The Van Beuren Tom and Jerry (as said already not the famous cat and mouse, this is a human duo that lasted for just under 30 cartoons, 29 if memory serves correct, between 1931 and 1933) series was interesting but uneven and not easy to rate as an overall whole. At the series' best, the cartoons were good, very good in a few cases. At its worst, they were really bad.
'Pots and Pans' from personal opinion is one of the very good Tom and Jerry cartoons and one of the series' best. Its weakest assets are the practically plot-less story, which is best described as a stringing along of gags and musical interludes, and the primitive animation (especially the character designs of Tom and Jerry), which is as ever far too static and simple.
However, there are many things that 'Pots and Pans' does really well, brilliantly even. The best thing about it is the music score which is the high point of even the worst cartoons and is so beautifully and cleverly orchestrated and full of energy, doing so well with enhancing the action. There is a nicely done setting, some decent attention to detail in a few of the backgrounds and good movement synchronisation with the music.
As far as Tom and Jerry cartoons go, 'Pots and Pans' is one of the most spirited and energetic ones, not a dull moment here. It's also one of the most inventive and this is a cartoon that is full of gags that are actually funny and as close to the deliciously bizarre absurdity that is the series' primary style of humour as one can get. Tom and Jerry themselves are likable enough, if still not among the most interesting lead characters. Support is fun.
Overall, very well made and entertaining, one of the series' best and replaces 'Rocketeers' as the best since the duo's debut 'Wot a Night'. 8/10 Bethany Cox