The Jet Cage

The Jet Cage is a 1962 Looney Tunes short directed by Friz Freleng.
== Plot ==
Tweety sits in his house, a bird cage, looking at the birds through the window. Tweety yearns dearly to fly freely like other birds, but Granny will not allow him to do so. This is considering his safety, as Sylvester is always lurking around waiting for a chance to catch and eat Tweety.
Granny reads a newspaper advertisement by Jet Age Technology for a $12.95 Flying Bird-Cage, which would allow birds like Tweety to fly safely. Granny, who understands Tweety's longing for freedom, buys the cage and presents it to Tweety. This enables Tweety to fly around outdoors without leaving the security of his cage.
Sylvester is at first taken aback at the sight of Tweety flying safely, piloting the jet-powered cage like an airplane. Two crows also watch in awe. "And all this time, I've been doing it the hard way," one crow remarks. Sylvester's awe is short-lived, however, as he resolves to ground Tweety's cage and get his round-headed meal; his eyes rolling around to follow his every move, before the cat's expression turns grim with determination.
Each of the following attempts are in vain, however:
* An attempt to snare the cage with a butterfly net. The jet-powered cage is strong enough to drag the butterfly net, along with the cat hanging to it — until he crashes into a light pole.
* After Tweety comes in for flying instructions, "I forgot what to do in case of fog," Sylvester sneaks inside the cage. Once the cage is back in the air, Tweety activates the hatch, which sends Sylvester, all set to strike (AKA falling!), down into a brook.
* Use of a rocket bomb to intercept the flying object of interest. The bomb simply flies back at the cat.
* A horseshoe-shaped magnet tied to a fishing rod. While the cage momentarily struggles against the magnet's pull, and the puddy tat tries to reel in his meal, Tweety manages to get the cage to break free. Sylvester is dragged into downtown traffic and ultimately an oncoming bus.
* Sylvester using large flaps to fly beside Tweety. Sylvester gloats, mocking the bird for thinking he outsmarted him, but Tweety points out that Sylvester has his hands full. The cat tosses the flaps aside and shoots back, "Oh, yeah? Well now I haven't!" ... just before he realizes he's in for another big fall! Meanwhile, the flaps flutter downward.
Sylvester, limping on crutches and wrapped in bandages, decides to joins the U.S. Air Force, vowing to earn his wings and resentfully threatening to get Tweety once and for all.
== Availability ==
Jlaser-bnt.jpg|(1997) LaserDisc Bugs and Tweety: Watch the Birdie (1997 dubbed version) (only in PAL regions)
HomeTweetHomeVHS.jpg|(1998) VHS Looney Tunes Presents Tweety: Home Tweet Home (1997 dubbed version)
Bumper07.jpg|(1998) VHS Special Bumper Collection (Vol. 7)
I Love Tweety - Volume 1.jpg|(2001) DVD I Love Tweety: Volume 1 (restored with DVNR)
Saturday Morning Cartoons 1960s Volume 2.jpg|(2009) DVD Saturday Morning Cartoons: 1960s Volume 2, Disc 2 (part of The Road Runner Show episode, 16mm TV print)
=== Streaming ===
lt boomerang.jpg|Boomerang App (2017 - ) (1997 dubbed version)
lt hbo max.jpg|HBO Max (2020 - 2022) (restored without DVNR)
== Censorship ==
* The ABC version of this cartoon cuts the sequence where Sylvester builds a Nike rocket to capture Tweety, which predictably backfires.http://www.intanibase.com/gac/looneytunes/censored-i-j.aspx
== Notes ==
* This was the last cartoon from the Golden age of animation by Friz Freleng to feature Tweety, as the latter's final short "Hawaiian Aye Aye" would be directed by Gerry Chiniquy.
* Milt Franklyn died of a heart attack while composing the cartoon's score. William Lava finished the score, starting with the scene when Sylvester tries to catch Tweety with a butterfly net. He is not credited in this cartoon, but the difference in music is noticeable.
** When the shot of Sylvester's face, where his pupils are circling to observe Tweety, fades out, the music composition changes from Franklyn to Lava.
* This cartoon marks the final usage of "Powerhouse" in the Golden Age; the Powerhouse A section plays on the cartoon's title card.
* This is also one of the few cartoons where Tweety does not say his signature catchphrase "I tawt I taw a putty tat".
* Sylvester does not have a speaking role until the scene with the flaps.
* This is the last cartoon of the 1960s where Sylvester does not have the white tip on his tail, which had been missing since "Mouse and Garden". In his next appearance, in "Mexican Cat Dance" with Speedy Gonzales, Sylvester's tail has the white tip again.
* The animation of Sylvester building himself a rocket is taken from "Ain't She Tweet", while his being dragged down the street by his fishing rod through city traffic is reused from "A Bird in a Bonnet".
== Gallery ==
TheJetCageCredits1.png
TheJetCageCredits2.png
Sagfhdfjkfhdsghdf.jpg|Color guide
=== TV Title Cards ===
lt the jet cage tbbrrs fs.jpg|The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Show (Final Season)
212.jpg
lt tbbats the jet cage.jpg|The Bugs Bunny and Tweety Show
== References ==
== External links ==
* Dave Mackey's Page for 1962 Looney Tunes Cartoons
 
Category:Cartoons directed by Friz Freleng
Category:1962
Category:Sylvester Cartoons
Category:Tweety Cartoons
Category:Shorts
Category:Looney Tunes Shorts
Category:Granny Cartoons
Category:Cartoons written by Friz Freleng
Category:Cartoons animated by Bob Matz
Category:Cartoons animated by Lee Halpern
Category:Cartoons animated by Art Leonardi
Category:Cartoons with layouts by Hawley Pratt
Category:Cartoons with backgrounds by Tom O'Loughlin
Category:Cartoons with film editing by Treg Brown
Category:Cartoons with sound effects edited by Treg Brown
Category:Cartoons with characters voiced by Mel Blanc
Category:Cartoons with characters voiced by June Foray
Category:Cartoons with music by Milt Franklyn
Category:Cartoons produced by David H. DePatie
Category:Cartoons with music by Bill Lava
Category:Cartoons that contain excerpts from "Powerhouse"
Category:Cartoons that reuse footage from earlier cartoons