The third Tijuana Toads cartoon 'Go for Cloak' is most notable for introducing one to Crazylegs Crane in his first of six appearances in the Tijuana Toads series and his first of eleven theatrical series appearances (including three Blue Racer cartoons and two Dogfather ones). In my mind though that is not a good thing, as someone who has always considered him very annoying in his own theatrical series and was mixed on him in his supporting appearances.
He certainly fares far better here than El Toro and Pancho as a character, and 'Go For Croak' is proof that in my mind he is much better as a supporting character than as a lead. 'Go For Croak' is better than the previous two cartoons in the series and is one of the better Tijuana Toads cartoons. Namely because of it having one of the best gags in the entire series bar none. It's still not particularly good, with a lot of the same faults but also a couple of improvements.
Doug Goodwin's music score is still full of characterful energy and if there was one asset that was consistently good in all 17 Tijuana Toads cartoons it was the music. Fortunately there is a good deal more momentum in 'Go For Croak' than there was in the previous two cartoons, it is also less bland, is less repetitive and has more of a sense of conflict.
'Go For Croak' as said has one of the series' best gags, although it is a "reused for another cartoon one" it was for the series inspired and funny. The gag in question is the one with the nitroglycerin trick. Actually thought the first half was not bad. Was a bit mixed on Crazylegs but he is the best faring character when it comes to being interesting, he is a nice mix of clumsy and crafty and while he is suitably antagonistic at one point it is not hard to feel a little sympathy for him in the way he is treated by El Toro and Pancho.
Some aspects of his character though also doesn't work. Even for the "being referred to as the Big Tall Chicken" concept, Crazylegs does look as though he was drawn in a rush and his material is neither original or consistently funny. Also thought that Larry D. Mann could have used a voice that fitted the character more, Crazylegs sounds too oafish throughout and it does not fit with his craftier moments earlier. Compared to El Toro and Pancho though he is tolerable, as they are both irritating here as well as too mean-spirited (especially El Toro).
Although the cartoon started promising, it did run out of steam and ideas after the nitroglycerin gag, and despite hating the toads here that ending is one of the series' cruellest endings. The story is very predictable and is pretty much an old situation reused, not uncommon for this series. There are a few good moments, but most of the humour is rehashed and only the nitroglycerin gag is inspired. Crazylegs' landing gags are very tired. The animation is as scrappy and as flat as ever, the dialogue is stilted and the voice work is just too broad.
In summary, one of the better cartoons to star the two toads but pretty average still. 5/10.
