The first year with DePatie-Freleng fully at the helm. This was the last year to have more than 20 entries in the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series, though it wasn't entirely thanks to new cartoons...

Zip Zip Hooray!
Directed by Chuck Jones (uncredited)
Ralph Phillips and his friend (Arnold) watch Wile E. Coyote chasing the Road Runner on TV. Ralph tells Arnold how he wants to be the Road Runner, and the coyote explains to the boys why he always tries to catch the Road Runner. Even after "To Beep or Not to Beep", there was still enough footage in the 1962 featurette "Adventures of the Road-Runner" for two more theatrical shorts (this time preserving the original soundtrack, and with new opening titles being the only addition) – I guess they were released just to fill out the annual cartoon schedule. And there's the problem: while this content was very entertaining in the original featurette, it's obvious that it wasn't meant to be a standalone cartoon short. The scene with the boys is cut in half here (Arnold says Ralph needs a psychiatrist, but we don't see him playing one), the connection between the different characters makes less sense here (having originally been used to insert a Ralph cartoon into a Road Runner special), and the opening and especially the ending are quite abrupt. Still enjoyable, but I recommend watching the whole thing instead. This was Ralph's last appearance – with theatrical shorts, army recruitment films (as an adult), featurettes and cutdowns, the boy certainly had a career as strange as his dreams.
7.5

It's Nice to Have a Mouse Around the House
Directed by Friz Freleng
Co-director: Hawley Pratt
Sylvester's attempts to catch Speedy have made him a nervous wreck, so Granny gets pest control to get rid of the mouse. Exterminator Daffy Duck tries various methods to catch him, but nothing succeeds. The start of one of the most infamous series in WB cartoon history: the Daffy and Speedy cartoons. The two would be pitted against each other in many cartoons in the following years, only because both were among the most popular characters in the series. This one handles the concept well, as there's a good motive for the duck to chase the mouse. The gags here are fairly ordinary for the most part... but like in the previous DePatie-Freleng cartoons, the crew seems to be saving the best for the last: the final gag is my definite favorite here!
8

Cats and Bruises
Directed by Friz Freleng
Co-director: Hawley Pratt
The mice are celebrating Cinco de Mayo when Sylvester shows up. He tries to catch Speedy, but in spite of him trying everything from a raft to a rocket sled, nothing works. A less impressive Speedy effort, with a lot of reused animation and gags from previous cartoons with Sylvester and Speedy. Not much here that particularly stands out, except for maybe Speedy's performance of "Cielito lindo", with which he charms a girl mouse.
7

Roadrunner a Go-Go
Directed by Chuck Jones (uncredited)
Wile E. Coyote shows how he films all his attempts to catch the Road Runner and learns from the errors he made. He also demonstrates the blueprint of a catapult before struggling to get the desired results with it. The second of the two "Adventures of the Road-Runner" cutdowns released this year. I think this works better as a standalone cartoon than "Zip Zip Hooray!" did – the edits between the scenes could have been improved on sometimes, but at least there's a proper opening and a more entertaining ending this time. Having part of the same catapult scene that had already been reused in "To Beep or Not to Beep" feels a bit unnecessary, though it ends differently in the two shorts. Again, the featurette is much more enjoyable than the shortened version.
8

The Wild Chase
Directed by Friz Freleng
Co-director: Hawley Pratt
Speedy Gonzales and the Road Runner are having a race to find out who's the faster of the two. In addition to spectators and gamblers, the race attracts the attention of Sylvester and Wile E. Coyote who come up with schemes to catch their prey. A rather divisive cartoon (it might not really be what people expect based on the plot!), but I think it's quite fun. It isn't without its weaknesses (the reused gags and animation pop up again), but the concept is a novel one, with interactions between characters we've never seen together before. The cat and the coyote are responsible for the best moments here, and the music is quite catchy. I imagine this idea would have resulted in a better cartoon if it had come out a few years earlier, but by the standards of the time, it's definitely among the more interesting efforts. This was Freleng's last directorial work for WB in the classic era, more than three decades after his debut in the role, though he would write "Corn on the Cop" and stay on as a producer a while longer. Much less notably, it was also Pratt's last co-direction.
8

Moby Duck
Directed by Robert McKimson
Daffy is shipwrecked on a desert island, with only Speedy for company. The duck soon finds a box full of food he doesn't want to share with Speedy, but it's all in cans. Speedy has a can opener, but Daffy still doesn't want to make a deal... Like a remake of 1951's "Canned Feud" with different characters, but this time the mouse with the can opener is the good guy. Not as fun as that one was, but still entertaining, even if Daffy's portrayal is far from his most likable (Speedy fares much better in his role). The infamous Daffy and Speedy pairing is still working surprisingly well...
8

Assault and Peppered
Directed by Robert McKimson
The mice are starving and ranch owner Daffy hates the poor being on his property. Once Speedy shows up, Daffy challenges the mouse to a duel. Despite the mouse's lack of experience, his speed and wits help him. Daffy's personality takes yet another turn for the worse – as the stereotypical unlikable rich character, he has some funny lines, but it's not really a role that quite suits him (they could as well have used a new character in that role). Speedy on the other hand is quite likable, keeping the cartoon afloat. The gags are quite average, nothing we haven't seen in earlier and better shorts.
7

Well Worn Daffy
Directed by Robert McKimson
Speedy and his two friends are thirsty in the desert. They find a well, but it's owned by Daffy, who does everything to prevent the mice from drinking, with help from his camel. Daffy's portrayal is again very unlikable, but thankfully his camel has some funny and even surprising moments, and the mice are all sympathetic. The gags are entertaining, but once again, I kind of wish they had used Sylvester instead of this new mean version of Daffy...
8

Suppressed Duck
Directed by Robert McKimson
Daffy goes hunting grizzly bears. But the area is divided into two sides, and hunters aren't allowed to shoot a bear unless it's on the right side. Daffy tries his best to get around this, but a ranger and a clever bear make it difficult for him. A positive surprise – I like the bear character, and Daffy has his best portrayal in a while (he's not unlikable despite being in the wrong)! Some of the gags are wackier than usual for the time, with some wild cartoon physics involved at times. My favorite so far of the DePatie-Freleng cartoons!
9

Corn on the Cop
Directed by Irv Spector
On Halloween, a criminal robs a store while disguised as an old lady. Policemen Daffy and Porky are sent after him, but there's a lot of confusion – they go after Granny who is wearing similar clothes, while she thinks the robber and the policemen are all delinquent trick-or-treaters. The only WB cartoon directed by Irv Spector, best known for his long-term work as an animator at Fleischer and Famous Studios. He fares well in his role for the most part – the animation quality is fairly typical for the time, though some of the human designs look different (maybe showing his personal style). The Daffy and Porky duo works well as usual, though the pig isn't portrayed as much more competent than the duck for once. Entertaining entry with good music, even if it's not a particular standout. Granny (called Mrs. Webster here) makes her last appearance in the classic era – considering that almost all of her appearances were with Tweety, it's impressive that her last appearance came a year after the bird's!
8

Rushing Roulette
Directed by Robert McKimson
Wile E. Coyote tries to catch the Road Runner, using a cannon disguised as a camera, a giant magnifying glass, an exploding piano, and other devices. The first Road Runner cartoon (not counting the crossover "The Wild Chase") not directed by Jones – how does McKimson fare? Purists might disagree, but I'd say very well – the animation is surprisingly lively for the time (with the designs faithful to those used by Jones), the gags are very much in the typical Road Runner spirit, with nice little details, but there's also something new. The Road Runner is portrayed with more personality than usual, including his pose for the camera and being shown as playing the piano. Those gags are a bit unusual for the series, but in a good way. And this short introduces a very catchy new Road Runner theme music by Bill Lava – while it's heard a couple of times in this cartoon, it would find much wider use soon...
9.5

DePatie-Freleng decided to subcontract the next eleven Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner cartoons to Format Films. These shorts would all be directed by Rudy Larriva, who had actually been an animator in Chuck Jones' unit in the early 40s, though he had left years before the first Road Runner cartoons were produced.

Run, Run, Sweet Road Runner
Directed by Rudy Larriva
Wile E. Coyote chases the Road Runner, using various devices like a trap with spikes and a lightning rod disguised as a female road runner. The Larriva Road Runner cartoons are among the most divisive shorts in the entire WB cartoon filmography. The budgets being lower than those of the Jones classics is obvious – the animation is rather mediocre at times, with the coyote appearing off-model in some scenes. But is the cartoon enjoyable in spite of these flaws? I've always liked the Larriva cartoons more than a lot of others do, maybe in part thanks to nostalgia. This isn't one of the best, with some of the gags dragging on a little, but it does have some nice moments, especially a couple of cute scenes with the Road Runner (I like how the 60s cartoons often have him do other things besides just running around and beeping – here we see him playing hopscotch, for example).
7.5

Tease for Two
Directed by Robert McKimson
Daffy goes looking for gold, having found a map showing him the spot. But it happens to be the hole the Goofy Gophers live in, which they own the deed to. Daffy tries various measures to get rid of the polite but scheming rodents. Not an all-time classic, but the gophers are entertaining as always with their combination of politeness and violence. Some surprising gags here too, and Daffy's portrayal is a bit better than in some other shorts from the era (he's not mean for the sake of being mean, but showing his usual greed). The gophers' comeback was surprising, as it had been seven years since their last theatrical short (though they had made a couple of guest appearances on "The Bugs Bunny Show", getting the names of Mac and Tosh there). After this, we would not see them again. Also the last time Daffy would appear in a cartoon without Speedy Gonzales – despite being an unpopular pairing today, DePatie-Freleng and WB sure seemed to like it a lot.
8

Tired and Feathered
Directed by Rudy Larriva
Wile E. Coyote is after the Road Runner, and this time his plans involve a log and a fake bird sanctuary with a dynamite stick disguised as a telephone. Starting with this second cartoon, the obviously cheaply made Larriva Road Runners started using yet another cost-cutting method – the same music tracks would be used for all the remaining entries. The Lava Road Runner theme used sparingly in the last couple of shorts will be heard a lot in these... Thankfully, I find the theme very appealing in its catchiness, making this more tolerable! Otherwise, I find the short a big improvement on the first Larriva Road Runner: the gags have better pacing, and the animation is vastly improved (the addition of familiar WB animators Bob Bransford and Virgil Ross must have had a lot to do with this). While no match for Jones' best, I find this an entertaining short with some appealing expressions from the coyote and a rather active Road Runner... and it's also quite nostalgic for me, being one of the first Road Runner cartoons I saw years ago!
8.5

Boulder Wham!
Directed by Rudy Larriva
Wile E. Coyote runs into a problem while chasing the Road Runner: thanks to his speed, the bird is able to run to another cliff, but the coyote is struggling to get to the other side. He tries everything from tightrope walking to pole vaulting and hypnosis. Unlike Jones, Larriva would sometimes make a Road Runner cartoon have most or all its gags based on a theme, this being the first example with the coyote constantly trying to get to the adjacent cliff. The result is a fun one, with some rather unusual gags for the series (the hypnosis one being my favorite) and even a callback to the pre-1964 Looney Tunes at one point! On the downside, the low budgets are sometimes really obvious – we get pretty blatant animation reuse at times, including the same shot of Wile E. reading a book being used three times (something that I remember noticing even as a kid)! But as unpopular an opinion as it might be, I think Larriva is still doing a decent job with these considering the limitations of the time.
8

Chili Corn Corny
Directed by Robert McKimson
Daffy will shoot anyone trespassing in his corn field, and a nearby crow is starving. Old friend Speedy Gonzales soon shows up and helps the crow steal some corn, but Daffy is keeping an eye on them... An interesting entry. Daffy's portrayal is neither his best nor worst. The other characters fare better, with the crow being an entertaining character, somewhat similar in portrayal to the earlier Mexican crow Manuel (who surprisingly never appeared in the same cartoon as Speedy). His voice is provided by Mexican-American comedian Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez, who does very well in his first WB cartoon role. The story takes a rather surprising turn near the end, adding something special to an otherwise rather typical Speedy cartoon. Enjoyable despite the animation quality being uneven at some points.
8

Just Plane Beep
Directed by Rudy Larriva
After seeing a leaflet for the ACME war surplus sale, Wile E. Coyote orders a build-it-yourself airplane. He uses it in his unsuccessful attempts to catch the Road Runner. I found this a rather mediocre entry as far as Road Runner cartoons go – while I like the idea of having a connecting theme for the various gags, many of them are rather predictable. Wile E. has some amusing reactions here, though – that's one thing you can always count on in the Road Runner series!
7

Hairied and Hurried
Directed by Rudy Larriva
Wile E. Coyote browses the ACME mail order catalog for new ways to catch the Road Runner. He tries snow machines, missiles and sky diving among other things. Out of the Larriva Road Runners, I think this is among the stronger entries – for the most parts, the gags are quite faithful to the series' original style, even if the Jones cartoons executed them with better animation and timing. This one might have the liveliest portrayal of the coyote in the Larriva entries.
8.5

Go Go Amigo
Directed by Robert McKimson
Speedy is having a birthday party with his friends in Daffy's radio and TV store. But as they're not paying, Daffy won't let them play twist music, leading to a fight between the mouse and the duck who keep turning the music on and off. One of the better Daffy and Speedy shorts – the idea is simple, but it works well. Speedy has a likable characterization, and the Mexican-influenced soundtrack is enjoyable. Daffy fares better in his role than lately, as it's amusing to see how far he can go just to prevent the mice from playing music!
8.5

Highway Runnery
Directed by Rudy Larriva
Wile E. Coyote chases the Road Runner yet again, using a giant rubber band, a skateboard with a sail, an explosive decoy egg and others. I've always liked the Larriva cartoons (my Looney Tunes guilty pleasure), and this is the best one yet – there's a kind of surreal quality to it all that I find very appealing. The strange sound effects, the Road Runner driving a car, the whole egg gag – so many things that shouldn't work, but they just make it funnier for me and have stuck in my mind for years. The ending iris-out gag might be the highlight – the cleverest one we've seen since the days of the old studio.
9

Chaser on the Rocks
Directed by Rudy Larriva
Wile E. Coyote's chase of the Road Runner is hampered by the extreme heat, making him see mirages. While trying to cope with the heat, he uses the likes of a dynamite stick made to look like a drink and a bird bath in his attempts to catch the fast bird. These cartoons keep surprising me with how much I like them – this is another one where we see a new addition to the series, with the secondary focus on the coyote trying to find some water to drink (there were one-off gags like this in the Jones era, but nothing like what we see here). There's again a lot of randomness to the gags – with the limited budgets of the Larriva shorts, I feel the weirder the gags get, the funnier they are. There are some obvious shortcuts taken in the animation, and the end gag is a bit abrupt (to the point there were false rumors of it having been censored), but otherwise it's enjoyable!
9

Five years after they started sponsoring The Bugs Bunny Show with their Post and Tang brands, General Foods decided to also use Bugs Bunny to advertise their Kool-Aid drink mix. In TV commercials, the rabbit would try to steal Kool-Aid from Elmer Fudd or sing and dance with live-action kids. Many of these commercials were produced by Cascade Productions and directed by Tex Avery, reuniting Bugs with his creator after more than two decades! While the animation was limited compared to Avery's classic Looney Tunes, his influence could be seen in some of the wild takes and expressions.

While expectedly not as good as what came before it, the first full year of DePatie-Freleng cartoons at least had solid efforts throughout. With the Daffy and Speedy cartoons making up a large part of the release schedule, my main problem wasn't the weird duck and mouse combination (there was usually some reason for Daffy to go after Speedy, even if Sylvester would have been a better choice for many of the shorts) but the transformation of Daffy into an unlikable villain – from one of my absolute favorite characters in the series, he turned into one I often rooted against! His non-Speedy shorts had him portrayed better, but sadly we won't have any more of those. As for the Road Runner cartoons, Larriva's cartoons were surprisingly good considering their reputation (the last couple being the best), but McKimson's "Rushing Roulette" was the closest they came to the quality of the Jones shorts. I'm just starting to miss the earlier variety in characters a bit...