Tom and Jerry have entertained many generations

Tom ande Jerry reign supreme

Four generations in my family have grown up enjoying the antics of Tom and Jerry the animated cat and mouse. In some episodes they are friends and in others they are enemies but they always entertain. The cartoon critters made their debut 8 decades ago on February 10, 1940. On this date, MGM released the short PUSS GETS THE BOOT in theaters. From that time through 1958 William Hannah and Joseph Barbera along with Rudolph Ising created magic in the form of 114 shorts from METRO GOLDWIN MAYER.

HANNA-BARBERA began producing other cartoons like THE FLINTSTONES and Tom and Jerry were left in the hands of animators Chuck Jones and Gene Deitch. Those of us who grew up with the original cartoons realize the gems they are. Later animation does not measure up to those first cartoon shorts. The originals continued in syndication as new episodes were being produced and both can be seen today on MeTv and BOOMERANG.

Award-winning animation

ilms from 1961 to 1962. At this point, Tom and Jerry became the highest-grossing animated short film series of that era surpassing Looney Tunes. The iconic Chuck Jones then produced another 34 shorts with Sib Tower 12 Productions between 1963 and 1967. This made 161 episodes in total and nothing since then can compare.

Everyone has their favorite episodes and there are two that are near and dear to my heart. The first is Mice Follies which was created in 1954 and is number 86 in the lineup of the original episodes. I found this episode to be magical as a child and continue to enjoy it today. I especially like the ending where Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty Waltz is played as Jerry skates around Tom who has been frozen solid. except for his eyes, You can watch this episode by clicking on the link.

The Mouskateers

My second favorite Tom and Jerry short is number 65 from 1955 titled "The two Mouskateers." This is the one where Tom is beheaded on the guillotine because Jerry and the small mouskateer got the better of him. I don't like the outcome but I am nostalgic and sentimental. There are several updated versions of this classic and the one below is the closest I could find to the original.

Animated perfection

There is an old saying that you don't mess with perfection and another that says "If it ain't broke don't fix it." I wish the original episodes of Tom and Jerry had continued for younger generations because they are unique. Since those early days, many have tried to recreate the magic and have failed miserably. There has been The Tom and Jerry Show (1975), The Tom and Jerry Comedy Show (1980–1982), Tom & Jerry Kids (1990–1993), Tom and Jerry Tales (2006–2008), and The Tom and Jerry Show (2014–2021.

The best of the best

The animation, action, and even the plots of the modern era cartoons are nowhere on the scale of those first cartoon shorts, and what is worse many children today cannot tell the difference. Those of us who grew up watching the first 114 episodes and even the 161 know the difference and can appreciate the beauty of those early animation geniuses. William Hannah, Joseph Barbera, and Rudolf Ising brought us something that is valued and treasured and can never be replicated or duplicated.

As a side note, Rudolf Ising and Hugh Harman are the creative forces behind the beloved HAPPY HARMONIES/HARMONIZING cartoons. These shorts are often shown on Tom and Jerry as well as Looney Tunes and Merry Melodies.

The HAPPY HARMONIES are cartoons about spring, winter, hibernation, and summer fun that showcase baby birds, elves, and other woodland creatures. Above is one of the shorts that you might remember from 1934 titled "To Spring."The music and the settings with young animals obeying parents and saying prayers before bed make these along with Tom and Jerry some of the most cherished cartoons ever.