7 /10 1 Votes
7.7/10 TV Country of origin United States | 6.3/10 IMDb Theme music composer Tom Worrall Network FOX | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Genre Slapstick comedyAbsurd humor Directed by Don LuskPaul SommerCarl UrbanoOscar Dufau (Season 1)Robert Alvarez (Season 1 & 3–4)Jay Sarbry (Season 3–4)Ray Patterson (supervising director) Voices of Charlie AdlerWilliam CallawayTeresa GanzelRichard GautierPhil HartmanDon MessickFrank WelkerPatric Zimmerman Composer(s) Tom WorrallGary Lionelli (Season 2–4) Characters Jerry, Tom, Tyke, Spike, Calaboose Cal | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tom & Jerry Kids is an American animated television series, co-produced by Hanna-Barbera and Turner Entertainment Co., starring the cat-and-mouse duo Tom and Jerry as children (kitten and mouse). The show premiered in 1990 and continued airing until 1994. It began airing as the first program of the FOX's children's block, Fox Kids on September 8, 1990.
Contents
- History
- Cartoon Network airings
- Tom and Jerry Kids
- Spike and Tyke
- Droopy and Dripple
- Blast Off Buzzard
- Cast
- Home media releases
- Awards
- Comic book
- References
The series is somewhat similar to the "older" version of the original theatricals, partly akin to being produced by creators William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, founders of H-B. In terms of violence level, they are far closer to the original cartoons than previous television adaptions such as Filmation's The Tom and Jerry Comedy Show although somewhat milder than Hanna and Barbera's version.
Part of it is similar to Pink Panther and Pals and Garfield and Friends. Droopy and Dripple went on to star in their own short-lived spin-off Droopy, Master Detective.
History
The series was a co-production of Hanna-Barbera and Turner Entertainment Co. (which had bought the Tom and Jerry franchise from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1986). Parent company Turner Broadcasting System would buy the Hanna-Barbera studios in late 1991 starting with the third season. Perhaps the most notable differences from the classic shorts are the pair's appearances (and ages). Tom & Jerry Kids was one of the last Saturday morning cartoons from Hanna-Barbera before shifting focus toward producing shows specifically for Cartoon Network.
Cartoon Network airings
In 1994, FOX canceled the series, but it soon began airing in reruns on Cartoon Network (which Turner launched to showcase its large animation library, including the original Tom and Jerry) in 1995, and ended in 2006 when the show was removed from the Cartoon Network schedule and instead moved over to its sibling network Boomerang, where it was re-aired until 2014. Cartoon Network in the UK also did reruns in 1995 but ended in 2002 due to the networks changing to its Casillas era. It was soon moved to Boomerang the following month. Cartoon Network Too removed the show from their lineup in 2009. In certain countries, the Tom & Jerry Kids shorts have aired separately on Boomerang. Separate shorts for Droopy & Dripple and Spike & Tyke have also aired in their own half-hour shows.
Tom and Jerry Kids
The Tom and Jerry Kids cartoons are based on the classic shorts, Tom and Jerry. It stars the kitten and mouseling. They remain silent like their adult selves, and both of them are attempting to outwit each other, exactly like in the original shorts. Some of the plots are recycled from old Tom and Jerry cartoons, but the violence is toned down for younger viewers.
Spike and Tyke
The Spike and Tyke segments are based on the characters, Spike and Tyke from the original Tom and Jerry series. Strangely, Spike is still an adult and Tyke is slightly older in this series. Spike still loves his son, Tyke, more than anything and enjoys spending time with him. Tyke also now has the ability to talk and has grown smarter and more intelligent. Spike's toughness is only used on occasions, as these segments mostly revolve around his love for his son and on teaching family values.
Droopy and Dripple
The Droopy and Dripple segments feature characters form the classic Tex Avery shorts starring Droopy. Droopy has a different job every episode and his son Dripple (a tinier, identical version of him) always follows him as his assistant. The two will usually end up clashing with McWolf, a villainous wolf that, envious of their success, will use any dirty trick against them to win, but inevitably fails. The beautiful Miss Vavoom (Red in Avery shorts) is another possible source of conflict between the two, as both of them have a crush on her and she, or a kiss from her, is often the prize of some sort of competition.
Blast-Off Buzzard
Season 4 feature a new adaption of the Blast-Off Buzzard segment from the CB Bears where the characters actually talk. In these segments, Blast-Off Buzzard leads his gang of Buzzards as they try to catch Crazylegs.
Cast
Home media releases
In 1991, 12 episodes were put on two VHS cassettes in the United States, although only a few million copies were made, and these two cassettes are hard to find. Eleven VHS cassettes were released in the United Kingdom. The series was released on DVD in Germany by Kinowelt Home Entertainment on 11 July 2008, as the first official DVD release. In 2010, the episode Flippin' Fido was included in the Deluxe Anniversary Collection DVD set.
On April 30, 2013, Warner Home Video released the first season of the show on DVD for the first time. In the United Kingdom, Season One was released into 2 separate DVDs on 12 August 2013, under the titles Baby Tom and Jerry, as part of WB's Big Faces range. like the US release of Season, Baby Tom includes the first seven half-hour episodes, while Baby Jerry includes the remaining 6 episodes.
Awards
This show was given a Daytime Emmy nomination in 1992 for Outstanding Music Direction and Composition.
Comic book
In Mexico, Editorial Vid made a comic book based on Tom & Jerry Kids in 1990. It is worth noting that Tom and Jerry (the original adult versions) have their own comic book here, and the Tom & Jerry Kids comic book is followed by Tom and Jerry.