The Van Beuren Tom and Jerry (as said already not the famous cat and mouse, this is a human duo that lasted for just under 30 cartoons, 29 if memory serves correct, between 1931 and 1933) series was interesting but uneven and not easy to rate as an overall whole. At the series' best, the cartoons were good, very good in a few cases. At its worst, they were really bad.
'Rocketeers' is one of the strangest Tom and Jerry cartoons, but there is the agreement that it is one of the best of the series too. It is not perfect, but after a rather too old-fashioned and exaggerated beginning the cartoon doesn't join the rocket as it plummets to the bottom of the sea. Instead the quality in 'Rocketeers' gets better, more inventive and more entertaining.
It as a cartoon could have been better. As always with Tom and Jerry, the story is very flimsy. Tom and Jerry are rather bland lead characters and a good deal of the animation is primitive (especially in the character designs of Tom and Jerry), being generally too static and simple. 'Rocketeers' as said is at its weakest content-wise at the beginning.
However, there is a huge amount to like about 'Rocketeers'. While the animation is not mind-blowing, generally it is actually one of the better-looking cartoons in the series. The backgrounds have some nice detail and actually for once the support characters are interestingly drawn, especially the mermaids. The supporting characters are a case too of making far more of an impression, especially the mayor and the mermaids.
After a slightly shaky start, 'Rocketeers' gets better and better. It gets increasingly absurdist and weird (including seeing skeletons under the sea) as the story takes increasingly unexpected turns (which one usually does not get with Tom and Jerry). Just in case anybody is wondering and thinking that this approach is a good thing or not, the style of humour in the series is intended to be absurdist and bizarre but has always varied in how well it's done. 'Rocketeers' is one of the better and more consistent examples of the series.
Even in the weakest cartoons, the music was always a bright spot. As ever it's outstanding in 'Rocketeers', it is so beautifully and cleverly orchestrated and full of energy, doing so well with enhancing the action.
Overall, a pretty good Tom and Jerry cartoon that gets stronger. 7/10 Bethany Cox