Ragtime Romeo: Flip the Frog Needs to Keep It Down

Is it worth your time?

Look, if you have seven minutes and a weird fondness for rubber-hose animation, Ragtime Romeo is a fine way to kill time. It is not exactly high art, but it has that bouncy, chaotic energy that 1930s cartoons did so well. If you hate slapstick or get annoyed by characters who just won't stop singing, maybe skip this one.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Ragtime Romeo (1931) through its definitive frames.

Flip the Frog is basically just trying to be a romantic lead here, but he’s remarkably loud about it. The whole building is leaning out of their windows to catch the show, which feels like a scene straight out of The Fall Guy in terms of sheer suburban pandemonium.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Ragtime Romeo (1931) through its definitive frames.

The cow is the real star

Let's be honest, the cow is the most relatable character in the whole short. She is just trying to sleep! Every time Flip hits a high note, you can see her frustration building in a way that feels deeply personal. It’s funny how a cartoon cow can capture the feeling of a bad night at a noisy motel better than most actors.

• The music is catchy, but it really sticks in your head for too long.
• The way Flip's body stretches like taffy is still kind of impressive to watch.
• There's a rhythm to the animation that feels a bit like Arctic Antics, all movement and noise.

It’s a bit messy, sure. Some of the gags drag on for a few frames too many, and the ending is exactly as predictable as you’d think. But there is something charming about how Ub Iwerks just lets the nonsense happen without trying to make a point about it. No lessons learned here, just a frog getting his comeuppance.

It’s not as dark as Blackmail, obviously, but it’s got its own kind of weird intensity. Sometimes you just need to see a cartoon frog get hit with a shoe to reset your brain for the afternoon. 🐸