Just Ducky

Just Ducky is the 77th reel animated Tom and Jerry short, created in 1951 directed by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera and produced by Fred Quimby with music by Scott Bradley. The cartoon was animated by Irven Spence, Ed Barge, Ray Patterson, Kenneth Muse and Al Grandmain with backgrounds by Robert Gentle. It was released on September 5, 1953 by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and distributed by RKO Radio Pictures.

Plot
A mother duck sees all but one of her eggs hatch into ducklings and takes them for a swim, but Quacker then hatches in the final egg. Quacker tries to catch up, but wades into the water as he is unable to swim.

Quacker starts to cry, but Jerry overhears him and tries to teach Quacker how to swim, but Quacker is unable to stay afloat. Jerry marches off to get Quacker an inner tube, but Quacker leaves, lamenting his inability to swim. Tom hears him and places his soup spoon directly in front of Quacker, resulting in Quacker falling in the can of water. Just before Tom can eat Quacker, Jerry saves him by whacking the spoon into the back of Tom's throat with a plank.

Jerry carries Quacker away from Tom as he chases them, but Tom crashes into a spade, allowing Jerry and Quacker to hide. However, Quacker quickly dives into a hole when Tom sneaks up from behind, resulting in Jerry grabbing Tom's hand and running off, thinking he is Quacker. Jerry pulls Tom through a pipe before he realizes that Tom is there. Jerry runs away and dives into a lake to escape, breathing through a straw. Tom easily finds him and blows through the straw, making Jerry inflate, but Jerry inflates Tom's head in return before Quacker pops Tom's head with a safety pin.

Jerry and Quacker flee, but Quacker falls into a bowl, allowing Tom to kick the bowl upwards and send Quacker flying back into the can of water. Before Tom can eat Quacker, Jerry stops Tom by throwing a brick at him. Jerry and Quacker run off, but Tom traps Jerry in a jug and chases Quacker. Quacker dodges Tom, resulting in Tom falling into the lake and struggles to swim. Though reluctant at first, Quacker bravely dives in and rescues Tom. Jerry helps Quacker pull Tom out and helps Tom recover before they watch on as Quacker swims with his family.

Availability

 * Tom and Jerry's Greatest Chases, Vol. 4
 * Tom and Jerry Spotlight Collection Vol. 2, Disc Two