Jose and Manuel, two crows of Mexican origins, wear sombreros. They starred as cats in “Mexicali Shmoes” and mice in “Cannery Woe.” Another version of the crow character appeared in “Chili Corn Corny.”
While both crows exhibit laziness and lack of intelligence, Jose appears slightly smarter than Manuel.
Appearances
- Merrie Melodies “Two Crows from Tacos” (first appearance)
- Looney Tunes “Mexicali Shmoes” (as cats)
- Looney Tunes “Cannery Woe” (as mice)
- Merrie Melodies “Crows’ Feat”
- Looney Tunes “Chili Corn Corny” (only appearance Jose)
- Merrie Melodies “Mucho Locos” (as cats, recycled footage)
Two Crows from Tacos
Jose and Manuel, two crows, chase a grasshopper across the Mexican desert. However, the grasshopper consistently stays one step ahead. Instead of the grasshopper seeking revenge, the crows’ stupidity causes them to hurt each other more than the silent, smiling bug ever could.
They injure themselves with clubs, cacti, their guitars, dynamite, and other items. Eventually, the crows give up. As the sun sets beautifully in the background, the phrase “That’s All Folks” appears while the crows sing and play the guitar in their tree.
Mexicali Shmoes
Jose and Manuel, two singing cats, encounter Speedy Gonzales under an arch. When they recognize him as the fastest mouse in Mexico, they decide to catch him for dinner and head to his town.
Upon reaching Speedy’s house, they invite him to a dance. As they attempt to strike Speedy with a mallet, he dodges, leading Jose to knock out Manuel accidentally. After a brief chase, Speedy retreats to his mousehole, and Jose gives up.
Cannery Woe
In the 1961 Looney Tunes short “Cannery Woe” directed by Robert McKimson, two hungry mice, Jose and Manuel, spot a billboard promoting Mayor Raton’s Gran Cheese Fiesta, which offers free cheese.
However, when they attempt to join, the Mayor ejects them. The Mayor then orders his cheese committee to fetch the cheese. A disheveled group of mice return without the cheese and hold a broken “CHEESE COMMITTEE” sign.
They reveal that a fierce cat, Sylvester, now guards the grocery store, preventing them from retrieving the cheese. Jose and Manuel propose to enlist their friend, Speedy Gonzales, the fastest mouse in Mexico, to steal the cheese for the Mayor.
Crows’ Feat
In the 1962 Merrie Melodies short “Crows’ Feat” directed by Friz Freleng and Hawley Pratt, Mexican crows Jose and Manuel fly towards Guadalajara.
They hitch a ride on an airplane’s wings to speed up their journey. Spotting a cornfield below, they dive in and soon encounter a scarecrow resembling Elmer Fudd.
Believing the scarecrow fears them, Jose sends Manuel to investigate. Manuel strikes the scarecrow, emptying its stuffing. When they later meet the real Elmer Fudd, they mistake him for the scarecrow and try to tackle him. However, Elmer fires his rifle at them, forcing them to flee.
Chili Corn Corny
In the 1965 Looney Tunes short “Chili Corn Corny” directed by Robert McKimson, Crow, an old pal of Speedy’s, sits hungrily outside a cornfield. When Speedy encounters him, he initially warns Crow against stealing corn but then relents upon learning of Crow’s hunger.
Yet, Crow hesitates because of his fear of the scarecrow. Speedy attempts to dismiss his concerns but reconsiders after getting shot at, realizing the real threat is the trigger-happy farmer inside the scarecrow: Daffy Duck. Despite the risks, Speedy vows to fetch Crow some food.
Mucho Locos
Pelon and Jose, two mice, watch a broken television at the garbage dump. Jose suggests using imagination, but an annoyed Pelon decides to go home to a working TV, mocking Jose as “loco in the Cabeza.”
Feeling down about his circumstances, Jose reflects on his impoverished life. Speedy soon joins him and starts sharing tales. He highlights that ducks, especially Daffy, are the silliest animals, while mice are the smartest. Together, they imagine a Robin Hood scene where Daffy can’t best Porky the Pig.
Speedy recounts outsmarting El Vulturo and recalls a scenario where Daffy struggled as Sherlock Holmes. They also fantasize about Speedy outwitting cats Jose and Manuel. To wrap up, Speedy describes the Hong Kong Dragon Lady unleashing fire on Daffy.
