Betty Boop is a character created by animators Grim Natwick and Max Fleischer for Fleischer Studios in 1930, first seen in the animated short Dizzy Dishes and going on to appear in a total 110 cartoons. Originally an antropomorphic French poodle, she soon changed into a young human girl noted for her sex-appeal. The first cartoon in her own spinoff series was Stopping the Show (1932), and the last cartoon released in the Betty Boop series was Yip Yip Yippy (1939), although Betty does not appear in the cartoon itself. Her last theatrical short appearance was in 1939's Rhythm on the Reservation, after being toned down due to restrictions set by the film industry. However, comics and television specials later appeared and she remains a popular merchandise icon.
Fleischer Studios introduced Popeye into animation in the short Popeye the Sailor, which in fact belonged to the Betty Boop series, with the actual Popeye series soon to follow. The cartoon is titled "Popeye the Sailor with Betty Boop", although most of the action revolves around him, Bluto and Olive Oyl. Betty does however appear in a minor role, both performing a dance together on stage, in effect making Popeye's first screen appearance a "cross-over".
As late as 2016, a new cross-over would be produced: the promotional animated web comic Spinach and Stockings: the Adventures of Betty Boop and Popeye.
Urban legend[]
Rumor has it that in September 1938 head of Fleischer Studios Max Fleischer, as a thank-you to all artists who moved to his new animation studio in Florida, animated a graphic sexual encounter between his two stars, Betty Boop and Popeye. Reports on this supposed film, known as “Welcome to Miami”, range from it being 30 seconds of pencil drawings to a full-color short film.
Gallery[]
Quotes[]
- "Oooh, lookie lookie!" (slang for look)
Trivia[]
- Bonnie Poe provided the voice for both Olive Oyl and Betty Boop in the episode Popeye the Sailor.
- Betty Boop sings the theme song "Strike Up the Band" in the aforementioned cartoon.
- Betty Boop is referenced in You Gotta Be a Football Hero, which was also William Costello's last performance as Popeye.
- When Olive and Popeye play "5 balls for 5 cents" in Popeye the Sailor, you can see Betty Boop and Bimbo dolls in the upper left corner.
- Betty can be seen there doing the same dance she did in her earlier cartoon Bamboo Isle.
- Betty's boyfriend Bimbo the dog can also be seen in the audience.
- Betty Boop's baby brother Billy Boop co-stars with Popeye in Sock-a-Bye, Baby.
- Along with Popeye, Betty was featured in Fleischer's Animated News.
- Betty is the only girl Olive does not get jealous at. This is because Olive enjoys Popeye performing with Betty.
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