizmos and magic. From the very Book of Magic to the ACME Flying broomstick we can see how Wile get the usual backlash from everything he tries. An episode of gigantism, a meteor in the face and the attack of ferocious animals are on the menu'.
Trivia and other appearances: Wile E. Coyote, a cornerstone of the Looney Tunes universe since his debut in Fast and Furry-ous (1949), remains an iconic figure across virtually every era of Warner Bros. animation. Wile E. consistently appears in new productions, from classic shorts to modern reboots, always bringing his signature blend of genius and catastrophic failure.
Release date: 2003-11-01
Plot: There's a magical duel between two archetypal sorcerers here! Their battle culminates in a massive energy explosion that obliterates both, leaving their magical artifacts falling into the hands of Wile E. Coyote, who was, as usual, in pursuit of the Road Runner. Seizing the opportunity, Wile E. attempts various magical strategies to capture the Road Runner.
Name and role: In this version we can see a mix up between Acme gizmos and magic. From the very Book of Magic to the ACME Flying broomstick we can see how Wile get the usual backlash from everything he tries. An episode of gigantism, a meteor in the face and the attack of ferocious animals are on the menu'.
Trivia and other appearances: Wile E. Coyote, a cornerstone of the Looney Tunes universe since his debut in Fast and Furry-ous (1949), remains an iconic figure across virtually every era of Warner Bros. animation. Wile E. consistently appears in new productions, from classic shorts to modern reboots, always bringing his signature blend of genius and catastrophic failure.
Commercial
Brand: Aflac
Release date: 2004-01-01
Name and role:
Bugs and Daffy are chatting about their insurance plans, while in the background Wile E., presumably uninsured, is going through his usual string of near-fatal mishaps, ending with a crash into the Aflac duck and the two of them plummeting into a canyon together.
Brand: Aflac
Release date: 2004-01-01
Name and role:
Bugs and Daffy are chatting about their insurance plans, while in the background Wile E., presumably uninsured, is going through his usual string of near-fatal mishaps, ending with a crash into the Aflac duck and the two of them plummeting into a canyon together.
Bah, Humduck! A Looney Tunes Christmas
Release date: 2006-11-14
Plot: Daffy Duck is a greedy megastore owner who despises Christmas and mistreats his employees. On Christmas Eve, he's visited by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future, who show him the error of his ways. After witnessing the impact of his actions, Daffy reforms, embraces the holiday spirit, and... Well I think you already heard about this story.
Name and role: Wile E. Coyote, ever the starving genius, is now employed but still hungry. Without a Road Runner to chase, he takes on a new nemesis: the vending machine.
Release date: 2006-11-14
Plot: Daffy Duck is a greedy megastore owner who despises Christmas and mistreats his employees. On Christmas Eve, he's visited by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future, who show him the error of his ways. After witnessing the impact of his actions, Daffy reforms, embraces the holiday spirit, and... Well I think you already heard about this story.
Name and role: Wile E. Coyote, ever the starving genius, is now employed but still hungry. Without a Road Runner to chase, he takes on a new nemesis: the vending machine.
Commercial
Brand: Rinnai
Release date: 2007-04-01
Name and role:
Wile E. Coyote finally corners Road Runner inside a house, ready to claim victory, until he finds him totally fallen in love... by a super-fast Rinnai washing machine. Stunned by the scen, Wile forgets the chase.
Brand: Rinnai
Release date: 2007-04-01
Name and role:
Wile E. Coyote finally corners Road Runner inside a house, ready to claim victory, until he finds him totally fallen in love... by a super-fast Rinnai washing machine. Stunned by the scen, Wile forgets the chase.
Fur of Flying
Release date: 2010-12-17
Plot: The Big Game XXIX was a four-hour marathon featuring a selection of classic Looney Tunes shorts focused on the rivalry between Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck. The special was structured like a sports broadcast, complete with pre-game segments, live commentary, and post-game analysis, all parodying the Super Bowl.
Name and role: Wile E. Coyote, as determined as ever to catch his speedy nemesis, builds a DIY helicopter using various ACME products. During the chase, the two accidentally enter a restricted military zone, activating two heat-seeking missiles: a red one targeting Road Runner, and a blue one locked onto Wile E. After a series of unfortunate events (because of course), Wile E. ends up stranded on a rock with the blue missile hovering right above him. His helicopter reactivates by accident, slamming him into the missile, which explodes. Spectacularly.
Trivia and other appearances: This short is part of the same series as Coyote Falls and Rabid Rider, both released in 2010, a glorious trio of digital slapstick with all the classic timing, but now with pixels and pop-out effects. Actually plu one shown in 2014: Flash in the Pain
Release date: 2010-12-17
Plot: The Big Game XXIX was a four-hour marathon featuring a selection of classic Looney Tunes shorts focused on the rivalry between Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck. The special was structured like a sports broadcast, complete with pre-game segments, live commentary, and post-game analysis, all parodying the Super Bowl.
Name and role: Wile E. Coyote, as determined as ever to catch his speedy nemesis, builds a DIY helicopter using various ACME products. During the chase, the two accidentally enter a restricted military zone, activating two heat-seeking missiles: a red one targeting Road Runner, and a blue one locked onto Wile E. After a series of unfortunate events (because of course), Wile E. ends up stranded on a rock with the blue missile hovering right above him. His helicopter reactivates by accident, slamming him into the missile, which explodes. Spectacularly.
Trivia and other appearances: This short is part of the same series as Coyote Falls and Rabid Rider, both released in 2010, a glorious trio of digital slapstick with all the classic timing, but now with pixels and pop-out effects. Actually plu one shown in 2014: Flash in the Pain
Commercial
Brand: Geiko
Release date: 2012-05-28
Name and role:
The Geico insurance gecko is crossing the desert, baffled as anvils and pianos randomly fall from the sky. Suddenly, he's overtaken by Road Runner, with Wile E. Coyote hot on his tail, and now eyeing the slower gecko as an easier snack. Luckily, a falling safe takes care of that little problem just in time.
Brand: Geiko
Release date: 2012-05-28
Name and role:
The Geico insurance gecko is crossing the desert, baffled as anvils and pianos randomly fall from the sky. Suddenly, he's overtaken by Road Runner, with Wile E. Coyote hot on his tail, and now eyeing the slower gecko as an easier snack. Luckily, a falling safe takes care of that little problem just in time.