Tom and Jerry, the animated enemies that inspired The Simpsons’ satirical Itchy and Scratchy, are returning to TV in a new weekly series on Cartoon Network from Warner Bros. Animation. The Tom and Jerry Show will debut at a yet-unannounced date and feature two 11-minute shorts per episode that takes the classic cartoon rivalry out of its traditional suburban setting and into various realms of fantasy.
The cat-and-mouse duo originally appeared in MGM shorts in the 1940s and ’50s, and various revivals bounced around the major studios in the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s. The ’90s saw a reinvention with Tom and Jerry Kids, and much more recently there have been made-for-video features that also aired on Cartoon Network, such as Tom and Jerry Meet Sherlock Holmes and Tom and Jerry and the Wizard of Oz. (No, really.)
The official announcement from Turner Broadcasting appears below.
The Epic Battle Between Cat and Mouse Rages On!
Frenemies Tom and Jerry Reignite their Never-Ending Rivalry for Cartoon Network
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One of the world’s most beloved cartoon duos returns to television in The Tom and Jerry Show, a fresh take on the classic frenemies coming soon to Cartoon Network. Comprised of two 11-minute shorts, each episode will feature Tom the cat and Jerry the mouse plotting against each other—with Tom’s determination matched only by Jerry’s own cleverness in evading capture. But this time the cartoon mayhem will not be limited to only Tom and Jerry’s traditional suburban setting. In The Tom and Jerry Show, the title characters’ nonstop game of cat and mouse will expand to also include more fantastic worlds, from a medieval castle to a mad scientist’s lab.
Preserving the look, core characters and sensibility of the original theatrical shorts, The Tom and Jerry Show shines a brightly colored, high-definition lens on a never-ending battle that has set the standard for cartoon rivalries. After all, with a setup as elementary as a determined cat chasing a resourceful and mischievous mouse, the possibilities (and laughs) are endless!
Sam Register (The Looney Tunes Show, MAD, Teen Titans) serves as executive producer on The Tom and Jerry Show. The series is being produced by Warner Bros. Animation in conjunction with producers Darrell Van Citters and Ashley Postlewaite at Renegade Animation.
“Tom and Jerry are two of the most iconic characters on the planet,” said Sam Register, executive vice president, creative affairs, Warner Bros. Animation. “While it’s important we honor their great legacy, we don’t want to keep them in the archives. We want to introduce them to a new generation of fans. As we have done with The Looney Tunes Show, The Tom and Jerry Show will bring Tom and Jerry into a contemporary environment and tell hilarious stories that kids and adults will love.”
Warner Bros. Animation (WBA) is one of the leading producers of animation in the entertainment industry, with an innovative and talent-rich roster boasting some of the most accomplished writers, producers and artists working today. The studio is on the cutting edge of animation technology and has both CG and traditionally animated projects in current production and development. For TV, WBA produces series such as Green Lantern: The Animated Series, The Looney Tunes Show, MAD, Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated and Young Justice: Invasion, as well as the forthcoming Beware The Batman and Teen Titans Go! for Cartoon Network. WBA also produces series and additional original content — including animated shorts — for Cartoon Network’s multiplatform branded DC Nation programming block. In addition to TV programming, WBA produces theatrically released CG cartoon shorts featuring iconic Looney Tunes characters, rendered in stereoscopic 3D. WBA also creates the highly successful series of DC Universe Original Animated Movies for DVD. Producing for multiple platforms including TV, digital and home entertainment both domestically and internationally, WBA is highly respected for its creative and technical excellence, as well as for maintaining the Studio’s rich cartoon heritage. It is also the home of the iconic animated characters from the DC Comics, Hanna-Barbera, MGM and Looney Tunes libraries. One of the most-honored animation studios in history, WBA has been honored with six Academy Awards®, 35 Emmy® Awards, the George Foster Peabody Award, an Environmental Media Award, a Parents’ Choice Award, the HUMANITAS Prize, two Prism Awards and 20 Annie Awards (honoring excellence in animation).
Cartoon Network (CartoonNetwork.com) is the #1 U.S. television network among boys 6-11. Currently seen in 99 million U.S. homes and 178 countries around the world, Cartoon Network is Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.’s ad-supported cable service now available in HD offering the best in original, acquired and classic entertainment for kids and families. In addition to Emmy-winning original programming and industry-leading digital apps and online games, Cartoon Network embraces key social issues affecting families with solution-oriented initiatives such as Stop Bullying: Speak Up and the Move It Movement.
Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.
