The News
Happy Post-Thanksgiving!
Posted: November 30, 2013The updates keep coming! YAY! I've added a bunch of new images, 9 images to the gallery from the Gene Deitch years. I've also added about 25 model sheets from Tom and Jerry Meet Sherlock Holmes.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Posted: November 28, 2013Okay, so it's been a while since I've done anything with Tom and Jerry. It's the story of my life, I'm just way too busy with life at the moment and there really isn't much happening in the world of Tom and Jerry so it's hard to keep up with the site.
However, I've decided that the image gallery has been neglected so look for some new images coming soon, in fact I've added about 10 images today and hope to have a few more posted.
Speaking of images, I went through my archives of Tom and Jerry images and I just can't remember what I've put up on what I've not. As it stands, the picture gallery alone has over 800 images. I think in the next few months or so I'm going to go through my archives, go through the site and really organize the imagery. I don't know what the means just yet, but it something that I should have done a while ago. Part of the organization, I think, will include matching my gallery with my Pinterst boards.
Hope everyone has a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving!
Tom and Jerry's Giant Adventure Review
Posted: August 12, 2013We start with a montage of Storybook Town a Walt Disney-esque park that started out great but after Joe Bradley, the creator and founder, passed so did the dream of the theme park and it soon fell into disrepair and abandonment. The theme park is centered around all the fairy tales/nursery rhymes most everyone knows about, Old Mother Hubbard, Peter Pumpkin Eatery, The Cow Jumping over the Moon, etc. What's left of the theme are the two last animals from the petting zoo, Tom and Jerry; and the star act of a high diving cow named Hermione. As you would guess there is a villainous developer name Mr. Bigley who controls the mortgage and is wanting to convert the park into a strip mall. Unfortunately for Jack Bradley, Joe's son, and the Widow Bradley they have to sell their only act, the Diving Cow named Hermione, to a Circus in order to pay for the mortgage before Mr. Bigley takes over the park. When Jack, Tom, and Jerry take Hermione to where the circus usually set up they discover that the circus is packing up and heading out of town. The trio miss their opportunity to sell Hermione, but a mystery farmer, a Farmer O'Dell shows up to buy Hermione right as the Circus leaves town early. The farmer convinces Jack to sell the cow for some magic beans and I think you know where this is going.
Tom, Jerry and Jack plant the Magic beans and sure enough, a beanstalk magically grows all the way up to "fairy land" which is a real life version of Storybook land. We find that Fairyland is subject to King Col, Droopy, and we see a few cameos from other classic MGM cartoons like Country Wolf, Country Red Hot, and Screwy Squirrel. However, they are terrorized by Ginormous the Giant who daily demands all the valuables from the subjects of Fairyland. Turns out the mystery farmer, O'Dell, as in Farmer in the Dell, is from Fairyland and has brought Jack Bradley up to their land as part of some prophecy to rid the land of the Giant.
So Jack, Tom, Jerry, and a few others head to the Giants castle to get Red Hot Fairy's magic harp, the key to getting rid of Ginormous, and the towns other valuables. The inside man at the castle that helps our classic cartoon pals is a giant mouse name Tuffy. While the villagers distract the giant with talent show our intrepid cat and mouse and Jack attempt to steal back the town's treasure from the giant.
Tom, Jerry and Jack save Fairytale Land and are rewarded for their efforts with a big golden egg which they use to pay off the mortgage and fix up Storybook Land to be the best theme park around.
The Good
I have to be honest, I approached this film with a bit of fear and trepidation. I didn't know what to expect and was pleasantly surprised with what I saw Tom and Jerry's Giant Adventure. This is a charming sort of animation with lots of homages to classic MGM cartoons with the inclusion of a lot of Tex Avery characters, that seem to be associated with Tom and Jerry more and more these days. Tom and Jerry's Giant Adventure also brought a couple smiles to my face with the nods to all the old nursery rhymes and fairy tales. Plus it was a fun take on an old story of Jack and the Beanstalk. I was also surprised at the three musical numbers in this hour long film.
The Bad
Okay, so bear with me a bit as did find this an enjoyable cartoon, I must approach Tom and Jerry's Giant Adventure with the critical eye of a very old Tom and Jerry fan. Please keep in mind that I did like this cartoon and would love seeing it again when my kids are a bit older.
I'm beginning to see some of these Tom and Jerry direct to video movies as become cliche', where we have a plot device which our duo is shoehorned in, they chase each other for a bit, then become fast friends and then help someone out of a bind. I really can't place examples but seeing so many recent Tom and Jerry's I get the sense that I've seen this story trope before in Tom and Jerry.
The other issue I have is that I didn't have any laugh out loud moments in any of the sight gags. There is a brief 2 minute Tom and Jerry chase in the beginning that falls pretty flat. The timing of the gags was way off which contributed to the flatness.
As mentioned above, there were a lot of cameos from other MGM cartoons and I have to say despite the smile those brought me it was all MEH. The cameos of Droopy, as King Col, Spike, Tyke, and Screwy Squirrel weren't used to much affect in my opinion. Screwy Squirrel was anarchy unleashed in the old cartoons, here he's just a wacky pie man.
Since Tom and Jerry Kids is still fresh in my mind from my episode guide update, I couldn't help think that this was those kids grown up in this movie as all the characters from that 90's cartoon made it in Tom and Jerry's Giant Adventure for an appearance.
The Ugly
There is only one truly ugly thing about Tom and Jerry's Giant Adventure and this Tuffy. WHY, IN THE NAME OF ALL THAT IS GOOD AND HOLY DOES TUFFY HAVE A FRENCH ACCENT?!?! WTF!!! It was awful! Every time Tuffy spoke I wanted to punch something. It was the same, tortuous, fake French accent that was to painful affect in Tom and Jerry A Nutcracker Tale. Please, Warner Brothers, for the LOVE OF HUMANITY, if you ever bring Tuffy into another Tom and Jerry cartoon, DROP THE FRENCH ACCENT!!! I get that Tuffy had a French accent in the Mouseketeer's cartoons, but those cartoons got the accent right and it was cute in those cartoons. Tuffy's accent is not cute, it is a audio crime. END RANT.
Overall, Tom and Jerry's Giant Adventure was a fun hour-long cartoon that is enjoyable and charming. Hardcore fans will be disappointed, the deviousness and cleverness of Tom and Jerry's antics are just not there and the story is predictable.
Some Tom and Jerry Music news
Posted: August 07, 2013Happy August!
For fans of Scott Bradley's music genius and you are out in England or can get BBC4 you are in for a tree. Long time Tom and Jerry Online Scott Bradley expert, P. Morris has sent a bit of news about what he's been working on:
The first is that I have arranged a collection of Bradley's music from various T&J cartoons into a single composition and it will be performed at the BBC Proms this year. The Proms are the UK's premier classical music concert series and so I'm thrilled that I have got a slot.
I've been working with John Wilson, who is a specialist in film music and musicals, particularly for MGM, and his orchestra will be playing the piece, currently called "Tom and Jerry at MGM" at the Royal Albert Hall on 26th August. It will be broadcast on BBC radio and will be televised the following weekend – 30th August on BBC4.
We're still sorting out the final details but it's been a labour of love getting the scores together (with the help of the University of Southern California) and we're just dusting off the final details at the moment. However, I couldn't wait to tell you.
The second piece of news is that there is a book coming out - "Sounding Funny", edited by Mark Evans. I've written a chapter on the music for The Cat Concerto. It's a detailed case study of how the music works and how Scott Bradley managed to get a funny score out of what was originally a serious classical piece. The book isn't out until January 2014 but I might as well let you know now, while I'm writing.
Show your support by listening in to the broadcast or watch it the following weekend!
...soo...it's kind of being awhile
Posted: July 15, 2013Confession time...I have really neglected Tom and Jerry Online. My only excuses is time. I've had very little time to devote to Tom and Jerry and honestly there hasn't been much new news out there so I distracted myself with other activities. In doing so I missed several new DVD releases which I will direct you below:
Most of these look like more double-dips in the themed DVD releases, nothing too exciting. Tom and Jerry's Giant Adventure is a new movie that seems to be about Jack and the Beanstalk. *Groan* I'm surprised that there hasn't been one with our favorite duo in Wonderland. I wish that these direct-to-video Tom and Jerry movies were a bit more inspired instead of insipid.
The good news..er..rumor..on the Gold Collection Volume 2 was that there was such an outcry from fans about it's lack of Mouse Cleaning that the release date has been bumped to later this year. No confirmation on a street date, but it looks like WB listened to the fans on this one....hopefully. I will reserved judgement until I hold the discs in hand.
DVD, Drama, & Dust
Posted: March 08, 2013Happy March and it's a Triple D update today.
DVD: I received a copy about a week ago of the new Tom & Jerry: Pint Sized Pals was released this week to a resounding Double-Dipped applause. We have a another compilation DVD this time featuring all the tiny characters that befriend Jerry in his fight against Tom. We have 30 cartoons on 2 bare-bone discs.
There really isn't much to say about this release as it's not really geared towards the collector. This more of the same themed DVDs that have been released steadily over that last year. No real special features aside from trailers. I'm really sad that there is only early Hanna-Barbera and Tom and Jerry: Tales in this release. Again, there is no love for either Chuck Jones, Gene Deitch, and the 70's Hanna-Barbera. So it's more of the same.
The hardcore fans will no doubt avoid this and wait for the Golden Collection. However, the Casual, my kids like Tom & Jerry, Fan will enjoy this addition to their kids' DVD collection.
Disc 1
- Love That Pup
- The Dog House
- That's My Pup!
- Hic-cup Pup
- Pup on a Picnic
- Puppy Tale
- Barbecue Brawl
- Endless Bummer
- Little School Mouse
- Robin Hoodwinked
- Jungle Love
- Royal Cat Nap
- The Vanishing Duck
- Cat Nebula
- Adventures in Penguin Sitting
Trailers:
Tom & Jerry: Robin Hood and His Merry Mouse
Scooby-Doo! Mask of the Blue Falcon
Languages:
English, Spanish
English, French Subtitles
Disc 2
- Babysitting Blues
- Game Set Match
- Happy Go Ducky
- That's My Mommy
- Little Quacker
- Southbound Duckling
- Just Ducky
- Cat Show Catastrophe
- Kitty Foiled
- Ho-Ho-Horrors
- The Two Mouseketeers
- Touché, Pussy Cat!
- Mice Follies
- The Egg and Jerry
- Tot Watchers
Trailers:
Tom & Jerry Around the World
Tom & Jerry In the Dog House
Lego Batman the Movie
Languages:
English, Spanish
English, French Subtitles
Drama Haven't kept up too much with what has been going on with the Golden Collection and the missing cartoons. For more information head over to the Tom and Jerry are a part of film history and should be treated as such Facebook page and follow along or get involved.
Dust The last month or so I've been dealing with a couple of hacks to the site that have not been fun. Thankfully, things are back to better and I can go back to focusing on other things.
Happy Birthday!!
Posted: February 10, 2013Happy 73rd Birthday, Tom and Jerry!!
YAY!
On the auspicious occasion I bring tidings of good news and bad news. First, the good news:
Blu-ray Disc and DVD releases have been announced for Tom and Jerry - Golden Collection Volume 2. These 2-disc sets are priced at $34.99 SRP for the high-def version, and $26.99 SRP for the regular edition; both will be available in stores on June 11th. Besides the 42 digitally remastered shorts, you'll get 6 new commentary tracks, an all-new Featurette called "Animal Antics: The Friends and Foes of Tom and Jerry," plus an 8-page Booklet with commentary from Animation Historian Jerry Beck.
The episode list is as follows:
- Disc 1
- POLKA - DOT PUSS
- THE LITTLE ORPHAN
- HATCH UP YOUR TROUBLES
- HEAVENLY PUSS
- THE CAT AND THE MERMOUSE
- LOVE THAT PUP
- JERRY'S DIARY
- TENNIS CHUMPS
- LITTLE QUACKER
- SATURDAY EVENING PUSS
- TEXAS TOM
- JERRY AND THE LION
- SAFETY SECOND
- TOM AND JERRY IN THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL
- THE FRAMED CAT
- CUE BALL CAT
- JERRY AND THE GOLDFISH
- JERRY'S COUSIN
- SLEEPY-TIME TOM
- HIS MOUSE FRIDAY
- SLICKED-UP PUP
- Disc 2
- NIT-WITTY KITTY
- CAT NAPPING
- THE FLYING CAT
- THE DUCK DOCTOR
- THE TWO MOUSEKETEERS
- SMITTEN KITTEN
- TRIPLET TROUBLE
- LITTLE RUNAWAY
- FIT TO BE TIED
- PUSH-BUTTON KITTY
- CRUISE CAT
- THE DOG HOUSE
- THE MISSING MOUSE
- JERRY AND JUMBO
- JOHANN MOUSE
- THAT'S MY PUP!
- JUST DUCKY
- TWO LITTLE INDIANS
- LIFE WITH TOM
- PUPPY TALE
- POSSE CAT
Now for the bad news:
What is missing from the above list? "Mouse Cleaning" and "Casanova Cat". Back in 2011, when Golden Collection Volume 1 was on the way, it became public knowledge that a new print of Mouse Cleaning had been located, and it was widely reported that the studio was spending money to clean up the footage in order for it to be included on DVD. And if it was on the disc, then there was no reason to believe Casanova Cat wouldn't also be there. Now fans feel cheated, as if a promise has been broken.
There is a Facebook campaign started in response to this so go there and show your support for putting the missing cartoons back into their historical context and order.
New DVDs on the way
Posted: January 28, 2013I hope that everyone is having a wonderful start to the New Year. I can't believe that January is almost over.
Enough of the pleasantries, let's talk upcoming DVDs!
For starters we have another themed release with music as the focus. Tom and Jerry's Musical Mayhem will hit the stores on March 12, 2013. This release seems pretty weak with only seven cartoons:
- The Cat Concerto (1950)
- Saturday Evening Puss (1950)
- Tom and Jerry in the Hollywood Bowl (1950)
- Johann Mouse (1953, last Academy Award Winner)
- Carmen Get It! (1962, Gene Deitch era)
- Rock N' Rodent (1967, Chuck Jones era)
- DJ Jerry (from ep. 24 of Tom & Jerry Tales)
However, this release is unique amongst compilation DVDs of this nature in that we FINALLY have a Gene Deitch cartoon on DVD. Tom and Jerry's Musical Mayhem might be worth it for that rare gem. As a side note, I do like the concept of these themed DVDs and if you like the musical Tom and Jerry's this would be a nice hour long distraction.
Next up we have Tom & Jerry Kids Show: The Complete Season One coming April 30, 2013. I don't know how I feel about it this, except for maybe *shudder*. After last summer's marathon session of Tom and Jerry Kids I don't think I'll be in a rush to get this DVD for myself. However, I know that that era of Tom and Jerry has it's fans, so this should be good news for those that have waited for a DVD release.
Finally, the upcoming release of Tom and Jerry The Golden Collection is happening this year. I've seen boxart and a unconfirmed date in March 2013, but nothing on Amazon with a definitive release date. I'll keep you posted.