Hi! I’m Jonathan K. Fox and I just enrolled at Acme Looniversity after transferring from Perfecto prep.Yes, thats me up there in the shadows. Anyway, I figured I was too good for them…Okay …so they kicked me out but I’m glad that they did. Anyway my mentor, Jaime Foxx, Gave me a project for this semester. This project was about toon odd couple team ups. I don’t know why he gave me this but he said I have to study at least one toon team of this category. Maybe I was going to be paired off with someone.

There was a lot to choose from. After all , there are a lot of toon teams out there since it’s a lot easier to be funny if there are two of you. You know how it is. Well, my first thought was Buster and Babs Bunny…They never were much of an odd couple team. They were too alike in most ways. Besides that they became a little hard to catch even if you made an appointment after they got married two years ago. I then thought up of Pinky and the Brain. They were cool and had almost nothing in common buuuuut I figured they were typical. Very typical. The whole class would already be at each other’s throats trying to figure out who gets to Pinky and the Brain First. Besides, they’re always out conquering the world and I’m sure our schedules would never meet. I’m the type to choose, maybe not the best but the most unique. Well there is always Two stupid dogs or Timone and Puhmbaa…Nah! Better stick to WB toons. Okay so I bet you’re really wondering whom I chose to report.

I was already headed home. When I passed by the school bulletin board I saw an announcement saying "Attention to all toons who love to sing: Two words for ya…Glee Club! To be taught by Rita the Cat! Only this semester!" If she was in Acme Acers so is her beloved partner Runt the Dog. Now we’re getting somewhere. This was a gold mine. Rita and Runt always travel, barely staying in one place long enough. They’re almost impossible to catch and if I don’t hurry someone else might beat me to them. Anyway nobody did. I got to pall around with them for a while and I learned a lot about them. How they got started, how it was like tolerating each other, how they retired from being cartoon stars and after all they’re adventures have they really found a home. Okay so here’s my report. It’s just a basic draft so tell if it’s good enough.

Who exactly is Rita the Cat and Runt the Dog? A cat and dog team. Traditionally it would follow a Tom and Jerry like pattern. It’s the love hate, beat up each other silly for the sake of making people laugh routine. Rita and Runt are considered a cat and dog team but they don’t follow this style. They follow an odd couple team’s routine.

Now I will try to define Rita and Runt based on what everyone knows, everyone was lead to know, what everyone thinks, and what I think. It’s not that what you toons out there know about R&R is wrong. What I’m saying is that It’s close…but all different from each other. 'Kay here goes!...

These two are homeless pets that search the world for a home through song. Possibly true but not both of them are singers. Only Rita is the singer. Runt is somewhat the comedian side of Rita and Runt because in my point of view Rita the Cat wouldn’t be a very funny toon all on her own.

Rita and Runt are the resident musicians of Animaniacs. They are two souls wandering the highway of life taking on the world alone with nothing but their friendship. Their musical tale of survival is as touching as it is funny.

I loved that description! It’s so true. Rita, however is the only musician on their team. Runt is more focused on the comedy.

Rita is a street savvy cat who loves to sing. She thinks she is a little better then everyone else but is still looking for a home. She probably tells herself that she hangs around Runt just for transportation but in truth she likes him and besides he helped her out of a few jams.

This is typical of Rita. A rare thing about a personality like this is a kind heart which was not mentioned in this description but rather her ego and reluctant personality towards having a Dog for a best friend. The fact that her self-centered and independent nature contradicts her personality from having a caring heart. After all, she knows Runt’s a dog but still likes him, loves him genuinely. Do you really think a cunning, independent and self-centered character like Rita would care about Runt? For what reason? Transportation? I think not! I would have thought they would follow a Plucky and Hampton routine. Y’know, the one where a smarter toon takes advantage of the not so smarter toon. Anyway you get the Idea.

Runt is just a big dumb mutt with a big heart. For instance, he thinks Rita is a dog. But he'll do anything for her and sometimes help deflate Rita's ego, if only unintentionally. Nothing will break Runt's perpetual optimism. Runt's "definitely" shtick is a parody of Dustin Hoffman's performance in the movie * Rain Man *.

A parody for Runt’s personality. I guess it’s one of those out of the blue ideas those producers think of. Anyway, I don’t think Runt is * just * a big dumb dog. Runt has a very rare quality of his as well. I’ve found it very rare to see a quality of bravery along with Runt’s personality pattern. He is lovable, naïve, dumb, optimistic, enthusiastic, but above all this gentle nature there is a Runt that is willing to growl, snarl and show his fangs up against an enemy. Even against Humans. Makings of a true hero. Not too much brains but a lot of heart. Not to mention there are some rumors about Runt’s personalities. What if he discovers Rita’s a cat. Would he continue to love her. Or does he already know Rita’s a cat and just pretends not to know cause he’s afraid of her reaction towards that thought. This may just as well say that Runt is not as dumb as he is said to be. Well now, I think I just said Runt’s the one with the brains and Rita’s the one with the heart. To be frank, Runt only possibly likes Rita because he thinks she's a dog but Rita does like Runt even if she knows he's a dog. I guess opposites just attract or there really is just a strong feeling between them. I even think there is a contradiction to Runt's personality. He is supposed to be very optimistic (prooven that he doesn't know when hes in trouble) but how does he find out when Rita is in trouble? Not to mention how he suddenly knows all that he has to do in order to help out his friend then when Rita thanks him he becomes dumb again. He could be...well...acting dumb and the writers just ran out of Animaniacs episodes and ideas to really give substancial proof about this to the veiwers.

Brain and Brawn? Not really. More like mind and heart but for the sake of expansion...Runt is big, strong and tough. He can run fast letting himself become Rita's ride and his main weapon is his bite. He is also very inclined with his empathic side (he's got more heart than brain). Rita is agilie and fast. Her size is quite an advantage when it comes to sneaking into places. Her main weapon are her claws and she is alot more practical and cunning (street smart).

Okay, so that’s the universal opinion of others vs. mine about their personality but why are their personalities feel different in each cartoon. Compare these three Rita and Runt cartoons; "Puttin’ on the Blitz", "Home on de Nile" and "Phranken-Runt". I confess that these are the only Rita and Runt cartoons I’ve seen in seven months after discovering Animaniacs and they were all shown one week after the other. Talk about hard to catch. Anyway, if you compare these three cartoons together, in terms of scripts you’d notice Rita and Runt behave very…well…different from each cartoon.

Let’s take Phranken-Runt for example. It was written by John P. McCann and directed by Michael Gerard. Oh! I would like to compliment Tokyo Movie Shinsha for doing an excellent job in animating the cartoon. From the lightning, rain and water effects to the character design, it was the best drawings of Rita and Runt I’ve seen. Okay, lets get back to the script. I guess in Michael and Johns opinion about the personality chemistry of Rita and Runt was smart sarcasm vs. naïve optimism. It was funny, kinda like Larry Appleton and Balki Bartocomus in "Perfect Strangers". There was also the standard getting into trouble by Runt and Rita’s reluctant but veteran responsibility towards her friend. Rita saves Runt but the cool thing about this cartoon is that now Runt knows they are in danger he becomes the one to protect Rita during their escape from Lady Phrankenstein. Intentionally or unintentionally. I would like to consider this as a standard Rita and Runt personality…but I can’t since I haven’t seen enough cartoons of them. And correct me if I’m wrong but did Runt knew Rita was a cat in this cartoon. "The poor cat in the rain look. It never fails." Rita told this to Runt and meowed like if expecting that Runt knew she WAS a cat. Runt on the other hand reacted as to Rita’s expectations. Not to mention Rita emphasized a lot on "Cat" and "Dog " in this cartoon. "How many Brain cells does a dog have?!", "A cat’s work is never done!", "Dogs…go fig!". Does this happen often on other Rita and Runt cartoons. Their relationship here was very professional. Like if they knew each other for a very long time and are very good friends…for a boy and girl type toon team.

Now, lets look at Home on de Nile. I once read on the web that this episode did truly felt different compared to other Rita and Runt cartoons. Oh this was the first Rita and Runt cartoon I’ve seen…too bad that I wasn’t able to record it on my VCR. This was written by Stephen Hibbert and directed by Rusty Mills. This wasn’t nicely animated as Phranken-Runt but I did like the animation during Rita’s song. It was probably the only time Rita’s femininity was truly seen. I liked it. Yup! Definitely liked it! Anyway according to Stephen and Rusty in this episode Rita was her usual smart self and a little big on the tolerance factor rather than the friend factor but it was still her. Here we see a more cunning rather than sarcastic Rita. Almost Plucky Duck like. Her song "All Wrapped Up in Love" proves this somewhat greedy and cunning like behavior. Runt on the other hand was dumb as his usual self but this was the only time I’ve seen him growled and snarled at a human, showing his fangs in order to protect Rita. Not to mention he was a little smarter than usual. He figured out Rita was going to be sacrificed by just looking at the hieroglyphics. He wasn’t able to figure it out at first but he did when it was needed. He also forced himself up the stairs defying the guards and jumped over the fire with pure confidence. He knew exactly what to do. This is what I mean about Runt’s bravery. There was also another strange thing about Rita and Runt’s relationship in this cartoon. It was about how they co-existed. They were together in the cartoon but their exploits didn’t have anything to do with each other. They only met three times in the cartoon. The beginning, the end, and when they slept…together…in the same room…in the same bed…oooOOOooo! Ahem!… Pardon! Oh, and their relationship is just slightly above tolerance level. They were a lot friendlier with each other in other cartoons. I think…

Puttin’ on the Blitz. Now that cartoon was very touching because of Nicholas Hollander and Tom Ruegger the big man himself. It was written by Nicholas Hollander and directed by Michael Gerard. To Nicholas and Tom, Rita and Runt are this sweet, close couple excluding the idea they are dog and cat. Very different from Phranken Runt and Home on de Nile. I swear they weren’t friends here. They were a lot closer than that. You can see Rita and Runt were very touchy in terms of hugging, kissing and tail and ear pulling...or was that on Phranken-Runt. If Babs Bunny were to do stuff like that to Buster Bunny he would most definitely do a melting or blushing wild take. Just when Rita wrapped her tail around Runt…that was a giveaway. I have never seen toons of opposite genders to profess their true affection for each other so boldly like that. It maybe corny but it sure added to the delivery of a very heart warming cartoon. It wasn’t one of Rita and Runt’s funniest but it sure was touching. All standard Rita and Runt personalities were not here. On the cartoon When Rita met Runt, Rita was supposed to be angry with humans…so why the sudden change of heart in this cartoon. Also on When Rita met Runt, and on The Cat and the Fiddle Runt was supposed to do a funny remark of reacting exactly opposite to Rita’s comments. In this cartoon Runt knew that Rita was dead serious about telling him how she truly feels about him. He liked it and knew it. Runt made a self-sacrifice for Rita and their new human friend Katrina in this cartoon. Following the promise they made the first time they met "they would help each other find a home but after one of them or both does, they would part ways". This may sound practical but in truth it prevents them from actually finding a home. When Rita and Runt were just starting out this seemed like a good idea. Especially for Rita who only out of guilt decided to try to know Runt. She never knew she was going to know a lot more about him than she actually imagined. As much as they want a home, after all they’ve been through they can’t just break up. I guess its just propper that they never found a home because they already have one. A home isn't a just any place. Its where you are with people that love and care for you. As long as they're together the entire world is their home because of their friendship. They just don't realize it. Their friendship is, I have to admit, is the most powerful and unstopable force I've ever seen two toons could possibly posses. Kinda gets you right here. Burp!...Pardon! With Puttin’ on the Blitz along with "Smitten with Kittens", may have inspired this scene…

Rita shook her head in disbelief. She was about to make a smart remark when Runt cut her short. He puffed himself up, and said,

"Er, Rita...I've been thinking..." That's bad news, Rita thought.

"Er, I dunno how to say this," Runt continued, "but...would you let me help you raise our puppy?" Rita was stunned speechless for a moment. Then she asked,

"Runt, are you proposing to me?"

"Ummm...yes, Rita," Runt replied. "Would you marry me?"

"Runt, I don't know how to put this to you, but..." Rita started to say. Then she looked in her friend's eyes. They held each other's gaze for what seemed like eternity. Finally, Rita said softly,

"Okay. But if you start calling me 'Mrs. Runt', forget it, ya got it?"

"Er, got it," Runt said. "I do?" he half-asked, half said.

"I do," Rita replied, snuggling up next to him.

This scene in from chapter three of a fan-fic story entitled "Village of the Tooned" written by "Furry". A parody of "Village of the Damned". I guess Furry considered Rita and Runt to be somehow parental in nature. Not to mention knows each other well enough to be so bold as to accept each other just like that. I guess Furry also has a unique opinion about Rita and Runt’s relationship. I loved that scene!

Speaking of scenes heres another one from "THE ROCKY WARNER PICTURE SHOW" by Mike Neylon...

RUNT: Oh, this is bad.  Definitely bad.
RITA: [surprised and upset] RUNT!  Get out of here!
MR.D: No way, he's not going anywhere!  Well, back to the freezer, that is.

[As Mr.D crosses back to the freezer, Rita races up to him and neatly
attaches herself (with her claws) to his leg.]

MR.D: YOWWWWL!
RITA: Put him down, or I'll just go a bit higher here...
MR.D: HOIL! Stop it, with the sharp pointy claws...!  [regains his 
    composure, and notices a small hole in the wall several feet above
    the ground.  He sticks the end of the net in this hole, which keeps
    Runt off the ground and hanging in the net.]  You, stay put! [he
    then reaches down and pulls off Rita from his leg, removing a good
    bit of fabric at the same time.  Rita immediately tries to claw
    him again, but he keeps her at arms' length as he walks back to the
    tank, and he unceremoniously drops her in the tank.  She tries to
    get back out with no luck.]  You, stay there! [he goes back over
    and retrieves the net]
RITA: [wailing] RUNT!

[While Rita continues to cry out, Mr.D takes Runt back into the vault.
Runt begins to bark loudly as he goes in, but slowly, the barks die 
down.  Soon, the only thing that can be heard is Rita's wails and
the stacking of ice in the freezer.  Finally, Mr.D walks out of the 
vault, sans Runt, and brushes his hands off.]

MR.D: That's one for the vault! [he operates a control on the side of the
    door, and it begins to rise]

[General laughter from the guests.

Rita finally claws her way from the tank, and runs up to the freezer door
as it shuts]

RITA: Runt, you stupid oof! You've got to get out of there!  RUNT!!!
    [starts to cry]

[Suddenly, the Warners zip into scene next to her, dressed in formal wear.
Yakko holds out an award to Rita]

YAKKO: And for Most Outstanding Supporting Role in a Cartoon, we, the 
    Animaniacs Awards Committee, would like to this award to Rita the Cat!
RITA: [back to normal] Well, its about bloody time!  Sheesh! [she grabs 
    the award and stomps away]
YAKKO: [turning to his sibs] What did I say?! [he shrugs]

Now why did I put this scene here? You would notice how Rita reacted so coldly when she recieved an award from Yakko. I think M. Neylon could see how separated Rita and Runt are from the other toons. If not separated, independent. How M. Neylon used Rita's line "[sarcasticly] Oh, am I in this show?! Geesh!" (she used that line on Icebreakers) in another part of this story is just partial proof of how Rita and Runt are conciderd...having seldom appearances on Animaniacs. Not to mention I rarely see Rob, Tress, Jess or other voice talents getting a share in R&R cartoons. Frank Welker happens to be a common denominator in all Animaniacs cartoons. I love Rita and Runt's rare factor! I also noticed that Rita and Runt are the only major characters that do not have a supporting cast in their cartoons. Well, at least not a permanent one. What supporting cast am I talking about? The Warners have: The WB co. Employees; Pinky and the Brain: Pharphignewton, Alpha1, Billy, etc...; Good Feathers: Girl Feathers, God pigeon; Slappy Squirrel: Skippy Squirrel, Walter Wolf, Sid the Squid, Beenie the Byson, Stinkbomb B. B. and his grandkid Bumpo, Doug the dog; Buttons and Mindy: Mr.Man(dad), Lady(mom). Now that's all cleared up lets go on. Rita and Runt can't possibly have a permanent enemy or friend because they always travel. They really are independent. I guess it would be cool if they were to met up with a familiar dog/cat catcher on every country and every time zone. It's always the same guy. Some one to chase them just like how Ralph chases the Warner sibs. Speaking of chases, I saw a really strange Rita and Runt run in cameo on "A Moving Experience". I think that was the title. It was a segment about the first time the Hip Hippos moved into the city. Usualy Rita and Runt cameos are accompanied BY their music, rarely a run in mostly just standing on the background very very short, barely interacts with the other characters and ofcourse barely talks. But on "A Moving Experince", when Ms. Embryo was knocked ou after being run over by a truck Rita and Runt followed by running over Embryo. The backgroun music was in the theme of Animaniacs w/c is usualy used by The Warner Sibs. Huh! Why were they running? No one was chasing them unlike how Ralph chases the Warners. Was that a goof up by the writers or they use a big wheel of fate to decide who makes cameos or was it because Rita and Runt were getting a little forgotten and just wanted to make sure the veiwers were reminded. We may never know. Oh! and while we are in the subject of cameos, the best Rita and Runt cameo I ever saw was on "Taming of the Screwy". I guess Rita and Runt were also invited to that party. It's nice to know they weren't forgotten. Guess who Rita's date was for that night...I also noticed in most of R&R cartoons their enemies are humans but have animal representations to go up against Rita and Runt. Phranken-Runt has Mr. Squeaks, Puttin' on the Blitz has Schnapsi(pardon the spelling) also known as Newt, Witch One has Syches(pardon the spelling) the crow and Les-Miseranimals has Cambert the dog. Cool ain't it. Well the writers brought it on themselves, since they don't want R&R to talk to humans.

Comparing Rita and Runt’s relationship on Puttin’ on the Blitz, Home on de Nile and Phranken-Runt. You would notice that there are three levels. They tolerated each other with a little reluctant care for each other (Home on de Nile), They are close friends, liked each other and as if known each other for a long time (Phranken-Runt) and somehow…loved each other (Puttin’ on the Blitz). Unstable? I think so too!

There are basic patterns to Rita and Runt cartoons y’know. Rita gets in trouble then Runt saves her. Runt gets in trouble then Rita saves him. They meet up with a third party which maybe a friend or a foe. Even if it may sound limited the writers at Warner Bros. always find a way to make Rita and Runt cartoon’s styles different from each other. Of course these are only based on the cartoons of Rita and Runt that I’m familiar with.

Puttin’ on the Blitz and Icebreakers both had a third party element, neither Rita nor Runt were in trouble, one of them almost found a home and they almost broke up. So what’s the difference? Puttin’ on the Blitz was obviously heartwarming than funny. Icebreakers was a lot more on the humor side and it was base on an old Loony Tunes Cartoon...I forgot the title but it was about a cat getting blamed for the bad merits of a dog in the eye’s of their owner. Icebreakers was just modified a little. Runt gets credit for all of the good things Rita do.

The Cat and the Fiddle and Home on de Nile were cartoons where Rita was the one in trouble. Runt had to save her but in two different ways. Runt knew Rita was in trouble in Home on de Nile so he had to directly save her as plainly as possible. On The Cat and the Fiddle, Runt didn’t know Rita was in danger but he saved Rita unintentionally. Turning Runt into one of those toons that are extremely annoying and almost impossible to get rid of. Usually toons like these are the only ones I know who are strong enough to go up against the Warner sibs. Toons like Elmyra, Francis Pumphandle, and Baloney the parody of Barney the Dinosaur. I think it brought out the best in Runt…Heck it was funny!

We were led to believe that usually Runt was the one who’s always in trouble. Like as said in Phranken-Runt but as far as I can tell…it’s a give-take kind of a thing between Rita and Runt. I don’t even think Runt is Rita’s sidekick or vise versa. I think they’re evenly matched as cartoon stars as perfectly mismatched, as they are, definitely the perfect couple. In their cartoons Rita and/or Runt can be dominant. I like that idea. After all, if Rita appears to be more important on Rita and Runt cartoons and Runt is just a sidekick, Runt is more important when the two of them make talking cameos…Why? You’ll figure it out later…

Oh! Did I state the reason why their personalities are so unstable? I guess not…Anyway, I don’t really know why they are so unstable. Its possible that the writers are doing it on purpose or it could be one of my theories stating that not even the crew of WB knows Rita and Runt. Okay, here goes…

I believe Rita and Runt were created accidentally thus the reason why they aren’t well known by the WB crew and thus causing unstable personalities in their cartoons by the hand of different writers. Tom Reugger and his Team wanted to create a cartoon series that’s a lot more original than TTA. Though TTA was good, it was limited to creating characters that are only Loony Tunes based, which had too many characters and not enough personality to go around. So they made up Animaniacs. We all know that music and animation go well together and Animaniacs’ music was pushed to its limits. Since most of the characters on Animaniacs can sing, WB wanted a toon that’s main essence was singing and had the idea of having a famous singing talent to voice the toon. Yes, you saw it coming, Bernadette Peters. It could have been any of their regular talents but noooOOOooo. WB must have figured it would increase Animaniacs’ reputation to have a character of this proportion. They also knew this character wouldn’t be as available for cameos as the regular characters voiced by talents like Rob Paulsen, Jess Harnel, Tress Macnelie or even Moe Lamarache. Well, the character can go on a run-in cameo but can’t talk so the only solution was to pair this character with another one making them a team. This is where Frank Welker comes in. Ironicly, F. Welker isn't a good singer as Rob, Tress or Jess to be paired with B. Peters. Hes really more of a comedian, you can see that the odd couple thing also exists beyond the characters. I don’t know if he volunteered or he was chosen because of his skills in voicing undetermined toons but he's still not good enough because Runt's goofy and dumb voice pattern still keeps changing and is also very close to Ralph's. Compare Phranken-Runt with Witch One. Or maybe its because they also want him to voice Rita's meow and cat noises too, but on Phranken-Runt B. Peters voiced her own meows. Or it was because F. Welker could voice most of the other irregular characters on Rita and Runt cartoons and saving money from hiring other actors because B. Peters is too expensive. What a cheap way to make cartoons. Now we have two characters that have absolutely nothing to do with each other…Now what? They decided to make these characters as an odd couple. This was never really planed and I have proof of it. Pinky and the Brain were planed to be Animaniacs’ odd couple…So why another odd couple? Do you see what I’m getting at? But I have to admit, using toons of opposite genders as an odd couple team is unique. I don’t think it’s been used before. Cool ain’t it! How did Rita and Runt turn out to be a dog and cat team that doesn’t beat each other silly? I don’t have an answer to that one. I don’t know why Warner Bros. used a cat and a dog to represent Rita and Runt’s personalities but it sure is unique. Not to mention they use a "Homeward Bound" style of presentation even though they are considered as humanized toons. I guess they thought in order for Bernadette Peters’ singing to take effect this dog and cat had to work with each other. Avoiding the topic of dog and cat, Rita and Runt's names are very close to human and not related to their animal format. It could have been "Kat and Doug" or worse "Scratch the Cat" and "Sniff the Dog". Get it?! Not to mention their names were just given. Proof this is how their names both start with the letter "R". It's typical for toon teams to have their names start out with the same letter or to make it sound they were made for each other like "Heckel and Jeckel" or "Chip and Dale" if just given. They weren't really given much thought unlike Pinky and the Brain, definetely a toon teams that was given alot of thought, 90's toon teams use names to sound like they don't have anything to do with each other. Thus the traveling, me and you against the world plot, they are two homeless strays that search the world for a home. When their cartoons were in the making, all the writers had only one thing to go at, Rita and Runt as an odd couple, so they make up stories using the data they know about an odd couple like this and come up with different results. Each Rita and Runt script is written and based on each individual writer’s perception about Rita and Runt and causing Rita and Runt to behave differently in each of their cartoons. They thought concidering Rita and Runt as an odd couple would be easy to make their cartoons but due to lack of planning and under estimating R&R's character their cartoons came out differently. I guess they got a little over creative of using Rita and Runt's character because R&R had alot of potential but it was too late. The cartoons were already made and they had no choice but to show it. I also don’t know why Rita and Runt cartoons are different from other Animaniacs cartoons in terms of story. Animaniacs cartoons have two special divisions. First are the funny ones, the ones we see all the time…And second are the heart-warming ones. Examples of heart warming ones are the cartoons of Blue Bird, Flame and extras like "A Gift of Gold". Very rare but also very heart warming. Rita and Runt cartoons are composed of both elements. I think it was somehow derived from Furball’s style in TTA. They just made the characteristics more complex and made them travel all the time. Refer to "TTA: Starting from Scratch" and other Furball cartoons without him having to go up against Sneezer or Sweetie. Unlike Furball Rita and Runt are capable of speech. They can sing and use various types of verbal humor. From what I’ve seen on Rita and Runt cartoons. Their stories are very hard to think up. I'm not sure if this is proof but you'd notice a very concise and short cartoon "Witch One" like it was directed and written by one person and the songs were not very creative. Rita and Runt cartoon has to have a song, must not use traditional toon slapstick; they don’t get squashed or blown up or anything, uses only personality chemistry for comedy, must be adventurous and has to have a linear sense; consequences in the story to be exact and not just fool around. It’s like contradicting the saying "no one ever dies in cartoons". Its like Rita and Runt are capable of dying, like Rita and Runt loves to work with high risks in their cartoons unlike the other Animaniacs characters. I think that’s hard for the writers. When Rita and Runt get into danger the writers are gonna have to think of some other ways of getting Rita and Runt out of trouble rather than just changing the situation like the Warners or producing anvils or dynamite sticks like Slappy Squirrel or Wakko. Don't get them wrong, Rita and Runt are real 100% toons. They can also do these things but they don't because it would change their style. Rita and Runt can also do: exsisting in different points in time and space, toon maliability, conjuring, impresions, situation switch and manipulation, verbaly out witting their apponents, wild takes, imortal recovery and other stuff toons can usualy do. Refer to H.M.S. Yakko, last song. All the toon skills Yakko mentioned are also accesible to R&R. Their personalities are already set up and ready for skills like these. I can already see it but if Rita and Runt did the same things the other Animaniacs toons did, R&R cartoon will have a simillar effect to "Walt Disney's Timone and Pumbaah" cartoon series. It's not bad but its nice to know that some toons like Rita and Runt are brave enough to take on a different style in cartoons rather than resorting to dynamite and wooden mallets for a story. I’m not sure if this style was what made them unpopular compared to the other major Animaniacs characters but one thing’s for sure, Rita and Runt stand out in the Animaniacs crowd. They’re the only toons that I think are sane on Animaniacs. Kinda like in a race. You’re sure to spot the only runner running in the opposite direction. That runner may not be the fastest but sure is the most obvious. Compare Rita and Runt’s noble plot to find a home to Pinky and the Brains plot to conquer the world. Rita and Runt are as good maybe even better than the Warners in terms of song, has plot set up just as unique as Pinky and the Brain, who’s personality chemistry is as essential to each other and as funny as The Good Feathers, who’s individual characteristics are as complex as that of Slappy Squirrel (Just get that typical odd couple team up out of your brain), and of course they are as lovable as Buttons and Mindy. If you want typical, just look at Buttons and Mindy. And one more thing, I think Rita and Runt are capable of functioning independently in a cartoon only in terms of adventure. They really only need each other for interaction and company since they can’t talk to humans. Rita and Runt cartoons are rare for major characters in Animaniacs. As a matter of fact the only reason why I watch Animaniacs every week is because you’ll never know when Rita and Runt will show up. I guess their rareness is also why I like them. Like in "Street Fighter’s Gouki". Not exactly a secret character but a mystery character. Since he shows his face but not much is known about him. Thanks to the creativity of the writers, from one intentional idea they got a totally unique and unplanned idea. Perhaps the difficulty of making Rita and Runt episodes matched with Bernadette Peters’ availability on the team is why Rita and Runt cartoons are very rare. Although they are as rare as minor characters they were forced to be made as major characters, to always appear on the title song. Why? So that the characters won’t die! An example of a dead toon, which was highly being avoided by WB on Animaniacs, is TTA’s Barkey Markey. Yes! I know! Who’s Barkey Markey? This is caused by too many characters and not enough scripts. Rita and Runt are very important toons on Animaniacs, very respected I might add. Rita has a major foot hold on the singing division while Runt is given a parody for his personality to keep veiwers sharp. I don’t see Rita being associated with Dot Warner, Hello Nurse and Minerva Mink. It’s either she’s respected or not as popular as the other toons. You think I’m over reacting? I’ve seen fans include Slappy Squirrel along with that group…sheeesh! We’re talking about an old lady here and I know that you toons know what group I'm talking about. Runt on the other hand would have never been created if this accident never occurred. Runt is a major Animaniacs character but technically he is also a follow-up character. Usually follow-up characters, characters that were made long after the series was already on its way and not along with the starting line up characters, end up as minor characters…but then again I could be wrong. After all these are just theories. I still don’t think that companies as big as Warner Bros. would goof up so obviously like this. As I said before, they could be doing it on purpose. There could be another reason. Rita and Runt cartoons could be progressive. Meaning, as their cartoons go on they become closer with and care for one another alot more. As Rita gets to know Runt a little better her songs change from using the subject "me" to "you and me". They should just be shown in the right order of progress. But if it is progressive why didn't they founb a home and what was their last cartoon (refer by their closeness).

So the the bottom line is Rita and Runt are an accidental team and was never really meant to be created. Now how about telling you toons out there what Rita and Runt have planned for the future…if they have anything to say about it. And I might add I agree with them.

I’ve never really seen "the Animaniacs special presentation" but I eventually found out it was about mixing up the toons that normally don’t go together. I would like to take this opportunity to say that that episode of Animaniacs was just a stoooooopid excuse to lure Rita and Runt out in the open. As I said before, Rita and Runt seldom show their furry faces on the series…DON’T COUNT THE OPENING TITLE!! In five seasons of Animaniacs Rita and Runt only had about 12 cartoons. I guess almost as rare as Buttons and Mindy. Runt and Pesto were teamed up because of Runt's optimistic character and Pesto's very negative way of looking at things. But what's funny in that? Unlike with Squit, Pesto can use his creative imagination of what Squit was talking about then he could beat him up. And as for Runt, with his optimism and Rita's smart sarchastic remarks we are bound to have results. Now those are funnies. Unlike TTA, Animaniacs characters or teams aren't totaly capable of functioning with one another. Well, lets get back to the subjet. I have a wonderful team up for Rita and Runt. It would be nice to see Rita and Runt to be teamed up with Blue Bird. Blue Bird would think Rita is his mom and think it strange why a bird (Rita) would be associated with a dog (Runt). Runt on the other hand would also think it strange why a bird (Blue Bird) would think a dog (Rita) is his mother. I guess Rita would be the only one that knows better but tolerates it. It would turn out to be a family like situation.

Here’s another cute team up for Rita and Runt on another Animaniacs special Presentation. Ever thought of teaming Minerva Mink with Rita and Runt? Runt would replace Newt. As he meets Minerva, she would discover that her charms don’t work on Runt. This would hurt Minerva’s pride and she would try everything to attract Runt. I guess Runt’s just too dumb for something like this. The cute part is that Rita…well…gets jealous of the idea. She then tries to fight Minerva using her own charms towards Runt. I guess this would be a first for Rita using her femininity as the center of this story.

Here’s cute idea. We all know that Rita and Runt don’t use toon weaponry like the other toons. It’s not their style y’know but I guess we could twist that a little. Runt’s fur is shaggy right? Imagine if Runt’s fur was given the same characteristic as Wakko’s gagy bag but is uncontrollable. Every time Runt would scratch or shake himself things would fly out. Anvils, bombs, dynamite, nuclear missiles complete with launcher, the usual ingredients for disaster and Rita would have to be responsible for keeping Runt from becoming a walking disaster area. It would somehow increase Rita’s responsibility demand towards Rut but I guess she could handle it. Oh and this idea was inspired by "Cousin It", "Captain Caveman", and one of "Atom Ant’s " cartoons showing him up against a flea thief who has a dog partner. This dog had shaggy fur and all the goods that the flea stole was stuffed and hidden in the dog’s fur.

Here’s a good adventure plot for Rita and Runt. Imagine Rita and Runt finally found a home. They become the pets of two little girls who happen to be the daughters of a very well respected scientist. This certain scientist discovers something very useful in good hands but very deadly in evil hands. A terrorist organization wants this potential power for their selves. The scientist, seeing the inevitable, decided to protect his secret by putting information about it in two separate data storage devices hidden within both Rita and Runt’s collars. Rita and Runt escapes the terrorist organization separately along with the girls, one toon each, increasing the security of the secret. Anyway, you get the idea. Inspired by an episode of "The Real Adventures of Johnny Quest".

Here’s a great but already used idea. I’ve never seen Pinky, Elmyra and the Brain. Why team up Elmyra with Pinky and the Brain? Why not team up the perfect pet punisher with the perfect pets? Although I can’t see the chemistry result of their personality yet but I guess it would eventually show. Keeping the fact that Rita and Runt can’t talk their way out with Elmyra cause they can’t talk to humans and that Runt is as dumb and indestructibly annoying as Elmyra the result would truly be interesting.

Rita and Runt would also look good as hosts of "Warner Histeria" instead of father time. Though I’ve never seen Warner Histeria I think it would be appropriate to show Rita and Runt as two homeless strays that travel the world in search of a home. Ending up as temporary pets of various famous historical figures. Kinda like those animated Bible cartoons like "Super Book" or "Flying House". They’re more like witnesses to historical events rather than hosts. They could also be accidentally the cause of a historical this and that. Anyway, you get the idea.

Here’s another shocker.

"Umm…Rita! There’s something I’ve been wanting to tell you…I think you’re not a dog!" How do you suppose Rita would react to what Runt just said? Would she say a smart remark or would she be scared of Runt because he might tear her apart? Or better yet, Rita could lose her memory about who she is and it's up to Runt for her to regain her memory as cat and not as a dog. I’m not sure of the out come of both ideas but I'm sure you toons out there have very creative imaginations.

Well, that’s my entire written report about Rita and Runt. I know, its a little jumbled up but I did say befor its just a draft. Tell me what you think at cute_lil_fox@uas.net. Oh! and contact me as well if any of you toons know about Rita and Runt on the latest Animaniacs 70 minute home video.......Uh-oh! Look at the time. Gees I really got to go. Usagi’s gonna kill me if I don’t pick her up soon. Anyway I hope to hear from you Rita and Runt fans soon but I’m sure you’ll hear from me again. See ya around toonsters! This Fox is outta here!