13 Comments

It’s a classic even 83 years after it was first shown. Thanks for reading.

Expand full comment

It’s hard not to side with the under dog, well under cat here. Even his small victories were always good to see. 🥳

Expand full comment

You are so right, generations have enjoyed its simplicity.

Expand full comment

It really shows a social change as the cartoon has developed for sure. Thanks for reading 😎

Expand full comment

Interesting post in what must be one of the most recognisable cartoons of all time - I love the name Jasper and Jinx! Although it's difficult now to think of them being anything other than Tom and Jerry, of course. I was especially interested to read about the controversies and changes to the show, influenced by cultural changes.

Expand full comment

Thanks for this. It was a great one to research and find the cultural links.

Expand full comment

I’d forgotten that Tom had had another name, but as soon as I read that I remembered a snippet the cartoon it appears in. I can just see the stockinged feet of the lady in her slippers and apron, up on the stool, waving her broom, yelling “Jasper!” in that Southern accent they gave her.

I don’t think I’d ever twigged that she was black, or likely either poor or a housekeeper/cleaner, as an elderly neighbour dressed a bit like that on cleaning day. 😆 Racial profiling went over your head a bit when you were a kid in 80s rural England.

Glad they listened to the public and moved with the times!

Expand full comment

You are so right, it went over my head too but, like you I am glad that they changed things to go with society and cultural changes. Thank you for taking the time to post 🤩

Expand full comment

That Whoopi Goldberg intro is really interesting and reflective. It probably causes a lot more thinking about the cartoons while people watched them (rather than not watching them and not thinking). Thanks for sharing this.

Expand full comment

I used to love watching this cartoon :) it’s interesting to read about the controversies associated with older episodes. Thank you for sharing

Expand full comment

I loved Tom and Jerry but I used to get so angry with how Tom was always getting in trouble. The odd episode where Tom won I felt this real sense of pride and vindication 😂

Expand full comment

For all its faults, I loved Tom and Jerry as a kid (to be fair, there wasn't much else on TV then in England). I also enjoyed sharing it with my sons many years later. The second time around, I grew to admire the work of Chuck Jones. He brought a kind of noir vibe which the adult me appreciated. Thank you for bringing it all back!

Expand full comment

Thanks as always, Jon. Another wonderful trip down memory lane!

Expand full comment