Little Big Mouse

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"Little Big Mouse" is the sixtieth sub-episode of Tom and Jerry Tales.

[edit] Storyline

It is a very hot day, and the air conditioner has broken down. While Tom and Mrs. Two-Shoes sleep in front of the icebox, Jerry raids all the food out of it, and Mrs. Two-Shoes blames Tom and throws him out, where Jerry is having a picnic with all the food he took. Tom gives an icecube to an exhausted ant, who then begins taking the food from Jerry. Jerry now chases the ant (with Tom instigating) and eventually gets tired. Tom and the ant shake hands and enjoy the food.

[edit] Total twist to the typical chase format

This episode is notable in that it is the first time ever Jerry has become the aggressor against a smaller character. The character roles have shifted, with Jerry in Tom's place, being the pursuant in chase bits, which end unfavorably for him (as is normal for Tom and other cartoon predators). The ant is in Jerry's place, and Tom basically fills the role of Spike or other larger characters in the past: friend to the small, persecuted victim; both of whom "win" in the end, against the persecutor in the middle. (Thus making this the second episode where Tom wins and Jerry loses, the first being "Beefcake Tom". Ants were also a frequent nemesis in the classic theatrical cartoons. For example, in "Pup on a Picnic", a squadron of marching ants ruin Spike and Tyke's picnic lunch).