Mmmmm. Structure. Structure is the key to comedy. You could time an egg with the crossing of subplots in an episode of Seinfeld, I tell ya.
- Road Runner cannot harm the Coyote except by going "Beep! Beep!"
- No outside force can harm the Coyote --- only his own ineptitude or the failure of Acme products.
- The Coyote could stop anytime --- IF he was not a fanatic. (Repeat: "A fanatic is one who redoubles his effort when he has forgotten his aim." - George Santayana)
- No dialogue ever, except "Beep! Beep!"
- Road Runner must stay on the road --- for no other reason than that he's a roadrunner.
- All action must be confined to the natural environment of the two characters --- the southwest American desert.
- All tools, weapons, or mechanical conveniences must be obtained from the Acme Corporation.
- Whenever possible, make gravity the Coyote's greatest enemy.
- The Coyote is always more humiliated than harmed by his failures.
- The audience's sympathy must remain with the Coyote.
01 April 2005
Beep! Beep!
Via Warren Ellis, Chuck Jones' ten rules for Road Runner cartoons.
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