Author Archive: Retro

The Timeless Artistry of Max Fleischer Cartoons

In the wake of Disney extension of its domination over the film business of its acquisition with purchase of Fox it is noteworthy to remember a time when the corporate giant faced stiff competition from a rival in the animation sphere: the pioneering, ever-inventive Fleischer Studios, founded by the one and only Max Fleischer. From 1924 to 1940, Fleischer brought to the silver screen a host of iconic characters, including Koko the Clown, Betty Boop, Popeye, Superman, and many more. Whereas Disney’s style was light and polished, Fleischer’s was known to be gritty and rough-around-the-edges. When Disney highlighted anthropomorphized animals in its cartoons, Fleischer’s leading stars were largely exaggerated humanoids. And, rather than highlighting idyllic meadows and quasi-European fairy tale settings, Fleischer’s cartoons took place in something resembling the real world — full of grimy, urban locales which reflected the anxieties of the Great Depression. But even if