Believe it or not, people actually argue about Tom and Jerry movies. Specifically, the ones where they drop the cat and mouse into classic literature or established film universes. It’s a weird niche. When Warner Bros. Animation released Tom and Jerry & The Wizard of Oz back in 2011, the internet—or at least the corner of it that cares about 70-year-old cartoons—was skeptical. But then came the 2016 follow-up, Tom and Jerry Back to Oz. Honestly, it’s one of the few times a direct-to-video sequel actually outdid its predecessor by leaning into the absurdity of its own existence.
The film isn't just a rehash. It’s a weirdly faithful love letter to the 1939 MGM classic while simultaneously being a chaotic slapstick comedy.
Most people assume these "crossover" movies are just cheap cash-ins. Some are. But Back to Oz had Spike Brandt and Tony Cervone at the helm. These guys get the Chuck Jones/Tex Avery rhythm. They didn't just want to draw a mouse in a tiny green coat; they wanted to explore what happens when the Nome King actually becomes a legitimate threat to both Kansas and the Land of Oz.
The Weird Reality of Tom and Jerry Back to Oz
The plot kicks off with a bit of a tonal shift. Dorothy, Toto, and our favorite cat-and-mouse duo are back in Kansas. But things aren't great. The farm is in trouble—a trope as old as the dust bowl itself. The real kicker is the villain. We aren't dealing with a resurrected Wicked Witch here. Instead, the movie pulls from L. Frank Baum’s actual lore and introduces the Nome King.
He’s voiced by Jason Alexander. Yes, George Costanza is the villain of a Tom and Jerry Oz movie.
Alexander brings a frantic, theatrical energy to the role that fits the animation perfectly. The Nome King has conquered the Emerald City and is now after Dorothy’s Ruby Slippers to complete his conquest. He sends his flying monkeys to Kansas to retrieve them, and naturally, Tom and Jerry get swept up in the vortex.
What’s interesting is how the film treats the relationship between the titular characters. In the first Oz outing, they were basically just observers. In Tom and Jerry Back to Oz, they are active participants. They have a job to do. The rivalry is still there—Tom is still trying to smash Jerry with whatever blunt object is handy—but there’s a shared goal. They are protectors. It’s a delicate balance that the writers mostly nail. If they get too friendly, it’s boring. If they fight too much, the plot stalls.
Why the Nome King Changes the Stakes
In the original 1939 film, the threat was psychological and magical. The Nome King, however, is a different beast. He wants to strip Oz of its color and joy. It sounds cliché, but in the context of a Tom and Jerry cartoon, it provides a great excuse for visual gags.
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- The "Gnome" factor: The henchmen aren't just monkeys; they are these subterranean creatures that allow for a lot of "digging" gags.
- The Ruby Slippers: The movie treats them as a literal power source, not just a way home.
- The Kansas connection: The film actually spends time showing how the magic of Oz starts bleeding into the "real" world.
The animation style stays true to that mid-2010s Warner Bros. look—clean lines, vibrant colors, and a high frame rate for the action sequences. It’s not the hand-painted masterpiece of the 1940s, but it’s a lot better than the "stiff" animation you see in some modern television reboots.
Technical Specs and the Voice Cast
If you’re a fan of voice acting history, this movie is a gold mine. Beyond Jason Alexander, you’ve got Grey Griffin returning as Dorothy. She has essentially become the definitive voice for Dorothy Gale in animation, capturing that Judy Garland breathiness without it feeling like a cheap parody.
Then there’s the legendary James Monroe Iglehart as the Cowardly Lion (or his Kansas counterpart). You might know him as the Genie from the Broadway version of Aladdin. His energy is massive.
The runtime is a brisk 81 minutes. It doesn't overstay its welcome. It moves from Kansas to the Emerald City to the Nome King’s cavernous lair with a pace that suggests the editors were worried kids would look at their phones if a scene lasted longer than four minutes. They were probably right.
But for the adults watching, the joy is in the references. There are tiny nods to the original books that "casual" Oz fans might miss. The inclusion of the Hungry Tiger alongside the Cowardly Lion is a deep cut for those who have actually read Baum’s work.
Does It Actually Respect the 1939 Film?
This is the big question. Many purists hate these movies. They think putting Tom and Jerry Back to Oz in the same conversation as the Victor Fleming masterpiece is sacrilege.
I get it.
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However, you have to look at what this film is trying to be. It’s an entry point. It’s a way for a seven-year-old who loves slapstick to get introduced to the concept of the Yellow Brick Road. The movie uses the original songs—"Over the Rainbow," "We’re Off to See the Wizard"—but gives them a slightly more "cartoonish" arrangement. It’s not meant to replace the original; it’s a playground using the original’s toys.
The slapstick is actually quite clever. There’s a sequence involving the Tin Man’s oil can that is classic Tom and Jerry. It’s rhythmic. It’s violent in that "nobody actually gets hurt" way that we all grew up with.
One thing the movie does better than the first Oz crossover is the integration. In the first one, it felt like Tom and Jerry were digitally inserted into the 1939 movie scenes. In Back to Oz, the world is built around them. The physics of the world match the physics of the characters. When Tom falls off a floating piece of rock, it feels like it belongs in the same universe.
The Nome King’s Musical Number
We have to talk about the music. Animated sequels usually have terrible, forgettable songs. Back to Oz avoids this by leaning on the classics, but Jason Alexander’s Nome King gets his own moment. It’s hammy. It’s over the top. It’s exactly what you want from a villain who is literally a pile of rocks and ego.
The lyrics aren't Shakespeare, but they serve the purpose of explaining his motivation: he’s jealous. He’s a guy who lives in the dark and hates the "surface" people for their color and music. It’s a simple motivation that works for a movie aimed at families.
Critical Reception and Legacy
When it dropped in June 2016, the reviews were... fine. It wasn't winning any Oscars. But on platforms like Letterboxd and Amazon, you’ll see a recurring theme in the reviews: "My kids loved it, and I didn't hate it."
That’s a win for this kind of project.
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The film marked one of the last times we saw this specific "iterative" style of Tom and Jerry crossovers before the brand shifted toward the 2021 live-action/CGI hybrid. There’s a charm to this 2D era that feels more authentic to the characters' roots.
Actionable Tips for Watching or Collecting
If you're planning on diving into this weird corner of the Tom and Jerry mythos, here's how to do it right.
Check the "First" Movie First While Back to Oz stands on its own, it is a direct sequel to Tom and Jerry & The Wizard of Oz. You’ll appreciate the character designs and the "logic" of their version of Oz if you see how they got there originally.
Look for the Easter Eggs Keep an eye out for the Munchkins. The animators put a lot of work into making sure their designs mirrored the specific costumes from the 1939 film. It’s a level of detail that shows the creators actually cared.
Physical Media vs. Streaming Currently, the movie rotates through various streaming services like Max or Boomerang. However, if you find the DVD in a bargain bin, grab it. The "Ultra-Resolution" versions of these 2D animated features actually look surprisingly crisp on a 4K TV because the colors are so flat and saturated.
The "Silent" Humour Pay attention to the fact that Tom and Jerry don't talk. In an era where every animated character is voiced by a wisecracking celebrity, keeping the duo silent is a bold (and correct) choice. It forces the animators to use squash-and-stretch techniques to communicate emotion, which is the heart of why we liked these characters in the first place.
The Nome King Strategy If you're watching with kids, use it as a bridge to the original books. The Nome King is a huge part of the Oz series, and this movie is one of the few pieces of media that actually makes him a central antagonist. It’s a great "intro to fantasy" villain.
At the end of the day, Tom and Jerry Back to Oz isn't going to change your life. It won't redefine cinema. But it is a surprisingly competent, funny, and respectful expansion of two very different legacies. It’s a reminder that even the most corporate-sounding ideas—like "let's put a cat and mouse in Oz again"—can be made with genuine craft and humor.
If you’ve skipped this because you thought it was just for toddlers, give it twenty minutes. The slapstick timing alone is worth the price of admission. Whether you're a fan of the Golden Age of Hollywood or the Golden Age of Saturday morning cartoons, there is something here that clicks. It’s weird, it’s loud, and it’s colorful. Basically, it’s exactly what a Tom and Jerry movie should be.