The classic animated duo ofTom and Jerryare back thanks to a new show set to debut on Warner Bros.’s WB Kids YouTube channel, which portrays the characters in a way that fans have never seen them before: as anime characters. The new series,Tom and Jerry Gokko, brings a quirky new element to the beloved franchise.
The short-form series originally debuted exclusively in Japan in 2022 and has been running ever since. Episodes are extremely short, averaging just a minute or so long, but there are over 50 episodes already, so there’s plenty of content coming to WB Kids from the series.Tom and Jerry Gokkoportrays the cat and mouse duo in a chibi-like form, but all the classic antics that fans know them for are still present, as the recently uploaded teaser made abundantly clear.
Tom and Jerry Begin Life Anew in Anime Form
The Classic “Frenemies” Are As Ridiculous as Ever
Tom and Jerry Gokkomaintains all of what made the original cartoons featuring the pair so lovable, with plenty of chase scenes and cartoon violence to bring the laughs. While the character designs might look a little unfamiliar at first, all the key details of both Tom and Jerry’s designs are present. The cutesy art style actually accentuates the cartoon antics, making things even more ridiculous as both are subjected to the kind of absurd situations that have effectively defined what it means to be a cartoon.
While the style may not be for everyone, the series has effectively brought back the classic characters and retooled them for the modern era. The one-minute format is a good fit forTom and Jerry, allowing for plenty of antics without overstaying its welcome. Tom and Jerry’s relationship is the same as ever, with the two alternately palling around or at each other’s throats. Warner Bros. has long been very invested in Japanese animation, so bringing the style of anime to some of their most iconic characters feels like an inevitability that’s finally come to pass.
Will Other WB Icons Get the Anime Treatment?
Other Series May Also Be A Good Fit for This Style
WB has a massive stable of well-known characters who could benefit from a revival like this one. Of course, one could consider anime-styleLooney Tunes, or perhaps a Japanese take onThe Jetsons,might be interesting. Some popular WB properties are already getting the treatment, likeGo-Go Mystery Machine, an anime-style take onScooby-Doo,which is currently in development for Cartoon Network. It seems that at long last, the Japanese and American traditions of animation are finally coming together, and hopefully, they can create some fantastic revivals for properties likeTom and Jerry.
