Shutter Bugged Cat (Tom and Jerry)

"Shutter Bugged Cat"
Even the Chuck Jones era wasn't safe from Clipshow Episodes even after the Hanna-Barbera and Gene Deitch eras.
Episode Number: 159 Air Date: June 23, 1967 Previous episode: Surf-Bored Cat Next episode: Advance and Be Mechanized

Shutter Bugged Cat is a 1967 Tom and Jerry cartoon directed by Tom Ray.

Plot

Tom watches clips of him attempting to catch Jerry.

Bad Qualities

1. It's a clip show short, as it reuses footage from "Part-Time Pal", "The Yankee Doodle Mouse", "Nit-Witty Kitty", "Johann Mouse", "Heavenly Puss" and "Designs on Jerry" with a revised soundtrack and voice acting.
2. This short largely utilizes footage from earlier shorts instead of new animation.
3. The classic shorts appear to be stock footage enhanced with filters.
4. Plot hole: The scene from "Heavenly Puss" where Tom is hit by a piano is perplexing because it is part of a nightmare he experiences, and thus, it never truly occurred. This raises the question of how Tom could have possibly recorded that "flashback" in the first place.
5. Bad and recycled ending: Tom seals Jerry's mouse hole and sets out to construct a mousetrap to ensnare him, employing techniques from the 1955 short 'Designs on Jerry.' Jerry escapes his sealed hole and discovers the trap. He alters a dimension on the blueprints to sabotage the trap, replicating his tactic from 'Designs on Jerry.' When the trap is activated, it backfires, striking Tom instead of Jerry. Subsequently, Jerry captures footage of Tom tearing up the mousetrap blueprints in frustration.
6. Similar to "Matinee Mouse," which was released the year before, this cartoon credits William Hanna and Joseph Barbera as directors even though they had departed from MGM long ago (they left in 1957 after the MGM cartoon studio was shut down). Despite having no involvement in this cartoon, their names are still associated with it, which has impacted their reputation.

Good Qualities

1. Good music by Dean Elliott.
2. Like "Matinee Mouse", this episode still has some new footage.
3. The animation is impressive, as the updated designs of Tom and Jerry for this short closely resemble their original appearances.
4. The concept of this short being based on the Wile E. Coyote and Roadrunner short "Roadrunner a Go-Go" is intriguing.

Trivia

• This episode draws inspiration from the Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner cartoon "Roadrunner a Go-Go," featuring recycled footage from earlier cartoons and culminating in a similar outcome.

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