Hyderabad, Feb. 10 -- February 10 marks the 86th anniversary of the iconic duo, Tom and Jerry. They first appeared in the 1940 short film "Puss Gets the Boot," created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera. Originally called Jasper the cat and an unnamed mouse, their slapstick comedy was an instant hit, earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Short Subject (Cartoon).

The series, produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), went on to become one of the most influential in animation history. Over the next two decades, Hanna and Barbera produced over 100 shorts, with many becoming classics of the golden age of animation. Tom and Jerry became known for their minimal dialogue, instead relying on exaggerated physical comedy and brilliant music by...