The Tom and Jerry animated series is one of the most beloved cartoon franchises globally, captivating both young and old with its exciting and humorous chase sequences. The show features the relentless cat, Tom, and the clever mouse, Jerry, engaging in a series of entertaining escapades. Since its debut in the early 1940s, the series has continued to be popular, extending its reach through various channels even into the present day. The success of Tom and Jerry, recognized both critically and popularly, led to numerous awards, including Oscars, and prompted the creation of new and updated films to fit modern tastes. This article explores the history of Tom and Jerry, from their inception to their ongoing legacy.
The story of Tom and Jerry began in the United States in 1937 when animator Joseph Barbera received the green light from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) studios to develop new cartoon characters with his colleague, William Hanna. The duo brainstormed numerous concepts for characters who would engage in a battle of wits. Initially, their ideas included a fox and a dog, but none seemed fitting until they settled on a cat and mouse combination. Producer Fred Quimby approved the idea, leading to the creation of the first short film, “Puss Gets the Boot.” Although the characters in this debut were named Jasper the Cat and Jinx the Mouse, they were not yet Tom and Jerry.
The success of this initial film led Quimby to request more shorts, and Hanna and Barbera decided to rename their characters to Tom and Jerry. The names were inspired by their prominence in English culture; for example, British writer Pierce Egan used similar names in his 1821 novel “Life in London,” which had inspired a play and a cocktail. Hanna and Barbera were impressed by these names and chose them for their characters. After receiving an Oscar nomination for the short film in 1941, Hanna and Barbera continued their work on Tom and Jerry cartoons for fifteen years. However, budget cuts in the 1950s led to the series’ suspension. Subsequently, the animators founded Hanna-Barbera Productions, which created other popular TV animation series such as “The Jetsons” and “The Flintstones.”
Tom and Jerry faded from the public eye until 1961, when Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer revived them under the direction of Gene Deitch. The new series featured the duo in different settings, including an updated home environment and a change in the household’s portrayal. This iteration saw a significant rise in popularity, surpassing even the famous Looney Tunes series. The show aired on CBS from 1965 to 1972, and after a brief hiatus, Hanna and Barbera produced new Tom and Jerry shorts that aired for two more years. When Ted Turner acquired MGM, he attempted to produce new Tom and Jerry films, but these failed to match the quality of the classic cartoons from the 1990s and early 2000s.
Despite their fictional nature, Tom and Jerry have been the subject of numerous rumors. One such myth claims that their last cartoon ended on a dark note with the characters committing suicide by lying on a train track. However, this is a misconception. In the short film “Blue Cat Blues” (1956), Tom is depicted as hopeless after being abandoned by his girlfriend, and Jerry tries to comfort him. The film concludes with both characters sitting on a railroad track as a train approaches, but it does not show their deaths, as more cartoons featuring them were produced afterward. Nonetheless, the ending of “Blue Cat Blues” was indeed unsettling for children.
Given their immense popularity with audiences of all ages and critics alike, it’s no surprise that Tom and Jerry have won numerous awards, including Oscars for Best Animated Short Film. They dominated this category from 1940 to 1954, winning seven times, including four consecutive years from 1943 to 1946, and receiving thirteen additional nominations. This series stands out as the only animated franchise to achieve such accolades during the pre-television era, significantly outpacing other series.
