Review of Puss Gets the Boot

'Puss Gets The Boot (1940)' is the very first cartoon starring Tom and Jerry, or as they were then known Jasper and Jinx. The short, initially intended as a one-off affair, lays the foundation for the successful series incredibly casually and, more importantly, successfully. Although there are elements that are, perhaps, rougher around the edges than expected, it's easy to see why this spawned multiple sequels. It's an enjoyable experience with satisfying animation and several superb sight gags. It doesn't quite capture the slapstick brilliance of its follow-ups and it can, in fact, feel a little too familiar at times (its plot is one that has been revisited several times since). The latter isn't exactly a problem with this piece, though, because if you watched these shorts in the order of their release, this would be the first one and thus be entirely novel. Ultimately, this is a solid start to an iconic series. It isn't as good as some of its sequels, but it's easy to see why it spawned as many of those as it did.