Iconic Hannah-Barbera cat and mouse duo are getting a super cute makeover from Cartoon Network’s Japanese studio. Western animation doesn’t have the same following in Japan as it does in the United States, but that doesn’t mean that it’s without its place.
The adorable pair will star in shorts that will air between broadcasts of the original cartoon.
It isn’t the first time Western characters have gotten an anime make-over. Craig McCracken‘s “Powerpuff Girls” received similar treatment, reimagining the bug-eyed superhero trio as magical girls complete with transformation sequences. They were equally adorable, with fashionable outfits and magic weapons. And it’s not the first time Tom and Jerry have caught Japan’s eye, either.
Cuter, Softer, Sweeter
You won’t find Tom and Jerry’s cartoon violence here. The charm more than makes up for a lack of cartoon mayhem at its finest. It’s against the law for characters this cute to maim each other. Instead the duo are on friendlier terms — as they sometimes have been in their original cartoons — and create misadventure by virtue of Jerry and Nibbles being opportunists at Tom’s expense. The antics seem to center more around the cartoon ability to take on the shape of an object swallowed.
Only two episodes have aired so far. But with more episodes on the way, maybe we’ll see the appearance of other characters. Like Spike the bulldog and his son Tyke. Or perhaps Tom’s on-again-off-again love interest Toodles Galore. Who knows, we may even see Butch return as Tom’s rival. This is definitely not us wanting to see every character redone in this absolutely darling style, we swear! Sadly, this is available in Japan only, so you’ll more than likely have to troll youtube to catch episodes. Though let’s keep our fingers crossed we get some form of localization. Pretty please!
