Tom and Jerry began as an MGM animated series in 1940, and its frantic shouting, shrieks and chase sounds became part of its signature style across decades of shorts and TV reruns. Online, short clips labeled as Tom and Jerry yelling spread through meme edits, reposts and reaction videos because the sound reads instantly as cartoon panic. It still shows up in fast comedy edits for the same reason creators use a scream meme: it exaggerates a moment without needing dialogue context.