Wile E. Coyote

Posted on April 27, 2021

We’re wrapping things up this week in the A-Z Challenge.  What a month it has been, too!  Every sketch I’ve shared this April hasn’t been wasted.  I resolved myself from the start to not walk in shame with imperfect work but to wallow in the experiences while learning. It’s a journey to relish.  

If I were a beating gal, I’d think 100% of y’all are thinking Wile E. Coyote is my pick for today’s Looney Tune art sketch.  I see those heads nodding yes and guess what? You’re absolutely right!  This morning’s illustration, we see Wile E. Coyote out to get that Roadrunner with hopes of finally catching his dinner with the help of yet another ACME  product.  Instead of lighting the fuse of the rocket ride, he sets himself on fire. That’s not exactly the hot ride he was expecting.

pencil sketch

Wiki says the Looney Tunes creator,  Chuck Jones, based Wile on a character Mark Twain describes in his book Roughing It as “a long, slim, sick, and sorry-looking skeleton” that is “a living, breathing allegory of Want.  He is always hungry.”  This very well indeed paints the imagery of Wile E. Coyote.  The spelling of the coyote’s name baffled me but Wiki explains that Wile E is a pun of the “wily” and “E” stands for Ethelbert from which was mentioned in a Looney Tune comic book and his surname is often pronounced with a long “e’ (ky-OH-tee). 

Wile is sharing the spotlight with the Road Runner.  The beep, beep sound was inspired by background artist Paul Julian’s imitation of a car horn which is exactly what I thought.  The Road Runner sounds like small car horn beeping.

I was surprised to learn that these two did 49 shorts averaging  6 to 7 minutes in length, three three-minute, 3D cartoons, one 30-minute special release theatrical movie, and one feature-length film with live action and animation.  The shorts are will the ones I mostly know. 

The first short Wile E Coyote and the Road Runner appeared was Fast and Furry-ous. but today I thought I’d share this cartoon 80 Explosions in 11 minutes with you, many of which I remember well. 

Although I haven’t had a chance to watch the clip playlist spanning from 1949-1994 created by YouTuber, Joshua the Nostalgic, I knew I had to share it.  There’s no pressure to watch, but it’s here if you want or to bookmark until another time when you’re need some laughs.

Thanks for allowing me to be a part of your day.  Please leave a direct link for today’s post in comments to ensure others can find an easy way back to you.  I’m heading over to the A2Z headquarters to see who’s joined the party now.  I hope to see you again tomorrow for the next letter in the alphabet in my Looney Tunes Art Sketch series! X💋X💋 Cathy

 

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18 thoughts on “Wile E. Coyote”

  1. I always felt so sorry for Wile at the end of each cartoon – you have to give him top marks for perseverance.

  3. Wile E. Coyote, the ultimate in “insanity is repeating something that doesn’t work”. More explosions than an episode of Mythbusters! This kind of humor never gets old (for me, anyway). I was feeling a bit drained of Zest today and the short Fast and Furr-ious put that smile back on my face. Even though there were no Acme products in that short.

  4. I don’t get why Wile E. Coyote didn’t get smarter with time but I guess him staying dumb makes for fun cartoons. Good drawing.

    Have a lovely day.

  6. Hello, I’m Wiley E. Coyote, Super Genius. I loved this poor slob who was too smart for his own good. Love the compilation ones that are shown and your drawing is stellar! You have them both down pat and I will look forward to seeing this in colour.

  10. I live in a subdivision (in Arizona) and sometimes when I’m out walking, I’ll see a coyote or two. I tell people, “I see Wile E Coyote now and then, but I still haven’t seen the Road Runner.” (My daughter frequently sees road runners near her house, but I haven’t seen one yet.)

  14. Cathy- thanks for all the smiles and chuckles! You have worked hard on your A to Z…I am impressed and entertained!

  15. But, it’s the long “e” just how coyote is pronounced? Kidding, I know some people have the e silent, but I’m from the west where it’s not. I always felt sorry for poor Wile E. Coyotes get a bad rap, even in cartoons!

  16. One of my favorite cartoons. That roadrunner always showed him up and Acme wasn’t his friend. Excellent cartoon and excellent sketch.

    Have a fabulous day, Cathy. You’re almost at the finish line. ♥

  17. Hi Cathy, I just knew today was going to be Wile E. Coyote…. beep beep zip tang! I really loved this as a kid. I could listing to that song all day long ♫♪♫roadrunner that coyote’s after you ♫♫♪road runner if he catches you you’re through♫♫ beep beep. I hope you have a super day. As always, your sketching is beautious!!! You can check out my Weekly letters if you like.
    Cheers,
    Crackerberries

  18. Hi, Cathy!

    Happy W-day, dear friend! Yessum, it makes sense to use Wile E. Coyote for your “W” post. You could also have used that Wascally Wabbit. 🙂

    Thanks for tracing the inspiration behind the Wile E. Coyote character. His constant, desperate want, his craving to have the Road Runner for lunch, drives him to extraordinary lengths resulting in hilarious situations and outcomes. I’m wondering if you remember the 1965 minor hit single “Road Runner” by the Beatlesque Mississippi garage band The Gants? Based on a Bo Diddley song released as a single in 1960 and featuring the “meep meep” sound effect used in the cartoon series, “Road Runner” by The Gants was a biggie in my neck of the woods. I owned a copy of the 45. A different song, “(I’m a) Road Runner,” waxed by Motown’s Jr. Walker And The All Stars, was a hit in 1966 and became one of the Shady Dell’s Greatest Hits. i also owned a copy of that record.

    Your sketch showing Wile’s ill fated rocket ride in which he sets his butt on fire trying to light the fuse, conveys a sense of motion and excitement. It begs for colorization. I hope you will bring it back someday In Living Color. Yessum, as I watched that Road Runner compilation clip I was reminded that every episode seemed to include at least one fuse lighting and explosion as the coyote’s plans, plots and schemes blew up in his face.

    Thanks for the morning smiles, dear friend Cathy. I’ll be back tamale for X-day!

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