The team of William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, aka Hanna-Barbera, produced many cartoons in the mid-1900s that have gone down as animated classics. Their success story began in 1937 with the cat and mouse duo Tom and Jerry.

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The Tom and Jerry shorts were well-known for their unbridled violence and impeccable comedic timing in their various slapstick antics. While other future cartoons have also done well in this department, Tom and Jerry had factors that set it apart. The show's characterization of the two leads and the careful crafting of the slapstick made Tom and Jerry pioneers of cartoon violence.

10 Tom And Jerry Were Well-Crafted Characters

Tom and Jerry 1950 episode 13

Outside their first feature-length movie (and the occasional talking to exaggerate comedic effect), Tom and Jerry rarely spoke. Nevertheless, the two formed solid personalities.

Jerry, for instance, was often a mischief-maker, either causing trouble for his own amusement or merely trying to survive, going to any lengths to do so. Tom, on the other hand, views Jerry as a nuisance or food. He's cocky, short-tempered, and ego-filled in trying to get rid of Jerry, thus making it more enjoyable when the latter cleverly defeats him. However, like Jerry, Tom takes great fun in the plotting of his schemes, making him just as likable.

9 There Are Two Sides To Their Story

Tom and Jerry episode Mice Follies

Many people who grew up on the Tom and Jerry shorts likely remember all the clever ways Jerry foiled Tom's schemes. Tom had a few occasions where he won, but for the most part, Jerry always emerged victorious at the end of an episode.

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However, the shorts have shown their rivalry isn't all black and white. There have been times when Jerry has instigated their conflict more than Tom deserves, and other times when Tom takes his pursuit of Jerry too far. Both characters share a gray area between being a hero and a villain. This aspect gives an extra layer to their rivalry and furthers their likability.

8 The Slapstick Was Perfectly Exaggerated

Tom the cat in the Tom and Jerry Episode the missing mouse

At the core of Tom and Jerry lies the slapstick. It's consistently funny, but the series had aspects to distinguish itself from other future slapstick-oriented cartoons.

Physical violence in animation usually involves exaggerating an object's physics or impact. As such, it has little to no grounding in reality. While most cartoons that followed Tom and Jerry were still funny, they tended to overdo these aspects. Distortion must be in the correct factors for the best amount of humor. The Tom and Jerry shorts are exaggerated in moderation, giving objects the right amount of impact but still making the pain comical enough to elicit laughter.

7 Tom And Jerry Felt Human

Tom and Jerry in the Hollywood Bowl 1950 short

When the cartoon started, Tom and Jerry looked more reminiscent of real cats and mice. Tom, in particular, walked on all fours and made sounds like a regular cat. Thus, the pain he experienced was not as relatable to a human audience.

Thankfully, as the show continued, Tom and Jerry (as well as the other recurring characters) not only walked on two legs like humans but also had human voices during the voices' occasional utilization. Humans are capable of comprehending other humans' pain, and much like the exaggeration of slapstick, the creative team understood how to use the voices in moderation.

6 The Comedic Timing Was Spot-On

Sneaky Tom in Tom and Jerry

The Tom and Jerry shorts typically follow the same formula. One of them instigates the conflict of the episode, Tom repeatedly tries to capture Jerry but fails every time, and Jerry happily revels in his victory. One would think that the structure would get old fast, but it rarely ever did.

Part of what keeps the formula fresh is the timing, especially with Tom's schemes getting foiled. No matter the scenario, the animation team nailed the character expressions. The longer Tom thinks he has the upper hand, the stronger the impact and the funnier it is when he ultimately winds up bested.

5 The Shorts Wasted No Time

Tom and Spike in the Tom and Jerry episode Slicked Up Pup

Every show needs a good story to get viewers invested. However, Tom and Jerry cartoons are approximately six minutes in length and are composed of silent characters and comical violence. On paper, this handicap would probably prove a challenge for the writers to craft something interesting.

Fortunately, Tom and Jerry's antics rarely relied on a story. The episode plot would usually lay itself out within a minute or two, and the pacing provided the groundwork and ample time for the cat and mouse duo to maim each other in limitless ways. It also allowed them to get the best out of the setting.

4 Even The Worst Adaptations Couldn't Fully Ruin The Duo

Tom and Jerry and Will Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

Tom and Jerry remain big names among the public even to this day. However, nobody fully knew how to further their success beyond the shorts. One of their methods was doing straight-to-video movies and crossovers with other popular franchises, such as Wizard of Oz or Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

Some of these movies lacked what made the duo such a big hit, and the crossovers were attempts to capitalize on the properties' success rather than make something everlasting. Nevertheless, even the worst of these movies and crossovers carry a small part of Tom and Jerry's antics that remain timeless.

3 The Two Didn't Need To Be Friends To Be Friends

Tom and Jerry get along in the episode Puppy tale

Tom and Jerry are first and foremost rivals. Come what may, the two always wind up in a conflict and chasing each other. They may never permanently bury the hatchet, but they do not need to.

Although Tom and Jerry: The Movie was about the two learning to be friends, the show covered this concept far better. In several episodes, Tom and Jerry may try to get rid of each other, but they enjoy the thrill of the chase and cannot live without one another. The two may relentlessly hurt each other, but they have legitimate standards. They rarely join forces, but when they do, it has a genuine heart.

2 Tom Represents A Big Part Of Life

Tom from Tom and Jerry upset in Blue cat Blues

Whether it's capturing Jerry or achieving anything else, Tom almost always fails. While there's satisfaction on the occasions he does win, those times are rare, and Jerry's triumphs are far more memorable.

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Nevertheless, viewers can take vital lessons from Tom's failures. Even though his attempts are constant failures, Tom goes all out in his schemes and never gives up. At some point in one's life, they have encountered a stream of defeats. However, like Tom's elaborate plans, there is always a way outside the box to take on a matter. One has to keep trying, and eventually, it may result in a surprising victory.

1 Jerry Represented The Little Guy

Tom trying to smash Jerry with a hammer

Despite Jerry's small size, he is capable of giant feats. Whether it's his quick-witted thinking or his surprising physical prowess, Jerry consistently shows big things come in small packages.

Somewhere in life, one has likely been intimidated by someone far bigger than them. Jerry shows that size and physical strength aren't everything. Sometimes brains can outdo brawn, and other times it demonstrates how the little guy is not someone to be underestimated. Jerry displayed that just because one is small does not mean they are incapable. It's possible to get around one's problems through the most unorthodox of ways, and sometimes those methods can surprise even the most threatening of hurdles.

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