This marked the fifth Tom and Jerry cartoon to win the Oscar for Best Animated Short Film. Its competition this year was Mickey and the Seal (1948, Disney), Mouse Wreckers (1949, Warner Brothers) (that short would later be remade as the Tom and Jerry cartoon, Year of the Mouse (1965)), Robin Hoodlum (1948, UPA) and Tea for Two Hundred (1948). While I enjoy all the other cartoons listed, I feel that this year the best film won.
In this film, Jerry volunteers to take care of little Nibbles over the Thanksgiving holiday. The only problem is that Nibbles is always hungry. When Tom's owner lays out a wonderful spread for Thanksgiving dinner on the table, little Nibbles can't help himself and treats himself to all of the great food. Tom spots Nibbles and Jerry on the Thanksgiving table and a massive slapstick fight takes place.
This is simply a wonderful cartoon. It has everything that I love about Tom and Jerry. The gags come fast and furious with a comic energy that is simply a lot of fun. Each gag is timed perfectly as well. No gag either goes by too quickly or too slowly. Instead each of them is timed to get the greatest laugh possible. The gags themselves are all great. There are a lot of the gags in which one character will completely change shape (for instance after eating a big orange, Nibbles becomes the same shape as the orange). These were my favorite Tom and Jerry gags as a kid and I still love them today. The film also benefits from some truly wonderful character animation. Because of this Tom, Jerry and Nibbles all feel completely real here. Scott Bradley's music is also as wonderful as ever.
Watching this short today, you may notice an awkward cut after the candle lands on Tom's tail. There was a blackface scene here that has been cut out of many TV airings and DVD releases. Unfortunately, this little cut is very noticeable even if you don't know there was a blackface gag. This short would be remade as another Tom and Jerry cartoon, Feeding the Kiddie (1957). The later short would be in Cinemascope. A clip from The Little Orphan would later be reused in the Tom and Jerry film, Life with Tom (1952).
Below is the movie poster for this film. Notice the miscoloring of Nibbles here.
Resources Used
Of Mice and Magic: A History of American Animated Cartoons by Leonard Maltin
https://lantern.mediahist.org/
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