BURBANK, CA (July 21, 2009) – The pursuit of classic animation ends here with the DVD release of Tom and Jerry’s Greatest Chases Volume 3, which features the very best of popular animated cat and mouse duo Tom and Jerry. October 13, 2009 marks the day Warner Home Video (WHV) releases this next, exciting installment from the Tom and Jerry library. This entertaining collection features some of the most outstanding theatrical cartoons from the 1940’s and 1950’s, including Academy Award®-winning and nominated shorts. This release is comprised of 14 memorable cartoons and will retail for $14.97 SRP.
Originally created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, Tom and Jerry emerged during Hollywood’s golden age of animation and became one of the most popular cartoon series in existence. The shorts focus on the never-ending rivalry between Tom the cat and Jerry the mouse. The plots of each short usually center on Tom’s attempts to capture Jerry. Jerry however, is clever and quick on his feet so Tom hardly ever manages to catch him.
The original series is notable for having won the Academy Award® for Best Short Subject seven times. The first Tom and Jerry short was released theatrically in 1940. The dazzling Hanna-Barbera-directed shorts accompanied by vibrant scores from musical director Scott Bradley, delighted movie audiences and prompted the animated duo to become a tremendous success, spawning a series of cartoons which made Tom and Jerry big stars right along with their counterparts, Barney Bear and Droopy.
Tom and Jerry’s Greatest Chases Volume 3 features a diverse collection of 14 shorts directed by Hanna-Barbera and produced by Fred Quimby, that were originally released between 1941 and 1956. The Two Mousketeers, which was released in 1952, won an Academy Award ® for Best Short Subject: Cartoons. The short features the character of Nibbles the mouse in what became a successful “Mousketeers” theme, prompting Hanna-Barbera to create a total of four adventures in the “Mousketeers” series, including Touché Pussycat (1954), which earned an Oscar ® nomination and is also featured on the DVD.
Other shorts featured on the DVD include Smitten Kitten (released in 1952), where Tom falls head over heels for a beautiful feline, resulting in his losing all interest in chasing after Jerry. In Designs on Jerry (1952), Tom masterminds the ultimate mousetrap. The Pecos Pest (1955) has Jerry meet his singing, guitar-playing, country uncle. In The Flying Sorceress (1956, voiced by June Foray), Tom leaves home to become a witch’s companion. In Blue Cat Blues (1956), Tom contemplates being hit by a train after his feline girlfriend leaves him for wealthy Butch the cat. Other shorts include Puttin’ on the Dog (1944), Fine Feathered Friend (1942), The Bowling Alley Cat (1942), The Night Before Christmas (1941), Cat Napping (1951), The Flying Cat (1952) and Baby Butch (1954).
“Tom and Jerry is truly a timeless classic. After 60 years, these shorts are as fresh and funny as ever,” commented Amit Desai, WHV Vice President of Family, Animation & Partner Brands Marketing. He added, “These are some of the greatest cartoons of all time, which will always be around and in great demand because kids and adults love them, and want to pass them on to future generations. Tom and Jerry’s Greatest Chases Volume 3 is a must have for every family. We are delighted to offer this collection to consumers.”
The Credits
Warner Bros. Animation has been producing award-winning original animation since 1930, when it released its first cartoon, “Sinkin’ in the Bathtub.” Since then, Warner Bros. Animation’s characters have set the standard for innovative, quality animation. Producing for network and cable television, online, home entertainment and feature films both domestically and internationally, Warner Bros. Animation is highly respected for its creative and technical excellence, as well as maintaining the studio’s rich cartoon heritage. Warner Bros. Animation also oversees the creative use of, and production of animated programming based on classic animated characters from the Hanna-Barbera and
DC Comics libraries. Warner Bros. Animation is one of the most honored animation studios in history, garnering a grand total of six Academy Awards®, 35 Emmy® Awards,
the George Foster Peabody Award, an Environmental Media Award, a Parents’ Choice Award, a Humanitas Award, two Prism Awards and 20 Annie Awards (honoring excellence in animation).
About Warner Home Video
With operations in 90 international territories, Warner Home Video, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, a division of the Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group, commands the largest distribution infrastructure in the global video marketplace. Warner Home Video’s film library is the largest of any studio, offering top quality new and vintage titles from the repertoires of Warner Bros. Pictures, Turner Entertainment, Castle Rock Entertainment, HBO Home Video and New Line Home Entertainment.
About Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group brings together Warner Bros. Entertainment’s home video, digital distribution, interactive entertainment/videogames, direct-to-DVD production, technical operations and anti-piracy businesses in order to maximize current and next-generation distribution scenarios. WBHEG is responsible for the global distribution of content through DVD, electronic sell-through and VOD, and delivery of theatrical content to wireless and online channels, and is also a significant worldwide publisher for both internal and third party videogame titles
