Director Chuck Jones’ rules for writing Road Runner cartoons, copied from Wikipedia:
- Road Runner cannot harm the Coyote except by going “beep, beepâ€.
- 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, beepâ€.
- 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.