Tom & Jerry

TOM AND JERRY

Since 1940

INTRODUCTION

The cartoons contain
some violent JDJV )RU
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American animated series of KDYH displayed genuine -HUU\ LV D small, brown PRUH YLROHQW LQFOXGLQJ
FRPHG\ VKRUW ÀOPV FUHDWHG friendship and concern for mute, house mouse who VOLFLQJ 7RP LQ KDOI
in 1940 by William Hanna each other’s well-being. DOZD\V OLYHV FORVH WR 7RP VKXWWLQJ KLV KHDG RU
and Joseph Barbera. Best ÀQJHUV LQ D ZLQGRZ
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by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. DVLGH WKHLU ULYDOU\ LQ RUGHU HQHUJHWLF GHWHUPLQHG DQG KLP NLFNLQJ KLP LQWR
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The series centers the love- PDWFK IRU -HUU\·V ZLWV -HUU\ 7RP·V WDLO LQ D ZDIÁH
hate relationship between Despite their endless DOVR SRVVHVVHV VXUSULVLQJ LURQ DQG VR RQ
WKH WLWOH FKDUDFWHUV 7RP D attacks on one another, they VWUHQJWK IRU KLV VL]H
FDW DQG -HUU\ D PRXVH have saved each other’s %RWK FKDUDFWHUV GLVSOD\
lives HYHU\ WLPH WKH\ ZHUH $OWKRXJK FDWV W\SLFDOO\ sadistic tendencies,
7KH SORWV RI HDFK VKRUW WUXO\ LQ GDQJHU FKDVH PLFH WR HDW WKHP it WKH\ DUH OLNHO\ WR WDNH
XVXDOO\ center on Tom is quite rare for Tom to SOHDVXUH LQ WRUPHQWLQJ
and Jerry’s numerous Tom is a grey and white actually try to eat Jerry each other.
attempts to have the best mute domestic shorthair EXW RQO\ WR KXUW RU FRPSHWH
of each other. 7RP UDUHO\ cat +H LV SRUWUD\HG DV ZLWK KLP DV XVXDO LQ D PRUH +RZHYHU ZKHQ RQH
VXFFHHGV LQ JHWWLQJ WKH EHVW OLYLQJ D FRPIRUWDEOH RU HYHQ LQWLPLGDWLQJ VWUDWHJ\ WR MXVW character appears to
RI -HUU\ PDLQO\ EHFDXVH RI SDPSHUHG OLIH WDXQW -HUU\ DQG VRPHWLPHV WUXO\ EH LQ GDQJHU WKH
-HUU\·V FOHYHUQHVV FXQQLQJ to obtain a reward from a RWKHU ZLOO VDYH KLP
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experience and their
attacking each other is
more play than serious
attacks.

PaPgaeg1e 1

TOM AND JERRY
Blue Cat Blues
November 16, 1956

INTERPRETATION

7KH YLGHR VWDUWHG ZLWK 7RP sitting in the middle of the train railway +H ORRNHG GHSUHVVHG DQG
VDG 7KLV YLGHR ZDV QDUUDWHG E\ -HUU\ WKH PRXVH Jerry narrates about Tom’s story and express
how sorry he felt for Tom.

full of gifts with a sign “Just
Married”

The heartbroken cat that are
EXULHG LQ GHEWV sits on the
PLGGOH RI WKH UDLOZD\ deciding
to end his own life.

Tom’s sadness is caused by a DQ DUP D OHJ DQG D \HDUV 7KLV WLPH Jerry does not try to
white female cat 7RP IDOO LQ VODYHU\ FRQWUDFW MXVW WR EX\ D save him DV KH IHHOV WKDW WKLV
ORYH ZLWK KHU DW WKH ÀUVW VLJKW car. PLJKW EH WKH EHVW ZD\ IRU 7RP
,QLWLDOO\ VKH VKRZV LQWHUHVW
WR 7RP /DWHU she started to 2QFH DJDLQ Tom failed to 6RRQ -HUU\ VWDUWHG WKLQNLQJ
turn down Tom, and decided impress her. He then started DERXW KLV RZQ JLUO DQG thinks
to choose a rich cat, Butch. drinking $IWHU EHLQJ GUXQN that she will remain faithful to
him.
he attempted to commit
suicide by drowning himself.

+RZHYHU Tom did not give $V VRRQ DV KH VWDUWHG WKLQNLQJ
up on his love IRU KHU HYHQ DERXW KHU Jerry saw her with
WKRXJK -HUU\ WULHG WR VWRS KLP another mouse with the word
“Just Married” written on their
,Q RUGHU WR LPSUHVV KHU Tom He was saved by his rival vehicles. This breaks his heart
uses all his savings and sold which is also his friend, Jerry. DQG IHHO WKDW KH KDG QRWKLQJ
all his jewelleries just to buy 0HDQZKLOH D ERDW SDVVHG E\ OHIW He then joins Tom on the
her a gift KH HYHQ VROG KLPVHOI DQG VSODVKHV ZDWHU WRZDUGV train railway.
E\ VLJQLQJ DQ LQVWDOPHQW SODQ 7RP DQG -HUU\ It was the
ZLWK PRQWKO\ SD\PHQW white female cat and the rich 7KHQ WKH VFHQH IDGHV RXW DQG
LQWHUHVW UDWH FRVWV KLP cat, Butch sitting in the boat ZH DUH DEOH WR KHDU WKH VRXQG RI
the train.

PaPgeag2e 2

TOM AND JERRY
Blue Cat Blues
November 16, 1956

ARTWORK

This episode was created in November 16, 1956 ,W ZDV HVWLPDWHG WKDW WKH SURGXFWLRQ RI WKLV HSLVRGH
XVHV DURXQG 26 days to create WKLV HSLVRGH DV WKH HSLVRGH EHIRUH WKLV ´'RZQ %HDW %HDUVµ ZDV
UHOHDVHG LQ 2FWREHU

Controversial
Artwork?

6XSSRVHGO\ WKLV ZDV
VFKHGXOHG WR DLU RQ
Cartoon Network
DQG %RRPHUDQJ RQ
WKH GD\ LW UHOHDVHV

8QIRUWXQDWHO\ due 7KH SXUSRVH RI 7RP DQG -HUU\ FDUWRRQ LV WR PDNH WKH YLHZHU ODXJK DORQJ ZLWK
to the controversies D VDGLVWLF YLROHQFH EXW WKLV HSLVRGH LV GRZQULJKW GHSUHVVLQJ 7KLV PDNHV WKH
RI WUDJLF VWRU\OLQH HSLVRGH VWDQGV RXW IURP RWKHUV DV rather than having a comedic storyline with
and references of an even remotely happy ending, Blue Cat Blues has no real “funny moments”
DOFRKROLVP DV ZHOO DV DQG KDV D JHQXLQHO\ sad storyline with a truly tragic ending 7KLV KDV OHG VRPH
VXLFLGH this episode WR FRQVLGHU LW D SDUWLFXODUO\ GDUN PRPHQW LQ FDUWRRQ KLVWRU\ 7KH HSLVRGH LV D
are not able air in wake-up call to men FRPSDUHG WR women who only like the dirty money and
most of the channels. their wealth.

This episode has There are many colours XVHG LQ WKLV DUWZRUN LQFOXGLQJ 5RPDQ 6LOYHU $UJHQW
aired once on TNT in 3LUDWH *ROG %XII <HOORZ %ODFN :KLWH WKDW DUH PDLQO\ XVHG LQ WKH FKDUDFWHUV
WKH HDUO\ V DQG DQG GLIIHUHQW YDOXHV RI %OXH FRORXUV IRU WKH EDFNJURXQG $FFRUGLQJ WR FRORXU
on Cartoon Network WKHRU\ warm colour represent excitement, while cool colours are usually
6RXWKHDVW $VLD LQ calming and soothing can be use to express sadness. 7KHUHIRUH WKLV DUWZRUN
1RYHPEHU PDNH JRRG XVH RI FRORXUV the artist uses warm colour when Tom is happy
and he applies cool colour in majority of the background when Tom is
Despite the episode depressed.
EHLQJ EDQQHG LQ PRVW
RI WKH 79 FKDQQHOV %HVLGHV WKHUH DUH PDQ\ art principles and elements XVHG LQ WKLV DUWZRUN
LW FDQ VWLOO EH VHHQ )RU H[DPSOH variety LV VKRZQ LQ WKLV DUWZRUN WKHUH DUH PDQ\ W\SHV RI lines,
on DVD or it can colours, shapes XVHG Unity and harmony LV ERWK DFKLHYHG E\ DSSO\LQJ JRRG
EH GRZQORDGHG LQ XVH RI FRORXUV 7KLV DUWZRUN PDLQO\ emphasize on Tom cat, as he is the main
L7XQHV character of this show.

PaPgeag3e 3

TOM AND JERRY
Blue Cat Blues
November 16, 1956

AUDIENCE

$V D KDUGFRUH IDQ RI 7RP DQG -HUU\ , ZDWFKHG WKH
VHULHV VLQFH , ZDV D NLG ,Q P\ RSLQLRQ WKH PHDQLQJ EHKLQG
this episode can be comprehended in many ways.

The ÀUVW WLPH , VDZ WKLV HSLVRGH LV WKURXJK D DVD.
%DFN WKHQ , ZDV VWLOO D NLG DQG I did not manage to
understand the “dark meaning” of this episode , RQO\
NQRZ WKDW 7RP LV VDG DQG VWDUWHG DFWLQJ LW RXW WR express
his sadness EXW QHYHU GLG , UHDOLVHG WKDW KH LV DFWXDOO\
DWWHPSWLQJ WR VXLFLGH

$V VRRQ DV , JUHZ XS DQG VDZ WKLV HSLVRGH RQFH
DJDLQ RQ WKH Internet , VWDUWHG WR XQGHUVWDQG WKH ´GDUN
PHDQLQJµ RI WKLV HSLVRGH ,W ZDV VR sad and depressing
at the point that I even started questioning how is this
episode considered as a child’s TV show.

,Q P\ RSLQLRQ this episode shows how the real-
world works )RU H[DPSOH GHVSLWH 7RP GRHV QRW FDPH
IURP D ZHDOWK\ EDFNJURXQG EXW KH LV VWLOO willing to
VDFULÀFHV DOO KLV VDYLQJV DQG HYHQ VROG KLPVHOI IRU KLV ORYHG RQH +RZHYHU KH LV QR ULYDO
FRPSDUHG WR WKH ULFK FDW %XWFK ZKR FDPH IURP D ZHDOWK\ EDFNJURXQG

,Q P\ SRLQW RI YLHZ 7RP LV WKDW SHUVRQ ZKR LV ZLOOLQJ WR JLYH DOO RI KLV RZQ EXW KH ZDV
LJQRUHG DV he still unable to impress his loved one despite giving all of his ZKLOH RQ WKH RWKHU
KDQG %XWFK GRHV QRW QHHG WR VDFULÀFH HYHU\WKLQJ EXW KH LV DEOH WR IXOÀO HYHU\ UHTXHVWV IRU KLV
ORYHG RQH 7KLV VKRZV KRZ WKH UHDOLW\ ZRUNV people would not
FDUH KRZ PXFK \RX VDFULÀFHV EXW WKH\ RQO\
FDUH DERXW ZKDW EHQHÀWV ZLOO WKH\ UHFHLYHG

/DVWO\ , WKLQN WKDW 7RP·V DWWHPSW
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WKH RYHUZHLJKW DPRXQW RI GHEWV UHÁHFWV KRZ
people nowadays are trying to escape their
own problems by committing suicide
instead of facing it.

PaPgeag4e 5

TOM AND JERRY
Blue Cat Blues
November 16, 1956

WORLD

7KLV DUWZRUN KDG FDXVHG PDQ\ are made on the Internet +RZHYHU VRPH SHRSOH DOVR

controversies and arguments, EDVHG RQ WKH VXGGHQ IDGH DUJXHG WKDW WKH\ did not

LW ZDV EDQQHG IURP DSSHDULQJ RXW EODFN VFHQH DORQJ ZLWK committed suicide as a new

LQ 79 FKDQQHOV due to WKH VRXQG RI LQFRPLQJ WUDLQ HSLVRGH HSLVRGH LV UHOHDVHG

impropriety scenes for a show ZKLOH 7RP DQG -HUU\ LV VLWWLQJ RQ 'HFHPEHU DQG LW LV

that was meant for children. RQ WKH PLGGOH RI UDLOZD\ now under a new recording

company, Perspecta Stereo.

2QH RI WKH FRQWURYHUVLHV LV GXH 3HRSOH VWDUWHG arguing

WR WKH UHIHUHQFH RI GULQNLQJ whether or not Tom and 7KXV LQ DQ interview with the

DOFRKRO GXULQJ WKH VFHQH RI Tom Jerry actually kill themselves. producer :LOOLDP +DQQDK +H

being drunk from drinking mentioned that he had stopped

many bottles of milk. producing episodes

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inappropriate as Tom and on a different storyline

Jerry is rated as a TV-PG TOM CAT instead of episodes.
cartoon DQG LWV DXGLHQFH +H DOVR DGGHG WKDW no
DUH PDLQO\ JURXS RI minor

age and this action of Tom JERRY MOUSE one died from the train

PD\ PLVHGXFDWH WKHP hit as Tom jumped out
at the last moment and

$QRWKHU FRQWURYHUV\ LV Jerry was too small to

WKH ULFK FDW Butch staring DEAD OR ALIVE? get hit by that train.
at the female cat’s legs. $SDUW IURP WKH DUJXPHQWV
6RPH YLHZ WKLV SDUWLFXODU

scene as disrespect and debates made on the

against women. 'HVSLWH ,QWHUQHW WKLV HSLVRGH DOVR

WKLV DUWZRUN ZDV XQDEOH went viral on social media.

to make appearance on

79 FKDQQHO WKLV VFHQH ZDV 6RPH VD\ WKDW WKH\ DFWXDOO\ 3HRSOH HVSHFLDOO\ WHHQDJHUV

VWLOO cut off from the video in GLHG IURP VXLFLGDO DQG this was started to share this short

order to avoid controversies. VXSSRVHGO\ EH WKH ÀQDO HSLVRGH FOLS RQ VRFLDO PHGLD VXFK

of Tom and Jerry as this was DV )DFHERRN DQG ,QVWDJUDP

'XH WR WKH GDUN QDWXUH RI WKH the last episode to be recorded EHFDXVH majority of them

HQGLQJ many fans mistake with the Western Electric feel that their love life in

WKDW WKLV LV WKH ÀQDO HSLVRGH Sound System Company and reality are much related to

of the original series. LW ZDV H[SHFWHG WKDW WKHUH ZLOO the storyline of this episode,

0DQ\ DUJXPHQWV DQG debates EH QR IXUWKHU VHULHV DIWHU WKLV ”Blue Cat Blues”.

PaPgeag5e 6

References

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(YRQ ' Did Tom and Jerry ‘Commit Suicide’? 5HWULHYHG IURP
KWWSV ZZZ VQRSHV FRP IDFW FKHFN WRP DQG MHUU\ FRPPLWWHG VXLFLGH
)DQGRP Q G Blue Cat Blues 5HWULHYHG IURP
KWWSV WRPDQGMHUU\ IDQGRP FRP ZLNL %OXHB&DWB%OXHV
:LNLPHGLD Q G Tom and Jerry Title Card 5HWULHYHG IURP
KWWSV XSORDG ZLNLPHGLD RUJ ZLNLSHGLD HQ I 7RPDQG-HUU\7LWOH&DUGF MSJ
3LQWHUHVW Q G MGM’s TOM AND JERRY 5HWULHYHG IURP
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7KH6LPSVRQ&ROOHFWLRQ Blue Cat Blues 5HWULHYHG IURP
KWWSV ZZZ IDFHERRN FRP 7KH6LPSVRQ&ROOHFWLRQ YLGHRV

PaPgeag6e 7