The Lonesome Mouse (1943)

 

One thing that separates Tom and Jerry from many other chase cartoon series is how much Tom and Jerry really need each other. They may be antagonists, but they enjoy there rivalry and would be lost without the other one. The Lonesome Mouse is the first cartoon to really show this. It is also one of the few cartoons in which Tom and Jerry talk a lot.

The film begins with Tom chasing Jerry. Tom causes a lot of damage, and Mammy Two Shoes kicks him out of the house. Jerry is at first very happy to have gotten rid of Tom. However he soon finds himself bored and wants Tom back. He comes outside and discusses a plan to get Tom back in the house. Jerry annoys Mammy, leading her to call Tom to catch Jerry. Tom and Jerry fake a fight in front of Mammy Two Shoes. They make it look like Tom killed Jerry and after this Tom is allowed back in the house.

The animators on this cartoon were George Gordon, Ken Muse, Jack Zander, Irven Spence, Al Grandmain and Pete Burness. George Gordon animated the opening scenes of Tom chasing Jerry, and then getting thrown out, as well as the ending scenes of Tom being rewarded. Ken Muse animated Jerry briefly celebrating Tom being thrown out, and the beginning of the fake fight. Jack Zander handles the animation of Jerry feeling bored, and discussing his plan with Tom, Irven Spence animates Mammy Two Shoes washing dishes, and being scared by Jerry as well as the end part of Jerry being chased with an axe (including Jerry asking Tom after a close one if they are still kidding). Al Grandmain is mainly known as an effects animator. However here he handles a short bit of character animation of Tom beginning to chase Jerry with an Axe. Pete Burness animates Tom being hit by the broom and his reactions to Jerry's "death". The animators are fully in their element here and are at their most recognizable. George Gordon's animation is softer and cuter than other animators. Jack Zander had a very rubbery type of animation and also drew Tom with big eyebrows. Ken Muse's animation is very carefully and delicately constructed. Irven Spence was the animator who handled the series' wildest animation. Pete Burness used fast movements between poses.

This cartoon is proof that we have now reached the golden age of Tom and Jerry. The pacing is perfect, the gags are really funny, the characters are very well defined, the animation is great and the whole thing is just a lot of fun to watch.

-Michael J. Ruhland.

Resources Used
http://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/mgms-the-lonesome-mouse-1943/