YMMV / Tom and Jerry Tales

• Awesome Music: The theme song, while not the original Scott Bradley theme from the classic shorts, is just as whimsical and captures the tone of the series to a T.
• Designated Villain: Just as in some of the older shorts, Tom. Like in "Feeding Time", for example; he's a villain for doing his job in not allowing guests to feed the zoo animals.
• Genius Bonus: In "The Itch", the eponymous song was sung by rats, the "dance" was actually rodential fans scratching their fleas, and the song was to the tune of "Ring Around the Rosie". And it was set in the Middle Ages. Everything about it was a reference to The Black Death.
• Narm: One episode is called "I Dream of Meanie".
• Nightmare Fuel:
  • The gooey alien in "Invasion of the Body Slammers". What really sells it is its freaky smile when impersonating Tom or Jerry.
  • Tom as an alien octopus-like creature in "Cat Nebula" can be slightly scary.
  • The part where Tom is covered by insects in "Sasquashed" after chasing Jerry through a log.
• Older Than They Think: Modern viewers will be surprised to learn that Mauricio, the octopus from "Octo Suave", appeared way long before Tom and Jerry Tales in an animated sequence from the 1953 film, Dangerous When Wet.
• So Okay, It's Average: While the series is near-unanimously praised by most fans, others feel as though besides the good animation, it’s still lacking compared to the original shorts not unlike other entires in the franchise due to many elements; season one’s music sounding odd/weak, not as much high-energy violence and later on Recycled In Space-styled plots.
• Surprisingly Improved Sequel: Near-unanimously considered one of the best Tom and Jerry series by critics, viewers and even the most hardcore Tom and Jerry fans due to staying much more faithful to the original source material. Partially due to the fact that Joseph Barbera had involvement with most of the episodes in the first season before his death in December 2006.
• Win Back the Crowd: After three polarizing TV shows, a poorly received theatrical movie adaptation, and two shorts generally considered to be mediocre ("The Mansion Cat" and "The Karate Guard", the latter being the final theatrical short to date), this and the first five DTV movies seem to bring back fans who were formerly alienated. It's due to being much closer to the source material, the animation having a huge upgrade, not being a huge Unintentional Period Piece and the slapstick being executed much better.

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