Guy Lochhead, 25/08/10
American ‘Dean of Animated Cartoons’. Fleischer was producing cartoons at the same time as Walt Disney, and their films often competed at the box office, but Fleischer’s cartoons were very different from Disney’s in their dark humour, surrealism and emotional sophistication. He produced films about jazz performers at a time when most depictions of black people were denigrating and stereotypical. He also produced educational animations about Einstein’s ‘Theory of Relativity’ and Darwin’s ‘Theory of Evolution’, but he is probably best known for the character Betty Boop. A difference of approach between Fleischer and his managers – Paramount – led to him being forced out of his studios, and to a number of later disputes around ownership (though many others were avoided because Fleischer wanted to protect his son in law, who still worked there). Fleischer’s cartoons (especially his early work as ‘Out of the Inkwell Films, Inc.’) are beautiful, inspiring, innovative and completely compelling. His demise came after his uneasy attempt at integration into a studio system model. He had great ideas that he was prevented following through with by Paramount. For example, he wanted to make a feature length animated film for three years before they let him – after the success of Disney’s ‘Snow White’. He was treated badly by Paramount because he didn’t fit. Include a DVD compilation of his ‘Out of the Inkwell’ cartoons, if that ever materialises.