Tom and Jerry began as an MGM animated series created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, first released in 1940. Sounds from the show remain popular online because its visual humor translates perfectly into short reaction edits, prank videos, and chase memes. Even when users do not name a specific episode, Tom and Jerry audio is widely recognized as shorthand for frantic cartoon mayhem. It often appears in the same style of edits as cartoon chase sounds, where fast timing and exaggerated movement are the whole joke.