Cartoon Physics

[N7AAO]

I was watching Looney Toons today (yes, I am still a kid at heart), and remembered that there were lists of "cartoon physics" floating around the 'net a while back... but instead of copying that one, how about all us technical types work on a list of our own? Here's my first contribution:

The Law of Variable Gravity:
Gravity does not take effect until the character realizes he/she is standing out in the middle of thin air... and even then it doesn't take effect.

[ai4ep]

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif like when wile e coyote runs off a over hang , and then realizes he has no ground under him...and then ( in a puff ) starts to fall !!

[N7AAO]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (ai4ep @ July 25 2004,10:02)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif like when wile e coyote runs off a over hang , and then realizes he has no ground under him...and then ( in a puff ) starts to fall !![/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Precisely!

But in one cartoon, Elmer and Bugs are kids, and Elmer doesn't fall because he hasn't studied the law of gravity yet. So, of course, Bugs gives him a copy of &quot;Gravity for Beginners&quot; (I guess the &quot;...for Dummies&quot; books weren't around then), and the next time Elmer runs off the cliff, he does just like Wile E. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[k6pme]

The Law of High Amp Survival.

If it's high enough amps to pop you into mid-air and make your hair stand straight out, you will survive. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[ae4fa]

My favorite is the Law of Preferential Spatial Anomalies - aka &quot;the tunnel that is also a rock wall painted to look like a tunnel.&quot;

Actually, we have one of those around here - created by Blue Sky, a regionally famous artist. So far, we haven't found the preferred individual - although many slightly inebriated university students have tried . . . with the same result at Wile E. Coyote.

[N7AAO]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (ae4fa @ July 25 2004,11:26)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">My favorite is the Law of Preferential Spatial Anomalies - aka &quot;the tunnel that is also a rock wall.&quot;[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Or the rock wall that becomes a tunnel when properly painted? http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[w4rot]

Mr. Peabody and Sherman penetrated the time-space barriers in the early 60's , I believe.
A lifelong friend and mentor to Bullwinkle, Boris and his loving wife, Natasha, were quite respected in thermodynamics and I suspect Mr. Coyote gained alot of his expertise from their experiments.
Rocky, well, #his contibutions to aviation still hold.
Few know of the powerful think tanks that where available Saturday mornings way before the internet became so entrenched.
Mr. Peabody was one smart puppy, IMHO, but I am not sure what happened to Sherman, probably became disillusioned with the advent of modern animation, spell checkers and the inability of anyone to maintain Mr. Peabody's apparatus.
Of course, I could be disllusioned as well and sympathize with Sherman's struggle in the later years.
w4rot

[KA9VQF]

I always liked the ACME Portable Hole. Wile e. used it quite a bit.

[ae2ny]

Not sure what you would call it, but how about when Bugs goes to Marvin's planet? He comes out of the rocket dressed in pajamas and has no problem breathing in space!

Anthony-KI4VPR

[kb7aqd]

Let's see:

Animals can talk to human kids -- but can't be understood by adults.

The characters wear one set of perpetually clean clothes -- as their closet is filled to the bursting point with the same style.

The bad guy wears a cheesy mask, changes clothes, or covers his face -- and the heroes have NO idea who he is. The disguise is so good -- 'toon animal characters can't even tell who the guy is by smell.

The same bad guys harrass our heroes episode after episode, and the local law enforcement takes no notice.

The bad guys blurt out their entire evil plan to take over the world to the good guys.

The good guys -- and bad guys -- never learn from previous episodes or events, and follow exactly the same set of actions.

A one-shot guest character outshines our heroes -- and to our frustration -- vanishes from the series with no explanation.

The inventor hero creates a device that MUST be used by the end of the episode, and it's the ONLY thing that will work to solve the problem presented.

Like 1980's toons? Check out the Acorn Cafe --


The Acorn Cafe -- Chip N' Dales Rescue Rangers Fan site (http://www.theacorncafe.org)


73
Robert
KB7AQD

[N7AAO]

Here's another... the Law of Offensive Strength:

Even a small canary can lift an anvil if the purpose is to drop it on an enemy. The same character under the anvil never has the strength to stop it, tho.

[kb7aqd]

Our heroes only carry what they need for a particular mission and it always fits in a hidden pocket we never see until the item is pulled out -- then the pocket vanishes.

Both male and female 'toon kangaroos have pockets.

'Toon raccoons usually are named Bandit, Rick, or Ringo.

'Toon beavers wear coveralls -- lone exceptions -- Daggett and Norbert of Nickelodeon's &quot;Angry Beavers&quot;.

When a radio plays in the background, it plays the same generic tune -- over and over.

73 until next 'toon
KB7AQD