Mit Leib und Seele

The Midnight Snack is one of the first Tom and Jerry cartoons, if I am not mistaken it was the second. It is not quite as good as the cartoons of the 50s, most of which are classics, it does understandably have the feeling that they were still finding their feet, but it is infinitely better than the Gene Deitch abominations. What did I like about The Midnight Snack? A lot actually. As I've said, things are not quite settled but that is to be expected at the start. However, the animation really is wonderful. Tom's design would get better later on with his ears for example being more prominent and cat-like, but here he does look sweet I have to give you that. The backgrounds however have fluidity and detail and the colours are bright and beautiful-looking. The music has always been a key part to Tom and Jerry's success, full of energy and always enhancing the humour. The music for The Midnight Snack, even for so early on, does that exactly. The story is simple but never dull, and the gags are as you'd expect very funny. Jerry is the same as usual, cute and very clever for such a small rodent. Tom is much more playful than the more dastardly, cunning approach he'd have later, but he is very likable and interacts very well with Jerry. All in all, not one of the best but still very good. 9/10 Bethany Cox

After the previous years success with Jasper & Jinx it was inevitable that more shorts would follow, here however they've had a name change to the more familiar Tom & Jerry.

Here we see Tom stopping Jerry from taking the cheese from the fridge during the middle of the night. But you know how this plays out, the calamitous cat isn't going to find the deed easy.

Once again the animation is fantastic for its time and both characters (Especially Tom) look a little bit different. Regardless it's familiar charming stuff, even if it is entirely predictable.

Charming stuff, but I always feel bad for Tom.

The Good:

Looks great

Charming

The Bad:

More of the same

The Midnight Snack (1941)

*** (out of 4)

THE MIDNIGHT SNACK would be the second Tom and Jerry cartoon but the first to use those names. The story has Jerry sneaking into the icebox for some cheese but when Tom catches him he decides to add some "weight" to make Jerry struggle. From here it's an all out war as Tom once again tortures the poor mouse until the maid comes to see what's going on. THE MIDNIGHT SNACK isn't the best film in the series but if you're a fan then there are enough clever moments to make it worth viewing. The highlight is some early creativity, which includes some bread being used as steps as Jerry is forced to work for his meal. There's a lot of fun action throughout as glasses are broken and various other bits of damage done.

Not only the best Tom and Jerry film, but the best animated short I've ever seen. The timing, the animation, the character expressions, the sound effects... Not one false note. This one leaves me in stitches every time.

If I'm not mistaken this is the third Tom and Jerry short and there is something about animated shorts that the very early appearances of the characters are usually not like their familiar presence. In a way early shorts are like the first draft of a script! While Jerry here is still the same Jerry we all know and love Tom however, is not the devilish cat we know. Instead here he is a playful cat just joking around with Jerry. In a way Jerry is the bad guy of this short because he didn't have a sense of humor!

3(***)out of 4(****)stars