Tidal interaction between SMC and LMC before infall to the MW potential in the model with a 9:1 LMC–SMC mass ratio. Panels show gas surface density on a logarithmic scale (the color bar on the right is the same for all panels). The red square and solid black line show the center of the SMC and its orbit. The simulation is shifted to place the LMC at the center of each panel. The time since the simulation started is given above each panel, and the times have been chosen to show a range of interaction configurations.