Warner Bros. has released the third and final installment of the Tom and Jerry Spotlight Collection. Tom and Jerry Spotlight Collection Vol. 3 is comprised of 35 original Tom and Jerry episodes, re-mastered for better audio and video quality and presented in a two disc set. What you can expect from this DVD set, which was released on 9/11/07, is a classic cartoon that has delighted audiences of varying ages for decades. What you might be surprised to know is that Warner Bros. includes a disclaimer on the back of this DVD box set advising that it is for adult collectors and the material may not be suited for children.
I was a little puzzled at first by this. Tom and Jerry cartoons can be seen on a daily basis on cable television cartoon channels. I watched the show as a child. My son watches Tom and Jerry and so do most of his friends. I have never considered Tom and Jerry to be an adult cartoon. Then, after watching the 35 episodes presented, I realized something. Television stations can decide what episodes to air and what to avoid. Tom and Jerry was developed at a time when social standards were different. Cartoons didn’t have to be PC as not to offend any particular group. The cartoon was affected by the social beliefs of the society for which it was written. Things considered taboo to kids, these days, were not necessarily taboo back then.
One example of this was the episode where Butch (the other cat living in the home where Tom lives) smoked cigarettes. Today, cartoons smoking cigarettes are strictly prohibited. It doesn’t matter how absurd the scenario is (i.e. a cat smoking), the idea of smoking is that it is bad, so television shows for kids shouldn’t show it in such a nonchalant way. It might glamorize the act and make kids think it is okay to smoke.
Another reason this may not be suitable for children is the amount of violence in the cartoons. The cartoon animals destroy homes, use dangerous devices to beat each other up, and do things kids shouldn’t try to do. If a child cannot separate fantasy from reality or is too young to understand that what is being done should not be tried or replicated at home, then this cartoon warning is intended for these children.
I can’t say I won’t let my son watch this box set. At twelve, I believe he is mature enough to realize that cats don’t smoke. We’ve taught him drugs, including cigarettes, are bad. We’ve taught him to just say no. He’s more likely to hide someone’s cigarettes so they cannot smoke them then pick up a cigarette and smoke it himself. In fact, the hilarity of the cartoon would diminish the fact that a cat was smoking at all and it really isn’t noticeable unless you are looking for it.
As for the violence, this cartoon is similar to Looney Tunes. What kid hasn’t seen Looney Tunes? If kids cannot realize that cartoon animals dropping anvils on each other’s heads is something that should not be replicated then these children are more susceptible then I thought. My best advice is, as their parent you should watch the DVD for yourself first. If you think your child can handle this cartoon set then by all means let them watch it. As their parent, you are the best judge of your children and should ultimately make the decision whether your child is old enough to watch Tom and Jerry or not.
If you decide to let your child watch Tom and Jerry Spotlight Collection Vol. 3, you will have over 30 episodes to enjoy together. There are also special features on this two disc set. One is a 2005 animated short by Joseph Barbera. This is Joseph’s last Tom and Jerry short prior to his death. It was his first time writing and doing the storyboard for Tom and Jerry in 40 years! It’s easy to see, through this short and the entire DVD, why Hanna Barbera was the best animation studio of its day.
Another special bonus feature is a featurette. It talks about the history of Tom and Jerry. They’ve been deemed one of the best duos in cartoon history and this featurette tells of their development from inception to their appeal in the present day.
Whether you choose to let your children watch Tom and Jerry Spotlight Collection Vol. 3 or not, you should consider buying this DVD set for yourself. It certainly will help you feel nostalgic if you watched Tom and Jerry as a kid.
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Written by Ashtyn Evans – Visit Website
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Ashtyn is in her early 30s. She is a mother, writer, college student, and music lover. Ashtyn has had a successful career as a writer since 2003. She turned to blogging in 2005. Ashtyn attends Wright State where she is getting a degree in Psychology. She has extensive knowledge in SEO and Social Media Development.
