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Spike

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Spike (occasionally referred to as Butch or Killer) is a fictional character from the Tom and Jerry series (created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera) and Droopy cartoons (created by Tex Avery and Michael Lah), respectively.

He made his first appearance in the 1942 Tom and Jerry cartoon Dog Trouble, and his first speaking role was in 1944's The Bodyguard, where he was voiced by Billy Bletcher up until 1949, from which point he was voiced by Daws Butler.

About Spike

Spike is a stern but occasionally dumb British bulldog who is particularly disapproving of cats, but a softie when it comes to mice, and later, his son Tyke. In the Tom and Jerry shorts, Jerry would often try to get Tom in trouble with Spike making him a shoo-in for a beating from the bulldog. Spike has a few weaknesses that Tom tries to capitalize upon: his possessiveness about his bone and his ticklishness.

Spike

Spike in Tom and Jerry short, "The Bodyguard"

In his very first appearance, Dog Trouble, Spike is the main antagonist, chasing and attacking both Tom and Jerry on sight, even trying to eat Jerry, which forced the two to work together to defeat him. In all subsequent shorts, Spike becomes typecast as the stereotypical dumb brute who is always duped into becoming a shield for Jerry from Tom. It is only in two episodes where Jerry gets Spike out of a jam and the dog willingly protects him from Tom in well-earned gratitude. On most occasions, Jerry causes trouble for Tom by luring him near Spike and harming him to get him angry, and in some cartoons when its perfectly obvious that Tom is not responsible, as seen in The Invisible Mouse, Spike still blames Tom and hurts him instead of Jerry.

Spike, however, is not without a softer and sympathetic side: in the episode Pet Peeve, after believing that Tom is willing to leave the house in Spike's favor, Spike feels sorry for him to the point that he offers to leave instead, which he does until realizing that Tom was only using reverse psychology to trick him into leaving. In The Truce Hurts, Spike is a very intelligent and pacifistic character when he convinces Tom and Jerry to stop the fighting among the three of them and sign a Peace Treaty, but their newfound friendship comes to an end when they argue over how to share a big steak, symbolized when Spike tears the truce contract to shreds before the fighting resumes. From the 1942 cartoon Dog Trouble to 1948 cartoon Heavenly Puss he was voiced by Billy Bletcher. His name also varies in some shorts: in Solid Serenade he is named "Killer", and in The Truce Hurts he signs "Butch" on the treaty paper.

Tyke

Spike sspilling beer

In Tom's later attempts to catch Jerry, he has to deal with Spike for bothering his son. In 1949's Love That Pup, Spike was given a puppy son, Tyke, who became another popular supporting character in the Tom and Jerry cartoons. His voice was taken over by Daws Butler, who styled Spike's voice after Jimmy Durante taking after his 1940s radio series with Garry Moore. He is named Spike from then on and is not changed again. When Tyke is introduced, Spike is given a softer approach (mainly towards his son) and is kinder and less aggressive, but is still portrayed as a dumb animal on more than one occasion. Spike's love and affection towards Tyke becomes Jerry's newest weapon against Tom, as his strategy goes from luring Tom towards Spike to inflicting harm on Tyke, and even when it is perfectly obvious that Jerry is responsible for harming tyke and not Tom. as seen in love that pup. Spike fails to see this and still blames Tom.

A short-lived Spike and Tyke cartoon series was produced by MGM in 1957; only two entries were completed. Within a year, the MGM cartoon studio had shut down, and Hanna and Barbera took Spike and Tyke and retooled them to create one the first television successes for Hanna-Barbera, Augie Doggie and Doggie Daddy. He would not appear in new Tom and Jerry cartoons, until the 1970s The Tom & Jerry Show. However, he appear theatrically for the last time (as a cameo appearance) in the 1967 MGM Animation/Visual Arts production Matinee Mouse, which reused footage from Love that Pup and The Truce Hurts, and added some new animation in the final punchline.

Tex Avery cartoons

He also appear in several Droopy cartoons and four solo shorts, for MGM. However, in the Tom and Jerry Comedy Show, the Tom & Jerry version of Spike would also appear in the new Droopy cartoons, filling the role of the other Spike as an antagonist of Droopy. They were not separated as distinct characters again, until the feature Tom and Jerry: The Magic Ring.

Catchphrases

Spike and tom

Spike, being sent out by his owner.

  • That's my boy!
  • Listen pussy cat!
  • Bother my boy again and there'll be trouble!
  • Where's my boy!?
  • There's gonna be murder (a.k.a "Moi-der")!
  • I'll skin you alive!
  • Don't spend it all in one place. (From Tom and Jerry Tales)

Trivia

  • In the episode "Quiet Please!", Spike has an anchor tattoo on his left upper arm when he chases after Tom near the end.
  • In the episode "The Framed Cat", Spike does not have a light grey chest like he usually has.
  • Spike sometimes gives his son Tyke big kisses, as in "Love that Pup", "Slicked-up Pup" and "Tops with Pops".
  • Spike often refers to Tom as Pussy Cat.

Featured Cartoons

Tom and Jerry

Droopy

Tex Avery's Spike

Spike and Tyke

The Tom and Jerry Show (1975)

  • The Ski Bunny
  • No Bones About It
  • Beach Bully
  • Cosmic Cat and Meteor Mouse
  • The Kitten Sitters
  • Planet Pest
  • Watch Out, Watch Dog
  • Planet of the Dogs
  • Triple Trouble
  • Cruise Kitty

The Tom and Jerry Comedy Show

Tom & Jerry Kids Show

  • Dog Daze Afternoon (cameo appearance)
  • Super Duper Spike
  • Hoodwinked Cat
  • Crash Condor
  • Scrub-A Dub Tom (cameo appearance in the dog show)
  • Circus Antics as Elephants

Tom and Jerry Tales

Direct-to-video and TV special

Others

Voice Actors



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