Tom and Jerry

Story

Tom the housecat is stuck in a never-ending rivalry with a housemouse called Jerry. Jerry uses his cleverness and cunning to outsmart Tom in his countless attempts to catch him. But who will account for the chaos and destruction that follows?

Why we chose it

The early animations from the 1950s are generally considered to be some of the best hand drawn animation ever produced and they influenced and inspired many future animators and illustrators.

Where it came from

This famous game of cat and mouse was first created when designer and storyteller Joseph Barbera teamed up with director William Hanna. In their first outing, Puss Gets the Boot (1940), Tom and Jerry were called Jasper and Jinx. They were later renamed by animator John Carr after a traditional American Christmas cocktail.

Where it went next

The Tom and Jerry series went on to win seven Academy Awards, more than any other animated series. There have since been multiple TV spin-offs, most recently The Tom and Jerry Show, and the pair have appeared in various comics since 1942. There have also been several feature films based on the series as well as a musical theatre adaptation.

The 1950s originals are still shown widely today and enjoyed for their slapstick humour and the characterisation of the battling cat and mouse. Some of the shorts do depict the racial and ethnic prejudices of the time and warnings about content are now found on television platforms and streaming services.

Associated stories

Hanna and Barbera went on to form their own animation studio, producing shows such as The Flintstones (1961), Top Cat (1961), and Scooby Doo (1969).