Frog Jog

'Frog Jog' is one of the few Tijuana Toads cartoons to have some degree of potential. The premise was a good one, it didn't feel like an idea done over and over again and sounded very relatable. Being somebody who has had weight trouble in the past and being scarred by it. It is something that a lot, especially those who have been through similar, would find identifiable. It was great that it sounded like there was finally going to be sympathetic side to El Toro.

It is one of only two cartoons in the series to be above average. The other being 'Croakus Pocus', with 'Frog Jog' getting the slight edge. That is my way of saying that to me it is the best cartoon in the series. There were things that annoyed me and it is not a classic, but the good things are a great many. It did well with its relatable concept overall and the different side to El Toro was appreciated, though not caring for the other characters.

Am going to start with the bad things first. Still don't care for the animation, which was a consistent bad thing for the series in the same way that the music was a consistently good thing. There is no vibrancy and some of it has a too sparse and incomplete look. Really didn't care for Flora as a character, one where it is quite hard to see what her appeal is, she comes over as very shallow and are comments that are confidence destroying (speaking from experience from what fat jibes did to my brother).

Pancho also comes over badly, really disliked his two faced treatment of El Toro in the latter stages and his final line is tasteless.

On the other hand, while it is hardly innovative for animation the story is different for the Tijuana Toads series. There is also more energy than usual and anybody who has been in the situation will relate. It is the first time this series, and the only proper time, where any genuine sympathy is felt for El Toro and every step of the way. 'Frog Jog' also contains one of the best, funniest and cleverest gags of the entire series, the best since Pancho's strength gag in 'A Dopey Hacienda'.

That of the fourth wall breaking interaction between El Toro and the senior cartoonist. The gags are not original but amuse at least and there is more energy and more natural sounding dialogue than usual. The music is suitably light hearted and characterful and Don Diamond's voice acting i more nuanced than with the rest of the cartoons.

In conclusion, surprisingly decent. 6/10.