Tom and Jerry Premieres

"Hahaha! This Tom and Jerry show is just... too... too funny!"

Daniel was sitting at home, clutching his stomach after watching Tom and Jerry. His belly ached from laughing so hard.

But while he was laughing at the comedy, he was also genuinely impressed by the quality of the show. He never expected it to be a modern take on an almost forgotten genre: silent films!

The last time Daniel had watched a silent show was from the early 20th century. Why had silent films slowly disappeared? Because they were incredibly challenging to produce.

To make a silent film work, the animation needed to convey all the necessary information using only visuals. And Tom and Jerry had the added challenge of making people laugh through these visual gags.

With almost no dialogue, the show relied on facial expressions and actions to communicate emotions. This required a level of subtlety: enough to convey the emotion without being so exaggerated that it distorted the characters.

Despite these challenges, the episodes that aired tonight had Daniel laughing non-stop, a testament to the hard work and dedication of the team at Picca Comics.

One standout was the second episode, "Midnight Snack," where Jerry sneaks around at night for a snack, only to be caught by Tom. Tom goes to great lengths to toy with Jerry, forcing him to put the snack back in the fridge, only for Tom to eat the snack himself. The ensuing kitchen chaos had Daniel laughing from start to finish.

But Tom and Jerry wasn't all about Tom's misfortune or endless fighting. There were heartwarming moments too. In the third episode, Christmas Time, Tom and Jerry playfully chase each other around the Christmas tree. Tom finally kicks Jerry out of the house but soon feels guilty as he listens to the howling winter wind outside, reminding him that Jerry is stuck in the freezing cold.

Unable to sleep, the kind-hearted Tom eventually opens the door to let Jerry back in, only to find him missing. In a panic, Tom rushes outside and finds Jerry frozen stiff in the snow. Tom rescues him, warming his little friend by the fire.

Though Daniel had laughed at the beginning of the episode, this part made him appreciate Tom even more. Who wouldn't love a cat this sweet?

At times, it felt like Tom and Jerry weren't adversaries at all, but more like best frenemies. In the tenth episode, The Lonely Mouse, Jerry gets Tom kicked out of the house after smashing a vase. At first, Jerry gleefully trashes Tom's bed, but once the fun wears off, Jerry starts feeling lonely without his old rival around. After some thought, Jerry decides to help Tom return home.

This episode really highlighted the deep bond between the two. Despite all their pranks, they were lost without each other.

From its meticulous scene setups, editing rhythm, shot composition, to the action choreography and sound design, Tom and Jerry easily outshone most modern shows.

"What an amazing piece of work!" Daniel couldn't help but marvel.

Over on Weibo, the praise for Tom and Jerry was overwhelming. Many clips from the show were being shared as short videos, quickly sparking discussions.

"Tom and Jerry is a masterpiece! I'm convinced—everything else out there is garbage compared to this."

"Okay, hold up, don't go overboard. This show is fantastic, but let's not compare it to other genres. Different audiences, different styles. Still, though, I gotta say, this show is worth the hype!"

"After watching episode three, I have to admit—Tom's such a sweetheart!"

"I know, right? Episode three made Jerry seem like a real bully. How could anyone be mean to such a cute cat?"

"Yeah, but... is it bad that I still laugh at Tom's misfortunes, even after the heartwarming moments?"

"+1"

"+10086"

"There's barely any dialogue, but I couldn't take my eyes off the screen! It's just too good!"

The online praise was nearly universal, with very few critics. This level of widespread approval was reminiscent of when Fullmetal Alchemist was at its peak. Back then, it was practically untouchable. Now, Tom and Jerry was becoming a similarly beloved show, revolving around the comedic rivalry between a mischievous cat and a clever mouse.

Despite the lack of dialogue, Tom and Jerry had a special magic that captivated its audience.

At first, most fans tuned in because of Ren's name and his previous work, That Year, That Bunny, Those Things. But as the whirlwind of hilarious antics unfolded, viewers found themselves hooked. The ratings skyrocketed, and even those who usually disliked slapstick humor were quickly won over by Tom and Jerry.

While Tom and Jerry had the audience in stitches, Hikaru no Go had reached a critical turning point.

After much anticipation, Sai was finally able to face Touya Meijin in a match. This was a huge relief for many fans.

In order to play against Touya Meijin, Sai even agreed to a 15-stone handicap, which meant there was little suspense about the outcome.

While Hikaru allowing Sai to play against Touya Meijin earned him back some respect from readers, many still felt dissatisfied.

Fans believed that Sai and Touya Meijin were equals, so the handicap felt like it detracted from the true challenge of the match. Rather than a fair and square battle of skill, it felt like a numbers game—one side constantly calculating a 15-point difference.

"That's not what Go is supposed to be about!"

"Ugh, why can't Sai just have one fair match to show his true strength? It can't be that hard!"

"If Sai beats someone on Naruto's level, what does that make him? A once-in-a-lifetime genius?"

"Man, as soon as you mentioned Naruto, I knew you were a fellow fan! Let's spar together!"

"As much as I get that, we're this far into Hikaru no Go, and Sai hasn't been able to fully unleash his potential even once. Don't you want to see him go all out? I sure do."

"Yeah, but Ren's just an artist. He doesn't really get Go like we do. So of course, the plot isn't going to be exactly what we'd want."

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