The classic 1930's cartoon character Betty Boop has become one of the most popular and well-known animated characters in history. She was created by Max Fleischer and starred in the Talkartoon and Betty Boop film series, which were produced by Fleischer Studios and released by Paramount Pictures.
She was also featured in a number of comic strips and mass merchandising. Her influence is still apparent today, including the red-lips-and-lashes look that has become a staple in modern beauty trends.
Betty Boop was the first fully human, fully female cartoon character to appear regularly in movies and television. She was created by Max Fleischer, who had a reputation for being one of the most innovative animators in the business.
Her distinctive features included a baby-faced expression, a short, floppy haircut, and a pinkish complexion. She was also the first animated character to be fully clothed in a manner that represented a sexually active woman.
This was a groundbreaking move for the time and is often seen as a defining point in her legacy. Other cartoon characters in her period wore a variety of revealing clothing, but not to the same extent that Betty did.
In the 1930s, Fleischer Studios was a rival to Walt Disney's dominance in the animation industry. Their style of cartoons were often gritty, realistic and darker than Disney's more fairy tale-like style.
