Tom and Jerry (cartoon)

---

Tom and Jerry, first opening with official series title 1941

Series title: "Tom and Jerry"

Category: Cartoon

Genres: Short, Comedy, Humor, Slapstick

Creators/Directors: 
--- William Hanna
--- Joseph Barbera

Country of origin: USA

Released: February 10, 1940 - USA

No. of shorts (original series): 114 shorts, last released on August 1, 1958

Producers: 
--- Rudolf Ising (1940)
--- Fred Quimby (1940–55)
--- William Hanna (1955–58)
--- Joseph Barbera (1955–58)

Production company: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Cartoon Studio

Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Running time: 6-10 min.

Color: Technicolor

Original language: English

Background: The series revolve around a grey and white domestic cat, Tom, and a little brown mouse, Jerry, who spite each other: usually, Tom attempts to catch Jerry, but rarely succeeds, causing only trouble; so the shorts generally end showing the mouse triumphant.

Main characters (in order of appearance):
--- Jerry: named Pee-Wee in the first official announcement (see below), named Jinx in the first short (but not referred to in name on-screen), named Jerry since second short; first appearance in the first short "Puss Gets the Boot", February 10, 1940. Small brown house mouse, one of the two main protagonists of the series along with Tom.
--- Tom: named Jasper in the first official announcement (see below), named Jasper also in the first short, named Tom (full name Thomas) since second short; first appearance in the first short "Puss Gets the Boot", February 10, 1940. Grey and white domestic shorthair Tuxedo cat, one of the two main protagonists of the series along with Jerry.
--- Mammy Two Shoes: first appearance in the first short "Puss Gets the Boot", February 10, 1940. African-American housemaid, Mammy Two Shoes catches Tom acting against her orders. As a minor figure, her face is almost never shown.
--- Spike: occasionally named Killer/Butch/Bulldog in a few shorts; first appearance in the fifth short "Dog Trouble", April 18, 1942. Grey American bulldog, Spike has little affection for Tom; despite so, his relationships with Tom and Jerry varies from time to time.
--- Butch: first appearance in the 12th short "Baby Puss", December 25, 1943. His very first appearance, as Butch's only solo cartoon along Toodles Galore, took place in the MGM short "The Alley Cat" (July 5, 1941). Black alley cat, leader of Tom's friends alley cat bullies who often help him catch Jerry.
--- Toodles Galore: first appearance in the 23th short "Springtime for Thomas", March 30, 1946. Her very first appearance, as Toodles Galore's only solo cartoon along Butch, took place in the MGM short "The Alley Cat" (July 5, 1941). Attractive white female cat, Toodles is Tom's most favored love interest.
--- Tyke: first appearance in the 44th short "Love That Pup", October 1, 1949. In this short Spike was given a puppy son, Tyke precisely, who became a popular supporting character in the series. Spike is a loving father to his son Tyke.

Features: The birth of Tom and Jerry dates back in 1939, at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer cartoon studio, when animator and storyman Joseph Barbera teamed up with animator and director William Hanna to develop some popular recurring characters like the other studios had. Their idea about a cat and a mouse always in conflict with each other was not entirely appreciated by producer Fred Quimby, despite this he let they go ahead and produce one cartoon short. This first short, titled "Puss Gets the Boot", was released to theaters on February 10, 1940, achieving great critical acclaim and earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Short Subject: Cartoons - the first nomination of a total of 13 in the series of 114 shorts directed by Hanna and Barbera until 1958, seven of which won the Oscar.
In 1957 MGM cartoon studio closed, and Hanna and Barbera founded an own production company to produce such popular animated television series including The Flintstones, Yogi Bear, and Scooby-Doo; however, over the years, Tom and Jerry have been relaunched several times by others directors through theatrical shorts, television series, spin-offs, movies and so, until the present day.

Interesting facts: In the original series (1940-1958) Tom and Jerry rarely spoke, and creator William Hanna himself provided most of their vocal effects, including Tom's trademark scream, and Jerry's nervous gulp. Hanna and Barbera made minor adjustments to Tom and Jerry's appearance over the years, so they would "age gracefully".

Property: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

---

TOM AND JERRY - FIRST SHORT

First short title: "Puss Gets the Boot"

Released: February 10, 1940 - USA

Directors: 
--- William Hanna
--- Joseph Barbera
--- Rudolf Ising

Plot: See the official announcement below

Music: Scott Bradley

Animation: Don Williams, Michael Lah, Jack Zander, Peter Burness, Rudy Zamora, Ray Abrams, Tony Pabian, Carl Urbano, Robert Allen, George Gordon, Lovell Norman, Al Grandmain.

Running time: 9 min. 8 sec.

Tom and Jerry, opening and first scenes from the first short: "Puss Gets the Boot" (February 10, 1940). Released to theaters, the short achieved great critical acclaim and earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Short Subject: Cartoons in 1941.

Tom e Jerry, official announcement for the first short "Puss Gets the Boot" released on February 10, 1940 (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Shorts Story magazine, January-February 1940). «PUSS GETS THE BOOT... Since Eve evolved from Adam's rib, cats have waged constant war against mice. Now comes a one-mouse revolution brought on by a cat, that ends in victory for the mouse. This story, as told in Rudolf Ising's latest M-G-M Cartoon, "Puss Gets the Boot," relates how this one small mouse, taking advantage of one large cat's shortcoming, subdues the large warrior in a battle of wits and with the aid, of course, of circumstances. Ising's cat feels particulary wicked, this day. Before putting an end to the mouse of his choice, he decides to toy with it. As the mouse pokes his headout of his hole, friend cat grabs him with his tail, flips him in the air, and lets him fall to the floor senseless. The cat then dips his paw into some ink and draws a false hole in the wall for the mouse. As soon as he awakens, the mouse makes a dash for his hole, runs into the solid wall and is knocked unconscious again. This time, when he awakens, he is angry. With great courage he strolls up to the cat and punches him right in the eye. Furious, the cat runs after the mouse, and dashes right into a pillar that supports a beautiful vase. The vase falls to the floor, crashes into a thousand pieces, and the cat, Jasper, by name, is in for it. Immediately the housekeeper chases after Jasper with a broom, beats him, and warns him that if anything else is broken in the house, he will be thrown into the street forever. Now, the mouse, named Pee-Wee, knows how to handle Jasper. If Jasper tries to hurt him again, he'll break something and blame it on the cat. The next time Jasper chases Pee-Wee, the mouse runs to the edge of a table, grabs one of a set of cocktail glasses, and defiantly shouts that he will drop the glass if the cat comes any closer. With each of Jasper's lunges, Pee-Wee threatens to drop the glass. Finally, just to be ornery, Pee-Wee does drop the glass which Jasper catches, before it breaks, by the skin of his theet. Another glass and still another come hurtling down with Jasper catching each one before it hits the floor. Now Jasper gets wise and places soft cushions all over so that even if Pee-Wee does drop the glasses, they won't break. Jasper moves toward Pee-Wee, who threatens to drop another glass. Jasper laughs, the mouse drops the glass and it falls on the pillows and doesn't break. Immediately, Pee-Wee is in Jasper's tail, being tossed up and down like a ball of wool. But Jasper flips Pee-Wee a bit too high. The mouse catches on the ledge of a mantel on which there are many valuable plates. Immediately he starts throwing them to the floor. The cat dashes around madly, catching each dish until his arms are full. Calmly, Pee-Wee comes down from the mantel, and kicks Jasper right into next week. Up in the air goes every dish, and down they come. The housekeeper catches the cat and banishes him from the house forever. Calmly, and with great confidence, Pee-Wee strolls back to his hole, sighing. "Home, Sweet Home."»

Tom and Jerry, original hand drawn concept designs (August 8, 1939) for the first short "Puss Gets the Boot" (February 10, 1940)

---

Tom and Jerry, characters names appeared for the first time as the official opening title of the series in the second short: "The Midnight Snack" (July 19, 1941)

Tom e Jerry, official announcement for the second short "The Midnight Snack" released on July 19, 1941 (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Shorts Story magazine, July-August 1941). «MIDNIGHT SNACK - The same cat and mouse who were so well received in their first Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer cartoon, "Puss Gets the Boot," are back again, by public demand, in another co-starring vehicle titled "Midnight Snack." Supervised by William Hanna and Joe Barbera, the Technicolor one-reeler opens on Jerry, a little mouse, loaded down with a big slice of cheese, struggling away from the ice-box. He looks about cautiously as he staggers forward, making sure that he isn't being followed by Jasper, the cat. (...)»

Mammy Two Shoes debut ("Puss Gets the Boot", February 10, 1940) and first of her rare appearances in full body ("Saturday Evening Puss", January 14, 1950)

Spike and Tyke in their first appearances (left: Tom and Spike in "Dog Trouble", April 18, 1942 / right: Spike and Tyke in "Love That Pup", October 1, 1949)

Butch and Toodles Galore in their first appearances (left: Butch in "Baby Puss", December 25, 1943 / right: Toddles Galore in "Springtime for Thomas", March 30, 1946). Butch and Toddles Galore, before being integrated as recurring characters into the Tom and Jerry series, were introduced in the MGM only solo short "The Alley Cat" (July 5, 1941) by Hugh Harman.

Tom and Jerry, theatrical poster for "The Yankee Doodle Mouse" (June 26, 1943) - first of 7 Oscars winning shorts in the series for Best Short Subject: Cartoons

Tom and Jerry, first cast in a live-action/animated movie: "Anchors Aweigh" (1945, musical comedy by George Sidney starring Frank Sinatra, Kathryn Grayson, and Gene Kelly). The movie is remembered for the sequence in which Gene Kelly dances along with Jerry.

The creators of Tom and Jerry: William Denby "Bill" Hanna (Melrose, July 14, 1910 - North Hollywood, March 22, 2001), American animator, director, producer, voice actor, and cartoon artist; Joseph Roland "Joe" Barbera (New York City, March 24, 1911 – Los Angeles, December 18, 2006), Italian-American animator, director, producer, storyboard artist, and cartoon artist.

William Hanna and Joseph Barbera pose alongside all the Oscars won by their Tom and Jerry shorts for "Best Short Subject: Cartoons" under their direction (1940 to 1958: 7 Oscars and 6 nominations)

You might also like, by the same authors Hanna and Barbera:
--- The Flintstones

Astérix (comics)

---

Astérix logo 1959

Strip title: "Astérix le Gaulois"

Category: Comics

Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Satire

Authors:
--- René Goscinny (writer)
--- Albert Uderzo (illustrator)

Country of origin: France

First format: Strip on French weekly comic magazine "Pilote"

Teaser issue: Early October 1959 - Pilote No. 0 / page 20 of 32

First issue: October 29, 1959 - Pilote No. 1 / page 20 of 32 (serial)

First editor: Société d'Edition Pilote - Paris, France

Background: «We are in 50 BC. All Gaul is occupied by the Romans. All? No! Because a village populated by irreducible Gauls still resists the invader. And life is not easy for the garrisons of Roman legionaries of the entrenched camps of Babaorum, Aquarium, Laudanum and Petibonum...» (from the map of Gaul legend opening the Astérix volumes). This Gallic village resists the invader thanks to a magic potion prepared by the druid Panoramix (eng. Getafix), which temporarily gives superhuman strength to who drinks.

Main characters (in order of appearance):
--- Astérix (eng. Asterix), first appearance in the story "Astérix le Gaulois", Pilote magazine No. 1, October 29, 1959. Astérix is the titular hero of the series, a generously-mustachioed Gaul warrior born in 85 BC. Small and thin, frail, Asterix is physically far from the stereotypes of the comics hero. Its distinctive dress consists of a black top, red trousers, a sword worn on the side and a helmet adorned with two pens that, according to their direction, reveal his mood. His name derived from "astérisque", meaning "asterisk", from the Greek word meaning "star", as the star of the series.
--- Obélix (eng. Obelix), first appearance (along with Astérix) in the story "Astérix le Gaulois", Pilote magazine No. 1, October 29, 1959. Obélix is Asterix's closest friend and works as a menhir sculptor and delivery man. He is a tall, obese and ravenous, with a phenomenal strength acquired when he fell into Panoramix's magic potion cauldron as a boy. He wears trousers vertical white and blue stripes, stripped to the waist. His name derived from "obelisk", a massive monument, or the typographical symbol sometimes used to indicate a second footnote if the first footnote is indicated by an asterisk.
--- Jules César (eng. Julius Caesar), first appearance (as well as Astérix and Obélix) in the story "Astérix le Gaulois", Pilote magazine No. 1, October 29, 1959. The character of Julius Caesar is a consistent but satirical representation of the historical figure of the same name former Roman consul, conqueror of Gaul.
--- Panoramix (eng. Getafix), first appearance in the story "Astérix le Gaulois", Pilote magazine No. 3, November 12, 1959. Panoramix is the village druid: tall with a white beard, he is the only one to possess the recipe of the magic potion.
--- Abraracourcix (eng. Vitalstatistix), first appearance in the story "Astérix le Gaulois", Pilote No. 6, December 3, 1959. Abraracourcix is the chief of the "village des fous" (fools' village). He is a middle-aged, bigbellied man with red hair, pigtails and a huge moustache.
--- Assurancetourix (eng. Cacofonix), first appearance in the story "Astérix le Gaulois", Pilote No. 6, December 3, 1959. Assurancetourix is the village bard. He loves singing and playing musical instruments like lyre, bagpipes, drum and a Celtic trumpet... but his performances are unbearable.
--- Idéfix (eng. Dogmatix), first appearance in the story "Le Tour de Gaule d'Astérix", Pilote magazine No. 179, March 28, 1963. Idéfix is Obelix's pet dog, a small white dog of unknown breed, accidentally met for the first time in this story.

Features: The duo René Goscinny (author) - Albert Uderzo (illustrator) formed in the early 1950s and quickly led many projects together. In 1959, the advertiser François Clauteaux decided to create a new magazine for children, funded by Radio Luxembourg and titled "Pilote". There were only three months until the trial edition of Pilote was due out, and the two authors were really under pressure: they had to create a completely original comic strip series based on French culture. Finally, they decided on the period of the Gauls. Within a few hours, they created the Gallic village and its inhabitants. René Goscinny imagines a wily character in the small form, taking the opposite of the usual comics hero; Uderzo adds a strong but dim companion to which Goscinny agreed. Astérix and Obélix are born. In early October 1959, the strip was tested in the teaser issue Pilote No. 0, around 200 copies printed. Astérix and Obélix made their first official appearance on October 29, 1959 in Pilote No. 1: around 300,000 copies, immediately sold out. The first story, "Astérix le Gaulois", was published weekly in Pilote magazine from No. 1 until No. 38 (July 14, 1960), with a rate of one/two pages per week. In 1961, the entire story was collected in the volume "Astérix le Gaulois", first of a series titled "Collection Pilote", by editor Dargaud.

Interesting facts: The launch of Pilote magazine was a success, as well as the adventures of Astérix; despite this, in 1960 the financial backing for the magazine ceased, and Pilote was taken over by publisher Georges Dargaud, for a symbolic franc. When Goscinny died in 1977, Uderzo continued the series alone, until September 2011, when he retired from drawing.

Introduction (translated from the first strip): «Astérix mischievously embodies all the virtues of 'our ancestors the Gauls'. The humor of René Goscinny and Uderzo will make you love this little mustached warrior, new character in comics».

Property: Dargaud - Hachette - Les éditions Albert René / Goscinny-Uderzo

Reference website: http://www.asterix.com

Astérix and Obélix, early sketches by Albert Uderzo (1959)

Astérix, first print advertising (1959). The Radio Télé Luxembourg Almanach announces the imminent arrival of Pilote, a weekly comic magazine that covers the adventures of Astérix.

Astérix le Gaulois, the first strip was tested in Pilote magazine No. 0 (early October 1959, around 200 copies). Apart from a reference to the Astérix strip (bottom right), the cover shows a photo of a large group of collaborators, but most were just friends of the authors, in front row: writer René Goscinny (4th from left, with jacket in hand) and illustrator Albert Uderzo (6th).

Astérix le Gaulois, the first strip made its debut in Pilote magazine No. 1 (October 29, 1959, around 300,000 copies, immediately sold out).

Astérix le Gaulois, the first strip (October 29, 1959). Promoted through Pilote magazine No. 0 in early October 1959, the first story was launched as serial in Pilote No. 1.

Astérix and Obélix, the first appearance (Pilote magazine No. 1, October 29, 1959)

Astérix, characters in their first appearances. Jules César (Julius Caesar), Panoramix (Getafix the druid), Abraracourcix (Vitalstatistix the chief), Assurancetourix (Cacofonix the bard), and Idéfix (Dogmatix the dog).

Astérix and Obélix, first full cover in Pilote magazine (No. 21, March 17, 1960)

Astérix le Gaulois, first volume (Dargaud, 1961). This volume collects the first story distributed weekly in Pilote magazine from No. 1 (October 29, 1959) until No. 38 (July 14, 1960).

The creators of Astérix comics. Left: Alberto Aleandro Uderzo (Fismes, April 25, 1927 - Neuilly, March 24, 2020), comic book artist and scriptwriter. Right: René Goscinny (Paris, August 14, 1926 - November 5, 1977), comics editor and writer.

Astérix comics, the 50th anniversary (1959-2009). The 34th volume of the book series, released by Les Éditions Albert René on October 22, 2009, celebrates the first strip with a collection of short stories, all linked by the theme of Astérix's anniversary. Designed and written by Albert Uderzo, "L’Anniversaire d’Astérix et Obélix" also includes stories which were created jointly with René Goscinny.

Astérix comics, the 60th anniversary (1959-2019). Video by Les Éditions Albert René.

The Simpsons (cartoon)

---

The Simpsons
series opening 1989

Series title: "The Simpsons"

Category: Cartoon

Genres: Comedy, Humor, Satire, Sitcom

Creator: Matt Groening

Developers:
--- James L. Brooks
--- Matt Groening
--- Sam Simon

Country of origin: USA

Producers: Gracie Films, 20th Century Fox Television

Distributor: 20th Century Fox Television

Original language: English

Music: "The Simpsons Theme" by Danny Elfman (1989)

Running time: One-minute shorts, half-hour series episodes

Background: The series is a satirical depiction of a working class lifestyle epitomized by the Simpson family. The Simpsons are a family who live in a fictional "Middle American" town of Springfield: a typical couple husband and wife, with three children, a dog and a cat. The show includes an array of quirky supporting characters: co-workers, teachers, family friends, extended relatives, townspeople and local celebrities.

Main characters (Simpsons family):
--- Homer Simpson, first appearance in the first short "Good Night", aired on April 19, 1987, during "The Tracey Ullman Show" Season 1, Episode 3. Husband of Marge, Homer works as a safety inspector at the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant, a position at odds with his careless, buffoonish personality.
--- Marge Simpson, first appearance in "Good Night" (see above). Wife of Homer, Marge is a stereotypical American housewife and mother.
--- Bart Simpson, first appearance in "Good Night" (see Homer above). Oldest child and only son of Homer and Marge, Bart is a ten-year-old troublemaker. 
--- Lisa Simpson, first appearance in "Good Night" (see Homer above). Middle child and eldest daughter of Homer and Marge, Lisa is a precocious eight-year-old activist.
--- Maggie Simpson, first appearance in "Good Night" (see Homer above). Youngest child and daughter of Homer and Marge, Maggie is the baby of the family who rarely speaks, but communicates by sucking on a pacifier.
--- Santa's Little Helper, first appearance in the first full-lenght episode "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire", also known as "The Simpsons Christmas Special", aired on December 17, 1989. Santa's Little Helper is the Simpson family's pet dog.
--- Snowball V (later renamed Snowball II), first appearance in "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire" (see above). Snowball V is the Simpson family's pet cat.

Features: "The Simpsons" is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The Simpsons first appeared as shorts in The Tracey Ullman Show on April 19, 1987. After a three-season run, the sketch was developed into a half-hour prime time show. The Simpsons is the longest-running American sitcom, and the longest-running American animated program.

Interesting facts: Matt Groening named the main Simpson characters after members of his own family: his parents, Homer and Margaret (Marge or Marjorie in full), and his younger sisters, Lisa and Margaret (Maggie). Claiming that it was a bit too obvious to name a character after himself, he chose the name "Bart," an anagram of brat.

Quote (Matt Groening): «Families are about love overcoming emotional torture»

Property: Fox Broadcasting Company

Official website: http://www.simpsonsworld.com

---

THE SIMPSONS - SHORTS

The Simpsons family, as they originally appeared in early shorts. Matt Groening submitted only basic sketches to the animators and assumed that the figures would be cleaned up in production. However, the animators merely re-traced his drawings, which led to the crude appearance of the characters in the initial shorts. From left: Maggie, Lisa, Marge, Homer and Bart.

SHORTS - Release: April 19, 1987

SHORTS - Seasons / No. of Episodes:

--- S01 / E07 (Apr. 19, 1987 - July 12, 1987)
--- S02 / E22 (Sept. 22, 1987 - May 8, 1988)
--- S03 / E19 (Nov. 6, 1988 - May 14, 1989)
--- Total Seasons 3 / Episodes 48 (1987-1989)

First short title: "Good Night"

Release: April 19, 1987, during "The Tracey Ullman Show" Season 1, Episode 3

Writer: Matt Groening

Directors:  Wesley Archer, David Silverman, Bill Kopp

Animation: Klasky Csupo, Inc.

Running time: 1 min. 48 sec.

Plot: Marge and Homer say goodnight to their children. As they do, Bart ponders the nature of the mind, Lisa develops a fear of bedbugs, and Maggie has a nightmare about "Rock-a-bye Baby". All three of the kids end up crowding parents' bed.

The Simpsons, first appearance in the short "Good Night", aired as a part of The Tracey Ullman Show (April 19, 1987)

---

THE SIMPSONS - SERIES

The Simpsons family, as they appeared since the first full-length episode (1989). Top: comparison with the 1987 original version.

First full-length episode title: "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire", also known as "The Simpsons Christmas Special". The title is an allusion to "The Christmas Song", also known as "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire".

Release: December 17, 1989

Writer: Mimi Pond

Director: David Silverman

Animation: Klasky Csupo, Inc.

Music: Richard Gibbs (theme by Danny Elfman)

Running time: 22 min.

Plot: The Simpsons prepare for the holidays, but it's rough sledding for household-head Homer, who's forced to resort to desperate measures when his Christmas bonus is canceled and Marge's family money goes to erase the tattoo son Bart thought would be a perfect gift.

The Simpsons, screenshots from the first full-length episode "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire", also known as "The Simpsons Christmas Special" (December 17, 1989)

The Simpsons, early sketch for the opening sequence by David Silverman (c. 1987), animator of all the original shorts with Wes Archer and Bill Kopp at Klasky Csupo Inc.

The Simpsons, first series opening sequence created by David Silverman, music by Danny Elfman. This title sequence was aired the first time at the opening of the second episode "Bart the Genius" (January 14, 1990).

Matt Groening (Portland, February 15, 1954 - cartoonist, writer, producer, animator, and voice actor), creator of The Simpsons, celebrates the 500th episode of the series: "At Long Last Leave", aired on February 19, 2012

Wile E. Coyote and The Road Runner

---

Wile E. Coyote and
The Road Runner in 1949

Main series title: "Looney Tunes"

Title: "Wile E. Coyote and The Road Runner"

Category: Cartoon

Genres: Comedy, Humor

Authors:
--- Chuck Jones (design/animation)
--- Michael Maltese (story/writing)

Country of origin: USA

Producer / Distributor: Warner Bros.

First episode title: "Fast and Furry-ous"

Released: September 17, 1949 - USA

Director: Chuck Jones

Color: Technicolor

Original language: English

Music: Carl Stalling. The first episode uses music from the Bedřich Smetana opera The Bartered Bride, specifically Dance of the Comedians. It also makes use of the popular songs "Winter", "I'm Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover", and "In My Merry Oldsmobile".

Animation: Ken Harris, Phil Monroe, Lloyd Vaughan, Ben Washam, A.C. Gamer.

Running time: 7 min.

Background: Wile E. Coyote (generally silent) repeatedly attempts to catch and subsequently eat the Road Runner, a fast-running ground bird (with a signature sound, "Beep, Beep"), but is never successful. Wile E. Coyote often obtains complex and ludicrous devices from a mail-order company, the fictitious Acme Corporation, which he hopes will help him catch the Road Runner. The devices invariably fail in improbable and spectacular ways. In the first episode "Fast and Furry-ous", released on September 17, 1949, the Coyote tries 11 ways to catch Road Runner. Failed traps include a fake tunnel, a boulder drop, a rocket, a boomerang, superhero outfit, a fridge and skis, and a school crossing. In a "jet shoes" sequence, the coyote chases the road runner all over a cloverleaf highway interchange.

Main characters:

--- Wile E. Coyote, a slim American coyote always hungry, originally presented under the pseudo-Latin name "Carnivorous vulgaris".
--- The Road Runner, a sly, fast-running ground American bird, originally presented under the pseudo-Latin name "Acceleratii incredibus".

Features: Wile E. Coyote and The Road Runner are a duo of characters from the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series of cartoons. The characters were created by animation director Chuck Jones in 1948 for Warner Bros., while the template for their adventures was the work of writer Michael Maltese. The characters star in a long-running series of theatrical cartoon shorts, the first 16 of which were written by Maltese. Wile E. Coyote and The Road Runner appeared on television on Saturday mornings as the stars of their own TV series, The Road Runner Show, from September 1966 to September 1968, on CBS.

Interesting facts: Chuck Jones based the Coyote on Mark Twain's book Roughing It, in which Twain described the coyote as "a long, slim, sick and sorry-looking skeleton" that is "a living, breathing allegory of Want. He is always hungry". Jones said he created the Coyote-Road Runner cartoons as a parody of traditional "cat and mouse" cartoons such as MGM's Tom and Jerry, which Jones would work on as a director later in his career. Early model sheets for Wile E. Coyote character prior to his initial appearance identified him as "Don Coyote", in reference to Miguel de Cervantes' Don Quixote. The Coyote's name of Wile E. is a play on the word "wily". Pseudo-Latin names were assigned to the characters through the years: "Carnivorous vulgaris" and "Acceleratii incredibus" (1949-1952), "Road-Runnerus digestus" and "Velocitus tremenjus" (1953), "Eatibus anythingus" and "Hot-roddicus supersonicus" (1954), and so on.

Quote (Chuck Jones): «When the coyote falls, he gets up and brushes himself off; it's preservation of dignity. He's humiliated, and it worries him when he ends up looking like an accordion. A coyote isn't much, but it's better than being an accordion».

Property: Warner Bros.

Wile E. Coyote and The Road Runner, original model sheet by Chuck Jones (circa 1945). Graphite and colored pencil on paper glued to a 12 field sheet of animation paper. Note that here the coyote is called "Don Coyote".

Wile E. Coyote and The Road Runner, original model sheet by Chuck Jones (1948) for their debut in the "Fast and Furry-ous" episode (1949)

Wile E. Coyote and The Road Runner, title frame from the first episode "Fast and Furry-ous" (September 17, 1949). The title sign is shown first, and the card is blown away when the Road Runner whips by. The pair whip past the camera to change the credits.

The Road Runner, first appearance ("Fast and Furry-ous", Sept. 17, 1949). The camera zooms to the Road Runner and the scene shows the Latin name: "ROAD RUNNER (Accelleratii Incredibus)".

Wile E. Coyote, first appearance ("Fast and Furry-ous", Sept. 17, 1949). Wile E. Coyote, on a cliff, watches with binoculars as the Road Runner tears across the roads. He licks his lips as his name is shown: "COYOTE (Carnivorous Vulgaris)".

Wile E. Coyote and The Road Runner, opening and first scene from the first episode "Fast and Furry-ous" (Sept. 17, 1949)

Charles Martin "Chuck" Jones (Spokane, Sept. 21, 1912 - Corona del Mar, Feb. 22, 2002), creator of Wile E. Coyote and The Road Runner, was an American animator, cartoon artist, screenwriter, producer, and director of animated films, most memorably of Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies shorts for the Warner Bros. Cartoons studio. In a career spanning over 70 years, Jones made more than 300 animated films, winning three Oscars as director and in 1996 an honorary Oscar for Lifetime Achievement.

The Flintstones (cartoon)

---

The Flintstones
series opening 1960

Original series title: "The Flagstones"

Series title: "The Flintstones"

Category: Cartoon

Genres: Comedy, Humor, Sitcom, Slapstick

Creators/Directors: 
--- William Hanna
--- Joseph Barbera

Country of origin: USA

Writers: Warren Foster, Michael Maltese, Arthur Phillips, Joanna Lee, Herbert Finn, Harvey Bullock, Tony Benedict, Jack Raymond, R.S. Allen, Barry E. Blitzer, Rick Mittleman, Walter Black, Alan Dinehart, Ralph Goodman, Rance Howard, William Idelson, Samuel Bobrick, George O'Hanlon.

Released: September 30, 1960 - USA

Seasons / No. of Episodes:

--- Pilot (unaired episode, 1959)
--- S01 / E28 (Sept. 30, 1960 - Apr. 7, 1961)
--- S02 / E32 (Sept. 15, 1961 - Apr. 27, 1962)
--- S03 / E28 (Sept. 14, 1962 - Apr. 5, 1963)
--- S04 / E26 (Sept. 19, 1963 - Mar. 12, 1964)
--- S05 / E26 (Sept. 17, 1964 - Mar. 12, 1965)
--- S06 / E26 (Sept. 17, 1965 - Apr. 1, 1966)
--- Total Seasons 6 / Episodes (1 pilot)+166 (1960-1966)

Producer: Hanna-Barbera Productions

Distributor: Columbia / Screen Gems

Color: The show was broadcast in black-and-white for the first two seasons (1960-1962), although all materials (episodes, commercial breaks, and opening/closing sequences) were always produced in color.

Original language: English

Music: Theme by Hoyt S. Curtin. Opening/Ending: "Rise and Shine" (instrumental, first two seasons and the first two episodes of season 3), "Meet the Flintstones" (rest of the show's run). In some episodes on season 6 ending theme changed in "Open Up Your Heart (and Let the Sunshine In)".

Running time: 22-30 min.

Background: The show fancifully depicted the lives of a working-class Stone Age man, his family, and his next-door neighbor and best friend. While living in the prehistoric town of Bedrock, the Flintstones face problems certainly not archaic! Along with their best friends, the Rubbles, the Flintstones enchant the audience with their prehistoric versions of the comforts of modern life and circumstances.

Main characters (in order of appearance):
--- Fred Flintstone, first appearance in the unaired pilot "The Flagstones" produced in 1959; first public appearance in season 1 episode 1: "The Flintstone Flyer", aired on September 30, 1960. Main character of the series, Fred is an accident-prone bronto-crane operator at the Slate Rock and Gravel Company.
--- Wilma Flintstone, first appearances with Fred Flintstone (see above). Wilma is Fred's wife.
--- Barney Rubble, first appearances with Fred Flintstone (see above). Barney is the secondary main character and Fred's best friend.
--- Betty Rubble, first appearances with Fred Flintstone (see above). Betty is Barney's wife and Wilma's best friend.
--- Dino, first appearance in season 1 episode 1: "The Flintstone Flyer", aired on September 30, 1960. Dino is a prosauropod dinosaur, Flintstones' pet who barks and acts like a dog.
--- Baby Puss, first appearance in season 1 episode 1: "The Flintstone Flyer", aired on September 30, 1960, in the closing credits. Baby Puss, Flintstones' pet saber-toothed cat which always appears at the end, is very rarely seen in the stories.
--- Pebbles Flintstone, first appearance in episode 83 (season 3 episode 23): title "The Blessed Event", or "The Dress Rehearsal", aired on February 22, 1963. Pebbles is Flintstones' infant daughter.
--- Bamm-Bamm Rubble, first appearance in episode 91 (season 4 episode 3): title "Little Bamm Bamm", aired on October 3, 1963. Bamm-Bamm is Rubbles' abnormally strong adopted son.
--- Hoppy, first appearance in episode 115 (season 5 episode 1): title "Hop Happy", aired on September 17, 1964. Hoppy is Rubbles' pet Hopparoo, a kangaroo/dinosaur combination creature.

Features: After a single unaired pilot episode product in 1959, The Flintstones became an American television sitcom prime-time broadcast from 1960 to 1966 on ABC television network. Despite the animation and fantasy setting, the series was initially aimed at adult audiences, which was reflected in the comedy writing, which, as noted, resembled the average primetime sitcoms of the era, with the usual family issues resolved with a laugh at the end of each episode, as well as the inclusion of a laugh track. The show also included commercial breaks: main official sponsors were R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company (Winston cigarettes), Welch's (Grape Jelly and Grape Fruit), Bayer (Alka Seltzer / One-A-Day Vitamins). The Flintstones was the most financially successful network animated franchise for three decades, until The Simpsons debuted.

Interesting facts: The pilot of the show was titled The Flagstones, but when the series went into production the working title was changed, possibly to avoid confusion with the Flagstons, characters in the comic strip Hi and Lois. After spending a brief period in development as The Gladstones, Hanna-Barbera settled upon The Flintstones.

Quote (Fred Flintstone): «Yabba dabba doo!»

Property: Hanna-Barbera Productions, Inc.

The Flintstones, original concept painting showing an early version

---

THE FLINTSTONES - PILOT

"The Flagstones", pilot for The Flintstones, never shown in the original series (1959). Originally, it was designed to sell the series to potential advertisers, depicting a scene from what would eventually become the episode "The Swimming Pool". Lost for years, this clip was found in a warehouse in 1993.

Pilot title: "The Flagstones"

Writer: Warren Foster

Animated by: Kenneth Muse

Starring: Fred and Wilma Flagstone (surname Flagstone was used only for the pilot), Barney and Betty Rubble

Produced in: 1959 - USA

Producers: William Hanna, Joseph Barbera

Released: 1994, "The Flintstones: The Collector's Edition" VHS. The pilot was also broadcast on Cartoon Network on May 7, 1994.

Running time: 1 min. 42 sec.

---

THE FLINTSTONES - SERIES

"The Gladstones", original hand drawn concept designs of the main characters before the official launch of the series under the final title The Flintstones (1960)

"The Flintstones", original hand drawn concept designs of Fred and Barney (1960)

First episode title: "The Flintstone Flyer"

Writer: Mike Maltese

Animated by: Carlo Vinci

Starring: Fred and Wilma Flintstone, Barney and Betty Rubble 

Released: September 30, 1960 - USA

Producers: William Hanna, Joseph Barbera, Alan Dinehart

Editors: Kenneth Spears, Donald A. Douglas, Joseph Ruby, Warner Leighton, Greg Watson.

Running time: 26 min. 18 sec.

The Flintstones, opening and first scene from the first episode (1960)

The Flintstones, closing credits (1960)

The Flintstones, Winston cigarettes commercial break (1961)

The creators of The Flintstones: William Denby "Bill" Hanna (Melrose, July 14, 1910 - North Hollywood, March 22, 2001), American animator, director, producer, voice actor, and cartoon artist; Joseph Roland "Joe" Barbera (New York City, March 24, 1911 – Los Angeles, December 18, 2006), Italian-American animator, director, producer, storyboard artist, and cartoon artist.

50th anniversary of The Flintstones marked by Google (September 30, 2010)

You might also like, by the same authors Hanna and Barbera:
--- Tom and Jerry