Tom and Jerry has always been one of my absolute favourites, though I do agree that Down Beat Bear was one of the last that were truly outstanding(I do remember liking Blue Cat Blues a lot though as a kid) and there were a huge number number of classics from when it all started to this point(1956). After this point at their best they were pretty good(some of the better Chuck Jones shorts, none of them are a patch on the Hanna Barbera/MGM era), at their worst they were downright awful(the Gene Deitch cartoons). Back to Down Beat Bear, I love everything about it. The animation is really beautiful to watch, I love the colours which are all smooth and vibrant and all the characters are very well drawn. Down Beat Bear also has some of the best music of any of the Tom and Jerry cartoons, it is toe-tappingly catchy and makes you want to dance yourself. The gags are inspired, the interaction between Tom and the dancing bear are the highlights, and never fall into predictability, while the story is fast moving and always interesting to the audience. Sure the whole escaped animal angle has been done before but not in a way that is this fun. Tom is appropriately crafty, which always has been part of his persona, and Jerry still proves himself to be more than just cute-looking. But the best character was easily the dancing bear, what he does for much of the cartoon is dance and to hilarious results. I wouldn't say no to having a bear like him. All in all, a wonderful cartoon. 10/10 Bethany Cox
