But Tales was different. It was a return to form.
When you watch these shorts on the Archive, you are watching the last direct creative output from one of the founding fathers of animation. There is a warmth to the character poses in Tales that the 90s movies lacked. It feels like Barbera was whispering to the animators, "Make the fall longer. Hold on the reaction. Then drop the piano." Go to archive.org and search exactly for: "Tom and Jerry Tales complete"
There is a specific, almost sacred sound that triggers instant nostalgia for Millennials and Gen Z: the frantic skid of claws on hardwood, the metallic sproing of a mousetrap, and the high-pitched, panicked scream of a blue cat who has just been shot out of a cannon.
So, do yourself a favor. Close your eyes, click the link, and listen for that scream. It never gets old.
Internet Archive Tom and Jerry Tales
Diving into the Digital Stacks: Why “Tom and Jerry Tales” on the Internet Archive is a Treasure Trove
