The Zoot Cat

The Zoot Cat is the thirteenth animated theatrical short of the Tom and Jerry series. It was distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer on February 26, 1944. It was produced by Fred Quimby, and written and directed by series creators, William Hanna and Joseph Barbera.

Tom tries to impress a girl cat by dressing up in his own "zoot" suit.

Memorable quotes
Tom: Ah, I love you. When I'm with you, I am what you call, uh, a hep cat. I am hip to the jive. I'm in the groove, darling. Toots: Now you're really sending me, Jackson. Tom: Ah, you set my soul on fire. It is not just, uh, a little spark. It is a flame; a big roaring flame. Ah, I can feel it now—It is burning... burning... BURNING... Hey, something is burning around here! (Tom screams in pain)

Characters
William Hanna (screams)
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Jerry Mouse
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Sara Berner
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Tom Cat
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Jerry Mann
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Tom Cat
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Jerry Mann
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Toots
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Sara Berner
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Smiling Sam announcer
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Jerry Mann
 * style="background-color:#FDB56C" colspan="2"| Smiling Sam
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Jerry Mann
 * style="background-color:#FDB56C" colspan="2"| Smiling Sam
 * style="background-color:#FDB56C" colspan="2"| Smiling Sam

Locations

 * Earth
 * United States
 * Toots's residence

Objects

 * Piano

Vehicles

 * None

Development
A model sheet for the cartoon was produced in November 25, 1942, while its story was made to lampoon on a then-current fashion trend in World War II called the zoot suit.

Music
The music was composed by Scott Bradley.

Release
Dates are in order of release:


 * United States: February 26, 1944; October 7, 1950 (reissue)

Behind the scenes

 * Apparently, Tom is now an alley cat.
 * It is one of the few shorts with an extensive amount of dialogue, and has more of it than any previous short up to that point.
 * Tom does a Charles Boyer impression when talking to Toots on the piano, and then switches to Groucho Marx's voice after sniffing the smoke from his hot foot.

Home availability

 * In the United States:
 * October 19, 2004: Warner Home Video releases Tom and Jerry Spotlight Collection on DVD.
 * February 12, 2008: Warner Home Video releases Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Academy Awards Animation Collection on DVD.
 * October 25, 2011: Warner Home Video releases Tom and Jerry Golden Collection: Volume 1 on DVD.
 * October 25, 2011: Warner Home Video releases Tom and Jerry Golden Collection: Volume 1 on Blu-ray Disc.
 * In France:
 * November 23, 2011: Warner Home Video releases Tom and Jerry Golden Collection: Volume Un on DVD.