There has never been a more appropriate poster boy for “persevering despite setbacks,” than Wile E. Coyote. Since 1949, Wile has been repeatedly attempting to capture and eat The Road Runner, without success. Rather than relying on his species’ animal instincts, Wile uses absurdly complex contraptions and elaborate plans. Naturally, these plans always comically backfire and result in injury to poor Wile.

This slapstick comedy was created for Warner Bros. by animation director, Chuck Jones, although the template for the adventures was created by writer Michael Maltese. Originally, the cartoon was meant to be a parody of the cat and mouse chase, Tom and Jerry. However, the hilarity of the series made it popular in its own right. Since its initial run, there have been 48 animated shorts, a half hour special as well as a feature length film. Both Wile and The Road Runner have made subsequent appearances in other Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons.

Wile’s character was based on Mark Twain’s book Roughing It, in which the coyote was described as, “a living, breathing, allegory of Want. He is always hungry.” The appearance of Wile, however, was modeled after fellow animator, Ken Harris. Wile made his first appearance in the animated short, Fast and Furry-ous. From 1949 to 1952, the role of Wile was silent, but throughout his appearances in Bugs Bunny cartoons the character was voiced by the legendary Mel Blanc. Blanc wasn’t the only well-known actor to voice Wile, others include Joe Alaskey, Maurice LaMarche, Dee Bradley Baker, Daran Norris, and current voice actor J.P. Karliak.

From spinoffs, comic books, television, 3-D shorts, video games and more, there is nobody we love to watch fail more than Wile E. Coyote. Who knows, maybe one day he will finally catch that elusive bird...if not, “beep, beep” might be the last words he ever hears.