Tom and Jerry
A globally recognized animated comedy franchise built around the rivalry and recurring misadventures of a cat named Tom and a mouse named Jerry.
Last updated October 14, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Tom and Jerry is an American animated entertainment franchise centered on the comic conflict between Tom, a cat, and Jerry, a mouse. The characters were created by animators William Hanna and Joseph Barbera for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and first appeared in the 1940 theatrical short Puss Gets the Boot. The initial concept established the brand’s defining formula: a largely wordless chain of pursuit, competition, physical comedy and reversals, in which the apparent hunter and target repeatedly outwit one another. Although Tom usually initiates the chase, the relationship is more complicated than a simple predator-and-prey story; the two characters regularly cooperate when confronted by a common threat or external problem. The franchise’s formative period was the MGM theatrical-short era, during which Hanna and Barbera directed 114 shorts between 1940 and 1958. The series became one of the studio’s most successful animated properties and received seven Academy Awards for Best Animated Short Film. Its visual storytelling, tightly timed gags, expressive character animation and musical scoring helped it travel well across language markets and generations. The characters’ names were adopted after an MGM naming contest, replacing the original names used in Puss Gets the Boot. After MGM closed its animation studio, the property continued through successive production arrangements and television revivals. Gene Deitch directed 13 theatrical shorts in 1961–1962, followed by further television and theatrical productions from other studios. The franchise subsequently expanded into television series, compilation releases, direct-to-video projects, feature films, games, publishing and consumer products. This evolution moved Tom and Jerry from a short-film series into a durable character brand whose value depends on both audiovisual distribution and licensing. Ownership of the underlying library and franchise passed through MGM’s corporate history. Turner Broadcasting acquired MGM’s film and television assets in 1986, and Warner Bros. later became involved through its acquisition of Turner in 1996. Warner Bros. and its successor WarnerMedia continued to distribute and develop the property; following the 2022 combination of WarnerMedia and Discovery, Warner Bros. Discovery became the current corporate steward. The brand’s commercial scope includes animated programming, theatrical and streaming films, home entertainment, apparel, toys, collectibles, stationery, accessories, home goods, games and promotional licensing. Its appeal is especially strong in family entertainment, but the visual and nostalgic nature of the characters also supports collaborations aimed at teenagers and adults. In India, licensing agencies and consumer-goods companies have used Tom and Jerry in food, beverage and healthcare promotions, illustrating the franchise’s ability to function as a cross-generational marketing asset. Warner Bros. Discovery marked the franchise’s 85th anniversary in 2025 with a global consumer-products and experiences program. Announced initiatives included collaborations and merchandise from brands such as Converse, CASETiFY, Funko and Loungefly, alongside additional toys, stationery and experiential activations. The anniversary program demonstrates the current positioning of Tom and Jerry as a globally licensable entertainment property rather than only a catalogue of classic cartoons. The franchise remains active, with its historic shorts continuing to circulate while new series, films, digital formats and licensed products introduce the characters to new audiences.
History
Tom and Jerry began at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer during a period when the studio sought animated properties capable of competing with Disney productions and Warner Bros.’ Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies. William Hanna and Joseph Barbera developed the cat-and-mouse premise, first released in Puss Gets the Boot in 1940. The short was successful enough to support a continuing series, and a subsequent naming contest established the names Tom and Jerry. The Hanna-Barbera MGM period lasted from 1940 to 1958 and produced 114 shorts. These films refined the franchise’s characteristic visual language: rapid pursuit, elaborate physical gags, expressive reactions, carefully staged environments and relatively limited dialogue. Music and sound effects carried much of the narrative, which helped the shorts work internationally without extensive translation. The series won seven Academy Awards for Best Animated Short Film, a record shared at the time with Disney’s Silly Symphonies. Following the closure of MGM’s cartoon studio, the property was revived through outside production. Gene Deitch and Rembrandt Films produced 13 shorts in 1961 and 1962. Later eras included Chuck Jones-associated theatrical work, television productions, compilation programs and the 1980–1982 Filmation series The Tom and Jerry Comedy Show. These productions varied in tone, design and supporting casts, but retained the central chase dynamic and the recognizable character identities. The franchise expanded beyond theatrical shorts through television syndication, home video, publishing, games, merchandise and feature-length projects. Tom and Jerry: The Movie was released in 1992, while the live-action/animated feature Tom and Jerry was released in 2021. A 2025 Chinese-American animated feature, Tom and Jerry: Forbidden Compass, was presented as the first fully computer-animated feature-length film in the franchise and the first Tom and Jerry film produced outside the United States, according to the cited reference material. Corporate ownership followed MGM’s asset history. Turner Broadcasting acquired MGM’s library and related assets in 1986. Warner Bros. became the corporate successor to those interests after acquiring Turner in 1996, and the property later sat within WarnerMedia. Warner Bros. Discovery became its current corporate home after the WarnerMedia–Discovery combination in 2022. The company uses the property across its media distribution activities and global consumer-products licensing. In the 2020s, the brand’s continuing strategy combined catalogue exploitation with new content and partnerships. The 2025 85th-anniversary campaign extended the property into fashion, accessories, collectibles, toys, stationery, home goods and immersive experiences. This approach reflects the franchise’s dual role: it remains a classic animation library, while its characters operate as evergreen entertainment trademarks that can be adapted to changing platforms and consumer categories.
- 2025
85th-anniversary global campaign
[2]Warner Bros. Discovery announced international collaborations, products and experiences marking 85 years of the franchise.
- 2025
85th-anniversary merchandise expands in Japan
[10]Japanese partners released eyewear, apparel and collectible products featuring Tom, Jerry and Tuffy.
- 2024
85th-anniversary activity begins
[7]Warner-linked Japanese partners announced anniversary collaborations including Hankyu railway activity and exhibitions.
- 2022
Warner Bros. Discovery becomes corporate steward
[1]The WarnerMedia–Discovery combination placed the franchise within Warner Bros. Discovery.
- 2021
Tom and Jerry feature released
[1]A new hybrid live-action and animated feature film introduced the characters to a contemporary theatrical audience.
- 2021
Live-action hybrid feature
[5]Tom & Jerry brings the animated characters into a live-action feature environment.
- 2021
Hybrid feature film released
[12]A new feature combining live action and animation brought the characters back to cinemas for a contemporary audience.
- 1992
First theatrical feature film
[1]Tom and Jerry: The Movie brought the characters into a feature-length format, using a musical adventure structure and giving the characters speaking roles.
- 1986
Turner acquires MGM assets
[1]Turner Broadcasting acquired MGM's film and television library, beginning the ownership path that later led to Warner Bros. Discovery.
- 1986
Library rights move to Turner Entertainment
[1]Ted Turner's acquisition of MGM's relevant library transferred the classic property into Turner Entertainment's portfolio.
Products and positioning
A globally recognizable family-entertainment and character-licensing franchise combining classic slapstick animation, cross-generational nostalgia and broad consumer-products appeal. A family-oriented, globally licensed animation property centered on timeless visual comedy, character rivalry and collectible character design.
Animated shorts · 1940
Original MGM theatrical shorts
The foundational Tom and Jerry catalogue consists of theatrical animated shorts produced for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, beginning with Puss Gets the Boot in 1940. The Hanna-Barbera films established the franchise's largely dialogue-light storytelling, musical timing, physical comedy and recurring supporting characters, and are particularly associated with the seven Academy Award wins. They remain the core archival and licensing asset for television, home entertainment, streaming and compilation releases. The foundational body of Tom and Jerry films produced for theatrical exhibition, beginning with Puss Gets the Boot in 1940. These shorts established the visual language of the franchise: fast pursuit, escalating slapstick, inventive physical gags, expressive animation and orchestral synchronization. The Hanna-Barbera period is particularly associated with the seven Academy Award wins. The foundational film cycle created for MGM, especially the 1940–1958 Hanna-Barbera run, established the franchise's visual comedy, musical timing and recurring cat-and-mouse conflict. Later theatrical revivals expanded the catalog under Gene Deitch and Chuck Jones.
Animated television · 1980
Tom and Jerry television series
Television productions expanded the characters beyond the original theatrical format. Different production eras introduced new visual styles, story structures and supporting characters while preserving the central rivalry. Television syndication and later digital distribution made the franchise available to broad international audiences. Television productions expanded the characters beyond the original theatrical format. Different production eras introduced new visual styles, story structures and supporting characters while preserving the central rivalry. Notable titles include The Tom and Jerry Show in the 1970s, Tom & Jerry Kids in the early 1990s, Tom and Jerry Tales in the 2000s and a later series also titled The Tom and Jerry Show. Television syndication and later digital distribution made the franchise available to broad international audiences.
Animated feature film · 1992
Tom and Jerry: The Movie
The 1992 feature-length film extended the property into cinema. It represented an early attempt to build a longer narrative around characters traditionally associated with short, self-contained chase comedies. The franchise's first theatrical feature-length film. Released in 1992, it used a musical adventure structure and gave Tom and Jerry speaking roles, a notable departure from the predominantly dialogue-light approach of the classic shorts. A 2021 feature that combines live-action performers and settings with computer-generated Tom and Jerry characters. The film uses the pair's physical rivalry within a contemporary hotel-centered story and was distributed theatrically and through digital channels in different markets. The 1992 feature-length film extended the property into cinema. It used a musical adventure structure and gave Tom and Jerry speaking roles, a notable departure from the predominantly dialogue-light approach of the classic shorts, and represented an early attempt to build a longer narrative around characters traditionally associated with short, self-contained chase comedies.
Hybrid feature film · 2021
Tom and Jerry (2021)
The 2021 feature combined live-action environments with animated versions of Tom, Jerry and other franchise characters, presenting the property in a contemporary studio-film format. The 2021 feature combined live-action environments and performers with animated versions of Tom, Jerry and other franchise characters, presenting the property in a contemporary studio-film format. The film uses the pair's physical rivalry within a hotel-centered story and was distributed theatrically and through digital channels in different markets.
Computer-animated feature film · 2025
Tom and Jerry: Forbidden Compass
The 2025 Chinese-American production was described in the cited reference material as the franchise's first fully computer-animated feature-length film and its first feature produced outside the United States.
Merchandise and licensing
Licensed consumer products
The character brand is licensed across apparel, footwear, accessories, toys, plush, figures, collectibles, stationery, publishing, home goods, games and food-related promotions. Products range from mass-market items to limited-edition collaborations aimed at collectors and adult fans, and programs differ by territory and licensee. Tom and Jerry are licensed across toys, plush, apparel, accessories, stationery, home goods, games and collectibles. Product programs differ by territory and licensee, but generally use the strong visual identity of the two characters and the brand's broad recognition among children and adults. Licensed goods include clothing, bags, eyewear, toys, plush, figures, stationery, tableware, drinkware and food-service merchandise. Product designs often use the chase, cheese, domestic chaos or the contrasting expressions of the two leads.
Television animation · 1975
The Tom and Jerry Show
A title used for television productions featuring Tom and Jerry. Television versions adapted the theatrical premise for episodic broadcast formats, sometimes adding dialogue, recurring supporting characters and shorter story structures. The name has been used for productions from different periods rather than one continuous series.
Television animation · 1990
Tom & Jerry Kids
A younger-skewing animated series that presented child versions of Tom and Jerry and broadened the property for children's television. The format softened and reconfigured the original rivalry while retaining chase comedy and familiar supporting characters.
Television animation · 1975
Television series
Multiple television productions adapted Tom and Jerry for broadcast, syndication and later children's networks. They vary in setting and tone, from softened adventure formats to revivals that return to the classic chase structure.
Animated and hybrid films · 1992
Feature films
The property has supported theatrical and home-entertainment features, including a 1992 animated film and a 2021 live-action/animation hybrid. These productions extend the short-form characters into longer narratives.
Collectibles · 2025
Tom and Jerry 85th-anniversary collectibles
Japanese anniversary products included prize figures and other character goods. One documented Banpresto figure depicts Jerry and Tuffy emerging from a cupcake, using a food motif to express the franchise's playful visual identity.
Marketing campaigns
- 2026Tom and Jerry x Tully's digital stamp rally
Japan
Tully's announced an app-based purchase program running from February 18 to March 10, 2026. Eligible Tom and Jerry drinks, food, packaged coffee and merchandise purchases generated up to one stamp per day; completing the sequence unlocked a secret stamp and entry into a greeting-event drawing.
Outcome. The announced reward was an invitation for 14 groups of two people to a Tom and Jerry greeting event; the source does not report results.
- 2025Tom and Jerry 85th Anniversary Global Campaign
International
Warner Bros. Discovery's global consumer-products program marked the franchise's 85th anniversary with merchandise, collaborations, themed experiences and other fan activities. Announced partners included Converse, CASETiFY, Funko and Loungefly; additional initiatives included toys, stationery and collectibles. The campaign broadened anniversary activity across fashion, accessories, collectibles, home goods and experiential entertainment during 2025. Anniversary licensing activity included fashion from Graniph, eyewear from OWNDAYS and Banpresto prize figures featuring Jerry and Tuffy. The partnerships emphasized the characters' friendship, comic rivalry and collectible appeal.
Outcome. The campaign broadened anniversary activity across fashion, accessories, collectibles, home goods and experiential entertainment during 2025. The collaborations extended the anniversary into apparel, accessories and figures; documented sources do not provide financial performance.
- 2024Tom and Jerry x Tully's Coffee Instagram Stories and Reels campaign
Japan
Participants photographed or filmed Tom and Jerry collaboration products, mentioned Tully's Japan on Instagram and used the designated hashtag. Eligible participants could receive a direct-message lottery opportunity for a Tully's digital voucher.
Outcome. The campaign concluded after its February 2024 participation period; the cited terms described a 1,000-yen digital store ticket as the prize for selected winners.
- 2024TOM and JERRY x HANKYU
Japan
Hankyu Railway used Tom and Jerry across a wrapped train, related bus activity, a one-day ticket, station materials, character merchandise and a railway-area stamp rally. The program also included themed attractions and an anniversary exhibition at Hankyu Umeda Main Store.
Outcome. The program turned the franchise into a destination and travel experience across the Hankyu network; no sales or attendance results were provided in the cited material.
- 2022Tom and Jerry x Tully's Coffee AR campaign
Japan
Tully's connected limited Tom and Jerry drinks, food and merchandise with an augmented-reality experience. Customers could scan a QR code associated with eligible purchases and see the characters in cherry-blossom-themed scenes without installing a dedicated application.
Outcome. A time-limited branded entertainment and product campaign; no independently reported commercial results were located.
- Tom and Jerry Indian FMCG Licensing Promotions
India
Licensing representatives reported that Tom and Jerry had been used at different times by food, beverage and consumer-healthcare companies to attract children and appeal to multiple generations, including campaigns associated with Kellogg's, Hindustan Unilever, GSK Consumer Healthcare, Cadbury, Britannia, PepsiCo and Parle Products. The activity positioned the characters as recurring promotional ambassadors in Indian fast-moving consumer goods.
Outcome. The activity positioned the characters as recurring promotional ambassadors in Indian fast-moving consumer goods.
Brand decisions
2025
Global anniversary-led licensing expansionStrategyBackground
Warner Bros. Discovery used the franchise's 85th anniversary as a platform for coordinated international consumer-products, partnership and experiential activity.
Action taken
The company announced collaborations spanning fashion, footwear, accessories, collectibles, toys, stationery and fan experiences.
Aftermath
The initiative reinforced Tom and Jerry's role as an evergreen global character-licensing property alongside its media catalogue.
2021
Live-action and animation hybrid featureProduct launchBackground
The franchise was adapted for contemporary theatrical distribution using a mixture of live-action production and computer-generated characters.
Action taken
Tom & Jerry placed the animated leads in a live-action story with human performers and modern visual effects.
Aftermath
The release extended the characters into a new feature format and a newer generation of digital production.
1992
Expansion into a theatrical featureProduct launchBackground
The established short-form cartoon property was adapted for a longer cinematic format.
Action taken
Tom and Jerry: The Movie used a musical adventure narrative and gave the title characters dialogue.
Aftermath
The feature demonstrated the franchise's ability to extend beyond shorts, although its characterization and format differed from the classic films.
1975
Franchise shifts toward television productionStrategyBackground
Television had become a central distribution channel, while broadcast standards placed greater limits on depictions of physical conflict.
Action taken
The Tom and Jerry Show was produced for ABC with a softer adventure-oriented format and more standardized episode lengths.
Aftermath
Television became a continuing platform for revivals, adaptations and new generations of viewers.
1963
Chuck Jones takes over theatrical short productionGeneration changeBackground
MGM continued to exploit the theatrical property after the Gene Deitch cycle ended.
Action taken
Chuck Jones and Sib Tower 12 Productions produced a new group of shorts through 1967.
Aftermath
The change introduced a distinct visual and comedic interpretation while retaining the established characters.
1961
MGM commissions the Gene Deitch revivalGeneration changeBackground
MGM sought new theatrical shorts after the original cartoon studio had closed.
Action taken
Production was assigned to Rembrandt Films in Czechoslovakia, with Gene Deitch directing and William L. Snyder producing.
Aftermath
Thirteen shorts were produced between 1961 and 1962 before a subsequent Chuck Jones production period.
1958
End of the original MGM animation-studio cycleStrategyBackground
MGM ended the long-running production period associated with William Hanna and Joseph Barbera after the studio closed its animation unit.
Action taken
The franchise continued through later commissioned theatrical shorts, television production and licensing rather than through the original in-house team.
Aftermath
The property moved through several creative and production eras while retaining its core characters and premise.
1957
MGM ends in-house cartoon productionStrategyBackground
MGM concluded that its cartoon studio was no longer economically attractive as the theatrical short market weakened and reissues performed strongly.
Action taken
The studio was closed, ending the original internal production arrangement and prompting later commissioned revivals.
Aftermath
Hanna and Barbera left MGM, while the property continued through outside producers and later television formats.
Sources12 sources
- 1Tom and Jerry - English Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
- 2WBD launches global campaign for Tom and Jerry’s 85thkidscreen.com
- 3Not just for kids, Tom & Jerry favourites for FMCG firms toohindustantimes.com
- 4Tom and Jerry: The Movieen.wikipedia.org
- 5Tom & Jerry (2021 film)en.wikipedia.org
- 6Tom and Jerry - Japanese Wikipediaja.wikipedia.org
- 7Warner Bros. Japan Tom and Jerry 85th-anniversary and Hankyu collaboration announcementatpress.ne.jp
- 8Tully's Coffee Tom and Jerry digital stamp rallytullys.co.jp
- 9Tully's Coffee Tom and Jerry 2024 social campaigntullys.co.jp
- 10Tom and Jerry collaboration case studiesipfield.net
- 11Tom and Jerry AR campaign with Tully's Coffeear-go.jp
- 12Hybrid feature film releasedx.com
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/tom-and-jerry猫和老鼠 · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled