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.
Despite not being historically significant like 'Fiddlesticks' was, 'Cuckoo Murder Case' for me is among the best Flip the Frog cartoons and easily the best up to this very early stage of the series. It is not a masterpiece and it is not perfect, but there are things here that improve quite a bit and done much better than many other Flip the Frog cartoons.
A lot of good things in 'Cuckoo Murder Case'. 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.
There are more sight gags than the previous Flip the Frog cartoons, like 'The Village Barber', and they are surprisingly funny. There is a nice natural charm, some zest and it does a much better job than most Flip the Frog cartoons in not falling into sentimentality or cutesiness. Really liked the lively supporting characters and the suitably eerie mystery atmosphere, the mystery element of the story is involving. It's not a dull cartoon either.
However, 'Cuckoo Murder Case' does for my taste take a little on the long side to set up, the start could have been shortened and the cartoon could have gotten more to the point a touch earlier.
Flip himself while a little stronger to usual is still not the most compelling or memorable of characters, while serving his purpose in the cartoon well.
Overall, very enjoyable. 8/10 Bethany Cox
