Everyone knows who Walt Disney is. However, not everyone who helped him along the way is as well known. One of those people, U.B. Iwerks, worked with Disney in the 1920s. He was important to Disney’s work, animating a great deal for him including, Plane Crazy, starring Mickey Mouse. In the 1930s, he began working on his own characters, one of which was Flip the Frog.

Flip’s debut was in the cartoon Fiddlesticks. In his first appearance, Flip was very frog-like, hopping and croaking his way around. Though Flip was funny and entertaining, it was suggested to Iwerks that he give Flip more human characteristics, as many faltering cartoons of the 1930s lacked personality. As Iwerks made more and more cartoons, Flip wore shoes, walked up right, sang like a tuba, and occasionally spoke.

Though he conformed to making Flip more human-like, Iwerks did not ignore the state of the country. America in the 1930s was deep in the throes of the great depression. Most cartoons were designed to help people forget about their current situation, even though for most paying for the show alone, reminded them of it. 

Flip didn’t ignore it. Instead of a happy-go-lucky frog bouncing, well, strolling, through the streets, he was always suffering money problems. Like his audience he was forever searching for a nickel or dime. In The Room Runners he tries to leave a hotel without paying the bill and in What a Life he’s a panhandler on the street. Even when Flip had a job it wasn’t glamorous, the rooms he worked in were cracked and in need of repair. 

Embracing the state of the country, both good and bad, set Flip the Frog apart. Though he didn’t reach the level of fame that Mickey Mouse did, he’s still a pretty cool dude. I mean, frog.

Hakes Americana and Collectible is currently auctioning a rare Flip the Frog figure. To see it, go to the Hakes website.