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Lightning Cat

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Lightning Cat is a ginger orange cat who first appeared in the 1948 short Old Rockin' Chair Tom as Tom's rival.

Lightning is named as such because in his first short, he practically moved at the speed of lightning. In later cartoons, Lightning often appeared as one of Tom's alley cat friends/foes. Lightning has a similar apperance to Butch, except has orange fur (although his coloring occasionally varies from film-to-film). He is either depicted as a house cat or an stray cat.

Character overview[]

Personality[]

Lightning is a multifaceted character, known for being laid-back yet impatient, gluttonous yet hard-working, and tenacious but also a bit manipulative. While his negative attitude sometimes gives him an arrogant edge, he is undeniably ingenious, no-nonsense, and incredibly fast. He enjoys hanging out with his pals, including Tom, Butch, and other neighborhood cats.

Eager to impress his owners, Lightning takes pride in showcasing his work ethic as an efficient mouser, consistently striving to live up to his reputation. He uses his unique mannerisms and reliability to support his owners, ensuring that they are always proud of his efforts. Whether it's catching mice or simply bringing a smile to their faces, Lightning is determined to prove his worth.

Appearance[]

Lightning is recognizable for his striking orange fur, white paws, and vibrant green eyes. In Saturday Evening Puss and Smarty Cat, his tail is notably wrapped in a bandage, reminiscent of Meathead. While he often physically resembles Butch, Lightning’s chin is smoother and more rounded, giving him a distinct look.

Throughout his various portrayals, Lightning's color tone and character design have shown some variation. In his later classic-era cartoons, beginning with Mucho Mouse, he displays a lighter face. In the short Catty-Cornered, he takes on a Siamese-like appearance, sporting light tan fur with black ears and a tail.

In The Tom and Jerry Show (2014), Lightning is featured with blue eyes instead of his usual green. However, starting with Tom and Jerry in New York, he returns to his classic green eyes and overall design.

Bio[]

Lightning is a cat who is best known for his efficiency of speed. He is known to be either a house cat like Tom or stray cat. In his first appearance, Lightning is described to be a "new" and "younger" cat by Mammy Two Shoes implying he is younger than Tom.

History[]

Tom and Jerry original shorts[]

Lightning has made numerous appearances throughout the Tom and Jerry cartoon series, playing both major and supporting roles. He first made a significant impact in his debut episode, Old Rockin' Chair Tom, and later took on a prominent role in Mucho Mouse. In many other cartoons, he appears as a supporting character alongside his friends in episodes such as Saturday Evening Puss and Smarty Cat, although sometimes he is depicted as a minor character. Notably, he held a leading role in Scat Cats. His final appearance under the Hanna-Barbera banner was in Mucho Mouse.

Often shown alongside his companions—Tom, Butch, Topsy, or Meathead—Lightning participates in various social gatherings. At times, he is shown alone as a quintessential housecat.

After the golden age of animation, Lightning's appearances dwindled compared to other classic characters. However, an orange cat resembling him does appear in the 1960s Gene Deitch short Switchin' Kitten. In the Chuck Jones short Catty-Cornered, Lightning is depicted with a more orange-yellow hue, along with notable changes, such as black ears and a black tail.

Tom and Jerry Tales[]

In Tom and Jerry Tales, Lightning does not appear, but his orange fur color is transferred to Meathead.

The Tom and Jerry Show (2014)[]

Lightning reemerges in The Tom and Jerry Show (2014) as a minor character. He often socializes with other cats or functioning as a house cat with an owner. Unlike his earlier appearances, he does not appear alongside Butch or Meathead and is featured in only five episodes between Seasons 2 and 3.

Tom and Jerry in New York[]

In the second season of Tom and Jerry in New York, Lightning retains his original personality and appearance. He takes on his first major role since Catty-Cornered in the episode Relativity," where he receives his first major voice since Mucho Mouse. His well-known characteristics, such as remarkable speed, are acknowledged in Tom and Jerry: Cowboy Up!

Film appearances[]

Direct to DVD films[]

Tom and Jerry: A Nutcracker Tale[]

He or an orange cat who resembles him appeared among King Cat's Army in Tom and Jerry: A Nutcracker Tale.

Tom and Jerry: Cowboy Up[]
Tom and Jerry: Snowman's Land[]

Theaterical films[]

Tom and Jerry (2021 film)[]

Lightning is a minor character in the 2021 film voiced by Joey Wells. He appeared as an alley cat who is member of Butch's alley cat gang.

Filmography[]

Tom and Jerry original shorts[]

Spike and Tyke[]

The Tom and Jerry Show (2014)[]

Season 2[]

Season 3[]

Season 4[]

Tom and Jerry in New York[]

Season 2[]

Film appearances[]

Game appearances[]

Trivia[]

  • Lightning resembles Meathead in Saturday Evening Puss, although the two are not the same and have appeared side-by-side in a few cartoons. They have been confused in designs with features with the cat being orange having some of Meathead's features rather than his distinct features.
    • However, in many of his later appearances, as of The Tom and Jerry Show, Lightning shares a very identical design to Butch.
  • Other than Tom and Jerry themselves, he is the one of the characters that has appeared in the Chuck Jones-era (alongside Toodles Galore, Spike Bulldog, and Goldie).
  • Like his character design, his voice has drastically varied between his appearances:
    • In Mucho Mouse he has a Spanish accent.
    • In the Spike and Tyke cartoon Scat Cats, his voice is an imitation of Art Carney's character Ned Morton from Cavalcade of Stars, The Jackie Gleason Show and The Honeymooners. He was voiced by Daws Butler (best known as the voice of Yogi Bear, whose voice is also based on Ed Norton).
    • His voice in The Tom and Jerry Show episode "Missing in Traction" is very similar to that of Jerry Stiller, while his current voice as of Tom and Jerry in New York resembles that of Bear, the titular character from the Jim Henson puppet television series Bear in the Big Blue House.
  • In Old Rocking Chair Tom, his speed actually created a trail of lighting when he ran, but this has never been shown again after that short.
  • In Sleepy Time Tom, although the two singing cats with Butch were confirmed to be Lightning and Meathead, they are respectively addressed as "Light Brown Cat" & "Dark Brown Cat" in credits, though if one looks hard enough, Lightning's distinguished orange color can recognized in an albeit darker tone.

Gallery[]

Main Article: Lightning Cat/Gallery

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