Tom & Jerry: Golden Collection, Volume One (1940-1948) re-issued

[Coveragentcov]

Originally Posted by Farid

You get just get the US release. It'll be region free.

Well, yes. But I prefer the cartoons in my own language.
So there's no hope in getting this volume in Europe (which means also in other languages?)

[The Blu Knight]

It's too early to say whether or not certain countries will be getting this set. All we know know so far is that we will. And is having it in your language really that important? This is Tom and Jerry we're talking about. It ain't exactly dialogue heavy in the first place.

[miniroll32]

U.S import will do fine for me. Works out at just under £20 for me though (unless you qualify for Super Save delivery on Amazon) which is a big of a niggle for only Volume 1, but given it includes at least 37 shorts and some extra features, it's actually not a bad deal.

[Nissen]

Originally Posted by Coveragentcov

Well, yes. But I prefer the cartoons in my own language.
So there's no hope in getting this volume in Europe (which means also in other languages?)

The thing is, even if it IS released in your country, they may not include a local dub for this. If your language is French, Spanish or Italian, maybe you're in luck, but just maybe. Knowing how Warner likes to have one release covering all territories, if your language isn't included on the US release, you may be SOL.

This happens in Norway all the time, even if there IS a Norwegian dub available, they may not include it due to space limitations and/or cost. We usually get a pan-European release, and a Norwegian dub is not a high priority for those.

And if there is no Norwegian dub available (like there isn't for T&J), they sure as heck aren't going to make one :-(

Pessimistically, going by how Warner released the previous T&J sets on DVD in Europe, the best we can hope for here is a "Best of"-set.

[Coveragentcov]

Originally Posted by The Blu Knight

It's too early to say whether or not certain countries will be getting this set. All we know know so far is that we will. And is having it in your language really that important? This is Tom and Jerry we're talking about. It ain't exactly dialogue heavy in the first place.

Originally Posted by Imrahil2001

Yeah, aside from Mammy and the baby mouse/ducky, I can't think of any.

EDIT: I take it back, lots of the secondary characters talk (Spike/Tyke, the other cats) and sometimes Tom does when he's wooing.

Indeed, only if Tom & Jerry are alone in the episode, they hardly talk. But if other characters get included, there's actually lots of talking. My favorite shorts have lots of talking in it: 'Heavenly Puss', 'The Two Mouseketeers', 'the Duck Doctor' and not to forget 'Robin Hoodwinked'.

It's not that I don't understand English. But my little nephews don't. Because English is our 4th language. So they will only get their first English lesson when they are 14. If you consider they are only 5 and 7...

Nevertheless you're right. This is Tom & Jerry. You'll even enjoy it when you don't understand the language. And it's already amazing that we actually get it on Blu-Ray.

[madlost1]

Pre-order placed you can't beat that price for these classics on release day.

[Boob-Ray]

This is AWESOME. Pre-order complete.

I just watched one of the Gene Deitch T&Js on Youtube. Never seen them before! It was actually fascinating -- very odd and pretty funny. Very economical animation and yet kind of "edgy" too. I totally understand the disconnect though that others have mentioned.

I'm not a fan of the Jones T&J shorts either. As others have said, his feel (at least at this time) doesn't suit the cat and mouse duo. For me it draws too much attention to itself. Likewise, there's quite a lot of Looney Tunes from this later period (that Jones and others did) that I also do not prefer. There's something too intense going on.

I understand it's futile and impractical to compare these shorts to the quality of golden age, 1940s masterworks. As a result, I think it's unfair to point the finger too much at Jones. This was beyond the end of an era. It was really more of a "survival period" I think.

From what I've read -- there were no budgets, no new ideas -- and probably not a lot of talent left at the aging studios. To me, it seems like Chuck Jones was "experimenting" with some new ideas and concepts in animation. Trying to work creatively within the economic confines.

There were also the challenges of working in the awkward and complex "changing times" that were the 1960s -- where finding an artistic "edge" most likely led you towards a "psychedelic" aesthetic. Not too mention, working with a tired plot and a set of aged characters from a child's "parent's era." It could certainly work for some material, but quite often (as was the case with Chuck's T&Js) was simply too much at odds with the subject's definitive past.

Chuck Jones was clearly a genius -- as his countless masterpieces attest and one of the greatest animators and animation directors of all time. So it's no dig at him to not like these shorts. The fact that he was so successful with the Grinch from this same troubled era, is exactly the point. It proves he was formulating an aesthetic that was capable of achieving greatness with some fresh material.

I must say, I'm really looking forward to what's on this T&J, Volume One blu-ray set. Classic, glorious golden-age Tom & Jerry in 1080p HD!



The wait until the end of October is brutal though.

[Rambaldi47]

I don't like the censoring/editing. Studios need to realize that there is a difference between promoting racism and educating about it. These classics, like the Disney ones as well, can be seen as a history lesson. It shows what it was like back then and we can learn from the mistakes. To pretend it never happened is even worse.

I hope this set sells well and also that Disney takes note, because I would love to get their classic shorts on Blu!

[miniroll32]

Originally Posted by Boob-Ray

Chuck Jones was clearly a genius -- as his countless masterpieces attest and one of the greatest animators and animation directors of all time. So it's no dig at him to not like these shorts. The fact that he was so successful with the Grinch from this same troubled era, is exactly the point. It proves he was formulating an aesthetic that was capable of achieving greatness with some fresh material.

Completely agree, although my thoughts had only changed a couple of years ago. As a child I used to hate the Chuck Jones T&J shorts as they seemed much 'sharper'/sinister, and the loss of the rounded artwork made them less pleasing on the eye.

Yet when I became an adult, I had the opportunity of watching the Chuck Jones shorts again on Boomerang with my nephews, and my opinion completely changed. I guess this change in opinion comes from maturity, for I can now appreciate the shorts, whereas when I was child I was far too naive to do so.

Now when I look at the artwork, its completely of its time and I have to say, for the most part, wonderfully rendered. Backgrounds are bright and engaging, but also reveal some clever abstract elements in a variety of the shorts. I can also appreciate now the way these shorts dispose of the 'tradition' that Tom and Jerry was previously routed in, and instead took the cat and mouse out of the box.

I'll openly admit that whilst I don't laugh or enjoy these shorts half as much as Hannah and Barbera's, their downfalls make for an interesting analysis. For me, the reason Chuck Jones's T&J's don't work is because the audience is already familiar with how Tom and Jerry have been characterised by the previous studio. This combines everything; the artwork, the humour, the timing and the style of animation... So, Chuck Jones decided to create an alternate persona and put Tom & Jerry in, what was essentially, his 'Looney Tune' world. I believe its this clash between the traditions already associated with Tom & Jerry and the abstract worlds created by Warner Bros. that give the shorts a somewhat odd appeal.

I still totally appreciate what Jones did though, because at the end of the day he was doing it for the good

[Boob-Ray]

Well said. For the record, I completely admire the Chuck Jones T&Js (and any well-crafted or otherwise interesting animation) now, as an adult -- and as one who simply appreciates the art and styles of hand-drawn animation. I even found the aforementioned Gene Deitch T&Js quite fascinating. But as a kid...I probably would have found them disturbing!

[MrHT]

Originally Posted by Rambaldi47

I don't like the censoring/editing. Studios need to realize that there is a difference between promoting racism and educating about it. These classics, like the Disney ones as well, can be seen as a history lesson. It shows what it was like back then and we can learn from the mistakes. To pretend it never happened is even worse.

I hope this set sells well and also that Disney takes note, because I would love to get their classic shorts on Blu!

That's the reason why I never bought these on DVD. But according to a reviewer on Amazon, these will be uncensored! If that's the case, then I'm DEFINITELY purchasing this set!

[Boob-Ray]

Does anybody else find it curious that they're calling it the "Golden Collection?" I honestly don't care what they call it...but that's been the brand for the larger 4-disc Looney Tunes releases.

As well, the previous smaller 2-disc "Spotlight Collection" title (that both Looney Tunes and T&J shared) -- neither it nor the "Golden Collection" were ever complete, in order of release, like the fabulous Popeyes volumes. They've always been random and kind of frustrating in that regard.

I don't know why they just didn't call it: Tom & Jerry, Volume One: 1940-49" or whatever. But either way...they look to be doing right!

[BouCoupDinkyDau]

Originally Posted by Boob-Ray

I even found the aforementioned Gene Deitch T&Js quite fascinating. But as a kid...I probably would have found them disturbing!

They are pretty freaky, which is part of what I find interesting about them. I personally don't like them well enough to own them though.

Had Deitch's T&J shorts been about different, original characters, I might have found them more appealing (for the aforementioned freaky factor). But because they are mauling T&J, I consider them more of an odd footnote to the duo than anything else.

[Boob-Ray]

Originally Posted by BouCoupDinkyDau

They are pretty freaky, which is part of what I find interesting about them. I personally don't like them well enough to own them though.

Had Deitch's T&J shorts been about different, original characters, I might have found them more appealing (for the aforementioned freaky factor). But because they are mauling T&J, I consider them more of an odd footnote to the duo than anything else.

Exactly. I was thinking the exact same thing watching these! -- If it weren't T&J, but rather an entirely different set of original characters -- these would be classics. There's some funny stuff going on...and I really like the way the people/cars/etc are drawn. It's just odd that it's happening in our beloved T&J universe.

[miniroll32]

Originally Posted by Boob-Ray

Does anybody else find it curious that they're calling it the "Golden Collection?"

Its a marketing ploy - makes the product appear more special, just like Disney's Gold, Platinum and Diamond editions

[Lnds500]

Originally Posted by miniroll32

Its a marketing ploy - makes the product appear more special, just like Disney's Gold, Platinum and Diamond editions

It doesn't hit me as a marketing reason here though. It hits me more like it refers to "the Golden Era" of animation.. something that is of good quality and old.. you get the point

[BouCoupDinkyDau]

Originally Posted by Boob-Ray

Exactly. I was thinking the exact same thing watching these! -- If it weren't T&J, but rather an entirely different set of original characters -- these would be classics. There's some funny stuff going on...and I really like the way the people/cars/etc are drawn. It's just odd that it's happening in our beloved T&J universe.

Yep. I agree. They're quirky and fun, but the style doesn't belong with T&J at all. I like the weird herky-jerky animations, and the cheap echoing sounds that are always going on in them. Like someone else said, it sounds like they recorded those episodes in a bathroom. lol

[Boob-Ray]

Originally Posted by BouCoupDinkyDau

Yep. I agree. They're quirky and fun, but the style doesn't belong with T&J at all. I like the weird herky-jerky animations, and the cheap echoing sounds that are always going on in them. Like someone else said, it sounds like they recorded those episodes in a bathroom. lol

Yeah....I'm watching some of them on YouTube now. And I think it's those CRAZY sound effects more than anything! The animation is really cool -- it's definitely different from the classic TJ. While much of it looks so 1960s strangely, the backgrounds at times, look like classic 50s stuff -- while the characters look almost late 60's early 70s -- very flat and colorful. But those sound effects are nuts. I can't believe they're from 1961-2!!! They sound so psychedelic, more from 1967-9 than from the Kennedy era. Wild stuff. Perhaps way ahead of it's time??

[DVDFreaker]

I decided to sell the 3 Golden Collection DVDs and pre-ordered the Blu-Ray, I could not pass on the uncut Blu-Ray!

[anthonyb]

I don't happen to have any of the previous (cut) Tom and Jerry sets, so I may pick this up if I can get it for a reasonable price. I'm also hoping, as many have said, that Disney will do the same and rerelease their shorts on Blu-ray, as I'm not paying $100 for a volume of Donald Duck cartoons on DVD (Walt Disney Treasures). Disney did however, do a good job of having their cartoons uncut on DVD, and, for the most part, with the restoration.