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Tom and Jerry Special Shorts is a 2021 web series based on Tom and Jerry. The show made its debut on HBO Max on February 20th, 2021.[1] The series received mostly positive reviews.
Plot[]
The classic comedic duo of Tom and Jerry is back in brand new shorts that showcase the rambunctious rivalry fans know and love.
Characters[]
- Tom Cat
- Jerry Mouse
- Sushi Chef
- Fishes
- Octopus
Cast[]
- William Hanna (Archive audio; Uncredited) and Andrew Dickman[2] - Tom Cat, Jerry Mouse
- Keone Young - Sushi Chef
Production[]
In February 2021, a series of shorts launched on HBO Max unexpectedly, without any prior announcement. Andrew Dickman revealed that the crew had developed the series during their downtime while working on Looney Tunes Cartoons. Initially believed to be a promotional effort for the Tom & Jerry film, these shorts garnered positive feedback from both fans and critics.
However, FR Dougal, an animation critic from CartoonMilk and a lifelong fan of Tom and Jerry, offered a contrasting perspective, providing a negative review of the shorts. While he acknowledged the nostalgic art style reminiscent of the mid-1940s character designs and appreciated the numerous gags, he expressed disappointment with aspects such as character animation, music, and inconsistent sound design, particularly criticizing the frequent use of the iconic William Hanna Tom scream.
Removal from HBO Max[]
One month after the series debuted, it briefly vanished from the service. The reason for its removal from HBO Max was unclear; however, it was reintroduced in July 2021. Upon its return, the series was no longer featured as a standalone program but rather categorized as two extras on the page for the Tom & Jerry film. Following HBO Max’s rebranding to Max, the shorts were removed again and have not returned since.
Notes[]
- This is the first Tom and Jerry series in the United States to be shown on streaming via HBO Max, instead of television channels such as Cartoon Network or Boomerang.
- It is also the first where the duration of the shorts is just five to four minutes instead of seven to eleven minutes.
- The show shares the same animation style as Looney Tunes Cartoons.
- Both Tom and Jerry's character designs in this show are based on their appearances from the mid-1940s cartoons, in contrast to previous post-1986 Tom and Jerry shows where the cat and mouse were usually drawn based on their appearances from the late-1940s/early-1950s cartoons. This is noticeable in Tom's character design, drawn with a more rounded face and two whiskers twirled together like a mustache.
- On a Roll and The House that Cat Built are the only episodes to be aired before the release of the 2021 film Tom and Jerry.
- The series' title card is reminiscent of the early-1940s title card first used on the original prints of The Midnight Snack (1941).
- The last time this title was used was in The Yankee Doodle Mouse (1943).
- In August 2022, as part of the upheaval created by David Zaslav, the new head of Warner Bros Discovery, Tom & Jerry Special Shorts were removed from HBO Max, along with numerous other animated content. The two shorts are not currently available on physical media or on VOD.
Episodes[]
Gallery[]
Model Sheets[]
