FLIP THE FROG (1930) Character production drawing by Ub Iwerks

[Los Angeles: Ub Iwerks, 1930]. Vintage original 9 x 11″ (23 x 28 cm) pen and ink animation drawing on animation paper with six separate figures featuring the character Flip the Frog. Two animation stand holes at bottom. Strathmore drawing paper embossed. Minor wear, fine.

Flip the Frog is an animated cartoon character created by American animator Ub Iwerks. He starred in a series of cartoons produced by Celebrity Pictures and distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer from 1930 to 1933. One of Disney’s early animators, Iwerks branched off on his own after a dispute.

Created in black-and-white and an early two-color process (in England), Flip the Frog is one of the legendary characters of early sound animation. The drawing came from the estate of the creator, Ub Iwerks, and comes with a signed letter certifying this from his son David Lee Iwerks. The certificate dates the animation production drawing to 1930.