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In 1949, a scrawny and hungry coyote made his debut in a theatrical short film titled “Fast and Furry-ous.”  In the short film, the coyote made repeated attempts to catch the Road Runner, but his attempts always ended in failure. The scrawny and desperate coyote was Wile E. Coyote, who went on to appear in forty-nine other cartoons along with the elusive Road Runner. In each cartoon, Wile develops complex and outlandish schemes to catch his nemesis, yet the schemes always end in failure, leaving him battered and humiliated. 

 

 

But, before we dive into today’s topic, might I draw your attention to this conveniently located “hiring” sign? Yes, that’s right, Myths & Mischief is looking to welcome new faces to our crew of creatives. If you’re an artist, writer, social media maven, coding genius, or graphic designer who prefers to work remotely, we’d love to meet you!

 

 

Now, back to our topic!

 

 

In August 2018, Warner Bros. announced that a live-action/animated film titled Coyote vs. Acme was in development, starring Wile E. Coyote himself. Based on a humorous article from 1990, the story features Wile E. Coyote taking Acme to court over its faulty products. It seems like the coyote was finally taking a step into the world of film, but, as always, a bombshell blasted a hole in his plans. In 2023, Warner Bros initially announced that it would shelve the film, reportedly taking an estimated $30 million tax write-off. 

 

 

It seems like Wile E’s fate is to be nothing but a complete failure, unable to catch the Road Runner, but perhaps there could be hope for him if we take a look at the mythology and real-life counterparts of his species. 

 

 

COYOTES IN MYTHOLOGY

 

 

 

The coyote appears in many Indigenous traditions throughout North America, particularly among the peoples in the Plains, California, and the Southwest. The character takes many forms: a trickster, a glutton, a creator, or a lover. In some traditions, Coyote was said to have brought fire to humans, much like ancient Greece’s Prometheus. Each version of the coyote varies among Indigenous nations and traditions. Some traditions portray him as a cultural hero who helps humans and teaches them skills for survival. Others say he is an antihero, one who is reckless, greedy and arrogant. These traits contributed to Coyote’s downfall, serving as warnings to the tribe about the dangers of such flaws. In other traditions, Coyote is primarily a trickster character whose schemes get him into trouble, but whose quick wits and cunning often allow him to escape. Some stories combine several of these characteristics, portraying Coyote as a flawed figure who can still overcome his flaws and perform good deeds for others. In some stories, Coyote even perishes only to come back to life, as in the story of Coyote and Golden Eagle.

 

Coyote was watching a Golden Eagle flying through the sky. The eagle would soar and swoop, enjoying himself. As Coyote watched, he decided that he would like to fly. Coyote began to climb a large cliff while watching the eagle. It was hard work, yet Coyote was determined to fly and after a long day of climbing, he made it to the top of the cliff. Coyote then spread his arms and jumped, intending to catch a draft and soar. However, no matter how hard he flapped his scrawny arms and twisted his tail, he plummeted straight down and shattered into pieces. 

 

A fox happened to pass by and gathered up the pieces of Coyote. Once he had gathered up all the pieces, the fox breathed life into them and the pieces reassembled into Coyote. Coyote chastised the fox for waking him from a nap and then walked away as if nothing had happened. 

 

While this myth is a timeless tale, one cannot help but notice the similar plot points to a modern day Roadrunner cartoon. 

 

 

COYOTES IN REAL LIFE

 

While Coyote is portrayed in numerous Indigenous traditions as an animal of significance figure, the same cannot be said for coyotes in real life. The coyote is probably  one of the most misunderstood carnivores in North America. Throughout history, coyotes have been gunned down, trapped, poisoned and hunted for bounties and contests. More than half a million coyotes are killed every year in the United States. Yet despite this, coyotes have continued to thrive over the years and don’t seem to be slowing down. Like the coyote in mythology, the key to a real coyote’s survival is its intelligence and adaptability. Prior to the 1700s, coyotes were primarily found in the arid deserts and prairies of Mexico and Central North America. Today, they can be found throughout North America, from California, to Florida, and Canada. Some are even spotted in suburban areas and cities. Urban coyotes have been spotted in cities such as San Francisco, Chicago, Denver, and New York City. 

 

 

How, then, did coyotes expand their range so quickly? Over the years, their larger competitors, including wolves and bears, began to disappear from many areas because of habitat loss and exterminations. This allowed the coyotes to move into those habitats and become the top predators in those areas. Some coyotes have even crossbred with wolves, while others have done so with dogs. The result was that the coyote offspring gained new genes to help them to survive. Their wolf genes made them bigger and more able to hunt prey, such as deer. The dog genes gave them a higher tolerance for urban stimuli, such as loud noises, lights and human presence. 

 

Urban life allows some flexibility for coyotes. While in the wild they hunt small mammals and birds, in urban areas they are able to feast on garbage, fruit from backyard trees, and, occasionally pets. 

 

 

Despite living in busy cities, coyotes generally avoid direct contact with humans, but unfortunately that cannot always be said for small pets.  Only a small number of coyotes prey on pets for their food sources, especially if those pets are left unattended. To keep pets from becoming a coyote’s meal, it is recommended that you keep cats indoors, supervise dogs closely, and, when walking a dog, use a six-foot leash. To keep children safe, always supervise them, especially during dawn and dusk, and, if possible, build a six-foot fence around the backyard. Keep garbage can lids tightly secured, and clear any potential hiding spots such as low shrubs or tall grass. Never feed coyotes, and if you encounter a coyote, do not run. Instead,  start “hazing” the coyote by yelling, waving your arms, and clapping as loudly as you can.  That way, the coyote will go look for an easier meal and you and your family will be safe from a coyote attack. 

 

 

RESURRECTION OF THE COYOTE

 

 

Now that we’ve read all about coyotes from both mythology and real life, how does this all relate to the famous Looney Tunes character himself? After Warner Bros. announced that Coyote vs Acme would be shelved, there was an outpouring of anger from fans of the cartoon and from the cast and crew of the film. Harsh criticisms were directed at Warner Bros. on social media, while Hollywood directors and writers expressed their upset by cancelling meetings with the studio. Because of the backlash, Warner Bros. offered to sell the film, but rejected every offer, claiming the offers were “too low.” 

Still, the fans and filmmakers continued to voice their support for the film, and eventually an unlikely hero came up to the plate. An indie distributor named Ketchup Entertainment had already acquired distribution rights to another struggling Warner Bros. film, The Day the Earth Blew Up, which was a critical success. With another Warner Bros. film in need of distribution, the company stepped up and purchased the rights to Coyote vs. Acme for $50 million. 

 

Coyote vs Acme premiered at San Diego Comic-Con and is scheduled for a theatrical release on August 28, 2026.

 

 

 

 

THE WILY COYOTE 

 

As a child, the Road Runner cartoons were my favorite Looney Tunes segments, and I was very lucky to attend an early screening of Coyote vs. Acme.  I can honestly say that I was not disappointed; I loved it! While the plot may seem like a simple summary of “coyote sues big corporation,” it actually goes a lot deeper than you would expect. There is an air of dangerous mystery as the characters delve deeper into their investigation of Acme and discover dark secrets that affect the entire world of cartoons. There were plenty of cameos from other Looney Tunes characters, both as important secondary characters and in the background that any Looney Tunes fan would enjoy pointing out. 

 

However, I do believe the thing I love the most is how Wile E. was portrayed. This was probably done unknowingly, but I praise Coyote vs Acme for drawing on the different portrayals of coyotes from mythology and real life to write a character like Wile. E. 

 

Like real coyotes, Wile E. was shown to be intelligent and highly adaptable to his surroundings as he pursued his goals. Like Coyote in Indigenous traditions, he was a trickster who was reckless, arrogant and a bit greedy. Yet as the film continues, he develops a genuine friendship with his human ally, Kevin Avery, and in the process, teaches him lessons about determination and perseverance in the face of constant failure. 

 

Therefore, I highly recommend that others go watch this film. The story in the film and the real-life story surrounding its release are truly a testament to the idea that a coyote will never give up and can overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

 

Whether in mythology, in real life, or in cartoons, a coyote will never give up and its persistence can always lead to success.