Line #20 Franchise/TomAndJerry


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/bandicam_2019_11_01_09_13_40_754.png]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:Their smiles in this picture [[CoversAlwaysLie do not reflect the characters' usual on-screen relationship]].]]
3
4	Undoubtedly one of the most iconic animated duos in history, Tom Cat and Jerry Mouse are the stars of a [[LongRunner long-running]] series of short theatrical cartoons produced by [[Creator/MetroGoldwynMayer MGM]] during MediaNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfAnimation, were the first characters created by [[Creator/HannaBarbera William Hanna and Joseph Barbera]]. In the duo's first short, "WesternAnimation/PussGetsTheBoot" (1940), the cat's name was Jasper and the mouse, though left unnamed onscreen, was dubbed Jinx by the animators (according to Bill Hanna's autobiography, at least) and Pee-Wee in a studio press release from the era.[[note]]Hanna and Barbera would later use the name Mr. Jinks for the cat in their T&J {{Expy}} short series, ''WesternAnimation/PixieDixieAndMrJinks''.[[/note]]
5
6	The characters gained their permanent names as the result of an in-house contest staged by MGM, with animator John Carr submitting the winning entry. Carr may have been inspired by the names of the two young tearaways in the 1821 novel ''Life in London'' by Pierce Egan, or perhaps by the eggnog-like beverage known as "Tom and Jerry" (itself named after Egan's characters), or possibly even by the earlier, human animated duo created by Creator/VanBeurenStudios (for which Barbera worked early in his career) in the '30s. In any event, the ''Tom and Jerry'' series went on to become one of the most popular and successful of all time, earning 13 nominations for the MediaNotes/AcademyAwardForBestAnimatedShortFilm and seven wins (including four in a row from 1943–46). The only other theatrical animated series to win as many Oscars was [[WesternAnimation/ClassicDisneyShorts Disney]]'s ''WesternAnimation/SillySymphonies''.
7
8	After MGM's animation unit closed in 1957, Hanna and Barbera started their [[Creator/HannaBarbera TV animation studio]]. No new ''Tom and Jerry'' cartoons were produced until MGM revived the series in 1961, contracting it out to a Czechoslovakian-based production company supervised by American-born director Creator/GeneDeitch. Creator/ChuckJones took over from Deitch two years later, returning production to Hollywood and directing new ''Tom and Jerry'' shorts for MGM until 1967.
9
10	On September 25, 1965, Creator/{{CBS}} introduced ''Tom and Jerry'' to television, broadcasting an AnimatedAnthology on Saturday mornings featuring the original '40s and '50s MGM shorts; this series ran until 1972. Throughout the rest of the '70s, '80s, and '90s, vintage ''T&J'' cartoons ran in syndication, usually alongside ''WesternAnimation/{{Droopy}}'', ''WesternAnimation/BarneyBear'', Creator/TexAvery's [[WesternAnimation/TexAveryMGMCartoons MGM shorts]], and MGM's other [[WesternAnimation/MGMOneshotCartoons one-shots]], with the duo taking top billing and the others simply listed as "and Friends".
11
12	From 1975 to 1977, Creator/HannaBarbera produced a less violent ''WesternAnimation/TheTomAndJerryShow'' anthology for Creator/{{ABC}}, supported by a new character, the Great Grape Ape. This was followed by Creator/{{Filmation}}'s [[WesternAnimation/TheTomAndJerryComedyShow 1980–82 version]] on CBS, which used the classic {{slapstick}} formula. Another series, ''WesternAnimation/TomAndJerryKids'', ran on the Creator/{{Fox}} network from 1990–93. From 2006 to 2008, Creator/TheCW's animation block included ''WesternAnimation/TomAndJerryTales'', which continued with the slapstick humor of the theatrical shorts, as did a series of direct-to-video films. ''Tom and Jerry Tales'' was canceled after 4KidsTV took over Kids WB, but the movies have continued.
13
14	Creator/WarnerBros acquired the rights to ''Tom and Jerry'' after purchasing Turner Broadcasting System, which in 1986 had purchased MGM's entire pre-1986 library. Interestingly, since then it seems like Warner has been treating ''Tom and Jerry'' better than their own ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'' (probably due, in part, to the commercial bombing of ''Film/LooneyTunesBackInAction''). Until 2017, ''Tom and Jerry'' was the only classic cartoon series to air consistently on Creator/CartoonNetwork. ''Tom and Jerry'' has also been the only classic cartoon to air consistently on Creator/{{Boomerang}}, with the shorts airing since the channel's launch and they continue to do to this very day. Since acquiring the rights to ''Tom and Jerry'', Warner has produced several direct-to-video movies -- and ''WesternAnimation/TomAndJerryTales'' -- which, for the most part, stay true to the classic ''T&J'' form. After which came the 2014's version of ''[[WesternAnimation/TheTomAndJerryShow2014 The Tom and Jerry Show]]'', which is made in MediaNotes/AdobeFlash but otherwise continues the usual format of the series.
15
16	[[WesternAnimation/TomAndJerryTheMovie A feature length Tom and Jerry film]] was released in 1992. There have also been some direct-to-video feature length Tom and Jerry {{film}}s released since which are much closer to the premise. For a recap of that part of the filmography, see the WesternAnimation/TomAndJerryDirectToVideoFilmSeries. [[Film/TomAndJerry2021 Another theatrical film]] was released in 2021, this one a mix of live-action and animation not unlike ''Film/WhoFramedRogerRabbit'', directed by Creator/TimStory and with Creator/ChloeGraceMoretz and Creator/MichaelPena as the main (human) stars; for this movie, Tom and Jerry were [[RogerRabbitEffect modeled after their original appearances]], to the relief of those dreading a "[[UnintentionalUncannyValley realistic]]" CGI makeover. As a tie-in, the team behind the ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunesCartoons'' created two brand-new ''Tom and Jerry'' shorts exclusively for Creator/HBOMax.
17
18	Netflix users in the United States can watch ''[[https://www.latestnewstamil.com/post/classic-cartoons-headed-to-netflix-get-ready-for-tom-and-jerry-tales Tom and Jerry Tales]],'' which arrived on June 12th, 2023, featuring "multiple seasons" of non-stop cat-and-mouse mischief.
19
20	[[WesternAnimation/TomAndJerry2023 A new Asian-developed Tom and Jerry series]] animated by Aum Animation Studios was publicly shown in Creator/CartoonNetwork Australia's [[https://archive.org/details/cartoon-network-australia-new-in-2023-promos-2022-v2 "New in 2023" promo,]] set to air on Cartoon Network Asia & Australia, as well as HBO Go, Asia's variant of Creator/HBOMax. Its pilot episode, [[https://youtu.be/2qTOtzrPMnI "What's that Smell?"]] was released on August 7, 2023 in Asia and Australia.
21
22	Not to be confused with Creator/{{Van Beuren\|Studios}}'s ''[[https://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/1930s-tom-jerry/ Tom & Jerry]]'' cartoons (which were renamed ''Dick & Larry'' in later home movie rereleases to avoid confusing them with the cat and mouse). Or, for that matter, the musical duo that went by the name "Tom and Jerry" for several years before switching to [[Music/SimonAndGarfunkel their real names]]. Also, despite what their names might tell you, neither Tom or Jerry are British and German respectively.
23
24	See also ''Animation/NuPogodi'', a Soviet (now Russian) cartoon which, by sheer coincidence, bears an uncanny resemblance to ''Tom and Jerry'' despite its creators having never seen it before their show's creation.
25	----
26	!!''Tom and Jerry'' media:
27	[[index]]
28	[[foldercontrol]]
29
30	[[folder:Filmography]]
31	[[AC:Notable Shorts]]
32	* ''WesternAnimation/PussGetsTheBoot'' (1940): The debut of the characters, and the short that establishes the series formula. Also the first of several [[MediaNotes/AcademyAward Oscar]]-nominated shorts in the series.
33	* ''WesternAnimation/{{The Night Before Christmas\|1941}}'' (1941): Oscar nominee.
34	* ''WesternAnimation/DogTrouble'' (1942)
35	* ''WesternAnimation/TheYankeeDoodleMouse'' (1943): First T&J short to win an Oscar.
36	* ''WesternAnimation/MouseTrouble'' (1944): Oscar winner.
37	* ''WesternAnimation/MouseInManhattan'' (1945)
38	* ''WesternAnimation/TeeForTwo'' (1945)
39	* ''WesternAnimation/FlirtyBirdy'' (1945)
40	* ''[[WesternAnimation/QuietPlease1945 Quiet Please!]]'' (1945): Oscar winner.
41	* ''WesternAnimation/TheMilkyWaif'' (1946)
42	* ''WesternAnimation/TheCatConcerto'' (1947): Oscar winner.
43	* ''WesternAnimation/DrJekyllAndMrMouse'' (1947): Oscar nominee.
44	* ''WesternAnimation/KittyFoiled'' (1948)
45	* ''WesternAnimation/MouseCleaning'' (1948)
46	* ''WesternAnimation/TheLittleOrphan'' (1949): Oscar winner.
47	* ''WesternAnimation/HatchUpYourTroubles'' (1949): Oscar nominee.
48	* ''WesternAnimation/HeavenlyPuss'' (1949)
49	* ''WesternAnimation/LittleQuacker'' (1950)
50	* ''WesternAnimation/SafetySecond'' (1950)
51	* ''WesternAnimation/SaturdayEveningPuss'' (1950)
52	* ''WesternAnimation/CueBallCat'' (1950)
53	* ''WesternAnimation/JerrysCousin'' (1951): Oscar nominee.
54	* ''WesternAnimation/TheTwoMouseketeers'' (1952): Oscar winner.
55	* ''WesternAnimation/PushButtonKitty'' (1952)
56	* ''WesternAnimation/JerryAndJumbo'' (1953)
57	* ''WesternAnimation/JohannMouse'' (1953): Oscar winner.
58	* ''WesternAnimation/TouchePussyCat'' (1954): Oscar nominee.
59	* ''Pet Peeve'' (1954): The first T&J short in Cinemascope.
60	* ''WesternAnimation/BlueCatBlues'' (1956): [[UnexpectedlyDarkEpisode A surprisingly sad short]] and probably the only one [[DownerEnding with a truly tragic ending]].
61	* ''Tot Watchers'' (1958): The last-ever T&J short made by both Hanna and Barbera.
62	* ''WesternAnimation/SwitchinKitten'' (1961): The first of the infamous Creator/GeneDeitch shorts.
63	* ''WesternAnimation/TheTomAndJerryCartoonKit'' (1962)
64	* ''WesternAnimation/TallInTheTrap'' (1962)
65	* ''WesternAnimation/TheCatAboveAndTheMouseBelow'' (1964)
66	* ''WesternAnimation/SnowbodyLovesMe'' (1964)
67	* ''WesternAnimation/TheCatsMeOuch'' (1965)
68	* ''WesternAnimation/DuelPersonality'' (1966)
69	* ''WesternAnimation/CanneryRodent'' (1967)
70	* ''The Mansion Cat'' (2001): Made-for-TV short.
71	* ''The Karate Guard'' (2005): The final T&J theatrical short to date, and the last T&J short made by Barbera.
72	\
73	[[AC:TV Shows]]
74	* ''WesternAnimation/TheTomAndJerryShow'' (1975)
75	* ''WesternAnimation/TheTomAndJerryComedyShow'' (1980-1982)
76	* ''Tom and Jerry's Funhouse on TBS'' (1986–1995)
77	* ''WesternAnimation/TomAndJerryKids'' (1990-1994)
78	* ''WesternAnimation/TomAndJerryTales'' (2006-2008)
79	* ''WesternAnimation/{{The Tom and Jerry Show\|2014}}'' (2014-2021)
80	* ''WesternAnimation/TomAndJerrySpecialShorts'' (2021): Two brand-new animated shorts for Creator/HBOMax, done by Pete Browngardt and the team behind the Max-exclusive ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunesCartoons''.
81	* ''WesternAnimation/TomAndJerryInNewYork'' (2021-present): Creator/HBOMax series.
82	* ''Anime/TomAndJerry'' (2022/TBA): A series of [[{{Anime}} anime shorts]] debuted during The Cheese Day celebration on [[Creator/CartoonNetwork Cartoon Network Japan]].
83	* ''[[WesternAnimation/TomAndJerry2023 Tom and Jerry]]'' (2023/TBA): A Southeast Asian-developed series. It's set to air on Creator/CartoonNetwork Asia & Australia as well as HBO Go.
84	\
85	[[AC:Movies]]
86	* ''WesternAnimation/TomAndJerryTheMovie'' (1992): Theatrical {{film}}.
87	* WesternAnimation/TomAndJerryDirectToVideoFilmSeries:
88	** ''WesternAnimation/TomAndJerryTheMagicRing'' (2001)
89	** ''WesternAnimation/TomAndJerryBlastOffToMars'' (2005)
90	** ''WesternAnimation/TomAndJerryTheFastAndTheFurry'' (2005)
91	** ''WesternAnimation/TomAndJerryShiverMeWhiskers'' (2006)
92	** ''WesternAnimation/TomAndJerryANutcrackerTale'' (2007)
93	** ''WesternAnimation/TomAndJerryMeetSherlockHolmes'' (2010)
94	** ''WesternAnimation/TomAndJerryAndTheWizardOfOz'' (2011)
95	** ''WesternAnimation/TomAndJerryRobinHoodAndHisMerryMouse'' (2012)
96	** ''WesternAnimation/TomAndJerrysGiantAdventure'' (2013)
97	** ''WesternAnimation/TomAndJerryTheLostDragon'' (2014)
98	** ''WesternAnimation/TomAndJerrySpyQuest'' (2015)
99	** ''WesternAnimation/TomAndJerryBackToOz'' (2016)
100	** ''WesternAnimation/TomAndJerryWillyWonkaAndTheChocolateFactory'' (2017)
101	** ''WesternAnimation/TomAndJerryCowboyUp'' (2022)
102	** ''Tom and Jerry: Snowman's Land'' (2022)
103	* ''Film/TomAndJerry2021'': Theatrical {{film}}.
104	[[/index]]
105	\
106	[[AC:Cancelled]]
107	* ''Tom and Jerry Time'': A planned {{Creator/Cartoonito}} / HBO Max series.
108	[[/folder]]
109
110	[[folder:Miscellaneous]]
111	[[index]]
112	[[AC:Video Games]]
113	* ''VideoGame/TomAndJerryTheUltimateGameOfCatAndMouse'' (1991)
114	* ''VideoGame/TomAndJerryFranticAntics'' (1994)
115	* ''VideoGame/TomAndJerryInWarOfTheWhiskers'' (2002)
116	* ''VideoGame/TomAndJerryChase'' (2019)
117	* ''VideoGame/{{Multiversus}}'' (2022): Tom and Jerry are playable as TheDividual.
118	[[/folder]]
119
120	[[/index]]
121	----
122
123	!!{{Trope}}s found across the franchise:
124	[[index]]
125	* TomAndJerry/TropesAToM
126	* TomAndJerry/TropesNToZ
127	[[/index]]

Context Franchise / TomAndJerry