TOM AND JERRY: A NUTCRACKER TALE [2007 / 2020] [Blu-ray + Digital Code] [USA Release] Make Merry with Tom and Jerry!
Tom and Jerry enter a fantastic wonderland brought to life by holiday magic and set to music of Tchaikovsky in this special edition ‘TOM AND JERRY: A NUTCRACKER TALE.’ In the empty theater where he lives, Jerry dreams of performing in the ballet he dearly loves. Miraculously, his dream comes true, and the little mouse is whisked away to enchanted kingdom where anything is possible: candy forests, signing snowflakes, ballerinas – even the toys spring to life! Unfortunately, some alley cats, led by Tom, crash Jerry’s party, kidnap the music-box ballerina and wreak havoc in the holiday kingdom. It’s up to Jerry – with some help for his sidekick, Tuffy and all his newfound friends – to set things right and send the mean old cats back to the alley where they belong. Get swept up in the holiday spirit of this very merry Tom and Jerry tale!
FILM FACT: ‘TOM AND JERRY: A NUTCRACKER TALE’ would be the last animated production that Joseph Barbera worked on, as he died on the 18th December, 2006; the animated film was dedicated to his memory. It was also the last animated direct-to-video film released under the Warner Bros. Family Entertainment label, before it became an in-name-only unit of Warner Bros. Pictures the following year.
Voice Cast: Chantal Strand [Tuffy], Ian James Corlett [Paulie], Kathleen Barr [Nelly], Tara Strong [La Petite Ballerina], Garry Chalk [King of Cats], Trevor Devall [Lackey], Richard Newman [The Toymaker] and Mark Oliver [Mr. Malevolent]
Directors: Spike Brandt and Tony Cervone
Producers: Bobbie Page, Joseph Barbera, Pieterjan Kneynsburg, Sander Schwartz, Spike Brandt and Tony Cervone
Screenplay: Joseph Barbera (story), Spike Brandt (screenplay), William Hanna (based on created characters), Joseph Barbera (characters) and Tom Minton (additional material)
Composer: Dirk Brossé
Image Resolution: 1080p
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Audio: English: 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio
Spanish: 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio
French: 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio
Subtitles: English and French
Running Time: 48 minutes
Region: All Regions
Number of discs: 1
Studio: Warner Bros. Animation
Andrew’s Blu-ray Review: ‘TOM AND JERRY: A NUTCRACKER TALE’ [2007] Join Tom and Jerry as they find themselves in a dazzling winter wonderland which has been brought to life through holiday magic and especially Tchaikovsky’s beautiful music.
After watching the season’s final performance of “The Nutcracker” ballet on Christmas Eve, Jerry dreams of dancing with the beautiful prima ballerina, who captivates him with her graceful performance. After the theatre patrons leave, Jerry climbs onto the stage and begins to dance on his own, as Tuffy Mouse cheers him on. Through the magic of Christmas Eve, Jerry is suddenly transformed into one of the dancers. Costumed to look like regal prince, he takes centre stage, which turns into a winter wonderland, as all the toy props around him come to life, and music from Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” begins to play.
A petite music box ballerina springs to life and joins Jerry as the two of them dance their way into the Nutcracker’s magical realm. It seems as though Jerry’s “The Nutcracker” fantasy has finally become a reality. That’s until Tom and his band of alley cats enter through the theatre’s stage door, capture all the toys and lock the beautiful ballerina in a cage.
‘TOM AND JERRY: A NUTCRACKER TALE’ is a humorous version of the traditional holiday festive story which uses Tchaikovsky's classical music throughout. The animated film finds Jerry with an army of toys that have magically come to life in their ballet theatre "home." The little mouse, a fervent ballet fan, only wants to dance and the toys are there to help. But the company is rudely interrupted by Tom and a brigade of villainous alley cats who've snuck in to spoil their plans. Their aim: to storm the theatre-castle, capture the toys, and rule the domain. What follows are the usual cat-and-mouse battles. The villains almost succeed, but they haven't counted upon Jerry and his band following a brilliant evening star to the workshop of the Great Toy Maker in the sky. The Toymaker joins forces with the heroes to face their adversaries.
‘TOM AND JERRY: A NUTCRACKER TALE’ might not seem like a classic Tom and Jerry animation, but when the toys who come to life, including a ballerina, a little horse, and an adorable elf ornament, bring a special charm to the traditional cutthroat relationship of the clever mouse and the accident-prone cat. Those toys, their quest, and the iconic musical score carry the story forward, forcing the usual violent antics into the background. Of course, Tom and his cat friends still explode, burn, get hammered, etc. It wouldn't be Tom and Jerry without those classic moments. But, especially at holiday time, especially for children who enjoy mayhem cartoon action, it's a delightful entertainment, and teenagers and grown-ups might like it, as well.
TOM AND JERRY: A NUTCRACKER TALE MUSIC TRACK LIST
War Song For Children (Original Music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky) (Arranged by Ken Gregory) (Lyrics by Spike Brandt)
KING OF THE CATS (Music by Ken Gregory) (Lyrics by Spike Brandt)
The Nutcracker (Excerpts) (Original Music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky) [Conducted by Dirk Brossé] [Performed by The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia]
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Blu-ray Image Quality – Warner Bros. Animation presents us the animated film a 1080p High Definition image and in its original 1.78:1 Aspect Ratio. The colourful animated film looks absolutely fantastic and provides a beautifully sharp, smooth and vibrantly coloured presentation from start to finish with no notable faults or problems to be found along the way. It holds up smoothly even during the various darker and fast moving segments, never allowing anything onscreen to become negatively affected or rendered indiscernible. Overall, this is a wonderful stunning high definition image presentation from Warner Bros. Animation will easily thrill fans of this Tom and Jerry holiday favourite.
Blu-ray Audio Quality – Warner Bros. Animation brings us the animated film with a one standard 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio soundtrack for the main feature. Even while some fans may be understandably disappointed at the absence of an overall audio offering, this multichannel soundtrack still sounds pretty fantastic altogether and offers a crisp, clean and occasionally somewhat aggressive audio presentation throughout. It repeatedly takes advantage of all five available channels in order to send the famous nutcracker music along with bits of action and other effects throughout the various speakers whenever it’s appropriate, and never conflicting with any dialogue or other audio elements that might be occurring simultaneously. Overall, this is a good solid 5.1 Dolby Digital soundtrack that holds its own very well and never disappoints.
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Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:
Special Feature: M-G-M Vintage Cartoon: Tom and Jerry: The Night Before Christmas [1941] [1080p] [1.37:1] [8:42] It's snowy and cold outside, and nice and warm inside where Jerry squeezes past a mousetrap to cavort under a present-laden Christmas tree. Mistaking the sleeping Tom for a plush toy, Jerry wakes the cat and a mad chase ensues. Various toys come to Jerry's rescue as he dashes about. Mistletoe is his final refuge before he must escape to the outdoors just ahead of Tom's claws. Out in the snow, Jerry becomes a mouse Popsicle, and unless Christmas peace can descend, Tom may be in for a nasty surprise as well. But can Tom and Jerry find the spirit of the season and good will? Voice Cast: Frank Graham [Narrator] (uncredited), William Hanna [Tom], Harry Lang [Tom], The Debutantes [Vocalists] (uncredited) and The King's Men [Vocalists] (uncredited). Directors: Joseph Barbera, William Hanna and Rudolf Ising (uncredited). Producers: Fred Quimby (uncredited), Rudolf Ising (uncredited) and William Hanna (uncredited). Screenplay: Gus Arriola (story) (uncredited) and Joseph Barbera (uncredited).Composer: Scott Bradley (uncredited).
Special Feature: M-G-M Cartoon: Tom and Jerry: Santa's Little Helpers [2014] [1080p] [1.37:1] [21:56] Jerry and Tuffy are living the good life in Santa's workshop, until the unfortunate day on which Tom is rescued by the Clause family. With Tom in the house, merry mayhem ensues at the North Pole, but when the dust settles, the destructive duo now have to work together to save Christmas and have to learn the true meaning of friendship. Voice Cast: Nickie Bryar [Cindy], Mark Hamill [Santa], Edie McClurg [Mrs. Clause], Kath Soucie [Tuffy], Rick Zieff [Devil Tom / Angel Tom] and Eric Bauza. Director: Darrell Van Citters. Producers: Ashley Postlewaite, Darrell Van Citters, Kimberly S. Moreau and Sam Register. Screenplay: Jim Praytor and Robert Zappia. Composer: John Van Tongeren.
Trailers: Here we get to view two Blu-ray Trailers and they are as follows: Dogs & Cats 3 Paws Unite! [2020] [1080p] [1.78:1] [2:32] and SCOOB! [2020] [1080p] [2.35:1] [2:32]
Finally, ‘TOM AND JERRY: A NUTCRACKER TALE’ is Produced by Spike Brandt and Tony Cervone. Here it tells the story of Jerry Mouse, who is a devoted fan of “The Nutcracker” and is magically transported into his own version of the classical ballet one Christmas Eve. The film is inspired by classic Tom and Jerry cartoon shorts that were originally created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera. It is a heart-warming and hilarious take on the world-famous holiday ballet about a little girl who goes to the Land of Sweets on Christmas Eve with her favourite gift, a toy nutcracker, which ultimately transforms into a handsome prince. Highly Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
