On the hunt for your purrfect pair of Converse? Well, unlike Tom, your chase is finally over! Check out this awesome Converse collaboration with the iconic cartoon, Tom and Jerry! This collaboration is in honour of the series’ 85th anniversary and the kicks are so good, even Jerry wouldn’t run away. These Chucks are packed with as much mischief as a classic Tom and Jerry episode—so let’s scamper through the details!
70s
Converse Chuck Taylor All Star 1970s Hi Top Tom and Jerry Grey/Egret/Black: a classic crowd favourite but with a fun and adventurous twist! These have all the features 70’s are known for: cushioned footbed, a cream sole, and a few other extra details, but these have some extra special graphics. Bold, colorful, and packed with personality—these designs capture every pounce, prank, and perfectly-timed escape! The neutral off-white base makes sure those super fun and playful graphics really pop, and don’t forget to look in every nook and cranny for all the little mousey details.
Chuck Taylors
Step into nostalgia with the Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Hi Top Tom and Jerry Black/Multi/White. This special-edition sneaker brings the classic cat-and-mouse chase to life with playful graphics featuring the iconic duo in action. Crafted with premium canvas in a vintage-inspired soft black hue, it delivers both style and comfort.
The Art of Tom and Jerry
Tom and Jerry has had a fascinating evolution in terms of animation, spanning several decades. Created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, the series debuted in 1940 for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) with a distinctive hand-drawn style. It is often compared to the slapstick comedy and animation style of Looney Tunes (Warner Brothers) but is quite distinct. Both series contributed to the golden age of American animation, and there are some similarities in tone and style, but they are separate entities, created by different teams at different studios.
For their collaboration with Converse, the creatives behind the shoes chose some of the most iconic artwork that’s instantly recognizable to die-hard fans. Make sure to look from ankle to toe and all over the shoe box for tons of easter eggs! Now, let’s deep dive into how the artwork has changed since the shoe’s inception in 1940:
Stills from MGM Internet Archive
The early cartoons had exaggerated designs—Tom, the cat, was angular, while Jerry, the mouse, was small and round. The animation was closely synced to music, often classical, which became a trademark of the series, enhancing its comedic timing. See: Tom and Jerry: The Cat Concerto (1947).
Stills from MGM Internet Archive
By the 1950s, the animation style became simpler to reduce costs, and by the 1960s, as the series moved to TV, the visuals were flatter, with less detail. Despite the changes, the slapstick humor and exaggerated action remained key. See: Tom and Jerry, Episode 123 - The Tom and Jerry Cartoon Kit (1962).
In the '80s and '90s, Tom and Jerry was revived with more vibrant colors and updated designs, but still kept the essence of the original. See: The Tom and Jerry Comedy Show.
Stills from MGM Internet Archive
Fast-forward to the 2000s, and the show embraced CGI in some adaptations, especially in the 2021 movie, which blended 2D and 3D animation.
Through all these shifts, the core visual style—expressive, action-packed gags—remained the same, helping Tom and Jerry maintain its iconic place in animation history. You can find an excellent archive of the cartoons here.