Max Fleischer

Early Life and Education

Max Fleischer was born on July 19, 1883, in Krakow, Austria-Hungary (now Poland). He was the second of six children in a Jewish family. His father, William Fleischer, was a tailor who had emigrated to the United States in 1887, and his mother, Amelia (née Wunderlich), was a seamstress.

A black and white image of a young boy in early 20th century clothing, representing Max Fleischer in his early years.

Fleischer's interest in mechanics and technology was evident from an early age. He attended the Mechanical Drawing High School in Brooklyn, where he studied engineering and drafting. After graduation, he worked as a draftsman in the Brooklyn office of the United States Patent Office, where he honed his skills in technical drawing and invention.

Career

Early Career

In 1914, Fleischer invented the Rotoscope, a device that allowed for the tracing of live action film footage, greatly improving the fluidity and realism of animated movement. He and his brothers, Dave and Lou, started their own company, Out of the Inkwell Films, in 1921. The company was known for its innovative use of the Rotoscope and its series of "Out of the Inkwell" cartoons, which featured the character Koko the Clown.

A black and white image of an early 20th century animation device, representing the Rotoscope invented by Max Fleischer.

A black and white image of an early 20th century animation device, representing the Rotoscope invented by Max Fleischer.

Fleischer Studios

In 1929, Fleischer and his brothers founded Fleischer Studios, which became a major competitor to Walt Disney Productions. The studio introduced several popular animated characters, including Betty Boop, Popeye the Sailor, and Superman. Fleischer Studios was known for its distinctive style, which often combined live-action and animation, and its adult-oriented humor.

Later Life and Legacy

Fleischer left Fleischer Studios in 1942, following a series of financial difficulties and disputes with Paramount Pictures, which had become the studio's distributor in the 1930s. He then worked for several other animation studios, including the Jam Handy Organization and Famous Studios, before retiring in 1967.

Fleischer passed away on September 11, 1972, in Los Angeles, California. His contributions to the field of animation, including the invention of the Rotoscope and the creation of iconic characters like Betty Boop and Popeye, have left a lasting legacy. He was posthumously inducted into the Will Eisner Award Hall of Fame in 1996 and the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2004.

See Also

• History of animation
• Golden Age of American animation
• Rotoscoping