Tom and Jerry (theatrical shorts)
- For other uses, see Tom and Jerry.
| Tom and Jerry | |
|---|---|
 2021 version for the HBO Max shorts. | |
| Created by: | William Hanna Joseph Barbera |
| Production company: | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Rembrandt Films Sib Tower 12 Hanna-Barbera Warner Bros. Animation |
| Distributor: | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Warner Bros. Television Distribution Warner Bros. Pictures HBO Max |
| Original release: | February 10, 1940―August 1, 1958 September 7, 1961―September 8, 1967 April 8, 2001 September 26, 2005 February 26, 2021 |
| Starring: | William Hanna Lillian Randolph Mel Blanc June Foray |
| Producer(s): | Fred Quimby |
| Music composed by: | Scott Bradley |
| Writer(s): | William Hanna Joseph Barbera |
| Director(s): | William Hanna Joseph Barbera |
| Second title card | |
 1961 version for Gene Deitch's shorts. | |
| Third title card | |
 1963 version for Chuck Jones's shorts. | |
The Tom and Jerry animated theatrical shorts were created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera. They were originally distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer from 1940 to 1967, animated by three production companies; the first was their own in-house, with William Hanna and Joseph Barbera directing, from 1940 and 1958, releasing 114; the second was Gene Deitch's Rembrandt Films from 1961 and 1962, releasing 13; and the third and last was Chuck Jones's Sib Tower 12 from 1963 and 1967, releasing 34. Since 2001, the series has infrequently been revived, as was the case in the aforementioned year when Hanna-Barbera themselves produced a single short which Warner Bros. Television Distribution debuted on Boomerang, while Warner Bros. Animation (WBA) and distributed Warner Bros. Pictures produced and distributed, respectively, a single theatrical short in 2005. WBA also produced two shorts exclusively for HBO Max, an internet streaming service, in 2021.
The popularity of the MGM shorts, involving the eternal battle of wits between the cat named Tom and the mouse named Jerry, led to the shorts being syndicated, and specially made-for-TV series, which throughout the years have been produced by Hanna-Barbera, Filmation, and WBA. There has also been a 1992 full-length theatrical film Tom and Jerry: The Movie, a 2021 animated/live-action film, Tom & Jerry, and a series of direct-to-video films since 2001, beginning with Tom and Jerry: The Magic Ring.
There was also a short-lived Spike and Tyke spin-off series in 1957.
Production
Development
Closure of MGM's animation department
Music
The original theme was composed by Scott Bradley.
Shorts
MGM
Rembrandt Films
| Title | Number | Release date |
|---|---|---|
| Switchin' Kitten | 1 | September 7, 1961 |
| Down and Outing | 2 | October 4, 1961 |
| It's Greek to Me-ow! | 3 | December 7, 1961 |
| High Steaks | 4 | March 23, 1962 |
| Mouse into Space | 5 | April 13, 1962 |
| Landing Stripling | 6 | May 9, 1962 |
| Calypso Cat | 7 | June 21, 1962 |
| Dicky Moe | 8 | July 20, 1962 |
| The Tom and Jerry Cartoon Kit | 9 | August 10, 1962 |
| Tall in the Trap | 10 | September 14, 1962 |
| Sorry Safari | 11 | October 12, 1962 |
| Buddies Thicker Than Water | 12 | November 1, 1962 |
| Carmen Get It! | 13 | December 21, 1962 |
Sib Tower 12
Hanna-Barbera
| Short | Number | Release date |
|---|---|---|
| The Mansion Cat | 1 | April 8, 2001 |
Warner Bros. Animation
| Short | Number | Release date |
|---|---|---|
| The KarateGuard | 1 | September 26, 2005 |
| On a Roll | 2 | February 20, 2021 |
| The House That Cat Built | 3 | February 20, 2021 |
Cast
- William Hanna as Tom Cat and Jerry Mouse
- Mel Blanc voiced Tom and Jerry while June Foray would voice Jerry, in the shorts produced and directed by Chuck Jones.
- Lillian Randolph as Mammy Two Shoes
In popular culture
- In "Many Happy Returns," an episode of the British sitcom Mind Your Language, Ali says that TV shows a lot of violence, as he is seeing someone drowned, shot, and having their head chopped off, which all came out of watching Tom and Jerry.
- In The Simpsons, Bart and Lisa regularly watch The Itchy & Scratchy Show.
- In the Outnumbered episode "The Long Night," a police officer told the Brockmans that their neighbor had hit her husband over the head with a frying pan which he knows "sounds a bit Tom and Jerry."
- In the American Dad! episode "Merlot Down Dirty Shame," Roger mentions "Tom and Jerry" as a spa package.
- Tom and Jerry are a question in The Yes! No! Game by Paul Lamond Games.
- In series 21, episode 12 of Antiques Road Trip, Phil asks Tim what famous double act they would be together, with Tim answering Tom and Jerry.
The Fairly OddParents
- Main article: The Fairly OddParents
- Channel Chasers: Timmy, Wanda and Cosmo are sent to a parody of Tom and Jerry called "Ted and Jimmy."
- "Mouscapades:" There is another parody called "Sleezy and Cheezy."
Family Guy
- Main article: Family Guy
- "Road to Rupert:" Stewie is superimposed on Jerry who danced with Joe Brady during "The Worry Song" in the film Anchors Aweigh.
- "Valentine's Day in Quahog:" Peter and Lois spend the day in bed during Valentine's Day, which includes watching the final episode of Tom and Jerry, in which Tom hires an exterminator to get rid of Jerry. The exterminator asks Tom what he wants to be done with the body of Jerry, but Tom doesn't care about that part, Jerry can be thrown in the garbage for all he cares, but Tom does show some interest in keeping one of Jerry's oversized mallets.
