Tom and Jerry (Boomerang)

common sense media says

Cat and mouse face off in classic (but violent) cartoon.


parents & educators say
  • 36% say violence is an issue

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this animated classic is far from educational. Although it's considered a masterpiece, some of the series' content -- particularly the consequence-free cartoon violence -- is iffy for younger viewers. There's also some content that reflects the series' original 1960s' era -- such as the fact that the characters smoke in some episodes.

Educational value: Not applicable.
Positive messages: Yes, it's all in fun, but Tom and Jerry do promote unhealthy competition and poke fun at stereotypes. Violence is consequence-free.
Positive role models: Tom and Jerry are very competitive and vindictive, often baiting each other with the intent to harm. It's all played for laughs.
Violence & scariness: Cartoon violence aplenty -- guns, knives, saws, axes, and explosives are used regularly (usually with little to no lasting consequence).
Sexy stuff: In one instance, Jerry uses a bra as a parachute.
Language: Not applicable.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Jerry smokes a cigarette; Tom smokes a cigar. The series was made in the 1960s, so this was fairly typical of the time period.

More on Tom and Jerry

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Families can talk about why it's important to respect someone else even when competing with them. When does competition become unhealthy?

  • Why is it inappropriate to make fun of someone else?

  • Why can something be funny on TV but dangerous in real life? How does the violence in this show compare to what you've seen in other series?

What's the story?

What's the story?

TOM AND JERRY invented the cat-and-mouse game we all know today. The classic pair have had many incarnations, but everything dates back to the original 1940s MGM series, in which the pair chases, outsmarts, and tortures each other to the max. In each episode, Tom the cat attempts to outsmart Jerry the mouse -- although in most cases Jerry ends up turning the tables on his foe. For example, Tom builds a master mouse trap for Jerry. All is going well until Jerry escapes, leaving Tom to land in the trap himself. Parents can try to use scenarios like this to teach their kids to root for the underdog, but that's about the only positive message you'll get out of this show.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

Tom and Jerry is inarguably one of the most celebrated cartoons of all time. But that doesn't mean it's perfect for young viewers. In most episodes, Tom and Jerry casually smoke some form of tobacco. In the mouse trap episode, for example, Tom gives Jerry a cigarette before his supposed death, and Tom daydreams about smoking a Cuban cigar once Jerry is dead. Mild sexual innuendoes occasionally pop up, too; in one episode, Jerry uses a bra as a parachute to escape explosives.

But parents should be most concerned about the show's constant violence. Examples include Tom hitting a dog with a brick, Jerry blinding Tom with toothpaste, and Pecos the mouse (a guest character) using an ax to tear down a door. Other weapons such as guns, knives, and saws make regular appearances. (Obviously, there's a kernel of accuracy behind The Simpsons' extremely bloody Tom and Jerry parody, Itchy and Scratchy.) It's all played for laughs, but Tom and Jerry's unexplainable motives could prove confusing for younger viewers.

TV themes & details

Themes
TV Details
TV Rating: TV-G
Network: Boomerang
Genre: Kids' Animation
Where to watch: Boomerang

This review was written by Deirdre Sheppard
 
 

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What parents & educators say

4
Based on 11 parent & educator reviews:
  • 36% say violence is an issue

Most useful reviews by all members

 
Lighten up, geez
The more I browse this site, the more I see parents worrying too mcuh. "They solve their problems with violence!" Oh boo hoo. Let your kids have fun. I'm not hitting people with pans for the fun of it, and I loved this show when I was little. And kids are going to try to do it by fighting anyway. You ALSO forget that Tom and Jerry often make up at some point."BUT THEY SMOKE" and they almost always get sick afterwards from taking too much. Your kid is not dumb enough to pick up an actual cigar, light it, and smoke it, unless they see you doing it and learn how. And in such a case, you SHOULD'VE TAUGHT YOUR KID NOT TO DO IT IN THE FIRST PLACE. Make sure your child understands what they do wrong, and make sure they understand it's a cartoon. I really don't think you're giving your kids enough credit. They're not that dumb, and you can't protect them from every little knick and scrape to their body or mind. And from personal experience, the harder you try to do it, the farther your kids get later. I had issues with my grandmother recently because it suddenly dawned on me that she kept me inside my whole life, so I never learned how to play with other kids, I'd never played any games outside, and I'd never played in my own yard without long pants and a sweat shirt on. Whatever happened to kids having fun, anyway? AND WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO THE FUN OF ANIMATION?

simpo
kid, 8 years old
 
a kids show rated G
anyway all kids watch cartoons this is on in the morning so it is ok for kids

 
Not as bad as people make it out to be
Yes, Tom and Jerry has quite a bit of animated violence. I'm 26 and I grew up on shows like Tom and Jerry and Looney Tunes. Now, I never felt the compulsion to hit my younger brother in the head with a frying pan...mainly because I knew it was wrong and also because I knew I would get in a world of trouble for it. T&J is all animated so the violence isn't "real." Yes, kids are imitators, but as long as parents aren't using the TV to babysit their kids and parents actually discipline kids, then the animated violence shouldn't be a problem. Long story short, teach the kids the difference between real and make believe and everything will be ok.

sb1254
teen, 17 years old
 
A gennerly funny show with a few unsavory elements.
While I mostly agree with the Common Scence media review I think they left out a few things. There is some innuendo laced through the series, mostly whistling at women and that kind of stuff. Also while you probably wont see it on the TV, there are some unsavory racial sterotypes, namely blackface gags. Violence is what you would expect though. So while I don't think it's for 5+, 8 and higher should be good. But in the positives, this is a classic for the ages that it still entertaing today.

trickster123
kid, 12 years old
 
ONE OF FUNNIEST SHOWS EVER
i love this show! me and my brother have been watching this since we were little. there's no blood,no scary voilence just ka-booms and whacks.okay for 4+ beacause they will think its will be HILARIOUS (i do and im 11)its 1000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000% funny

Dominicboo1
teen, 16 years old
 
Violent But Classic Cartoons
Tom and Jerry cartoons are very funny, but often violent. In almost every cartoon (with very few exceptions) they're fighting. Jerry doesn't try to escape Tom like Tweety tries to escape Slyvester, but tries to hurt the cat for fun. My main choice for giving this 5+ is that the characters smoke occasionaly, but you hopefully taught your kids from the time they understood what smoking was that they should never do it. I suggest if you have not take an example in Texas Tom where Tom smokes and say" We don't smoke like Tom."

IGotTheMagic
teen, 14 years old
 
A fun for everyone classic cartoon
Family friendly classic for just about everyone. Cartoon violence could be offensive or frightening to the very young set.

Miranda ...
kid, 11 years old
 
Great for all ages!
Funny as always!

smoonchu12
teen, 14 years old
 
good for ages 4 and up.
funny but they use torchere tools for humor sometimes.

Blue-Bunny
teen, 18 years old
 
A classic to behold!
I remember watching this show when I was a bit younger and I still tune in to watch it every once in awhile. Let me tell you what I think about it. It's funny, surreal, and entertaining. The violence is one of the most funniest parts of the show. Jerry seems to be indestructible because he's always clever. He's also a very good role model because no matter how many times Tom tries to eat or kill him, he always manages to outsmart him and never gives up. I give it two thumbs up! One last thing, Glass-Cheshire is absolutely right!

FezesAreCool
kid, 12 years old
 
Lots of animated violence with no consequences, 8+
I am 11 and I still love this show. It is very funny. There is a lot of violence like people getting flattened but it's animated and there is no blood or gore. Incredibly mild flirting. Tom and Jerry sometimes smoke and in one episode Tom gets drunk but the violence is the only problem. Good for anyone 8 or over who likes a laugh.

The Dolphin
teen, 14 years old
 
Good old classic
It's a fun classic for kids. As long as they don't repeat what they see on the TV, there's no harm in watching this show. It's funny and has moderate violence.

vart96
parent of 14 year old
 
Victor's Reviwe
I think it can be fun but the're are some things parents should be caution I rate this: PG for mild cartoon violence and mild drug reference.

tariq1919
kid, 12 years old
 
THIS IS SUPER FUNNY
now i have to say something this site has SUPER OVERPROTECTIVE PARENTS ITS LIKE WHENEVER A CARTOON HAS SOME VIOLENCE THEY GO LIKE OH MY GOSH AND STUFF CMON SERIOUSLY THIS CAN NEVER HAVE A PAUSE ONLY AN ON WITH 2 PLUS

cutiepie_1203
teen, 15 years old
 
If I see one more review from an overprotective parent not knowing how to let their kids have ANY fun one more time, I'm going to scream.
To the dim-whitted idiotic parents out there who want their children to ever grow up and know about the real world, this show is NOT that violent. Come one people! This show isn't even realistic, and that's what makes it so funny. Please tell me a time you're child EVER tried to hit you with a pan, or throw a bowling ball at you, or even think about smoking. Really though, I've reviewed tons of shows on this site and all I see are over protective parents talking about "violence' this and "sexuality". Geez, cut the umblical cord, you can't keep your child locked up from real life, and if you start wondering why they have social and mental issues when they grow up, remember this time, because your kids surely won't forget it. You all need to learn to let go sometimes.

mymagictutorials4u
teen, 15 years old
 
Classic
Tom and Jerry is a good old fashioned show that teaches morals about friendship through good examples. However there is some mild violence however it is all cartoonish and in the end T&J usually end up making up and staying friends. in some episodes tom or jerry outwits the dog spike or eachother and often it will show a suggestive word and change the head to a donkey( such as Jack@$$ or sucker) and then changing the characters body/head to a donkey or a sucker. also there is also some smoking but is not an issue because it is used very lightly and in very few episodes. All in all a very good, family friendly classic show that is good entertainment for any age 1-100.

tmj2037c
parent of 8 year old
 
my childs #1 favorite
cartoon violence, nothing major

zhp7654
teen, 15 years old
 
Think twice.
Parents need to know that this show is NOT appropriate for kids under 9 years old. Tom and Jerry use violence to resolve their conflicts. Jerry's the one that causes all the problems, and Tom gets hurt. It's also loaded with using bras as parachutes and smoking. MESSAGE (know your kids): Social behaviour: Tom and Jerry use violence to resolve their confilcts. Consumerism: Not an issue. Drugs/Alchohol/Tobacco: Tom and Jerry smoke. VIOLENCE (not age appropriate): Violence is used in every episode, and it's all cartoonish. SEX (know your kids): Jerry uses a bra as a parachute, as well as a couple of make-outs. LANGUAGE (no issues): Not an issue. -------------------------------------------- But my siblings love it.

jayman1004
kid, 11 years old
 
Best cartoons ever!!
One of the best cartoons ever!!

 
Good, But DEFINETLY more violent than courage the cowardly dog,
little eyes, be careful... this is extremely chock full of cartoon violence

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ON: Content is appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child, some content may not be right for some kids
OFF: Not age appropriate for kids this age