History NightmareFuel / TomAndJerry

** For that matter, "Mouse Trouble" has Tom trying to bait Jerry out by hiding in a gift box. Jerry sticks the box full of needles and then saws it in half. Not helped by [[NothingIsScarier Jerry's horrified expression after peeking inside at his handiwork]].

* The episode "WesternAnimation/DrJekyllAndMrMouse" doesn't go with the usual "evil alter ego" thing, but rather Tom mixes every bit of poison he can find in the kitchen to kill off Jerry. But then the concoction turns out to have gotten so poisonous it went right around and makes anyone who drinks it [[NoSell basically]] [[SuperStrength The Hulk]]. The real kicker, possibly, is Jerry is only [[UnstoppableRage pissed off]] at Tom for trying to poison him, not because of what amounts to [[TheBerserker cartoon roid rage]]. So Tom's plan [[HoistByHisOwnPetard REALLY blew up in his face]] as he made an already-unstoppable mouse into a super strong mouse whose mind ISN'T being addled by the chemicals. AND he's pissed.

* The haunted mouse episode, in the scene when Jerry's cousin hypnotized Tom and walked into his body was a bit creepy. The face Tom makes as he's laughing evilly is somewhat scary. His laughter turns to nervous chuckles as he realizes that the cousin isn't scared, and the cousin's face as he hypnotized Tom, doubled with Tom's face while [[JawDrop his jaw drops]] is odd too. [[https://youtu.be/KmrW6crpJQs View it here, if you wish.]]

** Some people, however, simply thought that moment from the short was [[NightmareRetardant funny]] due to being perceived as an [[NonSequitur out of nowhere]] joke. Given it was a ShoutOut to the late 30s - early 40s [[https://youtube.com/watch?v=i94qmgQ3_48 radio show of the same name]], it pretty clearly ''was'' intended to be funny, though those who kind the joke funny were often those who wasn't born at the time of the radio show's airing.

The ''WesternAnimation/TomAndJerry'' shorts (both past and present) are filled with rib-tickling comedic violence, but it is definitely a product of its time -- not just with the racial tropes or how female characters are treated, but with how the violence and its implications are represented, which, these days, can be considered disturbing for modern viewers.

* "WesternAnimation/HeavenlyPuss" short where Tom gets sent to Hell, even after getting Jerry's forgiveness (though it turns out that it was AllJustADream.) That probably scared a few kids rather than amusing them. Creator/MattGroening (the man behind ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'', and ''Life in Hell'') even cited this as one of the darkest things he's seen.

** Some people, however, simply thought that moment from the short was [[NightmareRetardant funny]] due to being perceived as an [[BigLippedAlligatorMoment out of nowhere]] joke. Given it was a ShoutOut to the late 30s - early 40s [[https://youtube.com/watch?v=i94qmgQ3_48 radio show of the same name]], it pretty clearly ''was'' intended to be funny.

** Some people, however, simply thought that moment from the short was [[NightmareRetardant funny]]. Given it was a ShoutOut to the late 30s - early 40s [[https://youtube.com/watch?v=i94qmgQ3_48 radio show of the same name]], it pretty clearly ''was'' intended to be funny.

** The Gene Deitch cartoon "Switchin Kitten", in which a Mad Scientist switches the brain of a dog with that of a cat. Tom tries hard to convince the orange cat that he is one, but never succeeds. At the end of the episode, he tries to escape the castle and encounters other experiments, including an elephant that chirps like a bird, a chicken that bleats like a lamb, the dog whose brain was switched with the cat and a cuckoo bird that moos like a cow. The final nail of the coffin for him is when Tom sees Jerry, whom he begs to squeak, but instead roars like a [[Creator/MetroGoldwynMayer certain lion]], which drives Tom to a nervous breakdown and causes him to flee from the castle. The fluid (probably rotoscoped) animation on Jerry as he roars, compared to the usual wonky animation of the Gene Deitch shorts, does not help either.

* Could be NauseaFuel: The 2005 "The Karate Guard" has a disturbing moment — Tom is facing us when the samurai dog's blade comes down, cutting him in half (his back half presumably coming off). We [[BloodlessCarnage don't see anything]] but we hear a very ''wet'' sound before Tom passes out of frame

** [[https://youtu.be/ScFXU0S0VQk?t=111 This shot]] when Jerry tries to use the vacuum cleaner and nightgown to scare Tom is for some reason [[UncannyValley extremely freaky.]]

* [[UncannyValley The early designs of the characters]] (especially Spike in "Dog Trouble") could count as this.

* In the cartoon "Kitty Foiled" the canary was about to shoot Tom with a gun and played a trick on Tom to make him think the gun shot him, and the canary and Jerry were dancing like they were happy that Tom was dead, he wasn't dead, but the idea of someone dancing and being happy that someone is killed is disturbing and morbid.

* The infamous [[VoiceOfTheLegion "Don't you believe it!"]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9U_C_q6WcU line]] from the shorts "Mouse Trouble" and "WesternAnimation/TheMissingMouse".

** The Gene Deitch cartoon "Switchin Kitten", in which a Mad Scientist switches the brain of a dog with that of a cat. Tom tries hard to convince the orange cat that he is one, but never succeeds. At the end of the episode, he tries to escape the castle and encounters other experiments, including an elephant that chirps like a bird, a chicken that bleats like a lamb, the dog whose brain was switched with the cat and a cuckoo bird that moos like a cow. The final nail of the coffin for him is when Tom sees Jerry, whom he begs to squeak, but instead roars like a [[Creator/MetroGoldwynMayer certain lion]], which drives Tom to a nervous breakdown and causes him to flee from the castle. The fluid animation on Jerry as he roars, compared to the usual wanky animation of the Gene Deitch shorts, does not help either.

** Heck, the opening credits are this! It doesn't help that the title card appears after the credits, complete with the picture of a ghost, and that suddenly you can hear an evil laugh.

* [[UncannyValley The early forms]] of the characters could count. Especially Spike, who was also [[UnstoppableRage completely berserk]] in his debut appearance. ("Dog Trouble")

** Chuck Jones version of Tom and Jerry (which is the last batch of theatrical Tom and Jerry shorts) did the NightmareRetardant of replacing the lion with Tom meowing, although it's still preceded with the lion. There is also one scene in the Gene Deitch short with the mad scientist castle where Jerry's brain got switched with lion's brain and growling like the MGM lion.
* Tom's near drowning in "Just Ducky". At first he's frantically struggling to stay afloat, but then slowly sinks into the water, arm outstretched. When Quackers and Jerry pull him out, he's not breathing.

* Could be NauseaFuel: The 2005 "The Karate Guard" has a disturbing moment — Tom is facing us when the samurai dog's blade comes down, cutting him in half (his back half presumably coming off). We [[BloodlessCarnage don't see anything]] but we hear a very ''wet'' sound before Tom passes out out of frame, and Jerry stares at the camera in shock! The more realistic sound compared to the usual harmless cutting in half from these cartoons is what ultimate makes it horrifying.

** Some people, however, simply thought that moment from the short was [[NightmareRetardant funny]].

* "Love Me, Love My Mouse" ends with a rather [[https://imgur.com/UY7uY21 disturbing, psychotic look on Toodles' face]] wanting to eat Jerry, and it comes off as really unsettling despite all the roundabout comedy in Tom trying to present Jerry as food.

"WesternAnimation/HeavenlyPuss" short where Tom gets sent to Hell, even after getting Jerry's forgiveness (though it turns out that it was AllJustADream.) That probably scared a few kids rather than amusing them. Creator/MattGroening (the man behind ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'', and ''Life in Hell'') even cited this as one of the darkest things he's seen.

** Tom taking a massive dose of the potion at the end as well, snatching the saucer right out of Jerry's hands as he desperately tries to hulk back up, traps him, and forces him to watch as Tom begins to grow, actually ''getting even bigger and scarier than Jerry was'', with his claws growing out of his paws... thankfully, it then backfires on him, as it turns out drinking TOO MUCH of the potion makes you shrink instead.

** Chuck Jones version of Tom and Jerry (which is the last batch of theatrical Tom and Jerry shorts) did the NightmareRetardant of replacing the lion with Tom meowing, although it's still preceded with the lion. There is also one scene in the Gene Deitch short about mad scientist castle where Jerry's brain got switched with lion's brain and growling like the MGM lion.

** "Buddies Thicker than Water" has a the scene Jerry disguised as ghost to scare Tom, if that wasn't bad enough Jerry puts a album of spooky music on the stereo and switches off the lights.*

*** The part where Tom attempts to forge Jerry's signature only for the gatekeeper to shine down and calmly scold him. Tom looks appropriately terrified.

* "Timid Tabby" has Jerry trying to terrify Tom's lookalike timid cousin George. Tom finally helps his cousin out by leaping in front of Jerry's path. Jerry tries to "boo" him...and "Tom" suddenly sprouts two extra arms. Another "boo" and out come two extra legs. Another and a ''second head'' sprouts up. Then "both" Toms let out ghoulish laughs as they chase Jerry around, including a close-up, seeming to come at the camera. No wonder the poor mouse runs for his life to the nearest sanitarium.

* The climax of "The Milky Waif" is as terrifying as it is awesome. While ya can't say it wasn’t deserved for Tom hurting a baby orphan mouse who only wanted some milk? Jerry's absolute ''massacre'' on Tom is a sight to behold. The roar Jerry lets outright before his rampage is absolutely ''bloodcurdling''.

* "Love Me, Love My Mouse" ends with a rather [[https://imgur.com/UY7uY21 disturbing, psychotic look on Toots' face]] wanting to eat Jerry, and it comes off as really unsettling despite all the roundabout comedy in Tom trying to present Jerry as food.

** The Gene Deitch cartoon "Switchin Kitten", in which a MadScientist switches the brain of a dog with that of a cat. Tom tries hard to convince the orange cat that he is one, but never succeeds. At the end of the episode, he tries to escape the castle and encounters other experiments, including an elephant that chirps like a bird, a chicken that bleats like a lamb, the dog whose brain was switched with the cat and a cuckoo bird that moos like a cow. The final nail of the coffin for him is when Tom sees Jerry, whom he begs to squeak, but instead roars like a [[Creator/MetroGoldwynMayer certain lion]], which drives Tom to a nervous breakdown and causes him to flee from the castle. The fluid animation on Jerry as he roars, compared to the usual wanky animation of the Gene Deitch shorts, does not help either.

* There's also the "WesternAnimation/HeavenlyPuss" short where Tom gets sent to Hell, even after getting Jerry's forgiveness (though it turns out that it was AllJustADream.) That probably scared a few kids rather than amusing them. Creator/MattGroening (the man behind ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'', and ''Life in Hell'') even cited this as one of the darkest things he's seen.

* At the end of the "His Mouse Friday" cartoon, Tom and Jerry are chased by a tribe of BlackFace cannibals. This is also one of the most racist shorts, which is why it doesn't air on TV anymore.

[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/what_a_cute_cart--holy_motherfucking_shit_6643.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:300:"[[WhatDoYouMeanItsforKids This is kid-friendly, right?]]"]]

* There's also one where Tom's about to eat Quacker, then Jerry throws a brick at Tom, and Tom ''breaks apart'', leaving only his outline.

* At the end of "WesternAnimation/{{The Night Before Christmas|1941}}", Jerry uses his candy cane to snatch the cheese off the mousetrap placed in front of his hole. It then closes very slowly, as though it was intended to get closer and closer to Jerry while he was eating the cheese, instead of quickly snapping like a traditional mousetrap. It doesn't help that the last part of the tune of "Jingle Bells" is playing in the background.
** An interesting case of AccidentalNightmareFuel, since it seems like the scene was meant to have the mousetrap somehow magically become a harmless music box for Christmas-- Jerry looks at the audience with surprise and delight when the music starts.

* Many of the Gene Deitch-directed shorts due to their extremely choppy animation and downright bizarre sound design.
** The three cartoons ("Down and Outing", "High Steaks", and "Sorry Safari") where Tom is depicted as having a [[FatBastard fat]], [[HairTriggerTemper easily provoked]], [[NoIndoorVoice loud]] master who frequently beats, clobbers or otherwise wails on Tom, oftentimes sporting a [[ScaryTeeth sharp-toothed]] SlasherSmile. Even worse is that, except in "Sorry Safari", [[KarmaHoudini he always gets away with it]].
** Heck, any time this man (Tom's owner in the Gene Deitch era) gets angry is '''PURE''' NightmareFuel. Sometimes bordering on AxCrazy.

** Also in ""Heavenly Puss" is the moment where the gatekeeper calls the name of Fluff, Muff and Puff, and we see a sack hopping along the floor accompanied by wet sounds before it pops open and three mewling kittens emerge. If the image of three kittens whose owner tied them in a sack and drowned them in a river wasn't enough, the gatekeeper's resigned response to it implies he has seen the same thing ''a lot''.

* There's also the "Heavenly Puss" short where Tom gets sent to Hell, even after getting Jerry's forgiveness (though it turns out that it was AllJustADream.) That probably scared a few kids rather than amusing them. Creator/MattGroening (the man behind ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'', and ''Life in Hell'') even cited this as one of the darkest things he's seen.
** Also in "WesternAnimation/HeavenlyPuss" is the moment where the gatekeeper calls the name of Fluff, Muff and Puff, and we see a sack hopping along the floor accompanied by wet sounds before it pops open and three mewling kittens emerge. If the image of three kittens whose owner tied them in a sack and drowned them in a river wasn't enough, the gatekeeper's resigned response to it implies he has seen the same thing ''a lot''.