Tom and Jerry turned 85 this year, and Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products (WBDGCP) is marking the milestone with a year-long celebration that keeps the world’s most famous cat-and-mouse duo in the spotlight. The company’s strategy for the spry-as-ever cartoon icons is simple: elevate Tom and Jerry with different audiences by partnering with on-trend partners that speak to how people shop, dress, watch and play today.
A major highlight in the anniversary year program is Tom and Jerry Gokko — a kawaii anime-inspired short-form series refresh on YouTube. (“Gokko” is a Japanese word meaning make-believe play). Launched on the English-language channel in July 2025, the shorts have chased up more than 70 million views across all platforms (YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, X, Facebook) and related posts on @WBStyle, outperforming other content by 78% in June and July.
The series originally aired on Cartoon Network Japan in 2022, premiering during the “National Cheese Day” celebrations, and takes some pastel-hued inspiration from the manga Tom and Jerry: Seven Colors. Kodai Sato is the show’s director, and the producers are Warner Bros. Japan, Fanworks (Aggretsuko) and Studio Nanahoshi (Kuromi’s Pretty Journey).
To build on this momentum, WBDGCP also debuted a Tom and Jerry Gokko TikTok filter, which is quickly gaining traction as fans share their own playful chase moments across social media.
Brand-new Tom and Jerry Gokko lines are launching soon at key retailers, including a collection from ASDA Home in the first half of 2026 in the U.K. A dedicated style guide is also available to partners now.
“Bringing a kawaii spin to Tom and Jerry through Gokko is a timely way to refresh the aesthetics and tone of the brand without compromising its core DNA,” said Johanne Broadfield, Group Vice President Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products, EMEA, Regional Franchise Management and Marketing, and Regional Category Management.
At retail across EMEA, Tom and Jerry have a strong cross-category presence with partners embracing the challenge of refreshing Tom and Jerry for the audiences of today. Affordable, display-ready collectables have proved to be cap nip for pocket money purchasers and adult collectors. Likewise, nostalgia continues to drive licensed fashion with evergreen IP outperforming in a cautious retail climate. Licensing partnerships with the likes of Converse are engaging Millennial and Gen-Z shoppers by offering modern designs for the throwback culture trend.
“Classic brands never go out of style, but they do evolve,” added Broadfield. “Tom and Jerry at 85 proves that timeless storytelling paired with modern partners keeps the chase as fun — and fashionable — as ever.”
