Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Mouse

In this Acadamy Award-nominated cartoon (it lost to Tweety Pie!) Tom is tired of sharing his daily bowl of milk with Jerry and nothing he seems to do stops him from getting at it. So he makes up a poisonous white liquid from household chemicals and serves it to Jerry, hoping to kill him. Unfortunately it merely gives him great strength and he proceeds to open a can of whoop-ass. Trouble is, his powers come and go at sporadic intervals. So Tom decides to drink the potion himself.

It's very funny and you'll certainly be laughing all the way through. The twist ending is the best laugh of all. I won't ruin it, but it was my favorite one yet.

"Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Mouse" is unusual in that it was nominated for an Oscar. However, when you see it you'll certainly understand. The animation (like all Tom & Jerry cartoons) is top-rate and the story is great fun. As a kid, I loved this cartoon and when I saw it again tonight I found I still do!

Much of this cartoon is the typical sort of Tom & Jerry fare--Tom is trying to kill Jerry but with no success. However, this time Tom decides to use his brain (uh, oh!) and makes a concoction designed to kill the mouse--or at least knock him out cold! Instead, the formula is like the Jekyll and Hyde potion in that Jerry changes--into a HUGE and well-muscled mouse who beats the snot out of Tom. In the end, Tom decides to try the potion himself...with hilarious results.

While everyone seems to praise this one I am one of the few minorities who cannot enjoy this. I like to judge these cartoons based on who initiates the conflict first. In this case it's Jerry. All Tom wants to do is enjoy his milk in peace but Jerry can't leave him alone no matter what he does to keep his milk away from him. Then he poisons it Jerry becomes strong and just hurts Tom constantly. I found myself calling Jerry a jerk, wishing he'd just leave him alone and quit hurting him. And then when Tom gets a chance to get even he drinks the spiked milk and instead of making him strong it reduces him to an insignificant size where Jerry can go from bothering him, hurting him to just torturing him.

Second worst T&J episode I've ever seen. Right next to the Mouseketeer which ends with Tom being decapitated.

I know these cartoons are just cartoon but still they need someone to feel and cheer for. When Tom starts the fight, I feel for Jerry and it should apply here as well but it doesn't.

All Tom wants to do is enjoy his milk but Jerry rudely won't leave him alone. Then at insult to injury Jerry become super strong and beats up Tom. The ending is very insulting as well. Jerry, much like in the Wright Bros episode, is just a big bully in this and I won't advocate such a thing.

Dr Jekyll and Mr Mouse is a unique take on the famous split-personality tale by Robert Louis Stevenson. I don't think it is Tom and Jerry's very best cartoon, but it is a dark, suspenseful and most definitely entertaining one. The animation is great, luscious, well proportioned and just beautiful to look at in general. And I also loved the music, that alone added to the darkness, suspense and fun of Dr Jekyll and Mr Mouse. There are some great gags as well, if you know the story though you'll know what happens, but the twist ending is just great and very funny. Overall, a unique and fun cartoon, with a great ending and music to boot. 9/10 Bethany Cox