Tom and Jerry: A Nutcracker Tale

Tom and Jerry: A Nutcracker Taleis a 2007 American/Canadiandirect-to-videoanimatedChristmasfantasy comedy film. The film was produced byWarner Bros. AnimationandTurner Entertainment Co.,and is the firstTom and Jerryfilm directed bySpike Brandt and Tony Cervone.It serves as the fifth direct-to-videoTom and Jerryfilm and is a semi-adaptation of 1816 short story "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King"byE. T. A. Hoffmann,with Jerry in the role of theNutcrackerand Tom in the role of one of the Mouse King's (who is reimagined as a cat) henchmen.

Tom and Jerry: A Nutcracker Tale
DVD cover
Directed by	Spike Brandt Tony Cervone
Screenplay by	Spike Brandt
Story by	Joseph Barbera
Based on	Tom and Jerry byWilliam HannaandJoseph Barbera The Nutcracker and the Mouse King byE. T. A. Hoffmann
Produced by	Spike Brandt Tony Cervone
Starring	Chantal Strand Ian James Corlett Kathleen Barr Tara Strong Garry Chalk Trevor Devall
Edited by	Robin DeSales
Music by	Dirk Brossé
Production companies	Turner Entertainment Co. Warner Bros. Animation Warner Bros. Family Entertainment
Distributed by	Warner Home Video
Release date	October 2, 2007(2007-10-02)
Running time	48 minutes
Countries	United States Canada
Language	English

Aside from being the lastTom and Jerryfilm to be released in a 1:33:1 Full-Screen format,A Nutcracker Talewas the last animated production thatJoseph Barberaworked on before his death on December 18, 2006, and as such, the film is now dedicated to his memory. This was also the last animated direct-to-video film released under theWarner Bros. Family Entertainmentlabel beforeWarner Bros.ceased using the brand's name altogether in 2011.

On August 13, 2020, it was announced that the film would be released onBlu-rayand special editionDVD,and paired withTom and Jerry: Santa's Little Helpers.The bundle was released on October 27, 2020.

Plot

After watchingThe Nutcracker,Jerryand his wardTuffyfind themselves pulled into the story by a magic miracle. The stage transforms into a wintry wonderland where the toys all enjoy a dinner feast. However, the magic also affects Tom and the other cats, led by the King of the Cats, who ruin the feast and trap the toys while Jerry, a decoration named Paulie the pixie, and a toy horse named Nelly, who can only speak when someone pulls her string, try to stop them, but end up shot out of a cannon and blasted far away. Tom traps a Ballerina toy in a cage and brings her to the King of the cats as a trophy. When the King of the Cats learns that Jerry will not give up until the kingdom is reclaimed, he has Tom form a posse to destroy him. At the Ballerina Toy's urging, Tuffy secretly follows the cats to warn Jerry. Jerry, Tuffy, and their new friends decide to follow a star to meet the Toy Maker, the person who created the toys, and seek his aid. Tom chases them through several magical realms and during the journey Nelly is captured by the cats and is forced to tell them where the others are headed, leaving her discouraged at her betrayal. The remaining three make it to the Toy Maker and he fixes Paulie, who suffered damage during the journey, a makes him a real toy. The Toy Maker warns that if Jerry cannot reclaim his kingdom before the sun fully rises in the morning, the cats will control of the kingdom forever and he gives them a key that allows them to awaken an army of toy soldiers. The three depart with their new army to take back the kingdom. When the cats attempt to escape the army of toy soldiers, the Ballerina frees herself and the other toys from captivity and leads them in an army against the Cat King. When Tom traps Jerry and Tuffy in his mouth, Nelly returns and breaks them out. Jerry chases the cats out of the kingdom and back to the real world just before the sun finishes rising. However, a wall damaged by the battle collapses, and Nelly sacrifices herself to push Jerry and the Ballerina Toy out of the way. The magic miracle returns and restores Nelly, and allows her to speak without her string. The events of the story are revealed to be a play witnessed by the Ballerina from the Nutcracker and the Toymaker.

Voice cast

• Spike BrandtasTom CatandJerry Mouse(uncredited)
• Chantal Strandas Tuffy
• Tara Strongas La Petite Ballerina
• Ian James Corlettas Paulie
• Kathleen Barras Nelly
• Garry Chalkas King of the Cats
• Trevor Devallas Lackey
• Mark Oliver as Dr. Malevolent
• Richard Newmanas The Toymaker

Production

According to Brandt,Joseph Barberadecided on a Nutcracker adaptation as he thought its music fit perfectly withTom and Jerry.TheAmazonpage for theDVDappeared sometime in August 2007.

Widescreen

Tom and Jerry: A Nutcracker Talewas the fourthTom and Jerryfilm to be filmed inhigh-definitionwidescreen(the first three beingTom and Jerry: Blast Off to Mars,Tom and Jerry: The Fast and the FurryandTom and Jerry: Shiver Me Whiskers), although the Region 1 DVD and the U.S. version ofBoomerangwere infull screen(cropping the left and right of the image). The film is broadcast in widescreen onCartoon Networkin the United States, as well as a Blu-ray version.

Reception

Paul Mavis ofDVD Talkgave the film a very positive review saying "Tom and Jerry: A Nutcracker Taleearns marks for embracing an operatic storyline while keeping the essential punish-Tom-with-pain gags that made Tom and Jerry such a successful franchise for decades. "Meanwhile, Nick Lyons criticized it, stating "Tom And Jerry: A Nutcracker Taleis a rushed animated feature that was simply made to cash in on the Christmas holiday. Avoid this one and rent or buy a holiday classic like theanimated Grinch."

Renee Schonfeld ofCommon Sense Mediarated the film 4 out of 5 stars (making it the highest ratedTom and Jerryfilm on the site) saying "especially at holiday time, for kids who understand cartoon action, it's a delightful entertainment. Teens and grown-ups might like it, too."

See also

• List of Christmas films

External links

• Tom and Jerry: A Nutcracker TaleatIMDb