Tom and Jerry: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is Tom and Jerry's 13th direct to DVD movie, released in 2017. It provides an adaptation of the 1971 movie based on the book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory... with Tom and Jerry included for good measure. You can view the trailer here
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Due to some complicated studio politics on the part of Warner Bros., it ended up stalling the Tom and Jerry Direct-to-Video Film Series for a time, and also resulted in Roald Dahl's estate revoking the film rights to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, along with other Dahl stories, from WB and giving them to Netflix, though WB did acquire the rights to do a prequel to the original film some time before the release of the Tom and Jerry one in the form of Wonka, starring Timothée Chalamet as the title character, released on Christmas 2023.
Tom and Jerry: Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (in addition to many of the source novel and the source film) provides examples of:
- 2D Visuals, 3D Effects: The Fizzy Drinks room, despite everything else being done in 2D animation.
- Adaptational Dye-Job:
- Subverted. In the original movie, Violet was brunette, but in this movie, Violet is a redhead like in the original book.
- Played straight with Willy Wonka, who is brunette instead of dirty blond. This is accurate to the 2005 movie, in which Johnny Depp's Wonka had brown hair.
- Adaptation Expansion: Combined with Compressed Adaptation. Extra scenes and shots in this version actually add scenes with Slugworth, in addition to featuring Veruca and her father escaping the furnace. As well as a new scene where Charlie accidentally leaves his Golden Ticket at home and Tom and Jerry embark on a mad chase to get the ticket to him before he is let in.
- Adaptational Explanation: While it was subtly hinted at in the book and other adaptations, with Wonka seeming unsurprised when Charlie is the last remaining child on the tour, this version has Tom and Jerry overhearing Slugworth - actually an employee of Wonka's - saying that Charlie will "get exactly what's coming to him", explicitly confirming that Wonka had already decided before the tour even began that Charlie would be his chosen successor.
- Adaptation-Induced Plot Hole:
- Wonka's rant at Charlie and Grandpa Joe maintains most of the same dialogue from the scene in the original film. This includes Wonka mentioning that they violated the contract Charlie signed upon entering the factory, despite this retelling omitting the scene where Charlie and the other children were made to sign said contract.
- Slugworth is given a significantly larger role as the film's Big Bad, even though he's still revealed to be an actor who works for Wonka. In order to make him an active antagonist to the heroes, Slugworth continues to act as a sinister figure not only in front of Charlie and the other ticket winners, but also when interacting with Tom and Jerry, and even Tuffy (an Oompa Loompa), even though he has no reason to keep his facade going when the tour has already started. The film eventually tries to explain this, but it winds up creating several Voodoo Sharks instead.
- In the original film, Grandpa Joe uses the money Charlie gives him for tobacco to buy a Wonka bar. The question as to how he got the Wonka Bar despite being bedridden is answered here, with Joe sending Tom and Jerry to get it. However the scene where Charlie gives Joe the money, and all mentions of tobacco are cut.
- For the purpose of usual Tom & Jerry slapstick, Spike and Slugworth are shown going through more humourous version of the brats' fates (aside from Veruca's). The movie shows the metamorphic punishments being more easily reversed in these instances with Spike easily being juiced out of blueberry form and both being reversed from Wonka Vision (which especially contradicts what was said in the book and implied in the first film to be a one way path). It makes one wonder why Violet and Mike need the Juicing Room and Taffy Puller.
- Adaptational Jerkass: Violet is more openly disrespectful towards both her father and Wonka in this version, presumably so that her fate doesn't come across quite so harsh as it did in the 1971 film.
- Adaptational Villainy:
- Slugworth seems to be this, as he plays much more of a role in this movie,
except that it turns out he was never a villain after all. - Mike and his mom are implied to have taken Slugworth's deal.
- Slugworth seems to be this, as he plays much more of a role in this movie,
- Adapted Out: A few minor characters get this treatment, most notably all the parents (except for Mrs. Bucket) who don't go into the factory.
- All of the Other Reindeer: Averted - Tuffy is too short to be an Oompa Loompa, but the other Oompa Loompas don't seem to hold it against him, and this doesn't stop Wonka from employing him.
- Amusing Injuries: This is a Tom and Jerry flick. Of course it will have this, and of course Tom will be on the receiving end.
- Artistic License – Animal Care: Tom and Jerry are both shown to like chocolate. In reality, chocolate is poisonous to cats, and while it's not as bad for mice, too much of it can cause them health problems.
- Art Shift: The animation during Slugworth's take of "I Want it Now", as mentioned below.
- Ascended Extra: Slugworth plays a much bigger role here than in the original.
- Avoid the Dreaded G Rating: Perhaps the only discernible reason as to why the word "hell" is left intact in Tuffy's rendition of the tunnel scene monologue. Ironically, being a direct-to-DVD production, it was never given an official rating.
- Balloon Belly: Briefly happens to Tom and Jerry upon gorging themselves with candy in the Chocolate Room.
- Because You Were Nice to Me: Since Charlie shared food with them, Tom and Jerry do whatever they can to help him throughout the movie.
- Berserk Button: Don't bring cats into the factory.
- The Cameo: Ticket forger Alberto Minoleta is none other than Droopy.
- Compressed Adaptation: Ironically also going with Adaptation Expansion.
- Chekhov's Gun: The box of chocolate bars that Tom and Jerry stole early in the movie contains the golden ticket Charlie won.
- Dark Reprise: Of "I want it now"...before the original version, which was already sung by a Spoiled Brat.
- Department of Redundancy Department: Upon learning there's a cat inside his factory, Willy Wonka says the one(s) responsible for it will be "permanently banished from the premises forever. Permanently".
- Depending on the Artist: The animators who handled the five children all seem to have been going for very different approaches, with Charlie, Veruca, and Augustus (for what little we see of him) drawn in a much more naturalistic manner, whereas Violet and to a lesser extent Mike are animated in a way that's much more cartoonish, bordering on outright Deranged Animation.
- Deranged Animation: Disregarding all the Off-Model faces, there are a few legitimate examples:
- Early on, when Slugworth sings "I Want it Now" he turns into a chalk drawing and... insanity ensues....
- Sure enough, when Tuffy takes Tom and Jerry on the boat, it goes into this.
- The Dog Bites Back: After escaping the furnace with his daughter and Jerry, Mr. Salt has enough of Veruca's whining and roughly drags his daughter out by the ear, with the implication that he's going to punish her much further.
- Dull Surprise: Oh yes, and not just because Wonka is quite blasé about the harm the kids are getting into...
- Earn Your Happy Ending: Charlie, after giving up the everlasting gobstopper, learns that Wonka's "you get nothing!" rant was just a Secret Test of Character, and Charlie not only passed it, but he wins the entire factory! And Wonka informs Charlie (as well as Tom, Jerry and Tuffy) that Slugworth actually works with him and his name is Mr. Wilkinson.
- End of an Age: This was the last Tom and Jerry movie to be done in digital ink since "The Magic Ring", as the next direct-to-video movie would be done in the same animation as The Tom and Jerry Show (2014). It's also currently the last Tom and Jerry movie to be based on other existing properties.
- Exact Words: Slugworth is shown ranting that "soon the factory will have a new owner" and "Charlie Bucket will get what he deserves". He's talking about Charlie inheriting the factory.
- Felony Misdemeanor:
- Wonka informs the Buckets that he has to sterilize the entire factory because a cat entered. He doesn't even imply that he has allergies or anything - making it seem rather weird he is so bent out of shape about Tom being in there, especially since an orange mouse already works at the factory and a literal dog helps deliver the candy.
- So Tom and Jerry steal a box of Wonka chocolates, and Spike will chase them to the ends of the earth to bring them to justice.
- Fish Eyes: Violet can be seen with these when introducing herself to Wonka.
- Foregone Conclusion: Whereas the book and previous adaptations left it to interpretation as to whether Wonka had any preferences at the start of the tour as to who would ultimately win the grand prize, this one makes it much clearer that Wonka (or, at the very least, Slugworth/Wilkinson) had earmarked Charlie as the preferred winner from the very start, judging by Slugworth's speech to Spike early on.
- Foreshadowing:
- Actually, something viewers might miss entirely - Spike, early on, is shown to be delivering Wonka bars. Yet two-thirds of the way in, he calls Slugworth "boss". As it turns out, Slugworth was Good All Along, and even before that, he says Charlie Bucket will get what's coming to him and the factory will have a new owner - Charlie.
- When Droopy is shown to have forged the ticket in Paraguay? Note who isn't there...
- Freeze-Frame Bonus: Freeze at just the right time? You'll see some absolutely hilarious animation goofs.
- Furry Confusion: Animals are shown to hold jobs in this universe, but in the background we see a dog that looks like Tyke on a leash at one point.
- Funny Background Event: Aside from the hilarious faces in the background, Tom and Jerry invoke this, intentionally trying to dodge the characters.
- Good All Along: Slugworth (AKA MR. Wilkinson) and Spike.
- Homage: The entire movie is one big Homage to the 1971 movie.
- Also of note Mr. Salt showing restraint to Veruca and Violet's hair color are ones specifically to the book that weren't in or changed in the 71 movie.
- The scene on the chocolate conveyor belt is more than likely an homage to the opening of the 2005 film as well as Willy Wonka being a brunette. note .
- Honor Before Reason: Tom and Jerry get the box of chocolate bars to help Charlie's struggling family, but Charlie just can't accept something that was stolen.
- Idiot Ball: Much of the conflict in Tom and Jerry's subplot could have easily been avoided if Slugworth, or rather, Mr. Wilkinson, had simply explained to them that he actually worked for Wonka and Charlie wasn't in any danger. It's understandable for him to act so blatantly sinister with Charlie and the other ticket winners due to giving them a Secret Test of Character, but he has no reason whatsoever to give the same treatment to a random cat and mouse that shouldn't even be on the premises.
- Inflating Body Gag: Of course, like the source material, Violet Beauregarde's transformation into a blueberry.
- Fizzy Lifting drinks do this to Tom and Spike for a chase scene. And after the tour in the inventing room, yet before the tour in the room of Fizzy Lifting drinks, Spike alone ends up turning in to a blueberry himself, and his transformation was a bit more impressive than Violet's.
- In Spite of a Nail: As lampshaded by this Cracked article, the movie is essentially just an animated remake of Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, and Tom & Jerry being added to the story changes absolutely nothing to the plot of said movie. All events still play out the way they did in the original.
- Limited Animation: Many of the extra characters in the background never move. Even the main characters. As per many of these movies some of this is Retraux.
- Meat-O-Vision: At the beginning, Tom is so hungry he sees Jerry as a Wonka bar.
- Mood Whiplash: Constantly. Famous scenes are used as back drops for classic Tom and Jerry slapstick. Especially the scene where Slugworth is turned to bits using a machine. which immediately leads into the famous "You signed the contract, you lose" scene.
- Mythology Gag:
- During the fantasy sequence with Slugworth Tom and Jerry turn into the chalk cat and mouse designs from "Designs on Jerry" and the Tom and Jerry Tales opening.
- Similarly, Droopy had one short in which he was a bullfighter in Mexico, thus (partially) explaining why he's now living in Paraguay.
- Nightmare Face: In spades due to the Off-Model animation.
- No OSHA Compliance: True, this is Willy Wonka we're talking about, but just how is that these people don't get killed?
- Not as You Know Them: Slugworth is presented as an absolute villain during his scenes with Tom and Jerry. While this is technically true of the original film Slugworth is still modeled after Günter Meisner who turned out to be not Slugworth at all and was never that villainous to the capacity Tom and Jerry presents him.
- Not Evil, Just Misunderstood: When it is revealed that Slugworth is really Mr. Wilkinson.
- Passing the Torch: Wonka gives his entire factory to Charlie, and to Tom, Jerry and Tuffy as well.
- Poor Communication Kills:
- Tom and Jerry are prompted to break into the factory after they overhear Slugworth talking to Spike, seemingly explaining a sinister plot to kill Charlie and take over the factory. He's actually talking about Charlie himself inheriting the factory from Wonka.
Slugworth: At the end of the day, Charlie Bucket will get exactly what's coming to him, and this chocolate factory will have a new owner!- It's implied at the end that Tuffy and the other Oompa Loompas were also not aware that Slugworth was actually an imposter hired by Wonka. If Tuffy had known this, he could have easily explained the situation to Tom and Jerry instead of helping them interfere with the tour.
- Popping Buttons: Subverted. Violet's belt doesn't pop off as it did in the original film, and in fact suddenly changes from red to blue due to a coloring mistake.
- Retraux: Twofer:
- The Limited Animation aspect had been a recurring aspect of these late phase Tom and Jerry movies as MGM did during their late phase as budgets slashed.
- Secondly the Charlie characters being more cartoony and caricature-like appears to be an attempt at making the MGM style meet the Quentin Blake style used to illustrate Dahl books. It becomes jarring though that this makes them clash next to Tom, Jerry and company.
- Running Gag: Things getting into peoples' eyes.
- Secret Test of Character:
- True to the original, this movie explains that Slugworth approached everyone who won the contest. Which makes sense how he would know ahead of time as they are interviewed on TV...
- The fact that Charlie and Joe came forward about Tom and Jerry being in the factory with them could also be this - Wonka could have been more angry at Charlie and Joe for not only stealing the Fizzy Lifting Drinks, but also about the fact that Joe lied to him about the cat in the factory.
- Serious Business: When Wonka opens up the factory, people run out of school.
- Shot-for-Shot Remake: Many shots and details mirror those of the original 1971 movie, to almost ludicrous extremes. They still keep the egg-laying geese in lieu of the squirrels, emulate the effect of Violet's face turning blue (via a blue light) from the original movie, and even keep the candy shop owner accidentally clocking a kid with his countertop gate as he opens it during its version of "The Candyman".
- Soundtrack Dissonance: The scene where Grandpa Joe is singing focuses more on the slapstick between Tom and Jerry than the actual song.
- Tastes Like Friendship: Charlie befriends Tom and Jerry by offering them one of his two loaves of bread when they were starving.
- Traveling-Pipe Bulge: Happens when Veruca, Mr. Salt, Tom, Jerry and Tuffy slide down the garbage chute. Bafflingly averted with Augustus when he gets sucked up the pipe in the Chocolate River, which he is explicitly shown to be too big for.
- Truer to the Text: Violet's hair is closer to red as it was in the original book. Something both film versions changed. Also, aspects of Violet's inflation are closer to the text, with her hair turning blue along with her skin, and still having a pair of arms and legs poking out of a giant blue ball; her body.
- Villain Song: Slugworth gets two. He sings "I Want it Now" when Charlie meets him, then he sings it again, while Veruca Salt sings it.
- Voodoo Shark: Why was Slugworth so preoccupied with getting rid of Tom and Jerry? Because he was concerned they'd interfere with the plan to make Charlie the new owner of the chocolate factory! Why did he try to kill Tom and Jerry instead of removing them from the premises? Why didn't he explain to anyone, let alone Tom and Jerry, that he's an employee? Why Charlie Bucket of all the kids? None of these subsequent questions are really explained.
- We Can Rule Together: Slugworth makes an offer like this to Charlie, suggesting they become "kings of the candy world" with their two gobstoppers.
