The slapstick comedy of Tom, the clumsy cat who's always on the losing end, and Jerry, the mischievous and playful mouse. The iconic scenes from "Tom and Jerry" are now available as palm-sized figures from Medicom Toy. Presented in an accessible size and price point for easy collecting.

"Tom and Jerry" was first released as a short film in 1940 by the duo William Hanna and Joseph Barbera. It became a hit series, winning seven Academy Awards. In 2020, it celebrated its 80th anniversary, and an exhibition titled "80th Anniversary Tom and Jerry Exhibition: The Genius Duo of Cartoons, Hanna-Barbera" was held in Japan. The exhibition showcased numerous valuable materials, including animation cels from their debut work "Puss Gets the Boot" (1940), highlighting the new charms of this beloved animation and characters.

This March, a live-action and animation hybrid film was also released, achieving great success worldwide.

Long captivating audiences as a symbol of American culture, "Tom and Jerry" continues to charm. To commemorate the release of "UDF TOM AND JERRY," we spoke with a representative from Warner Bros. Japan about the secrets behind its enduring popularity.

--- "Tom and Jerry" is popular across a wide range of generations in Japan.

Warner Bros. Japan (hereinafter, WB.J)They are known as "three-generation characters" because their fanbase spans from young children to grandparents. Another characteristic is the lack of a significant gender divide, which is common with many other characters. We have generations who grew up watching the animation, kids who are currently watching it on TV, and even Gen Z, the 10-20s demographic, with touchpoints expanding through YouTube, social media, movies, and in-store promotions.

--- What initiatives are you undertaking to reach younger generations?

WB.JTo celebrate the theatrical release of the film "Tom and Jerry," a new immersive exhibition, "Tom and Jerry Cartoon Carnival," is currently touring nationwide, starting at Laforet Museum in Harajuku, Tokyo (March 12 - April 4). It will be held in Shizuoka (August 4-18) and Hokkaido (December 24 - January 11, 2022). The exhibition features trick art creating a magical space, displays of characters comically distorted from their mishaps, photo spots recreating Jerry's beloved cheese world, and collaborations with fashion brands, appealing especially to younger female audiences. Additionally, a pop-up "Tom and Jerry" themed cafe, the first of its kind in Japan, opened for a limited time this spring and attracted many fans, particularly from younger demographics.

To introduce the fun to those who may not watch animation regularly, the official "Tom and Jerry" social media channels daily post short animated clips. In the spring, we also held a fan-voted "favorite scene" campaign. The fan response was overwhelmingly positive, leading to an increase in social media followers.

--- The live-action film "Tom and Jerry" was released in March and became a huge hit. The Blu-ray & DVD have also been available since July 21st.

WB.JThe familiar slapstick comedy is amplified with a scale only a movie can provide! With the addition of Spike the bulldog, Butch the alley cat, and other amusing animals like pigeons, peacocks, tigers, and elephants, the chaos escalates even further.

Furthermore, this film centers on the growth of Kayla (Chloë Grace Moretz), a new hotel staff member. The story of Tom and Jerry working together to pull off the most wonderful wedding, despite repeated failures, is heartwarming and enjoyable for both adults and children.

As director Tim Story commented, because it's a historic animated series with fans worldwide, they succeeded in broadening its appeal by not forcing it to be overly modern and by retaining the familiar 2D animation style. It's a visually rich film that guarantees laughter for the whole family.

--- The star-studded voice cast for the Japanese dub, including Inori Minase, Subaru Kimura, Houchu Ohtsuka, Shigeru Chiba, and Maaya Sakamoto, also generated buzz.

WB.JWith such renowned voice actors, the audience response was overwhelmingly positive. Comments included praise for Inori Minase as Kayla, such as "Perfectly cast!" and "Kayla's voice is so cute, it's Rin!" and for Subaru Kimura as Terence, "Terence is probably the most sensible character, but he played the annoying role so well (laughs). Voice actors are truly amazing!"

--- Medicom Toy is releasing "Tom and Jerry" figures. What kind of impact do you expect from this collaboration?

WB.JCollaborating with Medicom Toy, known for their consistently appealing product development, will help expand our reach to audiences beyond our existing character fans and enhance our brand image.

--- Please tell us about the recommended points.

WB.J: Series 1, released this month, features familiar poses from the series. Series 2, releasing in December, will showcase comical expressions unique to cartoons. The various transformations of Tom and Jerry are highly memorable and popular episodes, representing iconic scenes that capture the unique world of "Tom and Jerry."

--- Lastly, could you tell us why "Tom and Jerry" has been loved by people for so long?

WB.JIts greatest appeal is simply that it's "funny." Even without dialogue, the characters naturally bring smiles to viewers' faces, and their charm remains undiminished even after more than 80 years.

Japan is said to have a particularly large number of "Tom and Jerry" fans. Even now, over 80 years since its creation, it continues to send the universal message of "fighting like friends," just as it did when it first aired. We believe it will continue to bring smiles to children and adults alike.

UDF TOM AND JERRY

TOM

JERRY

TOM and JERRY

JERRY on TOM’S HEAD

TOM w/CLUB and JERRY w/BOMB

Sculptor: PERFECT-STUDIO
Size: TOM: Approx. 72mm in height, JERRY: Approx. 55mm in height, TOM and JERRY: Approx. 70mm (TOM) / 20mm (JERRY) in height, JERRY on TOM’S HEAD: Approx. 65mm (TOM) / 20mm (JERRY) in height, TOM w/CLUB and JERRY w/BOMB: Approx. 60mm (TOM) / 20mm (JERRY) in height
Price: [TOM, JERRY] ¥1,320 (incl. tax). [TOM and JERRY, TOM w/CLUB and JERRY w/BOMB, JERRY on TOM’S HEAD] ¥1,980 (incl. tax)
Release Date: October 2021
*The photos show a sample under supervision. The actual product may differ.
TOM AND JERRY and all related characters and elements ©️ & TM Turner Entertainment Co. (s21)

UDF TOM AND JERRY SERIES 2

TOM(Square)

TOM(Vase)

JERRY(Triangular Prism)

TOM(Narrow Pipe)

TOM AND JERRY(Pressed)

Sculptor: PERFECT-STUDIO & INOUE Taku
Size: TOM(Square): Approx. 60mm in height. TOM(Vase): Approx. 55mm in height. TOM(Narrow Pipe): Approx. 100mm in length. TOM AND JERRY(Pressed): Approx. 60mm (TOM) / 35mm (JERRY) in height. JERRY(Triangular Prism): Approx. 40mm in height.
Price: ¥1,320 each. TOM AND JERRY(Pressed) only: ¥1,800 (incl. tax)
Release Date: Scheduled for December 2021 release
*The photos show a sample under supervision. The actual product may differ.
TOM AND JERRY and all related characters and elements ©️ & TM Turner Entertainment Co. (s21)