Horst in Translation ([email protected]) "Hatch Up Your Troubles" is a 7-minute cartoon from 1949, so two more years until this one has its 70th anniversary. It was made by Hanna Barbera and with that in mind you perhaps guess correctly already that this is another Tom & Jerry Cartoon. World's most famous cant and mouse duo is joined by a little woodpecker here, whose egg rolls out of the nest right into Jerry's hole and that's where he hatches. As a consequence, he mistakes Jerry for his mom and while Jerry enjoys the attention early on, he quickly gets enough of the little bird. But when he sends him out and birdie runs into Tom, who is mostly more interested in having his peace and reading a book than eating the bird, Jerry and the bird reunite and work together in keeping each other safe as Tom definitely still has an interest in eating Jerry. This little movie was nominated for an Oscar, but lost to Pepe Le Pew. It is one of the more known T&J cartoons, but not one of the better I would say. The comedy here is mediocre mostly, but the film still succeeds thanks to the bird cuteness. Overall, a thumbs-up, but just a cautious recommendation this time.

BA_Harrison Not the most inspired of set-ups—a newly hatched woodpecker mistakes Jerry for his mum and inevitably gets into trouble with Tom—but despite the lack of fresh ideas, there's just about enough fun to be had with the little feathered fellow to make this one worth watching. The little bird's beak goes ten to the dozen, not just making short work of anything made of wood, but also causing Tom considerable pain, rapping repeatedly on his skull, chipping a hole in his teeth, and filling him full of holes when he unwisely swallows the woodpecker whole.The final gag—which sees the bird taking time to carefully calculate which way a telegraph pole will fall when he pecks its base, as Tom repeatedly tries to end Jerry's life with an axe—is still pretty funny despite its predictability.

TheLittleSongbird This is not my favourite of the Tom and Jerry cartoons, but I am still very fond of it. The animation is very fluid and colourful, with the colours especially lovely, and the music has just the right amount of energy and quirkiness to satisfy. Hatch Up Your Troubles also has a cute story, that while it starts off slowly has a lot of funny and sweet moments, and interesting sight gags.Tom is great here, while dastardly he is also quite likable. The baby woodpecker is just adorable, same goes for Jerry's smile. Hatch Up Your Troubles also goes along at a brisk pace and it is rounded off nicely.All in all, if you want a cute and funny cartoon, look no further than Hatch Up Your Troubles. 9/10 Bethany Cox

ccthemovieman-1 This is a very entertaining Tom and Jerry cartoon, thanks in part to a cute little woodpecker who is funny and a bit a change. Instead the whole cartoon being a chase scene, as so many T&J cartoons tend to be, it's only the last two minutes. For most of it, we see Jerry trying to deal with this little just-hatched woodpecker, who buzzes through furniture faster than a chain saw.It all started when the bird's mother put a "Gone to lunch - back in 10 minutes" sign draped over his nest where a pink egg remains. That eggs falls out of the nest and miraculous lands on the ground safely after several soft items broke its fall. Then it rolls right into Jerry's bed! Of course, it hatches and the little guy thinks Jerry is "mama." Craziness really abounds after that incredulous premise. Overall - very, very entertaining and highly recommended!