Q 01/05

Which two animators created Tom and Jerry at MGM in 1940?

A) William Hanna and Joseph Barbera

B) Chuck Jones and Friz Freleng

C) Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks

D) Tex Avery and Bob Clampett

Answer · why

A) William Hanna and Joseph Barbera

The pair went on to found Hanna-Barbera, home of the Flintstones, Scooby-Doo and Yogi Bear.

Q 02/05

What was the title of the first Tom and Jerry short, released in February 1940?

A) The Night Before Christmas

B) Puss Gets the Boot

C) The Midnight Snack

D) Mouse Trouble

Answer · why

B) Puss Gets the Boot

It earned an Academy Award nomination even though the credits named only producer Rudolf Ising and left out Hanna and Barbera.

Q 03/05

In that first short the cat was not yet called Tom. What was his name?

A) Butch

B) Felix

C) Jasper

D) Jinx

Answer · why

C) Jasper

The mouse went unnamed on screen; Hanna said he was called Jinx in pre-production, and a magazine referred to him as Pee-Wee.

Q 04/05

How were the names Tom and Jerry chosen?

A) Barbera named them after his sons

B) MGM's boss picked them from a cocktail menu

C) A newspaper poll of children

D) A studio contest won by an animator

Answer · why

D) A studio contest won by an animator

Animator John Carr won $50 for the suggestion; the names may trace back to a popular Christmas cocktail and an 1821 London stage play.

Q 05/05

How many Tom and Jerry shorts did the original creators direct in the first MGM run (1940–58)?

A) 114

B) 130

C) 161

D) 200

Answer · why

A) 114

The full theatrical count reaches 161 once the Gene Deitch and Chuck Jones eras are added, and 166 with shorts made since 2001.