Touché, Pussy Cat! (1954)

 

This marks the last Tom and Jerry cartoon to be nominated for an Oscar for Best Animated Short Film. The other films nominated were Crazy Mixed Up Pup (1955, Walter Lantz, directed by Tex Avery), Pigs is Pigs (1954, Disney), Sandy Claws (1955, Warner Brothers, Sylvester and Tweety) and When Magoo Flew (1954, UPA, Mr. Magoo). The Oscar went to When Magoo Flew. This shows what high regard the UPA cartoons were held during this time period. In the 1950's film critics and those in the industry held the UPA cartoons in the same high regard that they held the Disney cartoons in the 1930's. They often felt that these shorts were pushing just what an animated cartoon could be in unexplored directions. This was heavily because of the stylized approach to design in those films that was greatly inspired by modern art. All the cartoons nominated this year were great choices. Crazy Mixed Up Pup was one of Tex Avery's last great films. Pigs is Pigs is a delightful and very funny Disney short that is more than a little influenced by the UPA style. Sandy Claws is one of the best Sylvester and Tweety shorts especially due to it being one of the few Looney Tunes where Art Davis was a credited writer. When Magoo Flew is a very strong Mr. Magoo cartoon and the little dialogue exchange at the end is a classic. 

This also marks the second film in a series of shorts that feature Jerry and Nibbles (or Tuffy if you prefer) as two Mouseketeers. The first of these shorts (The Two Mouseketeers (1952)) won an Oscar. Touché, Pussy Cat! would be followed by two more of these shorts, Tom and Chérie (1955) and Royal Cat Nap (1958). The characters would also use their Mouseketeer roles in multiple of the Del comic books.

In this short film, Mouseketeer Jerry tries to teach Mouseketeer in training Nibbles. However, Nibbles soon finds himself getting in trouble be picking a fight with Tom and Jerry must protect his little friend. 

While not quite as great as the first Mouseketeer cartoon, there is a lot to enjoy about this short. It is a very handsome looking film, something that especially obvious when you view it either in a widescreen format or on a big screen. Unfortunately, if you are viewing the cropped version that often airs on channels like Boomerang, you miss how lovely this film actually looks. The background art is simply wonderful. It gives the whole cartoon a sense of atmosphere that helps it stand out from many other Tom and Jerry. Most of the Tom and Jerry shorts of this time had suburban or barnyard settings, which helps this film stand out even more. Though this may not be the funniest Tom and Jerry shorts, there are some great gags here, such as Nibbles being very chivalrous to a lady mouse that walks by. This is one of those cartoons were you really root for Tom, and this makes the ending gag all the more satisfying. The cartoon is also full of great character animation that makes these characters feel completely real to us. Though Tom and Jerry don't talk, we can always tell exactly what they are thinking. 

The credited animators on this film are Kenneth Muse, Ed Barge and Irven Spence. The credited background artist is Robert Gentle. This cartoon is available on the DVD sets Tom and Jerry Spotlight Collection, Vol. 1, Tom and Jerry: Once Upon A Tomcat, Tom and Jerry: Merry Mice and Tom and Jerry: Classic Collection: Volume 4. It also appears on the Blu-ray set, Tom and Jerry: The Deluxe Anniversary Collection and the Laser Disc set The Art of Tom & Jerry: Volume II as well as a bonus feature on the Blu-ray for the feature film, The Last Time I Saw Paris (1954). Like some other Cinemascope cartoons of this time, this film was made in both Academy and CinemaScope aspect ratios. While the same animation cels were used in both versions, the camera shots were reframed and different backgrounds were used for both versions. Sadly, many TV airings of this cartoon feature a cropped version of the Cinemascope version rather than airing it in widescreen or using the Academy version. This marks the 89th Tom and Jerry cartoon and the final Tom and Jerry film of 1954. 

Below are some storyboard drawings for this film.

-Michael J. Ruhland

Resources Used

Of Mice and Magic: A History of American Animated Cartoons by Leonard Maltin

https://tomandjerry.fandom.com/wiki/Touch%C3%A9,_Pussy_Cat!#Availability

Pet Peeve (1954)

 

Though you may not be able to tell at first glance, Pet Peeve is a very important film in Tom and Jerry's filmography. This marked the first Tom and Jerry short to be released in Cinemascope. Cinemascope was a widescreen process that gave movie goers a larger picture unlike they had seen before. This was one of ways that cinema would try to compete with the new popularity of television. Because of the Tom and Jerry cartoons being created as short films for theaters, they also began to be made in Cinemascope. 23 Tom and Jerry cartoons were made in Cinemascope. Some exciting news for Tom and Jerry fans is that next year a Blu-ray set of all 23 of these films will be released. It will be entitled TOM AND JERRY: The Complete CinemaScope Collection and will be available on February 11th, 2025. For more information about Cinemascope, I recommend watching the video below. 

This film also introduces two new characters, George and Joan. This suburban married couple had replaced the black stereotyped character (often referred to as Mammy Two Shoes) as Tom's owner (in this short they are also Spike's owner). This change represented the changing times between the early Tom and Jerry shorts of the 1940's and these 50's cartoons. This is not only seen by no longer having a racial stereotype as a main character, but also by having the replacement be a suburban couple. Due to a changing America, cartoons of this era were gaining a much more suburban feel to them. Even the Disney characters who had been very much country-based characters in the 1930's cartoons had by this time become full suburbanites. George and Joan would appear in a total of eight Tom and Jerry shorts (including appearances of both characters together and solo appearances of Joan). The two characters would also appear in the Spike and Tyke spin-off short, Scat Cats (1957). Though the characters would never appear after the theatrical shorts, TV's The Tom and Jerry Show would have very similar characters named Rick and Ginger as Tom's owners. 

In this short film, George and Joan are upset when they see the bills. They decide to save money they can keep either Tom or Spike but not both. It is decided that whichever one catches and gets rid of Jerry can stay. 

This is a delightful cartoon and one of the best of the Cinemascope shorts. The premise is clever. In the tradition of the best Tom and Jerry shorts, the story is a clever play on the typical Tom and Jerry formula. It stays true to the cat vs mouse premise that we all love, while adding a nice little twist to it. Seeing Tom and Spike competing to capture Jerry is a lot of fun to watch. The gags themselves are quite good. While like most of the 1950's shorts there is not the sheer number of great gags that there would be in one of the 40's shorts. However, that does not mean there are not any great gags here. There are multiple moments that make me laugh out loud including the scene with the drawers in the desk and the door falling on Tom. The ending gag is also perfect. This ending gag made this short a favorite of mine as a kid. 

The credited animators on this short are Ed Barge, Irven Spence and Kenneth Muse. Robert Gentle is the credited background artist (his work here looks forward to his work on William Hanna and Joseph Barbera's TV cartoons). This is the 88th Tom and Jerry cartoon overall. It is available on the DVD set Tom and Jerry Spotlight Collection Vol. 3. 

-Michael J. Ruhland

Resources Used

https://tomandjerry.fandom.com/wiki/Pet_Peeve

https://www.animationscoop.com/blu-ray-preview-tom-and-jerry-the-complete-cinemascope-collection/

Downhearted Duckling (1954)

 

Sometimes what is viewed as acceptable subject matter for a silly comedy can change over time. Today if a cartoon centers around suicide, the subject would either be treated as very dark comedy (ala Futurama's suicide booths) or with the upmost seriousness. It definitely wouldn't be used as the basis for slapstick gags and satirically center around such a cutesy character as Quacker the duck. 

In this short film, Quacker reads Hans Cristian Anderson's The Ugly Duckling. He then becomes convinced that he is ugly. This idea gets him so downhearted that he decides to kill himself. As a way to kill himself he tries to have Tom eat him. Jerry sees this and tries to stop Quacker from doing this horrible thing.  

 Even though the subject matter may be dark, this is a pretty good cartoon. Quacker is quite likable here (even if I personally find his voice to be too cutesy at times) and it is hard to not feel for him. For any who has ever struggled with self-confidence (which is pretty much all of us), the pathos here are very effective. Yet at the same time there are some great gags here. There may not be as many great gags as there are in the 1940's Tom and Jerry shorts, there are a couple really funny moments here. The gag where Jerry tries to give Quacker a beauty treatment is laugh out loud funny. There is also some wonderful character animation here, especially Tom's reaction when Quacker first asks Tom to eat him. The background art may not be as elaborate here as in the earlier Tom and Jerry shorts, but it is still very pleasant to look at in a way that looks forward to the backgrounds in Hanna and Barbera's early TV cartoons. 

The credited animators on this short are Irven Spence, Ray Patterson, Kenneth Muse and Ed Barge. Robert Gentle is the credited background artist. This is the 87th Tom and Jerry short. The film is available on the DVD set, Tom and Jerry Spotlight Collection Vol. 3. The little girl duck at the end only appeared in this one theatrical short. She would however later appear in two episodes of TV's The Tom and Jerry Show, Wing Nuts (2018) and Novel Idea (2018). In that series the character was named Fifi. In this original short she is voiced by Red Coffey, who also voiced Quacker. The 2006 album, TOM AND JERRY & TEX AVERY, TOO! Volume 1: The 1950’s, features musical scores from various MGM cartoons. Included here is Scott Bradley's score for Downhearted Duckling. 

-Michael J. Ruhland 

Resources Used

https://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/tex-tom-jerry-droopy-on-scott-bradley-soundtracks/

https://tomandjerry.fandom.com/wiki/Downhearted_Duckling/Gallery

https://tomandjerry.fandom.com/wiki/Downhearted_Duckling

Neapolitan Mouse (1954)

 

Neapolitan Mouse is one of those films that showed how William Hanna and Joseph Barbera were able to depart from the average Tom and Jerry formula while still staying true to what makes these cartoons so popular. 

This short film starts with your typical Tom and Jerry chase. Tom chases Jerry off a boat and into Italy. Their slapstick antics wake up an Italian mouse named Topo. At first Topo is annoyed by the noises. However, he soon recognizes Tom and Jerry from seeing their cartoons. He is a big fan of their cartoons and decides to show them around his home country. However, a group of bully dogs try to ruin their tour. 

This is a very charming cartoon. The filmmakers make the best use of the Italian setting. The background art is simply lovely to look at and really helps give this short a different feel from your average Tom and Jerry short. The supporting characters are also a lot of fun. Topo is a delightful character who adds a lot of heart to the short. I love these tough guys with a heart of gold characters and this one is a delight. I also love the fun moment where he recognizes Tom and Jerry from their cartoons. I like to picture cartoon characters as working actors just like the ones in live action films. This is one of the rare times a Tom and Jerry film has one of these moments and it is quite fun. The dogs have a fun design and make for great antagonists. If I had one complaint about this cartoon, it is that it never made me laugh out loud. The gags aren't bad here, they are just the type to make you smile rather than really laugh. 

The credited animators on this film are Ed Barge, Irven Spence, Ray Patterson and Kenneth Muse. The credited background artist is John Didrik Johnsen. This one of the rare Tom and Jerry shorts he gets a credit on. For the most part he worked on the cartoons Tex Avery and Dick Lundy were directing for MGM at this time. A character is seen watching this cartoon on TV in the feature film, Starsky & Hutch (2004). The 2002 video game, Tom and Jerry in War of the Whiskers features a level called Ciao Meow, which is based off this short. The mobile game Tom and Jerry: Chase features Topo as a playable character. This cartoon is available on the DVD set, Tom and Jerry: Spotlight Collection Vol. 3. 

The song Topo sings is the Italian romantic ballad Maria Marì. This song was composed in 1889 with music by Eduardo Di Capua and lyrics by Vincenzo Russo. Below is Luciano Pavarotti's recording of this song from his 1979 album, O Sole Mio - Favorite Neapolitan Songs as well as Dean Martin's 1947 swing version.

Mice Follies (1954)

 

Mice Follies is one of those Tom and Jerry films that will forever live in the mind of cartoon lovers. The moment where Jerry and Nibbles are skating on the ice to the tune of Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty Waltz (which animation fans might also know for later being used as the tune of the song Once Upon a Dream in Disney's Sleeping Beauty (1959)) is one of the most memorable moments in all Tom and Jerry shorts. 

In this short film, Jerry and Nibbles used the refrigerator and the sink to create and ice rink on the floor. Thier dancing wakes Tom up and causes a big slapstick chase. 

This is one of the best Tom and Jerry cartoons of the 1950's. It is easy to forget just how visually beautiful the MGM cartoons of this era were as many of them focused on slapstick comedy. However, with a short like this, it is impossible to ignore the sheer visual beauty. From the lovely opening scene with the water freezing slowly to the incredible character animation of Jerry and Nibbles skating this is a pure treat to the eyes. One of the reasons for this is the sheer attention to detail throughout. There was no need to have the characters' reflections in the ice, but this helped add a great amount of atmosphere. There is also a lot of creativity behind the visuals as well. The way Jerry and Nibbles make an ice rink on the floor is incredibly clever as is how they use different colored gelatin to create different colored lights for their skating show. Though this may not be as packed with gags as the duo's 1940's efforts, there are some truly funny moments here. One the I love is the way Tom avoids almost every obstacle with ridiculous ease, only to get overconfident and hit an obvious one. This gag works even better because of the great character animation and how over the top the ways he avoids some of these obstacles are. The cleverness and visual beauty really make this short stand out among the Tom and Jerry films. This is a 1950's short that is just as great as the 1940's Tom and Jerry cartoons.   

The credited animators on this film are Kenneth Muse, Ed Barge, Irven Spence and Ray Patterson. Robert Gentle is the credited background artist. This cartoon is available on the DVD sets Tom and Jerry Spotlight Collection, Vol. 1, Tom and Jerry: Pint-Sized Pals, Tom & Jerry's Greatest Chases Vol. 1, Tom and Jerry: Paws for a Holiday, Tom and Jerry: Classic Collection: Volume 4, Tom and Jerry: Santa's Little Helpers and Tom and Jerry: Winter Tails. There is also a Looney Tunes cartoon named Ice Follies (1960), which stars the Honey-Mousers (a parody of TV's The Honey Mooners).  

This cartoon was referenced in the Powerpuff Girls episode, Ice Sore (1999). In that episode, Bubbles asks Blossum if she can turn the floor into ice, "like in the show." That this is a reference to this short is made more obvious by Bubbles stating that Tom and Jerry is her favorite cartoon. 

Baby Butch (1954)

 

By the 1950's the supporting characters were playing a larger role in the Tom and Jerry films. This included new characters and characters that had existed in the 40's films. Butch the cat had first appeared in the Hugh Harmon directed short, The Alley Cat (1941) and with Tom and Jerry in Baby Puss (1943). He had received large roles in previous cartoons, but Baby Butch is the rare short where he is the starring character and the only one in which he was the titular character.  

In this short film Butch disguises himself as a baby in an attempt to steal a ham from Tom and Jerry’s house. 

This is a charming little cartoon. It may lack the number of great gags seen in the best Tom and Jerry shorts, but it is still a delight to watch. The story is a fun departure from the usual car chasing mouse, yet it stays true to the simple slapstick that we all love. Like all the best Tom and Jerry shorts, there is barely any dialogue here, but we always know just what the characters are thinking. The character animation is excellent and helps make these characters more real to us than cartoon characters that convey their personalities through dialogue. Tom is especially lovable in this film (if more than a little naive) and Butch makes for a fun villain. Though this film may not have as many great gags as some the earlier Tom and Jerry shorts, it does have an excellent ending gag. 

The credited animators on this film are Irven Spence, Kenneth Muse and Ed Barge. Vera Ohman is the credited background artist. This is the first Tom and Jerry short that she got a credit on. Though she had previously got a credit on the Droopy cartoon, The Three Little Pups (1953). Her work with William Hanna and Joseph Barbera reaches past just the Tom and Jerry cartoons. She also worked on such Hanna-Barbera TV cartoon shows as The Huckleberry Hound Show, Quick Draw McGraw and The Yogi Bear Show as well as some of the Loopy De Loop theatrical shorts. This cartoon is available on the DVD set, The Tom and Jerry Spotlight Collection Vol.1. This marks the last Tom and Jerry film to get a theatrical reissue. It is the 84th Tom and Jerry cartoon overall.

-Michael J. Ruhland

Little School Mouse (1954)

 

Little School Mouse is a semi-remake of the earlier Tom and Jerry short Professor Tom (1948). The biggest difference between the two films was that in this short, Tom and Jerry have switched roles. 

In this short film, Jerry is teaching Nibbles how to outwit cats in a school-type setting. However, Nibbles is more interested in making friends with Tom than outwitting him. 

This is simply a very fun cartoon. Though this is very similar to an earlier film, the role reversal makes it feel completely fresh. To have an entry in a cartoon series that had at this point been around for over a decade feel fresh is no small feat. It becomes even more impressive due to how at the same time this short stays true to the type of wordless slapstick that makes these shorts so popular. While this may not be the funniest Tom and Jerry short, there are some pretty strong gags here. However, what makes them work is more the execution than the gags themselves. When Nibbles gets his tail caught by the mechanical cat's paw, what makes the gag hilarious is how Nibbles keeps running like he is still moving forward completely unaware that he is not going anywhere. When Tom wakes up from his nap and hands Nibbles the cheese, what makes it funny is the character animation of Tom barely being awake and doing it without realizing what he is doing. Another strong bit of character animation is when Tom is overjoyed to get the bell as a gift. This is a rather standard gag, but the character animation makes it incredibly charming. 

The credited animators on this film are Irven Spence and Ed Barge. This marks one of the few shorts of this period not to have Ken Muse as a credited animator. This is the 83rd Tom and Jerry short. This cartoon can be found on the DVD sets, Tom and Jerry Spotlight Collection: Vol. 2, Tom & Jerry's Greatest Chases: Vol. 4, Tom and Jerry: Pint-Sized Pals, Tom and Jerry Classic Collection: Volume 4, Tom and Jerry: Mouse Trouble and Tom and Jerry: Merry Mice. This was the title cartoon of a Tom VHS Tom and Jerry in Little School Mouse. Artwork for that VHS can be seen below. 

Some of you may be aware that there is a current anime version of Tom and Jerry that can be found on YouTube (in my mind this should be playing on Cartoon Network but that is just my opinion). A recent short of this series entitled School Days (2024) is a remake of Little School Mouse. You can watch that cartoon below. It is cutesier than the classic Tom and Jerry shorts but there is a real charm to it. 

-Michael J. Ruhland

Hic-cup Pup (1954)

 

Hic-cup Pup marks the 4th Tom and Jerry film to feature the father/son dog duo, Spike and Tyke in major roles. Though the duo did also have a cameo in Life with Tom (1953) and of course Spike made many appearances without Tyke. The duo would be featured in three more Tom and Jerry theatrical cartoon shorts and star in two theatrical cartoon shorts without Tom and Jerry. 

 In this short film Tom and Jerry's fighting wakes Tyke up. When Tyke wakes up, he gets the hiccups. Spike gets angry and threatens Tom. Jerry of course overhears this and decides to disturb Tyke's rest and frame Tom. 

While this may not be Tom and Jerry's best film, it is a very solid and fun cartoon. The storyline is very familiar and makes it hard for this film to stand out among the other Spike and Tyke cartoons. However, when it comes to this, it is important to remember that these cartoons were made to be shown in movie theaters alongside the feature film. Unlike today when these cartoons are mostly shown on TV, movie goers had not seen these shorts dozens of times and may have not even seen the previous Spike and Tyke shorts at all. So, the repetitiveness would not have been as obvious to the intended audience (anyone who went to the movies) as it is to us today. For us today though there are enough strong gags to make up for the familiarity. While being a 50's Tom and Jerry short, there is not the constant brigade of great gags seen in the 40's cartoons, there a few really funny moments here. I love when Spike gets the hiccups too and his hiccups make it sound like words are being censored, the gag with the trumpet and Tom covering Tyke's mouth before he hiccups and the hiccup then coming out of Tom's mouth. This cartoon also benefits from the usual strong character animation and Scott Bradley's great musical score. Best of all though is that this short has a very satisfying ending. 

The credited animators on this film are Ed Barge, Kenneth Muse, Ray Patterson and Irven Spence. Robert Gentle is the credited background artist. This is the 82nd Tom and Jerry short overall. This cartoon can be found on the DVD set, Tom and Jerry Spotlight Vol. 3.      

Posse Cat (1954)

 

Tom's original owner (known to fans as Mammy Two Shoes) made her last appearance in Push-Button Kitty (1952) and his later owners George and Jones would not appear until Pet Peeve (1954). With this film coming in-between, his owner would be a cowboy that we have never seen before and would never see again. 

In this short film, Tom's cowboy owner tells him that he won't get any food until he gets rid of Jerry. Naturally Tom does not have much luck getting rid of Jerry. 

This is a fine short and one that has stayed in my memory since I saw it as a little kid. However, it doesn't quite reach the level of the best Tom and Jerry cartoons. The main problem here is there are no real laugh out loud moments. There are gags that made me chuckle and smile, but I never really laughed the way I do watching the best Tom and Jerry films. The closet I came was with the water drinking gag. However, the storyline is simple and charming. The animation is great, and farm setting allows for some great background art.

As always Scott Bradley's musical score is wonderful. I especially love his use of the song, Making Love Mountain Style throughout the film. This song was written by Herb Moulton and Jack Scholl. Scholl had written such songs as Throw Another Log on the Fire, The Wish That I Wish Tonight, The Old Apple Tree, You, You Darling and My Little Buckaroo. It was a major hit for Dorothy Shay in 1947.  You can listen to her version of the song below. 



The song would later be performed by The Dining Sisters in the short film, Musical Merry-Go-Round #1 (1948). They would later release this song on its own. That version can be heard below. 




The credited animators on this cartoon are Irven Spence, Ed Barge, Kenneth Muse and Ray Patterson. Robert Gentle is the credited background artist. Some fans have compared this short to Texas Tom (1950). Not only do these two films have similar settings but there are even some similar gags involving a bull that has a nearly identical design to the one in Texas Tom.

Puppy Tale (1954)

 

This short film was the first Tom and Jerry cartoon of 1954 and the 80th Tom and Jerry short overall. 

In this short film, Jerry overhears a loud noise outside and rushes out to see what it is. He then discovers a sack in the river with something alive in it. He pulls the sack out and discovers a group of puppies inside. One of the puppies takes a liking to Jerry and follows him home. Unfortunately for Tom, when the puppy gets to Jerry and his home, it tries to drink Tom's milk and take up Tom's bed. 

Though Tom and Jerry cartoons are best known for their slapstick violence, there are a surprising amount of Tom and Jerry shorts with a real sentimental streak. Though there were some of these more sentimental films in the 40's, it was in the 50's when these shorts were at their most prevalent. Puppy Tale remains one of the strongest of these sentimental cartoons. The storyline is basic but incredibly charming. It manages to be sweet and cute without ever feeling cloying. Unlike in some of the weaker cute cartoons, the sweetness just seems to flow naturally from the story. Tom and Jerry are both at their most likable here and the puppies are very cute. That this is a short completely without dialogue just adds to the charm. The ending is especially charming and heartwarming. Yet even with this, there is some good slapstick worked in here. I love the bits with Tom trying to get his milk away from the puppy. This may be a familiar gag but William Hanna's timing on it is perfect. The short also benefits from some wonderful background art on the outdoor scenes. These give the film a very effectively atmospheric feel. 

The credited animators on this short are Ed Barge, Irven Spence and Kenneth Muse. The credited background artist is Robert Gentle. The film is available on the DVD set, Tom and Jerry Spotlight Collection Vol. 3. 

Life With Tom (1953)

 

This short film marks the third Tom and Jerry cheater cartoon (a short that uses clips from previous cartoons). Clips are used from Cat Fishin' (1947), Kitty Foiled (1948) and The Little Orphan (1948). There would be only one more cheater cartoon directed by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera after this, Smarty Cat (1955). After that there wouldn't be another cheater until the Chuck Jones produced, Matinee Mouse (1966).

In this short film, Jerry writes a book called Life With Tom, which tells the stories of all the times he has gotten the better of Tom. When Tom reads this book he gets very angry. This anger only increases when he hears various of his friends and foes laughing themselves silly while reading it. 

This is by far the best cheater Tom and Jerry cartoon. While it does have some of the flaws that are evident in all cheater cartoons, it is still a lot of fun. The clips used here are fantastic. Unlike Smitten Kitten (1952), this film uses the best clips for those cartoons. Frankly they are just as funny here as they were in the context of their original film. The new scenes are also excellent. The wraparound story is really clever and charming. The ending is particular is a wonderful little twist. The character animation on Tom as he gets more and more angry is also wonderful. The wraparound story may be similar to the first Tom and Jerry cheater, Jerry's Diary (1949). However, I feel that this is an even stronger short. This is due to clips that stand on their own quite well and the use of supporting characters. For a cheater, this cartoon is more fun than it should be. 

The credited animators on this short include Kenneth Muse, Irven Spence and Ed Barge. It marks the 79th Tom and Jerry short overall. There is a blackface gag in the clip from The Little Orphan. This gag has been cut for TV airings, so you won't see it on Boomerang, Me-TV or ME-TV Toons. An unedited version of this short can be seen on the DVD set, 

By the way Jerry needs a better editor as a typo was left in his published book, a misspelling of "wasn't."

Two Little Indians (1953)

Despite William Hanna and Joseph Barbera directing both the 1940's and the 1950's Tom and Jerry shorts, there were some distinct differences between the shorts of the two decades. The 1950's saw a heavier use of supporting characters, more dialogue and more use of sentiment. Though Two Little Indians does feature supporting characters it is a bit of a throwback to the 40's films with its lack of dialogue and sentimentality. 

In this short film Jerry agrees to take care of two orphaned mice (both of whom look exactly like Nibbles), who want to constant play Indian. However, they get themselves and Jerry in trouble when they attempt to scalp and shoot arrows at Tom. 

This is a wonderful old-fashioned Tom and Jerry short. This whole film is nothing but slapstick cartoon humor. Much of this humor is simply hilarious, the slapstick is. This whole cartoon is full of great gags, some of which made me laugh out loud. Another reason this film is a throwback to the 40's Tom and Jerrys is the very fast pace that offers gag after gag with little break. William Hanna's timing here is perfect and it is hard not to get caught up in the pure comic energy. Even if there are gags that don't make you laugh, they still add to the fun because they add to this comic energy. 

The credited animators on this film were Ray Patterson, Kenneth Muse, Irven Spence and Ed Barge. Robert Gentle is the credited background artist. In some TV airings, the ending gag with the peace pipe has been cut. This cartoon is available on the DVD set Tom and Jerry Spotlight Collection Vol. 1 and the DVD Tom and Jerry: Merry Mice. Unlike other cartoons that feature racial stereotypes this cartoon still plays regularly on Boomerang, ME-TV and ME-TV Toons. 

 

Motion Picture Herald, 1953

Just Ducky (1953)

 

This short film was in fact submitted for an Academy Award but ended up not being nominated. The films that were nominated were Christopher Crumpet (1953, UPA), From A to Z-Z-Z-Z (1954, Warner Brothers), Rugged Bear (1953, Disney (starring Donald Duck)), The Tell Tale Heart (1953, UPA) and Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom (1953, Disney). The Oscar went to Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom. This marked only the second year since the first Tom and Jerry short, when a Tom and Jerry cartoon was not nominated for an Oscar (there was no Tom and Jerry nominated in 1942 either).

In this short film, Quacker the duck is unable to swim. Because of this Jerry offers to help teach him to swim. Tom spies the duck as well and thinks that he would make a good snack. So, Jerry must both teach the duck to swim and protect him from Tom. 

 This is one of those Tom and Jerry shorts that mixes sentiment with violent slapstick. As such it does a surprisingly good job. The two work very well together and neither seems to overtake the other. Why this works might be that the sentimentality comes from Quacker's friendship with Jerry, while the slapstick comes from the scenes with Tom. Both the sentimentality and the humor also work very well on their own. The story is simple and very charming. It has a real sweetness to it that feels natural instead of forced. There are also some truly great slapstick gags here. Quacker using the safety pin on Tom and Tom getting hit by the brick are both examples of pure cartoon slapstick at its best. 

This film marks the last time there was a white line between Tom's eyes in any of the theatrical shorts. This white line would not reappear until 1990 with TV's Tom and Jerry Kids. 

The credited animators on this cartoon were Irven Spence, Ed Barge, Ray Patterson, Kenneth Muse and Al Grandmain. The credited background artist was Robert Gentle. 

Again, the movie poster reused the artwork from previous movie posters. Only the title was changed. 

 

Resources Used

Of Mice and Magic: A History of American Animated Cartoons by Leonard Maltin. 

https://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/cartoons-considered-for-an-academy-award-1953/

https://tomandjerry.fandom.com/wiki/Just_Ducky

That's My Pup (1953)

 

This short film marks the third appearance of Tyke, the small son of Spike the Bulldog. It is also the first appearance of this character since Slicked Up Pup (1951). After this short the character would appear more frequently in the Tom and Jerry cartoons. It would be less than a year before he appeared in another cartoon. In 1957 Spike and Tyke would receive a short-lived cartoon series of their own, though that would only last two cartoons. 

In this short film Spike wants to teach Tyke the basics of being a dog. This includes how to chase cats. To make sure his son does well Spike threatens Tom if he doesn't let Tyke chase him. Jerry overhears this and feels he can use this to get back at his foe.

This is a delightful short and one of the best cartoons to feature Tyke. This film reminds me of the Tom and Jerry cartoons of the 1940's with the sheer wealth of great gags. One of my favorite gags is when Jerry is barking at Tom pretending to be Tyke. The character animation of Jerry gleefully doing this while being down on all fours like Tyke is hilarious. The punchline at the end of the gag is also laugh out loud funny. The way Tom uses a fake cat tail to trick Tyke is also very funny. This film also has one of the best Tex Avery inspired giant takes in a Tom and Jerry cartoon (pictured above). Seeing Tom coming out of his fur, while having underwear underneath it, is very funny. Once again, the pacing here is simply wonderful. William Hanna was a master at comic timing, and he is fully at the top of his game here. The whole cartoon moves at a wonderfully quick pace. This not only allows every gag to land perfectly but gives the whole short a delightfully fun comic energy. 

The credited animators on this film are Ed Barge, Ray Patterson, Kenneth Muse and Irven Spence. The credited background artist is Robert Gentle. 

Below is the movie poster for this film. Once again it reuses the same artwork as the past few shorts. 

Johann Mouse (1953)

 

Note: Spoilers ahead.

This short film marked the seventh and last Tom and Jerry cartoon to win the Academy Award to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film (and the 75th Tom and Jerry short overall). It's competition this year was Little Johnny Jet (1953, MGM), Madeline (1952, UPA), Pink and Blue Blues (1952, UPA, starring Mr. Magoo) and The Romance of Transportation in Canada (1952, National Film Board of Canada). Though not the first (this was also true of 1950), this is one of the earliest years in which a Disney film was not nominated. This shows how at this time critical and public tastes where switching from the lush animation of Disney to the more stylized modern art approach from the UPA studio. This change in taste also helps us understand why no more Tom and Jerry shorts would win after this. 

In this short film, Tom and Jerry live in the home of the infamous composer Johann Strauss. Jerry finds himself unable to stop himself from dancing whenever Strauss plays. Every time this happens Tom takes this chance to try and catch Jerry. However, when Strauss leaves on a trip, Tom wonders how he will get Jerry to come out of his hole. Tom then learns to play piano. Just when he is just about to catch Jerry the two are discovered by the servants, who are amazed to see a cat play the piano and a mouse dance. Before long the two are performing before the emperor himself. 

This is a very charming cartoon. The film has a wonderful storybook feel to it. This comes from both the narration (provided by character actor Hans Conried (animation fans might know him for voiced both Captain Hook and George Darling in Disney's Peter Pan (1953))) and the wonderful art style. The use of actual storybook pages with storybook style illustrations of the characters are especially wonderful. This helps this film stand out as something that feels unique among the other entries in this series. That is something that is rare in a cartoon series that has been around over a decade, but it is very true here. This cartoon also benefits from some wonderful character animation, especially when Jerry is dancing, and a wonderful use of Strauss' classical pieces. The only real problem here is that there is not as many laughs here as you might expect. This film only really has one good gag (Tom's piano lesson). However, I will admit it is a great one. 

The credited animators on this film are Kenneth Muse, Ray Patterson, Ed Barge and Irven Spence. The credited background artist is Robert Gentle. Hans Conried receives a voice credit making him the first voice artist to receive credit on a Tom and Jerry cartoon. Though Scott Bradley receives the music credit. Jakob Gimpel is given a credit stating, "Piano Arrangements Created and Played by." Jakob Kimbell was a respected concert pianist and music professor. He would also work as a film composer on such movies as Gaslight (1944), Possessed (1947), Letter from an Unkown Woman (1948) and Planet of the Apes (1968). He also played piano on the Bugs Bunny cartoon, Rhapsody Rabbit (1946). A scene from Johann Mouse would later be reused in the cheater Tom and Jerry short, Shutter Bugged Cat (1967). 

Below is the movie poster for this film. It is the same one that was used for the last couple cartoons, only with the title changed. 

Resources Used

Of Mice and Magic: A History of American Animated Cartoons by Leonard Maltin

https://tomandjerry.fandom.com/wiki/Johann_Mouse

 

   

Jerry and Jumbo (1953)

 

This short film is another example of a cartoon where Jerry befriends another animal and most help protect him from Tom. In this case it is Jumbo the Elephant. This marks Jumbo's only appearance in a Tom and Jerry cartoon (either theatrical or for TV). However, the character would appear in the mobile game, Tom and Jerry Chase. Jerry would however later befriend another elephant in the Chuck Jones short, Jerry Go Round (1966). 

As this short film starts a circus train is passing by, and a baby elephant falls out. Jerry quickly makes friends with this elephant. Yet when Jumbo takes Tom's food (though he doesn't see the elephant), the cat becomes very angry.

This is an incredibly clever cartoon. While it starts off as simply another film where Jerry makes a new friend, it soon takes a very clever turn. The mind games that Jerry and his new friend play on Tom are not only very clever but they are laugh out loud hilarious. Not only are the gags very clever but they are perfectly delivered. Once again, William Hanna's timing is not nearly perfect, it is perfect. The wild takes that Tom does are truly hilarious. They are incredibly over the top but at the same time compliment both the story and the gags rather than detract from them. The ending gag of this film is especially wonderful and cracks me up every time. I also love how this cartoon is completely without dialogue, yet the great character animation makes all the characters seem completely real. 

The credited animators on this film are Kenneth Muse, Irven Spence and Ed Barge. Robert Gentle is the credited background artist, receiving his third screen credit on a Tom and Jerry cartoon. William Hanna and Joseph Barbera would later reuse the gag of an elephant sucking up peanuts with his trunk and making them seem to march towards him in the Ruff and Reddy TV series during a storyline entitled Pinky, the Pint-Sized Pachyderm (1958). This short was released to movie theaters in 1958 and 1959. It is available on the DVD set, Tom and Jerry Spotlight Collection Vol. 2. 

The following is an exhibitor's review from the Motion Picture Herald, "JERRY AND JUMBO: Tom & Jerry Technicolor Cartoon — This is one of the best of this popular series. Will keep any audience in stiches. - Bob Walker, Uintah Theatre, Fruita, Col." 

The following movie poster is again a repeat of the poster we have seen the last two times, only with the title changed. 

 

Resources Used

https://tomandjerry.fandom.com/wiki/Jerry_and_Jumbo

https://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/in-the-center-ring-part-17/

https://lantern.mediahist.org/

The Missing Mouse (1953)

 

This short film marked the first Tom and Jerry cartoon of 1953 (and the 73rd Tom and Jerry short overall) and was strong start for that year. 

In this short film, some white shoe polish pours on top of Jerry and makes him appear to be a white mouse. Meanwhile Tom hears over the radio that a white mouse has consumed a secret explosive and escaped from a scientific laboratory. Seeing Jerry look like a white mouse, Tom gets very frightened. Jerry decides to use this to his advantage and get revenge on his foe. 

This is a delightful cartoon. The premise itself is very clever and provides a delightful twist on the classic Tom and Jerry formula. This premise makes this film stand out while still holding everything that we love about Tom and Jerry. While this may not have the sheer number of great gags that are in the 1940's shorts, there are some truly wonderful comedic moments here. The bit where Tom turns into an old man cat and the ending gag are truly hilarious. This film also benefits from some truly wonderful character animation. Once again this makes these characters feel completely real to us.

This is a rare Tom and Jerry cartoon of this time period, where the music credit goes to someone other than Scott Bradley. In fact, this marks the first Tom and Jerry short to have someone else in charge of the music. The music credit goes to Edward Plumb. Plumb is best known for his work at the Disney studio, where he did music for many Disney films, both live action and animation. Some of the Disney feature length films he did music on include Fantasia (1940), Dumbo (1941), Saludos Amigos (1942), The Three Caballeros (1944), Peter Pan (1953), The Living Desert (1953), The Vanishing Prairie (1954), Davy Crockett: King of the Wild Frontier (1955), Lady and the Tramp (1955), Davy Crockett and the River Pirates (1956) and Johnny Tremain (1957). Some Disney short films he worked on include Donald's Crime (1945), Water Birds (1952), The New Neighbor (1953), How to Sleep (1953) and Donald's Diary (1953). His non-Disney credits include Girl Trouble (1942), You Were Never Lovelier (1942), Monsieur Beaucaire (1946), The Great Lover (1949), Father Is a Bachelor (1950), The Painted Hills (1951), That's My Boy (1951) and Angels in the Outfield (1951). 

The credited animators on this film include Ray Patterson, Ed Barge, Kenneth Muse and Irven Spence. Robert Gentle is the credited background artist. A clip from this short would later be used in the Tom and Jerry cheater cartoon, Matinee Mouse (1966). Jerry would later be disguised as a white mouse again in Mouse for Sale (1955), Buddies Thicker Than Water (1962, where he pretends to be a ghost) and an episode of Tom and Jerry Tales called Bats What I Like About the South (2006).

Below is the poster for this film. Notice it is the same poster used for The Dog House (1952), just with the title changed. This poster will be seen a lot from now on. Luckily it is much more pleasant to look at than some of the earlier Tom and Jerry posters. 

The Dog House (1952)

 

This short film marks the last Tom and Jerry cartoon to be released in 1952 (and the 72nd Tom and Jerry short overall), ending the year on a strong note. 

In this short film, Spike is trying to build himself a new doghouse. However, when Tom (while chasing Jerry) accidently knocks over the doghouse, Spike tells him that if he damages the house again there will be murder. Tom has to try to catch Jerry without damaging Spike's house, which proves to be a lot more difficult than it sounds.

This is a delightful little short. The basic storyline has been done before and would be done again. However, it is very well handled here. Plus, the point of this cartoon is not the story but the comedy. This cartoon features a rapid succession of gags. While these gags may not be as laugh out loud funny as some of the gags in the 40's shorts, many of them put a real smile on my face. William Hanna is at the top of his game when it comes to his comic timing here. Not only are the gags perfectly timed, but the way they are delivered one after another creates a pure comic energy that I find very hard to resist. It just makes this whole film tons of fun and even made me enjoy the gags that I may not have even laughed at. Again, the character animation for all three characters is perfect making each of them feel completely real to us.

The credited animators on this film are Kenneth Muse, Irven Spence, Ray Patterson and Ed Barge. John Didrik Johnsen was credited as the background artist for this cartoon, making this the second Tom and Jerry film to credit the background artist. As well as doing background art for the Hanna and Barbera Tom and Jerry shorts, Johnson also did background art for other MGM cartoons, including those directed by Tex Avery and Dick Lundy. The scene with Tom breaking a hole through the door was reused from Love That Pup (1949). This film is available on the DVD set Tom and Jerry Spotlight Collection, Vol. 3 and the DVDs, Tom & Jerry's Greatest Chases Vol. 5, Tom and Jerry: In the Dog House, Tom and Jerry: Pint-Sized Pals and Tom and Jerry: Classic Collection Volume 3.

Below is the movie poster for this film. Note how it has nothing to do with the cartoon itself. 

Cruise Cat (1952)

 

Cruise Cat marks an interesting first in Tom and Jerry's filmography. With Robert Gentle's name being credited in the opening titles, this film marks the first time a background artist would be credited in a Tom and Jerry cartoon. Robert Gentle would not only work with William Hanna and Joseph Barbera on these theatrical shorts but also many of the Hanna-Barbera TV cartoons. He worked on such Hanna-Barbera shows as The Huckleberry Hound Show, The Yogi Bear Show, Quick Draw McGraw, Top Cat, The Flintstones, Wacky Races, Scooby-Doo Where Are You, Super Friends and many more.  

In this short film, Tom is the mascot on a cruise ship and his one job is to keep mice off. Of course, when Jerry comes on board this ends up being a much more difficult job than he bargained for.

While this may not rank among the best Tom and Jerry cartoons, it is a very fun watch. Few of the gags are as laugh out loud funny as the ones in the 40's Tom and Jerry shorts. However, many of them do make me smile and each of them worked well enough. The basic story may be familiar, but the cruise ship proves to be a wonderful setting and gives the short a unique feel. The background art may be simply, but it is very effective and charming. There is something about it that is simplistic but completely charming. Both Tom and usual are their usual wonderful selves. Even though the character animation may not be as elaborate as in previous shorts, it is still very expressive and helps bring these characters to life. William Hanna's comic timing is still as great as ever. While this may not be the funniest Tom and Jerry short, it has a wonderful sense of comic energy throughout. 

This film features a scene where they enter the ship's movie theatre. Playing at that theater was the Tom and Jerry cartoon, Texas Tom (1950). The cat and mouse stop their fighting to watch themselves. However, when each laugh at a moment in Texas Tom where the other gets hurt they get angry and begin fighting again. This is a clever scene that always puts a smile on my face. This basic premise of this scene greatly resembles the later Tom and Jerry short, Matinee Mouse (1966). In that film Tom and Jerry would call a truce and go to the movies together. However, when their cartoons start playing, the two end up laughing at each other and fighting again. 

The credited animators on this film are Irven Spence, Ray Patterson, Ed Barge and Kenneth Muse. It is the 71st Tom and Jerry short overall. It is available on the DVD set, The Tom and Jerry Spotlight Collection Vol. 2. 

 An episode of Hanna-Barbera's TV show, The Tom and Jerry Show would be named Cruise Kitty (1975). In that TV cartoon, Spike is hired as head of security on a cruise ship, while Tom and Jerry are stowaways. Spike tries to tell the captain about Tom and Jerry, but the captain never notices the cat and mouse. 

Below is the movie poster for this film. It gives us a nice shot of Tom's butt as well as a very off model Jerry. 

Push-Button Kitty (1952)

 

Though Push-Button Kitty seems like just another Tom and Jerry short, it actually does have some historical significance. It is the last appearance of Tom's original owner (often referred to by fans as Mammy Two-Shoes). However, she would be brought back much later for the TV series Tom and Jerry Tales. There she would be renamed Mrs. Two-Shoes and instead of being the black stereotype seen in the theatrical cartoons, she is white in that series. With the cartoon Pet Peeve (1954), Tom would have new owners a couple named George and Joan. With Push-Button Kitty being the last appearance of Tom's original owner, it is appropriate that she plays a larger role here than usual. 

In this short film, Tom's owner gets a new robotic cat to help her get rid of Jerry. The robotic cat is very good at this job. It throws Jerry out of the house and Tom is not happy about being replaced. The two foes team up to get rid of this mechanical menace.  

This is a very fun cartoon. The premise is a delightfully clever one and the ways that Tom and Jerry get revenge on the robot cat are incredibly clever. This clever story really helps this film stand out among the many Tom and Jerry cartoons. Even the various methods that the robotic cat uses to catch Jerry are very clever and creative. It is also always a delight to see Tom and Jerry team up together. It is wonderful how this can be done while keeping both of them fully in character. It just shows how strong of characters both of them are. There may not be the sheer wealth of great gags that are in the Tom and Jerry cartoons of the 1940's. However, the great gags there are here are truly funny. The final gag is absolutely hilarious.   

The credited animators on this film are Irven Spence, Ed Barge and Kenneth Muse. This is the 70th Tom and Jerry theatrical cartoon overall. The film is available on the DVD set, The Tom and Jerry Spotlight Collection Vol. 2. This cartoon would essentially be remade as the Tom and Jerry Tales episode, Tin Cat of Tomorrow (2007).

Below is the typically ugly movie poster for this film. 

Fit to be Tied (1952)

 

This film is in some ways is quite reminiscent of the earlier Tom and Jerry short, The Bodyguard (1944). However it doesn't borrow any gags from the previous cartoon and provides enough of a twist on its premise to still stand as its own thing. 

As this film starts Spike the bulldog steps on a tack. Jerry removes the tack and Spike gives Jerry a bell and tells him to ring it whenever he gets into trouble. Of course, for Jerry this means whenever Tom bugs him. So far, this short is extremely similar to The Bodyguard, only Jerry rings a bell instead of whistling. However then comes the twist that makes this a quite different cartoon. A leash law is passed, and Spike is now tied to his doghouse. This is a situation which Tom naturally takes advantage of. 

This is a wonderful film and one of the best Tom and Jerry cartoons of the 1950's. Everything about this cartoon is completely delightful. It is a fast-paced romp with one great gag after another. Not only is this film filled with a great comic energy but even with the sheer number of gags each of them works perfectly. Once again William Hanna's timing is not nearly perfect, it is perfect. This cartoon also benefits from truly wonderful character animation. The highlight of this is the scene where Tom is getting his revenge on Spike as Spike is tied to his doghouse. The sheer joy he feels while being free to attack his enemy makes this scene so much fun to watch. In great contrast is when he is forced to serve Jerry. The complete disgust that Tom conveys and the smugness on Jerry's face make this simple gag truly hilarious. Animators in these cartoons are really doing the same job that actors did in silent films. With this in mind this is not only a great bit of animation but a fine piece of acting by any standard. 

The credited animators on this film are Kenneth Muse, Irven Spence, Ray Patterson and Ed Barge. This marked the 69th Tom and Jerry cartoon in total. This cartoon would be reissued to theaters in 1958. A clip from this short would later be used in the Tom and Jerry cartoon, Smarty Cat (1955).  A clip from this cartoon can be seen on the TV in the live action movie, Baby's Day Out (1994).

Below are some production drawings for this cartoon. 

Below is the movie poster for this film. 

Little Runaway (1952)

 

Thus is another Tom and Jerry film in which Jerry befriends another animal and has to protect his new friend from Tom. This friend is a little seal. Though this marks the only appearance of this seal in a theatrical cartoon short, the character would later appear in episodes of TV's The Tom and Jerry Show (the 2014 version) and Tom and Jerry in New York. 

In this short film a seal escapes from the circus and hides in the pool in Tom and Jerry's yard. However, when Tom hears that there is a reward for returning the seal, he does what he can to capture the seal and Jerry must protect his new friend. 

This is a delightful cartoon. The story may be simply and familiar, but it is charming. The seal makes a wonderful sidekick for Jerry. He is a very cute character but never in a way that feels forced or cloying. The scene with him telling Jerry his story is simply adorable. Humor-wise, this film may not have the sheer number of gags that appear in the cat and mouse duo's cartoons of the 1940's but there are some wonderful comedic moments here. The gags involving the bicycle and glass of water always make me laugh out loud. The cartoon also benefits from some very strong character animation. The best example of this is the scene where Jerry is hiding behind the fish and makes the fish dance. What makes this scene so wonderful is that the fish has no emotion on his face and yet the dancing and movement is incredibly expressive. It doesn't hurt that the scene is also very funny. 

The credited animators on this film are Ed Barge, Kenneth Muse, Irven Spence and Ray Patterson. The cartoon is available on the DVD set, Tom and Jerry Spotlight Collection Vol. 3. 

Below is the movie poster for this film.