Tom and Jerry - Crazy Tom and Jerry Races - 1960s

Lude Trke Toma i Jerryja is a 1960s Yugoslav theatrical compilation poster for the legendary Tom & Jerry animated cat-and-mouse chase cartoons created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera.

The exact contents of this Yugoslav release are not precisely documented. It is unclear whether the poster advertised a specific fixed program of shorts or functioned as a generic cinema title, allowing theaters to select their own combination of Tom & Jerry cartoons for exhibition.
It is also unknown whether this compilation was released in other countries, possibly under a different localized title, making this Yugoslav issue particularly intriguing for collectors.

Artwork & International Context

Foreign theatrical posters for Tom & Jerry—especially from Eastern and Southern Europe—are often far more energetic, chaotic, and violent in spirit than their U.S. counterparts from the same period.
This reflects the true essence of the cartoons themselves, which relied on exaggerated physical comedy, slapstick destruction, and relentless chase sequences.

By contrast, many contemporary U.S. posters were comparatively restrained and sanitized. Yugoslav posters, however, embraced the full anarchic energy of the series, resulting in designs that are both visually striking and far more faithful to the original cartoon experience.

About Tom & Jerry

Tom & Jerry debuted in 1940, with a total of 114 theatrical cartoons produced through 1957 during their original MGM run.
Remarkably, seven of these shorts won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film, tying the record with Disney’s Silly Symphonies.

Following the original run, approximately 50 additional cartoons were produced through later decades, extending into the early 2000s, along with multiple television series and revivals.

While occasionally criticized for “excessive violence,” the cartoons famously contain no blood or gore—a style now universally referred to as “cartoon violence.”
The brilliance of Tom & Jerry lies not only in slapstick action, but also in its ingenious visual storytelling, rhythmic timing, and sophisticated use of orchestral music, which often replaces dialogue entirely.

During the 1940s, Tom & Jerry were among the most popular and successful animated films in the world, even if their cultural importance is sometimes underappreciated today.

Collector’s Perspective

Yugoslav theatrical posters for classic American animated cartoons were printed in small quantities, used only in cinemas, and never sold commercially.
Surviving examples—especially for globally iconic characters like Tom & Jerry—are now increasingly scarce.

This poster represents:

Authentic Yugoslav cinema exhibition material

A visually aggressive, true-to-spirit Tom & Jerry design

A compelling mystery regarding its exact program and distribution

A highly collectible alternative to standard U.S. animation posters

Dating:
Based on the Croatia Film logo variant, printing technique, paper stock and graphic style, this poster was produced in the late 1960s to early 1970s.