Term Paper Outline: Who Framed Roger Rabbit Physics

Term Paper Outline

Introduction

A.     Film – Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)

B.     Thesis – In order to create a world in which cartoons and real people can exist in the same world, the physics have to be pushed out of reality and in to a more cartoon realm.

Body

A.     Exaggerated Squash and Stretch

a.       Roger is able to twist his body up like a pretzel at will.

b.      Despite being humanoid, Jessica’s arm stretches several inches to push an audience member back into his seat during her performance.

c.       The buildings and objects in Toontown seem to lose all rigidity; Eddie grabs on to a pole and it bends in an extreme way under his weight.

d.      When Roger and Eddie are handcuffed together, Roger can take his hand out of the cuffs without a key.

B.     Exaggerated Forces

a.       Roger has a refrigerator dropped on his head and the only thing that happens as a result is birds fly around his head.

b.      While in the Toontown elevator, Eddie is flattened to the ground.

c.       Despite anatomical flaws, Jessica is able to walk like a normal human.

d.      Although made of ink and paint, the bouncer is able to through Eddie out of the club.

e.       During the “shave and a haircut” sequence, Roger bursts through a supporting wall in the bar; both remain stable and standing.

C.     Exaggerated Forces – Disputed

a.       Unlike a toon, neither Marvin Acme nor Teddy Valient can survive having a safe dropped on their heads.

b.      When Roger tries to save Jessica and Eddie, he is literally subdued with a ton of bricks, despite previous ‘toon logic in the movie.

D.     Exaggerated Acceleration and Air Resistance

a.       Roger is able to accelerate fast enough to cleanly crash through RK Maroon’s window, leaving only his silhouette.

b.      When Eddie falls out of a window, he ends up falling at the same rate as Bugs and Mickey when they are skydiving.

c.       In true cartoon fashion, Eddie hovers in the air for a bit before falling in Toontown.

d.      When Eddie discovers the spare he’s been given isn’t a spare parachute, his speed increases, while Mickey and Bugs, who have parachutes, slow down more.

Conclusion

A.     Whether or not the physics of the world are exaggerated heavily depends on the situation.

B.     The exaggeration aids in the comedic timing in the movie, and the physics become realistic when the scene is more serious.