More violent than Eminem, T & J are at it again (Tom & Jerry)

Member Name: bruffyboy

Product:	Tom & Jerry
Date:	16/02/09 (35 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: fast pace

Disadvantages: violent

WHAT IS IT ABOUT:
This short animation from the 40s and 50s centers on Tom the cat's attempts to catch Jerry the mouse. The cartoon focuses on Tom's plots and Jerry's intelligent evasion of escape.

WAS IT ANY GOOD:

On the one hand, this is an undoubted classic that we all loved as kids, and that's that. However, with the gift of hindsight, I can't help but wonder what the hell this show was made for. Now, it's a bit serious to say, but this program does nothing but promote violence and enmity, which surely are two of the things we least want to influence young children with?

I did a bit of internet research for this review, and two things jumped out. The first was how the intro stills show Tom and Jerry smiling at each other, and the second was the way no-one really knows why Tom was chasing Jerry; he never ate him, so what was it all about? These two points could be criticised for confusing kids, who on the one hand see a friendly couple, but then just see mindless violence for no reason.

In a world where computer games are often banned for extreme violence, and teen murderers cite music as their influence, I wonder if anyone has ever killed and blamed Tom and Jerry?

OK, back to the review - Tom and Jerry is an animated show, all hand-drawn (no CGI) that has a super fast pace as the two embark on the chase. The music and sound effects add to this, and you have a very exciting show.

On the violence front, it doesn't get much more graphic in a cartoon, as weapons such as clubs and knives are used, and Jerry even slices Tom in half at one point. I can't help but think that these pointless extremes of violence make this show improper for little kids, which is a shame.

In The Simpsons, the Ren and Stimpy show is an exaggerated parody of Tom and Jerry, but it's pretty much the gist of the original - and then came the 1975 remake.

AND THEN CAME:
In 1975, The Tom and Jerry Show was created, and featured a now friendly Tom and Jerry, with much much less violence. 48 episodes saw the two embark on adventures together, and team up against baddies. It was, clearly, a response to the bad press like mine above, but sadly there were less than 50 episodes, as opposed to 114 on the violent front.

IN CONCLUSION:
A sadly unacceptably violent cartoon.

Summary: don't watch it!