this post was submitted on 20 Jun 2025
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Thomas "Tom" Jasper Cat, commonly referred to as Tom Cat, or more simply referred to as Tom, and originally known as Jasper, is one of the two anti-heroic protagonists in Tom and Jerry, alongside Jerry Mouse, created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera. Despite being referred as an anti-heroic, Tom is more often placed in the role of the antagonist, with Jerry often being the protagonist just as much.

Tom is a bluish-grey and white anthropomorphic domestic short haired tuxedo British cat who first appeared in the 1940 MGM animated short Puss Gets the Boot. The cat was known as Jasper during his debut in the short; however, beginning with his next appearance in The Midnight Snack he was known as Tom or Thomas.

Tom and Jerry cartoons

His name, "Tom Cat", is based on "tomcat", a word which refers to male cats. He is usually mute and rarely heard speaking with the exception of a few cartoons (such as 1943's The Lonesome Mouse, 1944's The Zoot Cat, 1947's Part Time Pal, 1953's Puppy Tale and 1992's Tom and Jerry: The Movie). His only notable vocal sounds outside of this are his various screams whenever he is subjected to panic or, more frequently, pain. He is continuously after Jerry Mouse, for whom he sets traps, many of which backfire and cause damage to him rather than Jerry. His trademark scream was provided by creator William Hanna. Hanna's recordings of Tom screaming were later used as a stock sound effect for other MGM cartoon characters, including a majority of Tex Avery's shorts.

Tom is usually defeated in the end (or very rarely, killed, like in Mouse Trouble, where he explodes), although there are some stories where he outwits and defeats Jerry. Besides Jerry, he also has trouble with other mouse or cat characters. One of them that appears frequently is Spike Bulldog. Spike regularly appears and usually assists Jerry and beats up Tom. Though in some occasions Tom beats him or he turns on Jerry (like his debut appearance in Dog Trouble). Usually when Tom is chasing Jerry after a bit Jerry turns the tables on Tom and beats him or uses an outside character such as Spike to beat Tom.

Tom has variously been portrayed as a house cat doing his job, and a victim of Jerry's blackmail attempts, sometimes within the same short. He is almost always called by his full name "Thomas" by Mammy Two Shoes. In 1961 short Switchin' Kitten Tom has a membership card as belong to the "International Brotherhood of Cats".

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[–] Keld@hexbear.net 7 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (2 children)

I really hate the trope of the omniscientist. The experimental physicist/biologist/chemist/archeologist/whatever the fuck. I'm playing Alters and there's a Doctor and a "Builder" alter but for some reason the omniscientist is doing MRIs, preparing brain surgery and figuring out how to build parks

They should have limited research by alters. The miner should be the one to have ideas about mine shit, the doctor should do the doctoring and maybe the botanist should be the one to tell you how to grow shit!

[–] makotech222@hexbear.net 3 points 4 days ago (1 children)

They made the mistake of allowing the player to choose which alters they create, except for the technician and researcher. So they can build the story around knowing you have those two. So they end up being necessary for everything

[–] Keld@hexbear.net 3 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

I think it could still have been done as is, they should just lock some stuff behind specific alters. Like all the mining research should only be possible if you made the mining alter, maybe lock the personal cabins and the park behind the therapist, the refining of ALX behind the refiner, and have the

MRI spoilerbrain cancer discovery, the MRI upgrade and the Tabula Rasa solution locked behind the doctor, with the corporate solution being the only thing available if you don't have him
I don't know what the guard would contribute, because I haven't picked him and he seems entirely useless.