Tom and Jerry were created by animators William Hanna and Joseph Barbera for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). The duo developed the iconic cat-and- mouse characters, who first appeared in the 1940 theatrical short Puss Gets the Boot.
Creation and Debut
The cartoon series originated at MGM's animation department, which had struggled to produce successful characters prior to Tom and Jerry. The initial short, Puss Gets the Boot , was a critical success and earned an Academy Award nomination, prompting MGM to greenlight further productions. Although the characters were initially unnamed or referred to as Jasper and Jinx, a studio contest led to the naming of Tom and Jerry, with animator John Carr suggesting the final names.
Legacy of the Creators
Hanna and Barbera went on to co-found the influential animation studio Hanna- Barbera, responsible for classics like The Flintstones , The Jetsons , and Scooby-Doo. During their tenure at MGM, they directed over 114 Tom and Jerry shorts and won seven Academy Awards for Best Animated Short Film, tying the record with Walt Disney’s
