Tom and Jerry: Jerry and Jumbo

Tom and Jerry classic gold

There are so many beloved Hanna-Barbera cartoons that long-time fans consider to be classic gold. It would probably take a very long time to detail them all but one in particular still warms viewers' hearts. Jerry and Jumbo is the 74th classic in the original 164 episodes of the Tom and Jerry series. This animated tale was created in 1951, by the brilliant quartet who gave us so many memorable cartoons.

It was directed by the dynamic duo of William Hanna and Joseph Barbera produced by Fred Quimby and the music was from Scott Bradley. When these four men put their talents together they brought magic to the screen. You will see their names in the credits of some of the best original Tom and Jerry episodes. Ed Barge, Kenneth Muse, and Irven Spencewere responsible for the animation in this cartoon with backgrounds by Robert Gentle.

The Dumbo factor and lots of comedy

Jerry and Jumbo was released to theaters on February 21, 1953, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and was most likely inspired by the Disney 1941 animated classic Dumbo. Both cartoons have a circus train carrying elephants and each has a character named Jumbo. In Dumbo his mother's name was Mrs. Jumbo and in Jerry and Jumbo it is assumed this is the name of the smaller elephant but it's not made absolutely clear.

The baby pachyderm is sleeping next to his mother who is seated near the open door of the car they are riding in. Little Jumbo falls out of the train then rolls down the hill to Tom and Jerry's house. The big baby elephant and Jerry become fast friends and do their best to stay out of Tom's way while trying to get peanuts to eat.

There are a lot of slapstick memorable moments along the way as Tom tries to get rid of Jerry without knowing about the little elephant. The duo hide in a closet where Jerry paints the grey elephant brown, has him pull in his trunk to look like a nose, and paints it black. Tom thinks he is dealing with a giant mouse but things get worse as he decides to shoot it with his gun. Mother Jumbo makes her way to the home to retrieve her child and is shocked at how Tom is stalking her baby and Jerry. Once they are all outside the mother also is painted to look like a mouse.

Tom teleports?

When Tom sees the large "mouse" he loses it and appears to be having a mental breakdown. His tongue is hanging out, his rifle goes limp, he drops his gun and screams his signature yell. There is a brief flash as the rifle falls to the ground just before Tom runs through two brick walls and heads for the hills. Trivia buffs have said that when the gun falls, during that one second flash of light Tom was "teleporting" to the spot on the ground where the gun fell. I have slowed down the video but all I can see is the gun drop, the light and Tom running for his life. Only now are we finding out about a lot of "Easter Eggs" that have been hidden in our favorite cartoons so I don't rule teleportation out.

Jerry and Jumbo trivia

It's noteworthy to mention that this animated short does not promote the Western belief that elephants are afraid of mice as can be seen in other animated shorts. Neither Jumbo nor his mother are in fear of Jerry. When the circus train went through the tunnel and blew its whistle a second time the whistle came from Great Western #51 a consolidation type steam locomotive that was built by Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1906.

The purpose of this train was to haul sugar beets and freight on the Great Western Railroad Company of Colorado. The whistle was slightly slowed down and the pitch was lowered for the cartoon. I was not able to find a video of the entire Jerry and Jumbo short but you can be on the lookout for it on MeTV Saturday morning cartoons and Toon in With Me weekdays, both at 7:00 AM EST.