The Tom and Jerry series consists of 163 shorts produced and released between 1940 and 2005. Of these, 162 are theatrical shorts while one is a made-for-TV short, subsequently released in theatres.
1940–1958: Hanna-Barbera/MGM cartoons
William Hanna (right) and Joseph Barbera (left) in 1965
The following 114 cartoons were directed by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera at the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer cartoon studio in Hollywood, Los Angeles. All cartoons were released to theaters by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Rudolf Ising was the producer of Puss Gets the Boot; subsequent cartoons were produced by Fred Quimby through 1955. Quimby retired in 1955 and from 1955 to 1957, Hanna and Barbera produced the shorts until MGM closed the cartoon studio in 1957, and the last cartoon was released in 1958. Most of these cartoons were produced in the standard Academy ratio (1.37:1). Four cartoons were produced for both Academy Ratio and CinemaScope formats (2.55:1, later 2.35:1). Finally, 19 cartoons were produced in widescreen CinemaScope format only (though reissues have the standard Academy ratio 1.37:1 instead).
Like the other studios, MGM reissued and edited its cartoons when re-released to theaters. Many pre-1951 cartoons were reissued with Perspecta Sound, which was introduced in 1954. MGM also reissued its cartoons before the introduction of Perspecta Sound. Because of the 1965 MGM vault fire, all original negatives of pre-September-1951 MGM cartoons are lost, leaving only backup nitrate film prints (usually the altered reissue prints), although some production artwork relating to the missing material has survived, like pencil sketches.
First appearances of Tom (as Jasper), Jerry (as the unnamed mouse), and the housekeeper (never given a name). First Tom and Jerry cartoon nominated for an Academy Award for Best Short Subject, Cartoon. Only cartoon to be produced by Rudolf Ising. Not re-released and retains its original titles.
Won an Academy Award for Best Short Subject, Cartoon. In 1994, it was voted No. 42 of the 50 Greatest Cartoons of all time by members of the animation field, the only Tom and Jerry cartoon to make the list.
Only (albeit brief) time that the face of housekeeper is shown. Rereleased in Perspecta Stereo in 1957. Rereleased to television in the mid-1960s with housekeeper replaced by a white teenage female, which this version exists on one of the early Tom and Jerry Cartoon Festival video releases and The Art of Tom and Jerry LaserDisc.
Rereleased in Perspecta Stereo in 1958. This short is edited in two ways on the Tom and Jerry on Parade VHS and the Spotlight Collection DVD. It is presented unedited on the Golden Era Anthology Blu-ray and DVD set.
60
Cat Napping
July 4, 1951
61
Slicked-up Pup
August 27, 1951
62
Nit-Witty Kitty
September 14, 1951
63
The Flying Cat
September 23, 1951
64
The Duck Doctor
October 5, 1951
65
Triplet Trouble
November 14, 1951
66
Smitten Kitten
November 21, 1951
Compilation short; contains footage from Salt Water Tabby, The Mouse Comes to Dinner, Texas Tom, and Solid Serenade.
Compilation short; contains footage from Cat Fishin', The Little Orphan, and Kitty Foiled.
1954
No.
Title
Date
Notes
80
Puppy Tale
January 23, 1954
81
Posse Cat
January 30, 1954
82
Hic-cup Pup
April 3, 1954
83
Little School Mouse
May 29, 1954
84
Baby Butch
June 6, 1954
85
Mice Follies
July 24, 1954
86
Neapolitan Mouse
October 2, 1954
87
Downhearted Duckling
November 10, 1954
88
Pet Peeve
November 20, 1954
Produced simultaneously in both the standard Academy format and in widescreen CinemaScope. Produced in true stereo. First appearances of George and Joan, although their faces are not seen here.
89
Touché, Pussy Cat!
December 18, 1954
Produced simultaneously in both the standard Academy format and in widescreen CinemaScope. Produced in true stereo. Last cartoon to get nominated for an Academy Award for Best Short Subjects, Cartoons.
1955
No.
Title
Date
Notes
90
Southbound Duckling
March 12, 1955
Produced simultaneously in both the standard Academy format and in CinemaScope. Produced in true stereo. This is one of the rare shorts in which Tom emerges victorious over Jerry.
91
Pup on a Picnic
April 30, 1955
Produced simultaneously in both the standard Academy format and in CinemaScope.
Produced in CinemaScope. This is the only Tom and Jerry episode during the Hanna-Barbera era where Tom and Jerry never come in contact with each other.
96
Pecos Pest
October 7, 1955
Only appearance of Uncle Pecos. Last Tom and Jerry cartoon released in the standard Academy format. All subsequent Hanna-Barbera cartoons were released in CinemaScope. Last Tom and Jerry cartoon released with Fred Quimby as producer.
97
That's My Mommy
November 7, 1955
Produced in CinemaScope. First Tom and Jerry cartoon with William Hanna and Joseph Barbera as both producers and directors.
98
The Egg and Jerry
December 30, 1955
Produced in CinemaScope. CinemaScope remake of Hatch Up Your Troubles and first of the three CinemaScope remakes.
1956
No.
Title
Date
Notes
99
The Flying Sorceress
January 27, 1956
The first short Joan's face is seen. Produced in CinemaScope.
The following thirteen cartoons were directed by Gene Deitch, produced by William L. Snyder, and animated at Snyder's Rembrandt Films in Prague, Czechoslovakia (now in the Czech Republic). All cartoons were released to theaters by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
The following 34 cartoons were produced by Chuck Jones in Hollywood, Los Angeles. Earlier cartoons were produced in conjunction with Walter Bien's Sib Tower 12 Productions (one or the other credited on the 1963 and 1964 productions), until it was integrated into a new animation department called MGM Animation/Visual Arts. Directors (if other than Jones) or co-directors for each short are listed. All cartoons were released to theaters by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Note: All the Chuck Jones MGM Tom and Jerry shorts were in Metrocolor.
Direction credited to William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, with story and supervision by Tom Ray. Compilation short; contains footage from The Flying Cat, Professor Tom, The Missing Mouse, Jerry and the Lion, Love That Pup, The Flying Sorceress, Jerry's Diary, and The Truce Hurts as Tom and Jerry watch themselves in a theater.
Direction credited to William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, with story and supervision by Tom Ray. Compilation short; Contains footage from Part Time Pal, The Yankee Doodle Mouse, Nit-Witty Kitty, Johann Mouse, Heavenly Puss, and Designs on Jerry.
160
Advance and Be Mechanized
August 25, 1967
Directed by Ben Washam. Followup to O-Solar-Meow. Contains footage from Guided Mouse-ille.
161
Purr-Chance to Dream
September 8, 1967
Directed by Ben Washam. Followup to The Cat's Me-Ouch.
2001–present: Warner Bros. cartoons
2001: Hanna-Barbera Productions/Turner Entertainment cartoon
123Vallance, Tom (December 20, 2006). "Joseph Barbera: Animation pioneer whose creations with William Hanna included the Flintstones and Tom and Jerry". The Independent (London).
↑Beck, Jerry (ed.) (1994). The 50 Greatest Cartoons: As Selected by 1,000 Animation Professionals. Atlanta: Turner Publishing. ISBN1-878685-49-X.