Poor Tom and Jerry! They never got the love and respect that Disney and Warner Brothers characters got, but Tom and Jerry's classic episodes made in the '40's and '50s are just as clever and almost as well animated as their more prestigious cartoon neighbors. "Little Runaway" is wonderful. The runaway seal is adorable, and Jerry's tap dancing routine with a dead fish is one of the funniest things I've ever seen in a cartoon. Scott Bradley's music, as always, complements the animation perfectly.
5 Reviews
Seal-ing The Deal
ccthemovieman-129 November 2007
This is more of a "cute" story than a comedy, although it has both charm and laughs, along with some nice artwork. In essence, a baby seal escapes from the zoo. The animal is tired of blowing horns; his job is boring. He tells this to Jerry Mouse after winding up in the swimming pool where Jerry and Tom live.
After Tom, Jerry and the seal all hear that there is a $10,000 reward for the return of the seal, Tom goes after him. The normal chase scene is a bit different because Tom is chasing a seal, not Jerry, and Tom has to perform circus acts (high wire and such) to catch the seal.
Funny sight gags included Jerry helping to produce a "dancing fish" and Tom doing his high- dive into a glass of water.
The show features an odd ending: one, of course, that could never happen and one that you wonder, "Why would Tom be content doing this?"
After Tom, Jerry and the seal all hear that there is a $10,000 reward for the return of the seal, Tom goes after him. The normal chase scene is a bit different because Tom is chasing a seal, not Jerry, and Tom has to perform circus acts (high wire and such) to catch the seal.
Funny sight gags included Jerry helping to produce a "dancing fish" and Tom doing his high- dive into a glass of water.
The show features an odd ending: one, of course, that could never happen and one that you wonder, "Why would Tom be content doing this?"
Gets my seal of approval.
BA_Harrison7 November 2014
Warning: Spoilers
As time went on, the T&J cartoons became increasingly dependent on cute sidekicks for Jerry, a repetitive formula that soon became rather stale. Little Runaway sees Jerry teams up with yet another adorable critter, a little seal that has escaped from the circus, but proves to be one of the better shorts to feature a pal for the little mouse thanks to a very funny script that features lots of great gags.
The first standout out moment comes when Jerry tries to steal a fish for the hungry seal but is caught in the act by a sleepy Tom: Jerry stands behind the fish, operating it like a life-size puppet, and performs a dance routine for the dozy cat. It's a wonderfully executed moment, one of the highlights of the T&J series so far. The laughs continue as Tom learns of the escaped seal and tries to catch it for the reward money, with a predictable lack of success (I love it when Tom trick cycles along a power line, only for the bike to separate into three parts when he reaches a knot tied in the wires by the crafty seal).
An amusing ending sees Tom disguising himself as a seal to try and catch the escapee, the silly cat finding himself part of the circus after he is mistaken for the Real McCoy (don't feel sorry for him: he seems to be having fun!).
All in all, Little Runaway is a solid T&J caper that delivers plenty of chuckles. 7.5/10 rounded up to 8 for IMDb.
The first standout out moment comes when Jerry tries to steal a fish for the hungry seal but is caught in the act by a sleepy Tom: Jerry stands behind the fish, operating it like a life-size puppet, and performs a dance routine for the dozy cat. It's a wonderfully executed moment, one of the highlights of the T&J series so far. The laughs continue as Tom learns of the escaped seal and tries to catch it for the reward money, with a predictable lack of success (I love it when Tom trick cycles along a power line, only for the bike to separate into three parts when he reaches a knot tied in the wires by the crafty seal).
An amusing ending sees Tom disguising himself as a seal to try and catch the escapee, the silly cat finding himself part of the circus after he is mistaken for the Real McCoy (don't feel sorry for him: he seems to be having fun!).
All in all, Little Runaway is a solid T&J caper that delivers plenty of chuckles. 7.5/10 rounded up to 8 for IMDb.
Aww, how cute!
TheLittleSongbird16 July 2010
I have seen quite a few cartoons that are very cute and funny, and they have really cute supporting characters. Little Runaway is one of those cartoons. In fact, it has become one of my favourite Tom and Jerrys for that primary reason. The animation is beautiful, the colours especially look amazing, while the music compliments the visuals perfectly. The sight gags and chases are unpredictable and funny, I especially loved Jerry's dance routine with the fish, and also the ending, I too don't think Tom would have given in too easily to do something possibly that humiliating. As I've said, Little Runaway is also so cute, thankfully not cute to the point of your teeth falling out, but cute to the point of reaching into the television and hug the characters. Tom and Jerry are both great to watch, but the baby seal steals their thunder just by being so adorable, especially when he communicates in seal language why he's run away and that he doesn't want to go back. Overall, a must watch for Tom and Jerry fans. 10/10 Bethany Cox
It's been years since anybody has seen a seal . . .
pixrox112 October 2022
Warning: Spoilers
. . . blowing horns at a circus. LITTLE RUNAWAY h-a-r-k-e-n-s back to a more innocent time, before the Evil-Doers dwelling North of America's cherished border started clubbing baby seals to death as their mommies screamed and wailed inches away, to turn quick bucks on a few fur coats. Soon the moms' weeping and wailing got the clubbers to thinking "Doubtless there's a profit to be made here, too." Sure enough, it turned out that maternal seal tongues could replace rubber in high performance engines, with the slightest imperfections relegating these vital organs to the mundane task of topping off ball jars. So next time you hear an engine roaring down your favorite race track, as you crack open another container of your favorite home-canned preserves, do not forget the sacrificial seals which have made your frivolities possible.
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