Tom and Jerry were created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera for MGM Cartoons between 1940-1958, producing 114 shorts until MGM closed their animation studio. In 1961, Gene Deitch became the new director for MGM's Tom and Jerry productions but his shorts were considered unusual and the worst. Chuck Jones then became the director from 1963-1967 at his studio Sib Tower 12, producing 34 more episodes and changing the characters' appearances. Hanna and Barbera reunited with the franchise in 1975 for Turner Entertainment, producing another 48 episodes that depicted the characters as nonviolent friends going on adventures together due to new broadcasting rules.