Tom & Jerry
A chaotic battle ensues between Jerry Mouse, who has taken refuge in the Royal Gate Hotel, and Tom Cat, who is hired to drive him away before the day of a big wedding arrives.
Despite a respectable budget of $50.0M, Tom & Jerry became a solid performer, earning $136.5M worldwide—a 173% return.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Tom & Jerry (2021) exhibits strategically placed plot construction, characteristic of Tim Story's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 41 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.6, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Jerry Mouse
Tom Cat
Kayla Forester
Terrance Mendoza
Ben
Preeta Mehta
Main Cast & Characters
Jerry Mouse
Played by N/A (Animated)
A clever mouse seeking a home in a luxury hotel, resourceful and determined to establish his place.
Tom Cat
Played by N/A (Animated)
A street cat hired to catch Jerry, but whose chaos causes more problems than solutions.
Kayla Forester
Played by Chloë Grace Moretz
An ambitious young woman who cons her way into a hotel job and must solve the mouse problem to save a high-profile wedding.
Terrance Mendoza
Played by Michael Peña
The pompous deputy manager of the Royal Gate Hotel who schemes to undermine Kayla and advance his own career.
Ben
Played by Colin Jost
A kind-hearted bartender at the hotel who befriends Kayla and provides genuine support.
Preeta Mehta
Played by Pallavi Sharda
The bride-to-be whose dream wedding at the Royal Gate Hotel is threatened by the Tom and Jerry chaos.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Tom busks in Central Park while Jerry takes over a fancy home. Both are scrappy survivors using deception to get by in New York City, establishing their status quo as clever but dishonest opportunists.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Preeta discovers Jerry in the hotel. A mouse threatens to destroy the celebrity wedding and Kayla's new job. The stakes are established: fix this or lose everything.. At 11% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 25 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to Kayla makes the active choice to hire Tom as the hotel's "cat" to catch Jerry. This irreversible decision launches the main premise: Tom and Jerry's chase will now take place in the high-stakes hotel environment., moving from reaction to action.
At 51 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat False victory: Tom and Jerry appear to reach a truce. The wedding plans come together beautifully. Kayla seems to have everything under control and growing closer to Ben. But the stakes raise—success now means more to lose., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 76 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, All is lost: Kayla's lies are exposed publicly. She's fired and humiliated. Tom and Jerry's fight destroys the wedding venue. The celebrity couple splits up. Ben feels betrayed. Everything Kayla built through deception collapses, with her dignity and dreams seemingly dead., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 80 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Synthesis and revelation: Kayla realizes she must be honest and make things right. Tom and Jerry recognize they work better together than as enemies. New information reveals Terrance sabotaged the wedding. Armed with truth and teamwork, they mobilize for the finale., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Tom & Jerry's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping Tom & Jerry against these established plot points, we can identify how Tim Story utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Tom & Jerry within the animation genre.
Tim Story's Structural Approach
Among the 10 Tim Story films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.2, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Tom & Jerry takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Tim Story filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional animation films include The Bad Guys, Puss in Boots and Violet Evergarden: Eternity and the Auto Memory Doll. For more Tim Story analyses, see Taxi, Think Like a Man Too and Shaft.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Tom busks in Central Park while Jerry takes over a fancy home. Both are scrappy survivors using deception to get by in New York City, establishing their status quo as clever but dishonest opportunists.
Theme
Kayla's friend warns her about faking credentials: "You can't pretend to be someone you're not forever." This thematic statement foreshadows the central lesson all characters must learn.
Worldbuilding
Kayla lies her way into a job at the Royal Gate Hotel by stealing another applicant's resume. We meet the hotel staff, learn about the high-profile celebrity wedding, and see Jerry move into the hotel while Tom pursues him.
Disruption
Preeta discovers Jerry in the hotel. A mouse threatens to destroy the celebrity wedding and Kayla's new job. The stakes are established: fix this or lose everything.
Resistance
Kayla debates how to handle the mouse problem. Terrance pressures her. She explores options including exterminators and traps, all while trying to maintain her facade of competence. The wedding preparations escalate the pressure.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Kayla makes the active choice to hire Tom as the hotel's "cat" to catch Jerry. This irreversible decision launches the main premise: Tom and Jerry's chase will now take place in the high-stakes hotel environment.
Mirror World
Ben, the sincere event coordinator, connects with Kayla. He represents authenticity and genuine care, contrasting with Kayla's deception. Their developing friendship introduces the relationship that will carry the thematic lesson.
Premise
The "fun and games" of Tom and Jerry's elaborate chase through the hotel. Slapstick destruction, close calls with guests, creative traps, and escalating chaos. Kayla manages the situation while bonding with Ben and navigating hotel politics.
Midpoint
False victory: Tom and Jerry appear to reach a truce. The wedding plans come together beautifully. Kayla seems to have everything under control and growing closer to Ben. But the stakes raise—success now means more to lose.
Opposition
Terrance grows suspicious and investigates Kayla. The truce between Tom and Jerry breaks down. The lies compound: Kayla's fake credentials, the unreliable cat-mouse solution, and the increasingly elaborate cover-ups. Bad guys close in from all sides.
Collapse
All is lost: Kayla's lies are exposed publicly. She's fired and humiliated. Tom and Jerry's fight destroys the wedding venue. The celebrity couple splits up. Ben feels betrayed. Everything Kayla built through deception collapses, with her dignity and dreams seemingly dead.
Crisis
Dark night of the soul. Kayla faces her failures alone. Tom and Jerry separately reflect on the destruction they've caused. The emotional low point as characters process loss and confront the consequences of dishonesty.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Synthesis and revelation: Kayla realizes she must be honest and make things right. Tom and Jerry recognize they work better together than as enemies. New information reveals Terrance sabotaged the wedding. Armed with truth and teamwork, they mobilize for the finale.
Synthesis
The finale: Kayla, Tom, Jerry, and Ben work together authentically to save the wedding. They expose Terrance, reunite the couple, and execute an genuine beautiful ceremony. Combining Kayla's resourcefulness with honest teamwork, they achieve real success.
Transformation
Final image mirrors the opening: Tom performs in Central Park, but now he's genuinely talented and confident. Jerry watches supportively. Kayla has a real job earned through honesty. The characters have transformed from deceptive opportunists to authentic contributors.