Being a fan of classic cartoons can get expensive and hard to track due to how they’re often released in various collections. Now, the Tom and Jerry: The Golden Era Anthology Blu-ray release brings over 100 theatrical cartoons together, giving fans an ultimate collection to enjoy. The cherry on top? It’s done by Warner Archive Collection, which used its usual keen eye to make sure everything looks and sounds as best as possible.
“The Complete Collection of Hanna Barbera’s Oscar Winning Masterpieces At Last! Every lit stick of dynamite. Every fur-flying chase. Every back-firing mouse trap. Restored. Complete. Uncut. The ultimate compilation of animation’s favorite feuding duo – Tom & Jerry. All 114 theatrical cartoon shorts, the entire series, as originally released to theaters by MGM during the Golden Age of Hollywood. For the first time ever, all in one set – they are now all yours,” says the official description.
The six-disc set features every Hanna-Barbera Tom and Jerry cartoon from 1940’s Puss Gets the Boot to 1958’s Tot Watchers. That’s a grand total of 114 shorts, which is an incredible collection. They’re all presented chronologically and uncensored, so you really get to chart the iconic character’s development over time. Needless to say, it’s a real treat for fans.
As expected with a collection spanning 18 years, the quality of the cartoons does differ due to the various conversions and quality of the source material. However, most of the cartoons look fantastic, and none look bad like the disappointing Peanuts collection. The audio quality is also solid, although some cartoons are significantly louder than others — making it an uneven watching experience without adjusting your volume.
As with many Warner Archive releases, this comes with an incredible amount of bonus features. 20 of the shorts come with optional commentary tracks, which are quite insightful. Meanwhile, Disc 6 features over three hours of featurettes, such as an extended look at the character of Mammy Two Shoes and many tackling the franchise’s style of comedy and impact. There’s a ton to dig into, so fans will certainly learn plenty of new things. There are also two spin-off Spike and Tyke cartoons, plus the Oscar-nominated short Good Will to Men, so you get some bonus cartoons as well. Additionally, there’s a 28-page booklet that features a ton of art and sketches, plus a timeline of key events and character debuts.
Tom and Jerry: The Golden Era Anthology Blu-ray Review: Final Verdict
The Tom and Jerry: The Golden Era Anthology Blu-ray collection is everything I could’ve wanted. All of the classic cartoons are included, in chronological order, and there are plenty of extras that give you historical significance and a better understanding of the cartoons. Plus, most importantly, Tom and Jerry’s hijinks are still just as hilarious today as they were in the 40s and 50s.
