War and Pieces

Director: Chuck Jones
Release date: June 6, 1964
Stars: Road Runner & Wile E. Coyote
Rating: ★★★
Review:

‘War and Pieces’ was the last Road Runner cartoon directed by Chuck Jones himself, although there would follow fourteen more by other directors.

It’s a nice, if not too outstanding entry, with seven attempts, including a bizarre ‘secrets of the harem’ kinetoscope gag as well as invisible paint. The most outlandish is the one in which the coyote shoots himself right through the earth only to meet a Chinese roadrunner at the other side.

The background art is gorgeous throughout this cartoon, but particularly noteworthy during these Chinese scenes, which apparently inspired Maurice Noble to some of the craziest designs. These make ‘War and Pieces’ more than just a nice watch.

Watch an excerpt from ‘War and Pieces’ yourself and tell me what you think:

‘War and Pieces’ is available on the Blu-Ray ‘Looney Tunes Collector’s Choice Vol. 3’