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 byChuck Jones
Maurice Noble
Story byJohn Dunn
Chuck Jones
Produced byDavid H. DePatie
(Uncredited)
StarringPaul Julian
Music byMilt Franklyn
Animation byBob Bransford
Tom Ray
Ken Harris
Richard Thompson
Harry Love
Backgrounds byPhilip DeGuard
Color processTechnicolor
Production
company
Distributed byWarner Bros. Pictures Inc.
The Vitaphone Corporation
Release date
  • November 11, 1961 (1961-11-11)
Running time
6:03
CountryUnited States

Plot

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In 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

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Beep Prepared was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film, the only Coyote/Road Runner installment to achieve this recognition.

Crew

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References

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ Lenburg, Jeff (1999). The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons. Checkmark Books. pp. 128–129. ISBN 0-8160-3831-7. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
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