The Flying Cat

'The Flying Cat (1952)' is just delightful. Its inventive sight gags are guaranteed to get a laugh and its impressive animation is a treat to behold. The story centres around Jerry making a new friend and going to live with him in his bird hut, all while Tom tries to figure out how to get hold of both of them. It's consistently entertaining right the way through. It also has a wonderful dynamic between its visuals and its audio. It feels like a quintessential 'Tom & Jerry' toon, one that spices up the formula just enough to make it feel fresh without contorting it beyond recognition. It's great. 8/10

Whether this was a rip-off of the Tweety-and-Sylvester 'toon called "Kitty Foiled" or not was immaterial to me once I watched this because this was outstanding. (So was "Kitty Foiled.")

The sight-gags, pratfalls, slapstick nonsense, etc., were almost all very clever in this short as Tom tries one thing after another to either get the canary or Jerry. It's mayhem, with one catastrophe after another happening the hapless cat. Is imitation of a flying bat is pretty wild.

Actually, it's almost too much action. After awhile, you want to say: "stop! slow down for a second!"

Overall, however, it entertains nicely and provides a lot of laughs, which is the idea. The artwork in here is pretty good, too.

Jerry the mouse helps his old friend the canary (from the great "Kitty Foiled") that Tom the cat is trying to capture for dinner. Tom tries in vain to get the bird, even going so far as to make a pair of wings for himself to soar at the birds level. A few funny gags highlight this animated short, but it's just not as good as the previously mentioned "Kitty Foiled". I can't seem to put my finger on just why though. But this film is still funny and very much worth your time. This hilarious classic cartoon can be found on disc two of the Spotlight collection DVD of "Tom & Jerry"

My Grade: B

Yes, "Kitty Foiled" was somewhat better than this cartoon with its nonstop action and gags, but this cartoon is still above average T&J cartoon, even compared to the ones made earlier than this.

What really caught my attention was how much this cartoon borrows from the "Fast and Furry-ous", the first (and in 1952 the only so far) Road Runner cartoon combined with some elements from Sylvester and Tweety shorts.

This time the canary moves to a bird's nest located on a high pole which should be a familiar element to most who have seen Sylvester chasing Tweety.

The Road Runner references are easier to spot. Although Tom doesn't have ACME tools, he really tries to get to the nest in numerous unlucky ways à la Wile E. Coyote, until he invents wings. He also flashes the trademark grin of the coyote at the camera just before he hits that mail box...

All these non-dissimilar cartoons had of course the same central element (The Chase), but I can't really tell whether I prefer one over the others.

Tom and Jerry is one of my all time favourite cartoons. It is funny, original, well animated and just so much fun to watch. The Flying Cat is a lot of fun, while not the best episode of the cartoon I do recommend it. The pace is a little too hectic in places, but what compensates hugely is for starters the beautiful animation; this episode had lovely backgrounds and lavish colouring. The music was lovely, I particularly took a delight in hearing Chopin and Strauss as Tom's flying motif. And overall, it's funny, no dialogue strictly speaking but plenty of sight gags, all of which were really funny. Tom is his usual dastardly self, Jerry is sweet and clever and the little canary bird friend of Jerry's is a nice addition. Overall, worth watching. 9/10 Bethany Cox