Published By: Sayan Paul

85 Years Of 'Tom and Jerry': Did You Know The Two Characters Had Different Names Initially?

Tom and Jerry are loved by people of all age groups. But interestingly, they weren't always known by these names. 

Tom and Jerry are always in a battle, each trying to outsmart the other and win the game. However, what makes the series so special is its core philosophy, which states THERE'S BEAUTY IN CHAOS. Observe closely, and you'll realize that the two - despite their endless rivalry - are absolutely inseparable; so much so that one's existence is directly tied to the other. They complement each other in every way, and together, they make a magical duo who teach us valuable lessons about everything, particularly life. As the popular saying goes, "I want our relationship like Tom and Jerry. No matter how many times we fight, we won't be apart."

 

(Credit: Cartoon Base)

Created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, 'Tom and Jerry' debuted on February 10, 1940 - exactly 85 years ago. On this occasion, let's learn an interesting fact about it that many are unaware of. 

Tom & Jerry Had Different Names Initially 

Although William Shakespeare questioned, "What's in a name?", names do make a difference. At least Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer - the production house behind the series - believed that. 

In their pilot episode, titled 'Puss Gets the Boot', Tom was known as Jasper, while Jerry was Jinx. Although the episode garnered enormous popularity, the channel (MGM) decided to change the name of the characters. It held an intra-studio contest where the employees suggested new names for the duo. 

 

(Credit: Massimo)

Well, the contest was won by artist John Carr who suggested the names, Tom and Jerry. 

About 'Puss Gets the Boot'

The first in what would become the 'Tom and Jerry' cartoon series, 'Puss Gets the Boot' was released on February 10, 1940, to theaters by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It's based on Aesop's Fable, 'The Cat and the Mice'. 

Here, Harry E. Lang lent his voice to Jasper, while William Hanna dubbed for Jinx (unnamed in the episode). The episode became a massive hit, both critically and commercially, garnering acclaim from literally every corner of the world. Renowned critic Leonard Maltin described it as "very new and special... that was to change the course of MGM cartoon production". Also, it won an Academy Award nomination for Best Short Subject: Cartoons in 1941.

 

(Credit: Today In History)

Despite its massive success, the production house decided not to produce any more of the series. However, the management changed their mind when a Texas businesswoman sent them a letter, asking whether more cat and mouse shorts would be produced. 

 

(Credit: Tom and Jerry)

And that's when the channel decided to rename the characters. 

Some Interesting Facts To Know

John Carr, who suggested Tom the cat and Jerry the mouse, was awarded a prize money of $50, equivalent to around $1,087 today. 

According to reports, Carr derived the names from a 1932 story by Damon Runyon, who took them from the name of a popular Christmastime drink, which again was derived from the names of two characters in an 1821 stage play by William Moncrieff, which itself was an adaptation of Egan's 1821 book, 'Life in London'. And please hold your breath as it doesn't really end here - 'Life in London' was based on George Cruikshank's, Isaac Robert Cruikshank's, and Egan's own careers. 

The second Tom and Jerry cartoon was titled 'The Midnight Snack' and was released in 1941. Hanna and Barbera continued to work on the series for the next fifteen years. 

'Tom and Jerry' grew only bigger with time, becoming an integral part of pop culture worldwide. Ask anyone for their top five cartoon series, and it would definitely make the list.