Tom & Jerry: The Golden Era Anthology (1940-1958)

[knives]

Another early television animation that holds up is Clampett’s delirious Beanie and Cecil. It’s basically to low budget animation what the Fleischer’s were to primitive animation.

[Lemmy Caution]

I never understood the appeal of Tom & Jerry, just seemed formulaic, largely uninspired, with undistinguished artwork. An empty vessel that somehow became iconic. Even their names are bland.

In 1991, T&J commenced a long run on Chinese Tv. And are still massively well known here, simply known as The Cat and the Mouse in Chinese. Much of the appeal probably just a strong desire at that time for Western culture and that was one of the very few international programs the govt offered. (Growing Pains vied with T&J for #1 imported TV show in the 90's). I guess the silent aspect made T&J universal (and cheaper as you didn't have to hire voice dub actors, translators, etc). Possibly almost nobody having pets (until the mid to late 90's) had an impact as well.

[Lowry_Sam]

I enjoyed the classic cartoons as a kid when they were presented as a selection. I did find much of the story lines to be a bit repetitive however when presented with a bunch of different ones there was at least one from the bunch that usually made them worthwhile. Bugs Bunny however was the exception, I never tired of those and often watched a program to completion in hopes of another Bugs. The other exception is the non-standard ones, particularly those that satirized celebrities. As an adult now I can only watch multiple Bugs Bunny episodes in a row.

[brundlefly]

What about Universal's marquee character, Woody Woodpecker? That guy gets NO love compared to Bugs and Mickey.

Woody Woodpecker was my absolute favourite as a young child but you're right, he pretty much never gets mentioned in today's culture. That said I can't imagine his schtick holds up.

Was surprised to see this is almost twenty years old.

[Zot!]

I never understood the appeal of Tom & Jerry, just seemed formulaic, largely uninspired, with undistinguished artwork. An empty vessel that somehow became iconic. Even their names are bland.

Truly, it speaks to the human condition and the universality of our petty striving towards life's pursuit, only to be met with hardship and deference.

I know I'm the lone dissenter in this thread to proclaim the singular beauty and genius of Tom & Jerry, so I won't bother beating a dead horse convincing anyone. However, I want to raise the fact that the animation is absolutely in a different galaxy than the crude primitivism of everything else that has been mentioned as overall being superior. I am not immune to the charms of budget animation (including the Hanna/Barbera stable), and can understand the offset of clever writing with cheap farmed-out art made by hundreds of faceless foreign animators who are simply punching the clock. BUT, it can't sweep away what a handful of talented dudes in a studio managed to crank out with only pen and ink with their own hands and incredible talent and imbued with their personality. Truly this era was something exceptional we will never see again.

[hearthesilence]

Was surprised to discover that after MGM shut down Tex Avery's animation unit, he rejoined Walter Lantz Productions (he originally did the Oswald the Lucky Rabbit shorts for them from 1931 to 1935) and signed a 20-year contract to produce ALL of the Woody Woodpecker and Chilly Willy shorts, as well as creating new characters...but only did four shorts because he quit after finding out that the profit-participation clause in his contract was based on a percentage of net profits rather than revenue.

I made about four cartoons for [Lantz], then I started thinking about the contract. I took it to an attorney, and he said, 'Oh, brother! You'll never get a dime out of this. You're getting charged for everything but the paving out in front of the studio.' I was getting my percentage off the bottom instead of off the top. By the time all the charges went in, why, my goodness, there was nothing left. So, I gave up there.

Avery left behind three new Chilly Willy storyboards, which were later made into cartoons by director Alex Lovy. Two of the four shorts he did make (Crazy Mixed Up Pup and The Legend of Rockabye Point) were nominated for Oscars and the last short for Lantz, Sh-h-h-h-h-h, was the last theatrical short he ever worked on. He lived until 1980, so theoretically, he probably could have fulfilled his 20-year contract to the very end. Regardless, may be worth checking out the four he did make. (The one I didn't mention was I'm Cold, a Chilly Willy short.)

[swo17]

I knew he made those shorts that are included in a Woody Woodpecker set, but I wasn't aware of the backstory--interesting

[knives]

They’re good shorts. It’s kind of sad what happened following Lantz though. Theatrical shorts were dying anyway, but he was not going to make anymore after that. He was largely stuck as an animator rather than director besides a few commercials. He died anonymously working for Hanna Barbera.