Ub Iwerks's Flip the Frog series of cartoons was short-lived, only lasting from 1930 to 1933. On the most part the Flip the Frog cartoons are not great or cartoon/animated masterpieces and it is sort of understandable as to why Flip didn't make it bigger. However they are far from terrible ones either and do hold some interest.
The series started off with three watchable but average cartoons in a row with the historically significant 'Fiddlesticks', 'Little Orphan Willie' and 'Flying Fists', before getting stronger with particularly 'Jail Birds', 'The New Car', 'Ragtime Romeo' and particularly 'Cuckoo Murder Case', all among the stronger Flip the Frog cartoons. While not quite reaching "one of the best cartoons", the series doesn't go backwards with 'Africa Squeaks' and is an above average cartoon in its own right.
Not bad at all by all means. The animation is good enough with beautifully detailed backgrounds, nice shading and characters that aren't drawn too crudely. The music makes even more of an impact, it is lushly and cleverly orchestrated, full of lively energy and not only adds brilliantly to the action it enhances it.
'Africa Squeaks' does amuse and charm in places, with more gags than can be found in some other Flip the Frog cartoons and most are funny and for the series up to this point it is surprisingly naughty. Not a dull or completely humourless cartoon at all. The supporting characters are nice enough and the chemistry between the characters does have a little charm and tension. The pacing is lively and it is one of the more successful Flip the Frog cartoons in not being cutesy or overly sentimental.
However, Flip doesn't really have a very interesting or compelling personality which is a very big problem in general in the series. Willie Whopper who came later was an even more short-lived character and to me while also limited he was a much better character. Parts do veer on the childish, with some corny humour.
Also problematic is the very thinly plotted story, which actually is not much of one at all and is very predictable, taking a fairly familiar premise and doing very little if anything new with it. Not everybody is going to take kindly to the more stereotypical elements that the cartoon could actually have easily done without.
In conclusion, above average. 6/10 Bethany Cox
The series started off with three watchable but average cartoons in a row with the historically significant 'Fiddlesticks', 'Little Orphan Willie' and 'Flying Fists', before getting stronger with particularly 'Jail Birds', 'The New Car', 'Ragtime Romeo' and particularly 'Cuckoo Murder Case', all among the stronger Flip the Frog cartoons. While not quite reaching "one of the best cartoons", the series doesn't go backwards with 'Africa Squeaks' and is an above average cartoon in its own right.
Not bad at all by all means. The animation is good enough with beautifully detailed backgrounds, nice shading and characters that aren't drawn too crudely. The music makes even more of an impact, it is lushly and cleverly orchestrated, full of lively energy and not only adds brilliantly to the action it enhances it.
'Africa Squeaks' does amuse and charm in places, with more gags than can be found in some other Flip the Frog cartoons and most are funny and for the series up to this point it is surprisingly naughty. Not a dull or completely humourless cartoon at all. The supporting characters are nice enough and the chemistry between the characters does have a little charm and tension. The pacing is lively and it is one of the more successful Flip the Frog cartoons in not being cutesy or overly sentimental.
However, Flip doesn't really have a very interesting or compelling personality which is a very big problem in general in the series. Willie Whopper who came later was an even more short-lived character and to me while also limited he was a much better character. Parts do veer on the childish, with some corny humour.
Also problematic is the very thinly plotted story, which actually is not much of one at all and is very predictable, taking a fairly familiar premise and doing very little if anything new with it. Not everybody is going to take kindly to the more stereotypical elements that the cartoon could actually have easily done without.
In conclusion, above average. 6/10 Bethany Cox
