Beep Prepared is a 1961 Warner Brothers Merrie Melodies American theatrical cartoon short directed by Chuck Jones and designer Maurice Noble.[1] The short was released on November 11, 1961, and stars Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner.[2] The title is a play on the Boy Scouts of America motto "Be Prepared".
| Beep Prepared | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Chuck Jones Maurice Noble |
| Story by | John Dunn Chuck Jones |
| Produced by | David H. DePatie (Uncredited) |
| Starring | Paul Julian |
| Music by | Milt Franklyn |
| Animation by | Bob Bransford Tom Ray Ken Harris Richard Thompson Harry Love |
| Backgrounds by | Philip DeGuard |
| Color process | Technicolor |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. Pictures Inc. The Vitaphone Corporation |
Release date |
|
Running time | 6:03 |
| Country | United States |
Plot
editIn the pursuit of the elusive Road Runner, Wile E. Coyote encounters a series of mishaps and failed attempts to capture his swift quarry. Following a momentary suspension in mid-air, Wile E. plummets to the canyon floor.
Undeterred by this setback, Wile E. endeavors to ensnare the Road Runner by deploying a trip mechanism using his own foot, only to suffer the consequence of being flattened by a passing delivery truck.
Employing higher ground and a bow and arrow, he aims to immobilize the bird, yet inadvertently inflicts injury upon himself when the bow recoils. Further endeavors involve futile attempts to ensnare the Road Runner within a manhole, which the bird effortlessly circumvents using a portable hole, leading to Wile E.'s descent to a riverbank below.
Subsequent efforts include the utilization of a malfunctioning rocket-powered flying suit, an ill-fated box of ACME Iron Bird Seed, and a misguided utilization of magnetism, which culminates in a collision with an oncoming train. Additional endeavors, such as a spring-loaded pavement block and a pair of malfunctioning machine guns, yield similar outcomes of misfortune and injury for Wile E.
Concluding his pursuit with an ACME Rocket-Sled Kit, Wile E. is propelled into the cosmos prematurely, resulting in an explosive demise as he transforms into a colossal firework.
Awards
editBeep Prepared was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film, the only Coyote/Road Runner installment to achieve this recognition.
Crew
edit- Co-Director and Layouts: Maurice Noble
- Story by John Dunn, Chuck Jones
- Animation: Bob Bransford, Tom Ray, Ken Harris, Richard Thompson
- Backgrounds: Philip DeGuard
- Effects Animation: Harry Love
- Film Editor: Treg Brown
- Music: Milt Franklyn
- Produced by David H. DePatie
- Directed by Chuck Jones
References
edit- ^ Beck, Jerry; Friedwald, Will (1989). Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies: A Complete Illustrated Guide to the Warner Bros. Cartoons. Henry Holt and Co. p. 334. ISBN 0-8050-0894-2.
- ^ Lenburg, Jeff (1999). The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons. Checkmark Books. pp. 128–129. ISBN 0-8160-3831-7. Retrieved 6 June 2020.