Betty Boop is an animated cartoon character designed by Grim Natwick at the request of Dave Fleischer. She originally appeared in the Talkartoon and Betty Boop film series, which were produced by Fleischer Studios and released by Paramount Pictures. Betty Boop was featured in 90 theatrical cartoons between 1930 and 1939. She has also been featured in comic strips and mass merchandising, becoming a symbol of the Jazz Age flapper and an enduring pop culture icon.
Betty Boop made her first appearance in the cartoon "Dizzy Dishes," released on August 9, 1930, the seventh installment in Fleischer's Talkartoon series. Inspired by a popular performing style, but not by any one specific person, the character was originally created as an anthropomorphic French poodle. Clara Bow is sometimes given credit as being the inspiration for Boop, though Fleischer told his artists that he wanted a caricature of singer Helen Kane, who performed in a style shared by many performers of the day.
Within a year, Betty made the transition from an incidental human-canine breed to a completely human female character. Her floppy poodle ears became hoop earrings, and her black poodle nose became a girl's button-like nose. Betty was first voiced by Margie Hines, and later by several other voice actresses, including Mae Questel, who became the most famous voice of Betty Boop.
Betty Boop was the star of the Talkartoons by 1932 and was given her own series that same year, beginning with "Stopping the Show." From that point on, she was crowned "The Queen of the Animated Screen." The series was popular throughout the 1930s, with Betty becoming known for her flirtatious and innocent charm. Despite being toned down in the mid-1930s due to the Hays Code, which imposed guidelines on the motion-picture industry, Betty remained one of the world's best-known and most popular cartoon characters.
Betty Boop is regarded as one of the first and best-known sex symbols on the animated screen. Her popularity was drawn largely from adult audiences, and the cartoons contained many sexual and psychological elements. Betty Boop's appeal lay in her ability to combine innocence with sensuality, making her a unique character in the world of animation. She wore short dresses, high heels, and a garter, and her cleavage was highlighted with a low, contoured bodice.
Despite being a symbol of the Depression era and a reminder of the Jazz Age flappers, Betty Boop faced challenges due to the Production Code of 1934. This code imposed specific restrictions on the content films could reference with sexual innuendos, leading to a more wholesome portrayal of Betty in her later cartoons.
The Betty Boop films were revived after Paramount sold them for syndication in 1955. Betty Boop's image and character have continued to captivate audiences, leading to various merchandise, television specials, and even a revival in the 1990s. The character has appeared in comic strips, home media releases, and even video games. Betty Boop's influence extends beyond animation, as she has become a cultural icon representing the spirit of the Jazz Age and the resilience of the Great Depression.
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