Advent Calendar, Dec 12, The Night Before Christmas, Tom and Jerry

From 1941

My friend Anne and I just discussed whether cartoons are too deeply associated with mind control to be something we should permit ourselves to like. Her parents did not let her watch them. I find that very interesting. My mother loved all the Disney classics and we watched them usually on Friday nights. I’m very apprehensive of Disney, for obvious reasons, but I’m letting this particular Hanna-Barbera cartoon pass my inner censors as an Advent item, because I find it touching, and because Tom reminds me of my patriarch cat Jack (who is grey) and who Anne calls “Grumpus.” If you want to read about all the ins and outs of Tom and Jerry’s mutually perhaps abusive relationship, you can do so here.

I just simply find this one very touching and I hope it’s not part of some mind control thing I shouldn’t be perpetuating. My friend Peter Olsen once brought to my attention the extraordinary musical scoring of Tom and Jerry.

Some of you may think: “Lighten up for heaven’s sake!” Some of you may think I should have stricter standards for cultural spells. I wouldn’t post…Fantasia.

I’m concerned about the original Italian version of Pinnochio, how dark the story is. But overall I think we can handle it.

It can’t be denied that these are masterpieces of animation.

I am fascinated by the fact that these arch enemies—Tom and Jerry— always freaked out when they thought the other one was genuinely harmed. As in this episode: