Mouse Trouble is a 1944 American one-reel animated cartoon short and is the 17th Tom and Jerry short produced by Fred Quimby.{{cite book |last1=Lenburg |first1=Jeff |title=The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons |date=1999 |publisher=Checkmark Books |isbn=0-8160-3831-7 |pages=149–150}} It was directed by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, with music direction by Scott Bradley. The cartoon was animated by Ray Patterson, Irven Spence, Ken Muse and Pete Burness. Mouse Trouble won the 1944 Oscar for Best Animated Short Film,{{Cite web|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1945 |title=The 17th Academy Awards (1945) Nominees and Winners |access-date=2011-08-14|work=oscars.org| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110706093748/http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/legacy/ceremony/17th-winners.html| archive-date= 6 July 2011 }} the second consecutive award bestowed upon the series. It was released in theatres on November 23, 1944 by Metro-Goldwyn Mayer and reissued on December 12, 1951.

Plot

Tom receives a book on catching mice and tries various traps and techniques outlined in it to capture Jerry. Despite his efforts, Jerry outsmarts Tom at every turn, leading to escalating chaos and violence. In a final act of desperation, Tom resorts to extreme measures, which ultimately backfire, resulting in his demise. Meanwhile, Jerry survives the ordeal, leaving Tom's spirit to ascend to the afterlife, still haunted by the book's mocking advice.

Voice cast

William Hanna as vocal effects for Tom and Jerry{{cite book |last1=Scott |first1=Keith |title=Cartoon Voices: of the Golden Age, 1930-1970 - Volume Two: Selected Filmographies with Voice Credits |date=2022 |publisher=BearManor Media |location=Orlando |isbn=979-8-88771-010-5 |page=128 |url=https://www.amazon.com/Cartoon-Voices-Golden-Age-Vol-ebook/dp/B0BFTZMGS3/ref=sr_1_1?crid=8Q5LS2CH7DEM&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.mZOIeV-0aztgU0I5-PYLKljUHfllS-U8-fyQL97d97eOOZ1Kg89reaBoxMSVDmhi0h_0-PFiDtubMirZF_R-7g.Y5qyjkpP_TjLsuxnj9M8p4Tf__8FMzwU_zQ1OZs1ixE&dib_tag=se&keywords=cartoon+voices+of+the+golden+age%2C+vol.+2&qid=1748596470&sprefix=cartoon+voices+of+the+golden+age+%2Caps%2C327&sr=8-1 |access-date=30 May 2025}}
Harry E. Lang as Tom laughing
Sara Berner as The Mouse Toy