[hairofadog]

When I was a kid, Looney Tunes felt like home and Tom and Jerry felt like a slightly flat off-brand. I say this not to judge their fans or even the cartoons themselves, but I’m curious if “Tom and Jerry” people come from different regions of the country or world, different cultures, or different socio-economic backgrounds (I grew up poor and quasi-Catholic, splitting my time between Florida and the rust belt).

On the other hand, the article makes it seem like Tom and Jerry came about as a desperate bid to have something as lucrative as Looney Tunes or Disney, so maybe my impression is right on?

[lowercased]

I visited Moscow years ago (2011, IIRC). Visited an 'American' diner - not really for tourists, but more of a place for locals. Kinda like a cross between Arnold's from Happy Days and a Denny's, but darker (I mean... low lit). I think the waitresses were on roller skates(?), and it was 24/7.

There were multiple monitors showing silent Tom and Jerry cartoons. No one was particularly watching, they were just ... on. I was told that T&J was sort of a 'thing' in Russia, but I wasn't there long enough (and didn't speak enough Russian) to ask much about it. What struck me, which I hadn't really realized as a kid, is that... it's basically silent anyway - there's no talking/voice, it's just antics, with music. Maybe there were some episodes later where they talked, but none I can remember. Very different from the Looney Tunes where the voices were half the fun. Still love me a good... I say I still love me a good Foghorn Leghorn voice.

[icebraining]

The non-talking was a big advantage for us non-native English speaking kids; it meant we could enjoy them fully in their native versions.

In fact, my favourite Looney Tunes cartoon was always Roadrunner vs Coyote, for the same reason.

[lowercased]

спасибо :)

[icebraining]

Oh, I'm not actually Russian, just from another non-English speaking nation :)