Designs on Jerry (1955)

 

Designs on Jerry is a very iconic Tom and Jerry film and one of the first films cartoon fans think of when they think of the cat and mouse duo. Most every classic cartoon fan can remember the basic premise of the stick figures on Tom's blueprints coming to life. This premise is so well remembered that the 21st century TV series Tom and Jerry Tales would revisit it with the opening to each episode. 

In this short film, Tom decides to make it rich by creating a better mouse trap. He draws up a detailed blueprint and builds said mouse trap. He then goes to sleep with dreams about making it rich and plans to test the trap out on Jerry in the morning. However, while he sleeps the stick figure mouse on Tom's blueprint comes to life to warn Jerry. The stick figure cat also comes to life to catch the stick figure mouse. Jerry and his new friend must outwit this stick figure cat. 

While this cartoon may not be as laugh out loud funny as the cat and mouse duo's 1940's output, it more than makes up for this with its clever storyline. The premise of this film is irresistible. It is the kind of clever twist on the basic Tom and Jerry formula that makes for the best entries in this series. This cartoon follows the typical Tom and Jerry formula while still feeling like something unique. The juxtaposition of the traditionally designed Jerry with the more stylized blueprint drawings helps create some fun and very memorable visuals that stick in your mind while after the film is over. This cartoon also finds many fun and clever ways to use the fact that two of the characters are stick figures. That they can fight using pens and erasures and can transform their body into various shapes make this clever premise just as clever in the execution. Though Tom may have less screentime here than usual, he is still well utilized. The character animation on Tom and his dreams of becoming rich provide some fun visual gags at the start. 

The credited animators on this film are Irven Spence, Kenneth Muse and Ed Barge. 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. The ending of this cartoon was later reused in the Tom and Jerry cheater cartoon, Shutter Bugged Cat (1967). Designs on Jerry is available on the DVD set, Tom and Jerry Spotlight Collection Vol. 1. This is the 93rd Tom and Jerry cartoon overall. 

Below are some storyboard drawings for this film.

Below is a layout drawing for this film. 

Here are a couple publicity stills. 

Here is a brief look at the continuity script. 

This cartoon is also available to watch for free (and legally) on YouTube.

-Michael J. Ruhland

Resources Used

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

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