Cat Napping (1951)

 

Cat Napping marked the last of eight Tom and Jerry cartoons released in 1951 and 62nd Tom and Jerry short film. 

In this short film, Jerry is napping on a hammock, when Tom comes by wanting to nap on the same hammock. Tom kicks Jerry off the hammock and of course Jerry seeks revenge on his feline foe. 

This is a very fun cartoon. If it doesn't fully live up to earlier Tom and Jerry shorts that is more because those cartoons set up such a high standard than anything wrong with this film. While there aren't as many laugh out loud moments here as the shorts of the 1940's, there aren't any jokes that fall flat either. It just that this is a cartoon that makes you smile more than laugh out loud. There is nothing wrong with that and this cartoon is simply a delight. Once again Willaim Hanna's timing is pitch perfect. The whole cartoon moves at a very quick pace, and it is hard not to get caught up in the comic energy here. Scott Bradley's very energetic score only adds to this energy and fun. The film also benefits from some wonderful character animation. One of the few laugh out loud moments here comes mainly from the character animation. This is a wonderful moment when Tom finds Spike's dog collar and tries to picture who it belongs to. The animation in this scene allows you to watch Tom's mind working. The joke in itself is fine but it is this little touch that makes it truly funny. 

A group of ants would appear in this cartoon. They would later appear in the Tom and Jerry shorts, Pup on a Picnic (1955) and Barbecue Brawl (1956). They would later be reoccurring characters on TV's Tom and Jerry Kids Show.

After going to a creamy-tan color in his last appearance, Spike goes back to a light gray here. This is the last time he would be the last time he would appear as this color until 1990 in the TV series, Tom and Jerry Kids Show. Despite a better print existing until very recently Cartoon Network and Boomerang have only been showing a very faded poor looking print of this cartoon. It wasn't until 2020 that Boomerang would start showing a much better print. 

The credited animators on this film are Irven Spence, Ray Patterson, Ed Barge and Kenneth Muse. It is available on the DVD set Tom and Jerry Spotlight Collection, Vol. 1, as well as the induvial DVDs Tom & Jerry's Greatest Chases Vol. 3 and Tom and Jerry: In the Dog House. 

There would be an episode of The Tom and Jerry Show called Cat Napped. However, that episode would bear no relation to this short film.

The movie poster for this film uses the title, Fraidy Cat, which is the name of a 1942 Tom and Jerry cartoon.