The Tom and Jerry Cartoon Kit

The Tom and Jerry Cartoon Kit is a Tom and Jerry animated short film, released on August 10, 1962. It was the ninth cartoon in a series of thirteen to be directed by Gene Deitch and produced by William L. Snyder in Czechoslovakia. This is the first 1962 cartoon to update its copyright to 1962.

The Tom and Jerry Cartoon Kit is a sarcastic attack on the series as a whole and its formulaic approach, which the short mocks as excessively violent and designed solely for profit. Deitch had strongly divergent views on animation compared to Tom and Jerry's creators, William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, that he has openly expressed throughout his lifetime.

Directed by Gene Deitch. Produced by William L. Snyder.

Dialogue

Narrator: [first lines] Anyone can now enter the lucrative field of animated cartoons with the new Tom and Jerry Cartoon Kit. This kit contains everything needed for quiet, sophisticated humor: one mean, stupid cat; one sweet, lovable mouse; and assorted deadly weapons. The coffee and cigarettes are for the cartoonists. Just follow the simple instructions. First, put the sweet, lovable mouse into a simple situation expressing a natural human being, such as eating the slice of watermelon contained with our kit. The result may not make sense, but it will last long enough for you to be comfortably seated before the feature begins.

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Narrator: [last lines] Our next film will be for the kiddies, and will demonstrate a new poison gas. Thank you and good night.

Cast

• Allen Swift as Narrator