The central plot of The Night Before Christmas —the jewel of the Santa’s Little Helpers lineup—is deceptively sweet. Jerry and his little nephew, Tuffy, are shivering in the walls. I, being a cat of refined cruelty, am warm by the fire. But then Jerry does what he always does: he reads my mail. Specifically, he finds my letter to Santa Claus.

The informational takeaway for scholars: Tom and Jerry: Santa’s Little Helpers is a case study in

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I hear a rustling in the walls. And I have a brand new anvil with a red bow on it.

Whiskers, Wreckage, and Wrapping Paper: A First-Paw Account of “Tom and Jerry: Santa’s Little Helpers”