How Framestore brought Tom and Jerry to 3D

 This year saw the release of a live action/animation adaptation of Tom and Jerry. Marking this the duo's third foray into the realm of live action. 

Tom and Jerry (2021) - PLOT REVEALED! - YouTube

As someone who is and has been a massive Tom and Jerry fan since he was a kid, has seen all the original shorts and Direct To DVD movies, and longs to write a feature for the duo who had such a huge impact on his sense of comedy I thought it was.....okay. 

In comparison to the last theatrical Tom and Jerry film that was released in 1992, which had the duo talk and sing *shivers*, this new movie is much more faithful to the original shorts. Tom and Jerry don't talk and the film embraces the duo's iconic brand of slapstick and pays homage to several iconic gags and setups from the original shorts. As a Tom and Jerry fan, half of it gave me everything I wanted when the duo were on screen. However, the main thing problem with the film that brought it own for me is the focus  on boring human characters no one cares about who outshine the title characters. But I'm getting ahead of myself. 

If there's one thing that was all around great about the movie, it was the animation provided by Framestore. In age where most live action/animated hybrid starring beloved cartoon characters opt to make the characters realistic, Tom and Jerry is the first hybrid since 2003's Looney Tunes: Back In Action to aim for making the characters look like they came straight from their cartoon as opposed to making them realistic. There is no attempt to give Tom, Jerry or any of the other animals in the movie's world realistic fur or texture. With the reason being that it would restrict them from truly committing to the  violent slapstick of the original shorts. 

Tom and Jerry 2021 by GiuseppeDiRosso on DeviantArt

Frenemies in the Big City: 'Tom and Jerry' Director Tim Story & Team Discuss the New Hybrid Pic | Animation Magazine

In a video released by Framestore, the animators on the project talk about what it was like to work on this project and to bring Tom and Jerry to 3D while keeping their 2D look. They talk about the process of posing, reflecting on animation tests, and even talk about how challenging yet fun it was to work with such iconic characters. 

While the film itself is iffy, the animation truly is the highlight and shows the dedication to staying true to the style and legacy of these characters. 

Link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtbtyZIwvqs



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