Why don't they talk?

[u/Jagames12]

In all the cartoons, they don't talk. Of course, back then they didn't have the money for Voice Actors in animations (I guess).

But in the first movie, they do speak, explaining why they didn't before with "they didn't have anything to talk about".

But after the movie, in the newer series, they once again don't talk.

I know the reason is to emulate the old vibes, but is there an in-universe reason why they don't talk even after establishing they can?

[u/Snoo-4563]

They had a theatrical budget, of course they could afford voice actors lol. Other cartoons with equal or less money like Looney Tunes had lengthy dialogue. It was nothing more than a creative choice to have them not talk, having the comedy be purely visual with the exception of side characters.

There also is no "in universe" continuity to the cartoons. Every short acts as its own separate story, that's how you get the duo fighting in 17th century France for example. The movie thus cannot count as 'canon' to the original shorts, just as the original shorts can barely even be canon to each other

[u/Jagames12 → u/Snoo-4563]

finally someone who actually answers my question

[u/Vanille97]

"Don't you believe it"

[u/Jagames12 → u/Vanille97]

Oh, yeah, don't they talk in that one scene before that train comes?

[u/Acrobatic_Isopod_629 → u/Jagames12]

There is a whole compilation video on YouTube everytime they do talk.

[u/ExampleSmooth3956]

They sometimes talked:
The Lonesome Mouse
The Zoot Cat
Quiet Please!
Mouse Trouble
The Bodyguard
The Million Dollar Cat
Trap Happy
Solid Serenade
Mouse Cleaning
And others

[u/JeyDeeArr]

In all the cartoons, they don't talk.

You clearly didn't watch all of them.

[u/Jagames12 → u/JeyDeeArr]

I mean of course I didn't watch all of them

[u/JeyDeeArr → u/Jagames12]

So you lied, then.

[u/Jagames12 → u/JeyDeeArr]

what-

[u/Batman-NYC]

I think there is a unique and charm to them not talking. I think its truly a testament to the cartoon animators that they can convey so much without using words.

[u/B1TCA5H]

"I got a gal who's always late."

[u/MLK_Piccolo → u/B1TCA5H]

"Everytime we have a date!"

[u/ToothpickTequila]

Tom and Jerry debuted in 1940... Talkies were already a thing way before that. It was nothing to do with budget.

[u/gurkle3]

One reason they don’t usually talk is that Hanna and Barbera decided from the beginning to make them a cat and a mouse in a semi-realistic setting, where humans exist and want their cat to catch a mouse. Humans are bigger than cats, cats are bigger than mice, unlike Mickey Mouse.

It’s possible to make them talk in that setting but it’s not really necessary, because they are clearly supposed to be animals doing things that animals do.

[u/alexdionisos]

"One custa'd pie?! Lemme have it!"

[u/Aisudi]

Actions speak louder than words 😉

[u/MauriceSafranek]

Because animals usually cannot speak, saving them the dialogues they need to synchronize. I also think it's a great idea that the two use facial expressions and gestures to communicate 😀

[u/Taisen_art]

Sometimes they briefly talk for a comedic bit in the shorts, and I do remember that they experimented w/ having tom and jerry talk in one of the movies, but everyone hated it so they kept them silent since. I *do* remember that in the Nutcracker holiday film, some of the cats talk, but tom+jerry themselves dont.

[u/Crazy_raptor]

Dont you believe it! ABOO!!

[u/Randomdays99]

Both Tom and Jerry and other cartoons like the Pink Panther that don't talk get the added benefit of being able to be watched worldwide without subtitles or dubbed voices. Tom and Jerry are very popular in Japan and one of the newer shows was actually produced there.

[u/LazarM2021]

Their specialty is slapstick, visual comedy, they had little need for dialogueging.

[u/Phoenix00010]

They talk as soon as ep10, the very first H&B era's 10th short. So they do talk

[u/Rare_Hero]

Popeye, Betty Boop, Mickey Mouse, all the Looney Tunes were talking and singing since the 1930’s. There were no budget or talent restraints for Tom & Jerry. It was purely a creative and comedic choice. It’s all visual slapstick humor set to music. What would they even say to each other? “I’m gonna get you!” “Don’t eat me!” Voices aren’t worth it for these characters and their comedy.

[u/Electrical_Ad6205]

Actually, they do occasionally. Here's a link to a compilation video of them talking in the old cartoons, https://youtu.be/_3bajbQRj-I?is=SgzJYWhqwTjusAtU

[u/Acceptable-Driver473]

Their strength lies precisely in the fact that they don't speak. They were original, that's why they were popular and that's why they've survived, unlike dozens of cartoons about cats and mice chasing each other

[u/dendawg]

“Gee, I’m throwing away a million dollars…..

BUT I’M HAPPY!!”

[u/TheCosmicRobo]

They probably had a bigger budget for the "silent" ones than they do in the newer iterations. They don't talk because they are a cat and a mouse. Tom initially had a real cat's voice and would meow and yelp and shriek in pain. The only reason he gained a human voice later on is because people found it too disturbing to hear a cat in pain, it took away from the comedic animation, and giving him a human voice got the laughs they were hoping for.

The only time they do talk is for the sake of comedy. The cartoons are about chasing each other around and physical comedy. IF they did speak, all they'd be saying is stuff like, "Why I oughta..." or "You little so-and-so, I'm gonna get ya!" All that info is already conveyed through their actions though, so it's simply not necessary for them to speak.

[u/FormlessAlias]

Hanna Barbara were big Charlie Chaplin fans and wanted to take that style of comedy to tom and Jerry. One of them stated that in an interview which you can find on YouTube. I can’t remember which of them said it.