Hanna-Barbera (1943)

The Lonesome Mouse is a 1943 American one-reel animated cartoon and is the 10th Tom and Jerry cartoon released. This is notable for being the first speaking role of the cat and mouse duo, and the only one with such extensive dialogue. It was created and released in 1943, and re-released to theatres on November 26, 1949. It was directed by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera and produced by Fred Quimby.

The animators of the cartoon were not credited (typically for Pre-1943 MGM Cartoons), and this was the last Tom and Jerry cartoon to follow this trend. All future Tom and Jerry theatrical shorts credited the animators. The original opening theme was “Runnin’ Wild”, as heard in Barney Bear’s Wild Honey. It was replaced by the later Tom and Jerry theme (used the next time originally on the 1949 ‘Love that Pup’ and on all Hanna-Barbara episodes into the 50’s and even widely used in the early 60’s by Gene Deitch) on the re-issue. This cartoon is animated by Kenneth Muse, George Gordon, Jack Zander and Irven Spence, with additional animation by Pete Burness and Al Grandmain.