Mensch Meier!

Chuck Jones's 'Gee Whiz-z-z', the eighth Road Runner cartoon, introduced a significant new development into the series by replacing the sumptuous desert backgrounds with a more stylised, minimalist look. While this new look may not have been nearly as gorgeous to watch as the earlier shorts, it certainly didn't do anything to slow down the gag ratio. In fact, 'Gee Whiz-z-z' is so packed with great jokes that it forsakes the longer set-up sequences of the previous few Road Runner cartoons and pushes the action right into the credits in order to maximise the amount of time Jones has to make us laugh. 'Gee Whiz-z-z' features a few of the very best gags of the series (amongst a small handful of more forgettable moments). Chief among these is the legendary sequence with the green bat costume. On paper, this gag sounds like a weak offering but with hysterically funny facial expressions and one perfectly timed glimpse towards the camera, Jones turns it into gold and one of the most fondly remembered spot-gags in animation history. There's also a new take on the painted-scenery gag with a neat new twist. My favourite thing about 'Gee Whiz-z-z', however, is the ending in which Jones himself shares in the audiences sympathies for the Coyote so strongly that he cuts him a break with an early iris-out.

One of the best Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner cartoons. Lots of memorable gags, including ACME jet bike, "STOP! BRIDGE OUT!," and the famous bat-man suit. That last one is among the series' most iconic gags. Chuck Jones is firing on all cylinders, including an amusing bit that starts during the opening credits. The animation is crisp, the music lively, and the colors are beautiful. The Coyote & Road Runner cartoons were always simple and a bit repetitive but so much fun. Some of the best slapstick comedy ever put on screen, animated or otherwise. This is near the top of the series. Definitely a good one for new viewers to get their first taste of Coyote & Road Runner shorts. Sheer fun from start to finish.

Gee Whiz-z-z-z-z-z-z (1956)

*** (out of 4)

The eighth pairing of Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner is yet another winner, although the beatings poor Wile takes keep getting worse. This time out we don't even get past the opening credits when Mr. Wile is run down by a truck but we then get other attacks including large rocks, falling from cliffs and various bombs. One of the best sequences in the film is when the coyote dressing up as "bat-man" and tries to fly after his dinner. This plan works for a while but what makes the joke so funny is that you're expecting one gag but instead we get something else. Another great gag is the painted version of a broken bridge, which of course comes back to hurt Wile.

Seriously, if I had the ability, I would waste all my days watching Looney Tunes cartoons. Another perfect example as to why I would pursue such an extreme case of slothfulness is this cartoon here, which features more of Wile E. Coyote's attempts to catch his beloved Road Runner. Here we see yet more of Michael Maltese's ingenuity as our coyote continues his fixation on dynamite and many Acme products to get his bird.

Wile E. Coyote (Eatius Birdius), goes for Road Runner (Delicius Delicius) yet again.

Honestly, for the Jones/Maltese combo, this had become nearly standard fare. This is heightened with another foursome of excellent animators, who started together on the Pepe short, Wild Over You, a mere few years earlier. Does anyone know what Wile E. was going to accomplish with that bat costume? One of the better parts involve poor Wile E. holding up a steel plate to stop the Road Runner. If you love Looney Tunes, this is yet another mark on your checklist you must cross off!

The writer in this one wasted no time depicting Wile E. Coyote (Eatius Birdius) taking physical abuse, being run over by a truck and having a crate fall on his head in the opening credits!

The Road Runner (Delicius Delicius), meanwhile, is in top form, making rectangular smoke with his quick turns and then making the pavement wobble like an earthquake hit it after he roars down the road. Even the coyote is impressed as he pulls out a sign to show us, saying "Egad!!!"

He then starts thinking, which means here we go again: more inventive ways to catch the elusive bird. The ones that stood out, at least to me, were: the "confused" bullet, the green "Batman" outfit and flying sequence, Wile's great painting and perhaps best of all: the coyote's final request to the cartoon writer!

Overall, an excellent Road Runner effort.