Like most well-adjusted adults today, I grew up watching the zany antics of Tom & Jerry. No, I never hit my sister in the head with a bowling ball. I never fenced a country mouse for a hunk of cheese either. But I did laugh my butt off regularly at the cat-chase-mouse-hit-cat-with-baseball-bat cartoon.
And just like the the classic Warner Bros. Bugs Bunny cartoons, those Tom & Jerry ones are timeless. My kids love ’em, as do all of their cousins. So I was super excited to hear that WB Animation is bringing the animal duo back to TV in a brand-new series for Cartoon Network called “The Tom & Jerry Show.”
I was sent an early copy of the first episode to screen with my family. Oddly enough, we were about to pop in the disc when we turned the TV on and there was a classic episode of the old Tom & Jerry cartoon! It was a weird one where a witch adopts Tom as her cat, he steals her broomstick and goes for a ride, only to be punished by her later. Watching it with my kids was pretty surreal, considering I remember seeing it when I was their age.
Like I said, the classics are classics for a reason. Beautiful animation, funny stories and most important of all, a fantastic classical music soundtrack to really move the story. As the episode ended, we popped in the screener and prepared for the modern-day look at this cat and mouse team.
I’ll admit, at first I was taken aback a bit with the show. The art style is definitely more modern, but the colors are extremely bright. The music is also much more modern with more of a rock/techno type feel than any sort of classical type. So like most humans, my gut reaction to change is, “I like the original better.” But after watching the rest of the entire episode, I came to realize that it’s actually pretty darn entertaining.
Yes it looks different and sounds different. But it should. It’s been decades since the originals came out and we still have the originals to enjoy, so why not have a whole new style of Tom & Jerry cartoons to enjoy right alongside those classics?
It all boils down to the stories anyways, if you ask me. As long as you spin an interesting tail, er, tale… you’ll have a great show. The first half of the episode was called “Spike Gets Skooled,” and it sees Jerry’s dog defender Spike get sent off to obedience school, leaving a poor defenseless mouse at home. When Spike returns, Tom does everything he can to make sure the short-fused pooch loses his cool and gets tossed out again.
The second half of the episode, called “Cats Ruffled Furniture,” made us all chuckle merely from the concept alone. It was an episode all about witches! What are the odds that less than 20 minutes earlier, we had seen an old episode starring a witch? This new episode features two witches who leave Tom in charge of things while they sleep and, well, see what happens when a silly fighting cat gets his hand on a magic wand.
I’m definitely curious to see more episodes and hope these two eternally fighting-friends get to see a huge rebirth. After all, without these two, there never would’ve been an Itchy & Scratchy Show on the Simpsons!
Catch The Tom & Jerry Show the on Cartoon Network
Premieres Wednesday April at 5:30 pm (ET/PT)
Which episode does Spike say “your poor old papa”?
Oh I loved watching Tom and Jerry as did my kids. I don’t like change much but glad to know they are bring an updated show back on.
so glad to hear they are coming back!
This was one of my favorite cartoons growing up. I do not see this on television where I live now but a few years ago, I would find it on every once in awhile.
I am glad to see the classics return.. although they do still play on TV. They are well done and even tho there is ‘violence’ its not blood and gore.
I’m so happy Tom & Jerry are back! My kids will be too, I’ve been bringing them up right 🙂
You definitely are! Superheroes and Tom & Jerry are a great start, Tiffany!
I loved watching Tom & Jerry when I was little! I would watch it at my Nana’s house after we got off the bus!
I also loved watching the Tom and Jerry Show on TV when I was a child. They are so much fun to watch! It is great that they are bringing this classic fun cartoon back. So many more kids are going to get to enjoy the antics of Tom and Jerry!
i cant believe they still play this and its on a LOT! my 2 year loves the older episodes…
I always loved Tom & Jerry! I didn’t realize they brought them back – I will have to check our programming so I can see a new episode. Thanks for sharing!
We love Tom and Jerry in this house–THAT WITCH EPISODE is my Son’s FAVORITE I like when Jerry helps the duck who thinks Tom is his MAMA LOL
Looking forward to the new shows.
Tom & Jerry really are timeless and such a classic! I enjoyed Tom and Jerry, so did my daughters, and now my grandsons get to, also!
Wow, those are some bright colors. I am not so sure classics need a face lift, but hey, I enjoyed Tom and Jerry as a kid, so I think my daughter would like the new & improved Tom & Jerry. Of course she watches the classic version and loves it. Glad to hear there are new episode coming.
my kids always enjoyed watching Tom and Jerry
I remember watching Tom and Jerry with my sister. We always loved to watch at my grandmother’s house because she would laugh so hard. I’m glad their back. 🙂
I still do watch them anytime they are on. I too, watched as a kid and my grandchildren love watching them as well. I am like you with change, I love the originals but would give this a chance