The first Tom and Jerry cartoon, "Puss Gets the Boot," was released on September 19, 1940, and was produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). The series went on to become one of the most popular and successful animated shows of all time, with a production run spanning over two decades. The show was produced by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, with the creative input of several other notable animators and directors.
When fans refer to the "complete" original collection, they are typically talking about the theatrical shorts produced between . This era is divided into three distinct production periods: