Neapolitan Mouse (1954)

METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER STUDIO
Neapolitan Mouse (1954)
original production animation character model drawings
watercolor and pencil on untrimmed animation sheet, image size: 8.75" x 11.5"

These original animation character design paintings and drawings of Jerry and Topo were created by an M-G-M Studio artist in development of the lead characters in the animated Tom and Jerry cartoon directed by Bill Hanna and Joe Barbera. In this cartoon Tom and Jerry arrive in Naples, Italy aboard a cruise ship. Tom chases Jerry until they are both befriended by Topo, a local mouse who recognizes them from their famous cartoons. He protects Jerry from Tom and Tom from a slinky blue dog; feeds them; and takes them on a grand tour of his city. Original character drawings such as this from the Tom and Jerry cartoons are scarce; the drawing of Jerry is particularly fine. Interestingly, Topo's dual-tone front and ringed tail are crossed out in the drawing, and he does not exhibit these features in the cartoon.