For Sylvester and Wile, it's funny then and not funny now because back when they were first created, the mass population truly believed predators were evil pests. Back in Canada, they used to (and some still do illegally) hunt wolves by airplane in order to save the moose and deer (so humans could hunt them) and they told everyone it was for their protection (even though there's no recorded history of a healthy wolf ever attacking a human without provocation). I think you know what happened with the moose and deer after that. . . . We've all hear stories of "The Big Bad Wolf", but that gets repetitive so they used lions, bears, foxes, coyotes, ect. If it kills Bambi, it's
EVIL! Thank god we're more educated.
As for Tom and Jerry, that has little to do with the normal Predator/prey relationship and more of a love/hate/discrimination relationship. Tom's "job" is to keep the house mouse free and Jerry is just trying to live in peace. Most of the time, Tom doesn't really want to eat Jerry, just hurt him or kill him to get rid of him. In several cartoons you can actually see them working together or even saving each other. Other times you'll notice their hate is shown as metaphors for wars and racism.
Personally, if I were you, I'd be more upset about
This! (Pay attention around 2:20)
Moon Rabbit Reisen
You know what I hate about cartoons like Tom and Jerry or Sylvester and Tweety or Wile E. Coyote and Roadrunner?
The carnivore is simply hungry, but the prey actually has malice towards it's enemy. Noooo... not simply enough to AVOID the predator, you have to abuse it in ways that defy the law of survival of the fittest.
xp I know what the joke is, but I don't get why it's funny.
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