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, enough of them even being good.
Despite not being historically significant like 'Fiddlesticks' was, 'Room Runners' for me is among the best Flip the Frog cartoons, as well as being one of the original and easily the series at its most unexpectedly racy. It is a very good cartoon, 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 'Room Runners'. The animation is very good good, 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 a good deal of Flip the Frog cartoons, and they are very creative, beautifully timed and for the series quite risqué. Maybe not always hilarious but they are some of the best gags of the series easily. There is a nice natural charm, a good deal of zest and it is certainly among the least sentimental Flip the Frog cartoons, which is a good thing.
Characters are lively. The atmosphere is what sets 'Room Runners' apart from the rest of the series, there is a remarkably racy feel that one doesn't expect at all from a Flip the Frog cartoons or from Iwerks, one is amazed of what the cartoon gets away with. The pacing is never dull.
Flip is a bit bland still though, he never was one of animation's most compelling, most interesting or personality-filled lead characters.
Occasionally, the drawing is slightly erratic.
Otherwise, this is very good and one of Flip's best. 8/10 Bethany Cox