short American cartoons featuring a mean-minded, accident-
prone cat named Tom and his adversary, a mouse named Jerry. The original cartoons, drawn by
William Hanna and
Joe Barbera, were in
production from 1937 and known for their excessive violence along with their
humor and impossible situations (such as Tom being brutally
bashed over the head, instantly recovering his vivacity, and continuing on despite any and all odds). The cartoon also appeared in
comic books from the 1940s on.