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A captivating original production cel featuring Tom from Tot Watchers (1958), one of the final Tom and Jerry shorts created during the legendary Hanna-Barbera era at MGM.
Tot Watchers was the final theatrical Tom and Jerry short directed by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera before MGM closed its cartoon studio in 1957, marking the end of an era for traditional theatrical shorts. It was released posthumously in 1958, marking the end of the Golden Age of Tom and Jerry, which had produced 114 episodes and garnered seven Academy Awards®. This late-period short retained the expressive timing, fluid movement, and visual wit that made Hanna-Barbera's partnership one of the most influential in animation history.
By this time, Tom and Jerry's style had reached its peak refinement, with strong poses, clear silhouettes, and cinematic staging replacing the slapstick excesses of earlier years. The character animation for Tot Watchers is believed to have been supervised by Ed Barge and Irv Spence, two of the studio's most talented animators.
Rendered in hand-inked and hand-painted cel layers, this expressive piece captures Tom presenting the baby to its mother, exuding both pride and exasperation. The pairing of his cautious pose and determined expression perfectly encapsulates the blend of comedy and tension that defined the series' charm. The cel is set over a hand-painted production background, creating a complete and beautifully composed scene that evokes the rich visual tone of late 1950s animation.
This cel embodies that evolution. Every curve and contour of Tom's form is clean and confident, the hand-inking crisp and precise, a final flourish of craftsmanship before the studio's move toward limited animation for television. Few works so clearly illustrate the end of one of animation's most beloved creative partnerships. An outstanding collector's piece from the twilight of MGM's hand-drawn legacy, radiating warmth, humour, and technical mastery. Dimensions: 24 cm x 29.75 cm (9.5" x 11.75")
Sold without copyright; see copyright notice in the Terms and Conditions.
Estimate: £600 - 1,200 Ω
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