The News
Computer stuff, coloring and a DVD
Posted: July 20, 2010Hello all!
Compliments of Boomerang UK we have Tom and Jerry mouse cursors available for download:
Also, a Tom and Jerry fan from Brazil sent me the DVD artwork for the new Tom and Jerry Meet Sherlock Homes DVD.
Tom and Jerry Title Card
Posted: July 07, 2010Happy July 7th every one!
I just wanted to give you guys a little note about a Tom and Jerry Title card that was lovingly traced by a Tom and Jerry fan. You can find that image right here.
Thanks to Christian for all his hard work on this and for sharing!
Tom and Jerry: Deluxe Anniversay Collection review
Posted: June 28, 2010This last week I had a chance to watch the new Tom and Jerry Deluxe Anniversary Collection DVD. I have posted my review in the DVD/VHS section, but I'll post it here so that you, the fans, don't have to go digging:
I have been given a chance to review the new Tom and Jerry Deluxe Anniversary Collection DVD, so here is my take on this new collection of cartoons. I have two takes on this review, the Casual Viewer and the Purest. The Casual Review looks at from the perspective of someone that enjoys the cartoons for what they are as entertainment. The Purest Viewer, on the other hand, looks at the cartoons with higher expectations as one that has grown up with the cartoons, knows the history of the cartoons and respects the integrity of the animations.
The Casual Viewer:
This is a great set for the casual viewer. It has some of the best selected Tom and Jerry cartoons; all the Oscar winners and a few of the nominees. The cartoons presented on disc one are a broad selection of toons, showing how the characters and animation evolved over there years. Disc two has a limited amount of Tom and Jerry from the later eras after Hanna and Barbera's initial run. However, the second disc is not as comprehensive as disc one. The extras are limited to a new 18 minute documentary on Tom and Jerry through the years, which I enjoyed a lot; and a bunch of trailers.
If you haven't bought any of the Spotlight collection DVDs or Chuck Jones DVD and want a safe collection of Tom and Jerry cartoons for your kids, this is a set for you.
The Purest Viewer:
The question on everyone's mind is about how uncut these cartoons are: "The Milky Waif" and "The Little Orphan" have been edited and we are given the re-dubbed "The Lonesome Mouse". I find that a DVD that has a "warning screen", that you can't skip", that says the reason for presenting some of the cartoons as they were originally made is because pretending racism never existed in entertainment of this kind is doing a disservice to history a little misleading as we are given censored cartoons...again. Especially given the fact that they have a little box on the back cover that says that the DVD is meant for the adult collector and may not be suitable for children. This collection is more for the casual viewer than the adult collector as the adult collector wants their cartoons presented as they were originally made.
So how does this DVD fair to the Purest, well here's my take on the good, bad, and ugly:
The Good:
It's great for the casual viewer. It's got a lot of great shorts on it. I LOVED "The Karate Guard" cartoon, one of the last that Joseph Barbera directed (a year before he passed). The magic was still there and made me laugh out loud a lot. It was a very fun cartoon. I have to admit that I've enjoyed the Tom and Jerry Tales cartoons, and "A Game of Mouse and Cat" was rather clever in my opinion. Though, Tom and Jerry Kids were a product of the whole "let's make our classic cartoon characters babies" trend in the 90's, I found "Flippin' Fido" to be enjoyable.
I liked the new documentary about Tom and Jerry through the years. I'd really be interested in a comprehensive documentary about Tom and Jerry, Hanna-Barbera, and the MGM animation studio. I think that there is a lot of history, insight, and material that could be presented in a 90-minute documentary if the Powers That Be so decided to do one.
I don't think I'm going to be making friends at Warner Brothers for what I'm about to say, but I have to be honest.
The Bad:
This DVD is pretty much a double-dip. You can find about 90% of these cartoons and extras on the Spotlight DVDs and the recent Chuck Jones Tom and Jerry DVD. The only thing new to DVD is a new documentary, a couple Tom and Jerry's from the 70's, and a Tom and Jerry Kids. So they have an example of all the Tom and Jerry cartoons throughout the years, yet NO Gene Deitch cartoon! I know that the Gene Deitch era was a bit rough, but if you are going to mention him in the documentary and have examples of Tom and Jerry through the years, at least include "Dicky Moe" or the "Tom and Jerry Cartoon Kit". Can someone please explain the lack of Gene Deitch releases, please?
I'm surprised that this DVD didn't include "The Mansion Cat", the last Tom and Jerry to include William Hanna together with Joe Barbera from 2001. If I recall correctly that short has never been release on DVD.
The Ugly:
Aside from this DVD bringing nothing really new to what as already release, we still get CENSORSHIP! As mentioned earlier, "The Milky Waif" and "The Little Orphan" have been edited and we are given the re-dubbed "The Lonesome Mouse". We are given a DVD that is still missing the shorts, "Mouse Cleaning" and "Casanova Cat". To add to the ugliness, this DVD has "Touché, Pussy Cat" and "That's My Mommy," in all their matted glory despite the widescreen title card and the widescreen versions in the Spotlight Collections.
I always hope for the best on any new Tom and Jerry release, but I just don't think that there is much love given to them. This DVD is a disappointment for me and it feels like a shoddy way to celebrate 70 years of Tom and Jerry.
I'm still hoping that one day we will get a truly definitive DVD box set that has all the Tom and Jerry's UNEDITED from all the era's in one set. I'm sure that there will be a lot of people vying to be first in line if that ever is a reality.
Tom & Jerry: Deluxe Anniversary Collection
Posted: June 19, 2010This Tuesday, June 22, 2010, Warner Bros is releasing thirty of the best and most popular T&J shorts in one collection in Tom and Jerry Deluxe Anniversary Collection. Celebrate the most enduring team in animation history with a collection fans will want to chase and catch! Stars of their own theatrical shorts, movies and TV series, Tom and Jerry make the pursuit of pursuit eternal fun. This 2-Disc, 30-Short Collection samples many of their best (including 7 Academy Award winners) over the years, put through their paces and evolving their look and personalities through the talents of great directors (William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, Chuck Jones and Maurice Noble). Whatever the medium, their encounters are always fast, frisky and delightful.
Below are some details with image and trailer goodness:
Here's what's included:
Disc 1: "Oscar Winners and Classics"
Puss Gets the Boot
Midnight Snack
Dog Trouble
Fraidy Cat
Puss 'n' Toots
The Lonesome Mouse
Yankee Doodle Mouse
Mouse Trouble
Mouse in Manhattan
Quiet Please
The Milky Waif
The Cat Concerto
The Little Orphan
Saturday Evening Puss
Two Mouseketeers
Johann Mouse
Touche Pussy Cat
That's My Mommy
The Egg and Jerry
Tops With Pops
Disc 2 - "Through the Decades"
Excerpt from "Anchors Aweigh" (Jerry performs a dance routine with Gene Kelly)
Excerpts from "Dangerous When Wet" (a dream sequence where T&J perform a synchronized swimming routine with Esther Williams)
Chuck Jones Era Cartoons:
Penthouse Mouse
The Cat Above the Mouse Below
The Cat's Me-Ouch
New Tom and Jerry Show:
Cosmic Cat and Meteor Mouse
Jerry's Country Cousin
The Tom and Jerry Kids Show:
Flippin' Fido
New Era Tom and Jerry:
Karate Guard
Mansion Cat
A Game of Mouse and Cat (Tom and Jerry Tales)
Buy it on wbshop.com! The world’s favorite cat and mouse celebrate 7 decades of mischief and mayhem in the Tom and Jerry 70th Anniversary Collection.
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Tom and Jerry Meet Sherlock Holmes
Posted: June 18, 2010New DVD coming out this August 24: Tom and Jerry Meet Sherlock Holmes!
Check out the trailer here: Tom and Jerry Meet Sherlock Holmes
It looks kind of fun.
Thanks, Jim for letting us know about this!
Tom and Jerry Live action
Posted: May 02, 2010Finally, some more news about the new Tom and Jerry movie, though nothing really new. Does that even make any sense? Anyway, I happen to find this site today, Tom and Jerry Trailer that will hopefully have news and information about this upcoming movie.
For me the jury is still out on this. I'm not hip with the "origin story" plot. Here is the summary:
"The new Tom and Jerry movie is an origin story that reveals how Tom and Jerry first meet and form their rivalry before getting lost in Chicago and reluctantly working together during an arduous journey home."
I still have a bad taste in my mouth from the previous Tom and Jerry movie from the 90's. I'm not too sure about this one. I could be wrong, we'll just have to see. More information about this as I get it.
Oh, rumors still persist that it will be a 2010 release, though since there hasn't been much news I will have to agree with the blog poster that it might be postponed till 2011. However, this is all speculation on my part.
Party Supplies!
Posted: May 01, 2010Happy May Day!
I HAVE FOUND PARTY SUPPLIES!!!
Yes, after so many years of people asking about party supplies I can finally point you in the right direction. Head over to the Amazon Page for the list of available products. Thank you Hallmark for finally making this stuff!
For Starters: Tom and Jerry balloons for your next Birthday party:
Or maybe you would like some fabric to make some bed sheets?
More sad news
Posted: April 21, 2010So I'm being a downer right now with all the sad news posts instead of happy posts. But it's Tom and Jerry related so I'm posting it:
Cartoon Brew reports that Allan Swift, the primary (if not the ONLY) human voice in the Gene Deitch-era Tom & Jerry cartoons, has passed away at age 86. The news was reported to CB by Gene Deitch himself, who was a long-time friend of Swift's.
http://www.cartoonbrew.com/classic/allan-swift-1924-2010.html