Of Mice and Magic: A History of American Animated Cartoons Chapter Summary & Analysis - Chapter 3, Max Fleischer Summary

Chapter 3, Max Fleischer Summary and Analysis

Chapter 3, "Max Fleischer," recounts the career of famed animator Max Fleischer, creator of Betty Boop.

Maltin touts Fleischer as being an innovator in creating unique cartoons. "In the silent era they sparkled with innovative ideas and technical wizardry, and during the 1930s their distinctive brand of humor put them in a class by themselves."

Maltin also refers to Fleischer as being an unsung hero in the industry, despite his notable contributions. Part of that can be attributed to the fact that Fleischer was not a good businessman. The art meant more than money and therefore, Fleischer missed out on a lot of great opportunities, particularly in merchandising. Walt Disney relied a great deal on merchandising to fund his projects but Fleischer remarked, "I'm in the business of making cartoons, I'm not in the merchandising business."

Fleischer was also known for having a modest outlook. Mechanical innovations were of...
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