About Us

in the beginning…

Created in the early 20th century by brothers Max and Dave Fleischer, Fleischer Studios was a pioneer in the art and craft of animation and were responsible for creating and animating some of the most beloved characters in American animation, including Betty Boop and Koko the Clown. The studio was also renowned for its animation of two extremely popular comic-strip 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; they were innovators as well. Known for their groundbreaking marriage of live action with animation, their ingenious “bouncing ball” cartoons, their gritty, urban and often surreal landscapes, their jazz cartoons featuring early film footage of the era’s popular artists (including the very first film footage of Cab Calloway!) and many inventions including Max’s rotoscope and “set-back” process. The influence of Fleischer Studios can be seen today in everything from music videos to karaoke to Japanese anime.

Fleischer Studios today…

Today, Max Fleischer’s grandson, Mark Fleischer, serves as Chairman and CEO of Fleischer Studios. An entertainment executive and attorney, Mark helms a dedicated team of artists and innovators to bring Betty Boop and all the Fleischer characters into the 21st century. Fleischer Studios works in close partnership with Global Icons, Inc., the exclusive worldwide licensing agent for all the Fleischer characters, to develop new and exciting opportunities for beloved Fleischer characters around the globe, including media, merchandising and more.

Board of Directors

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If you are interested in learning more about the history of Fleischer Studios, visit our History Page or read Out of the Inkwell: Max Fleischer and the Animation Revolution, an engrossing journey through the life and work of Max Fleischer, written by Max's son Richard Fleischer, a prominent motion picture director in his own right and former President and CEO of Fleischer Studios.