Betty Boop™

Founded in the early 20th century by the brothers Max and Dave Fleischer, Fleischer Studios was a pioneer in the art and technique of animation. The studio created and animated some of the most iconic characters in American cartoons, including Betty Boop and Koko the Clown. It is also famous for animating two hugely popular comic characters: Popeye (originally created by Elzie Segar) and Superman (originally created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster).

The artists of Fleischer Studios were not only animators but also innovators. Renowned for their groundbreaking integration of live action with animation, their ingenious cartoons featuring the famous “bouncing ball”, their dark and often surreal urban settings, and their musical cartoons featuring jazz performers of the era – including the very first filmed footage of Cab Calloway – they also invented several techniques, such as Max's rotoscope and the “set-back” process. The influence of Fleischer Studios can still be seen today in fields as varied as music videos, karaoke and Japanese animation.