The conflict between a cat and a mouse is the perfect tie-in to the Halloween season. The little mouse is constantly tricking the big cat so it can get to the sweet treats. Even without a pumpkin, they are celebrating the holiday with every chase. Tom and Jerry: Trick or Treats presents 22 shorts that have enough spooks and scares to last the holiday season.
The Tom and Jerry cartoons on this collection come from various periods in their long history. There are five shorts from the original MGM era when Joseph Hanna and William Barbera. The cartoon that’s truly dedicated to the season is “The Flying Sorceress” from 1956. Tom gets sick of his family interfering with his pursuit of Jerry. He takes a job with a witch. While she slumbers, Tom borrows her flying broom stick to chase down Jerry. Things look good for the cat until the broom takes over. The other four shorts are “Touche Pussycat!,” “Robin Hoodwinked,” “Jerry’s Cousin” and “Trap Happy.”
The Chuck Jones era is represented by “Haunted Mouse.” Jerry is visited by a nearly identical mouse. The difference is the other mouse wears a top hat and cape. He also has a wand. The two mice conspire to drive Tom nuts with the power of magic. The cool thing is how Jerry has installed an elevator inside the refrigerator.
A majority of the shorts come from the Tom and Jerry Tales series that aired from 2006 to 2008. These are a bit more Halloween-oriented than the theatrical shorts. “Monster Con” is the biggie with Tom visiting a hotel in Transylvania that’s filled with all the Universal horror figures. Tom is working with Van Helsing to take down the creatures of the night. The concept of all the monsters hanging out in a resort is the basis of Adam Sandler’s Hotel Transylvania. This short is funnier than the big budget animation’s trailer. The other titles from Tom and Jerry Tales focus on haunted houses, transforming beasts and mummies. The rest of the shorts are “Spook House Mouse,” “More Powers to You,” “Over the River and Boo! The Woods,” “Fire Breathing Tom Cat,” “Tiger Cat,” “Invasion of the Body Slammers,” “Bats what I like about the South,” “Fraidy Cat Scat,” “Which Witch,” “Tomb It May Concern,” “Power Tom,” “The Itch” and “Hi, Robot.”
Tom and Jerry: Tricks & Treats is an overflowing bag of fun treats. Kids ought to get a sugar rush out of the somewhat holiday themed action. The cat and the mouse understand the holiday season as they trick each other. The sad part is that Tom will never get the treat of eating Jerry. That would be too horrific of an episode.
The video is 1.33:1. While the aspect ratios may vary on the theatrical cartoons, they are letterboxed. Tom and Jerry Tales episodes are full frame. The audio varies from Dolby Digital mono for the theatricals to Dolby Digital Stereo for the Tom and Jerry Tales. There are dub tracks in Spanish, French, Portuguese and Thai. The subtitles are in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese and Thai.
In the extras department, Bonus shorts include “Ho,Ho Horrors” and “Doggone Hill Hog” from The Tom and Jerry Tales. “Ho, Ho Horrors combines Christmas with a touch of Halloween. “Doggone Hill Hog” continues the action.
Tom and Jerry: Tricks & Treats is a tasty scare from the cat and the mouse. The 22 shorts will last longer than a bag of fun size candy bars.
Warner Home Video presents Tom and Jerry: Tricks & Treat. Starring: Tom and Jerry. Boxset Contents: 22 episodes on 1 DVD. Released: September 4, 2012. Available at Amazon.com.
