''Fiddlesticks'' is a 1930 Celebrity Pictures theatrical cartoon short directed and animated by Ub Iwerks, in his first cartoon since he departed from Walt Disney's studio. The short features Iwerks' character Flip the Frog. It is the first complete sound cartoon to be photographed in color. The film went into the public domain after the copyright owner failed to renew the copyright after the film's 28 year term. The film was simultaneously released with ''

King of Jazz '' King of Jazz'' is a 1930 American pre-Code color musical film starring Paul Whiteman and his orchestra. The film title refers to Whiteman's popular cultural appellation. At the time the film was made, "jazz", to the general public, meant jazz ...

'', a musical revue, and was released with a cartoon depicting how Paul Whiteman, the music director of the film, "became the King of Jazz".

Plot synopsis

Flip is seen dancing on lilypads until he reaches land and dries himself off. He walks to a party, where he performs a dance for the audience, accidentally climbing to a spider web. He also performs a

duet A duet is a musical composition for two performers in which the performers have equal importance to the piece, often a composition involving two singers or two pianists. It differs from a harmony, as the performers take turns performing a solo ...

, playing piano alongside a mouse (who bears a striking resemblance to

Mickey Mouse Mickey Mouse is an animated cartoon Character (arts), character co-created in 1928 by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks. The longtime mascot of The Walt Disney Company, Mickey is an Anthropomorphism, anthropomorphic mouse who typically wears red sho ...

, which Iwerks co-created with Walt Disney during his days at Disney's company) playing the violin. They perform two songs. In the first song, the mouse starts crying, and so do Flip and the piano. The second song makes Flip start hugging the piano, which then kicks Flip. The cartoon ends with Flip beating on the piano; he kicks all the piano keys into the air, and they drop onto him.

Significance

''Fiddlesticks'' was the first in the Flip the Frog series. The sound system was Powers Cinephone, the same system used for Disney's '' Steamboat Willie'' (1928). The unnamed mouse in the cartoon bears a striking resemblance to Mortimer Mouse, the original concept behind

, both of whom were first animated by Ub Iwerks.

In popular culture

The cartoon appeared on a television set in the music video for

Eminem Marshall Bruce Mathers III (born October 17, 1972), known professionally as Eminem (; often stylized as EMINƎM), is an American rapper and record producer. He is credited with popularizing hip hop in middle America and is critically acclai ...

's song " The Real Slim Shady", which the viewer laughs at.

References

External links

* * * {{Ub Iwerks 1930 films 1930s color films 1930s animated short films Films directed by Ub Iwerks Animated films without speech 1930 animated films 1930s American animated films American animated short films Animated films about animals Films scored by Carl Stalling Films about frogs Animated films about mice 1930s English-language films