Bimbo (Fleischer)
Encyclopedia
Bimbo is a fictional character
, a cartoon
dog
created by Fleischer Studios
. He first appeared in the Out of the Inkwell
series and was originally named Fitz.
He later became the star of Fleischer's Talkartoons
series, making his first appearance as Bimbo in Hot Dog (1930). Bimbo was relegated to a supporting character when his girlfriend Betty Boop
became a more popular character. The Talkartoons series became the Betty Boop series in 1932.
He appeared in Fleischer cartoons from 1930 to 1933, when he was eliminated from Betty's series by the Production Code
censorship
laws, since a dog with a human
girlfriend gave implications of bestiality.
. Pooch was at first a white beagle. By 1933, a few months after Bimbo retired from the screen, Pooch was redesigned in black fur, a sweater, and some pants. This new makeover made him look reminiscent to his Betty Boop counterpart.
In a music video featuring Courage the Cowardly Dog
, a retro version of Courage was shown near the end. This version looks quite reminiscent of Bimbo.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
, a cartoon
Cartoon
A cartoon is a form of two-dimensional illustrated visual art. While the specific definition has changed over time, modern usage refers to a typically non-realistic or semi-realistic drawing or painting intended for satire, caricature, or humor, or to the artistic style of such works...
dog
Dog
The domestic dog is a domesticated form of the gray wolf, a member of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. The term is used for both feral and pet varieties. The dog may have been the first animal to be domesticated, and has been the most widely kept working, hunting, and companion animal in...
created by Fleischer Studios
Fleischer Studios
Fleischer Studios, Inc., was an American corporation which originated as an Animation studio located at 1600 Broadway, New York City, New York...
. He first appeared in the Out of the Inkwell
Out of the Inkwell
Out of the Inkwell was a major animated series of the silent era produced by Max Fleischer from 1918 to 1929.The series was the result of three short experimental films that Max Fleischer independently produced in the period of 1914-1916 to demonstrate his invention, the Rotoscope, which was a...
series and was originally named Fitz.
He later became the star of Fleischer's Talkartoons
Talkartoons
Talkartoons is the name of a series of 42 animated cartoons produced by the Fleischer Studios and distributed by Paramount Pictures between 1929 and 1932.-History:For the Fleischer brothers, the transition to sound was relatively easy...
series, making his first appearance as Bimbo in Hot Dog (1930). Bimbo was relegated to a supporting character when his girlfriend Betty Boop
Betty Boop
Betty Boop is an animated cartoon character created by Max Fleischer, with help from animators including Grim Natwick. She originally appeared in the Talkartoon and Betty Boop film series, which were produced by Fleischer Studios and released by Paramount Pictures. She has also been featured in...
became a more popular character. The Talkartoons series became the Betty Boop series in 1932.
He appeared in Fleischer cartoons from 1930 to 1933, when he was eliminated from Betty's series by the Production Code
Production Code
The Motion Picture Production Code was the set of industry moral censorship guidelines that governed the production of the vast majority of United States motion pictures released by major studios from 1930 to 1968. It is also popularly known as the Hays Code, after Hollywood's chief censor of the...
censorship
Censorship
thumb|[[Book burning]] following the [[1973 Chilean coup d'état|1973 coup]] that installed the [[Military government of Chile |Pinochet regime]] in Chile...
laws, since a dog with a human
Human
Humans are the only living species in the Homo genus...
girlfriend gave implications of bestiality.
Similarities in other media
In 1932, a character created by Walter Lantz Productions appeared. This character is a dog which they named Pooch the PupPooch the Pup
Pooch the Pup is an anthromorphic dog created by Walter Lantz Productions during the black-and-white era of the studio's history. The character only appeared in thirteen cartoons.-Biography:In 1931, Walter Lantz was encountering slight financial troubles...
. Pooch was at first a white beagle. By 1933, a few months after Bimbo retired from the screen, Pooch was redesigned in black fur, a sweater, and some pants. This new makeover made him look reminiscent to his Betty Boop counterpart.
In a music video featuring Courage the Cowardly Dog
Courage the Cowardly Dog
Courage the Cowardly Dog is an American animated television series created by John R. Dilworth for Cartoon Network. Its central plot revolves around a somewhat anthropomorphic dog named Courage who lives with his owners, Muriel and Eustace Bagge, an elderly, married farming couple in the "Middle of...
, a retro version of Courage was shown near the end. This version looks quite reminiscent of Bimbo.
Revival
About 56 years following his disappearance, Bimbo made a comeback. In 1989, he was seen in the TV special Betty Boop's Hollywood Mystery. He also continues to appear in merchandise.Partial filmography
- Hot Dog (1930)
- Fire Bugs (1930)
- Dizzy DishesDizzy DishesDizzy Dishes is a animated short film created by the Fleischer Studios in 1930 as part of the Talkartoon series. It is famous as a debut cartoon of Betty Boop.-Plot:...
(1930) - Barnacle BillBarnacle Bill (1930 cartoon)Barnacle Bill is a 1930 Fleischer Studios animated short film. It was part of the Talkartoons series, and featured Betty Boop and Bimbo .-Plot:...
(1930) - Swing You Sinners! (1930)
- Grand Uproar! (1930)
- Sky Scraping (1930)
- Up To Mars (1930)
- Mysterious MoseMysterious MoseMysterious Mose is a 1930 Fleischer Studios Talkartoon animated short released through Paramount Pictures. It was released in late December the same year. This film contains an early version of Betty Boop and the studio's star, Bimbo....
(1930) - Bimbo's InitiationBimbo's InitiationBimbo's Initiation is a 1931 Fleischer Studios Talkartoon animated short film starring Bimbo and featuring Betty Boop. It was the final Betty Boop cartoon to be animated by the character's co-creator, Grim Natwick.-Plot:...
(1931) - Bimbo's ExpressBimbo's ExpressBimbo's Express is a 1931 Fleischer Studios Talkartoon animated short film starring Bimbo and Betty Boop.-Synopsis:Bimbo shows up at Betty's door with his assistant's to help Betty move house. Bimbo takes one glance at Betty, and falls in love with her. Bimbo then sing's "Hello Beautiful" to Betty...
(1931) - Betty Boop's Bizzy BeeBetty Boop's Bizzy BeeBetty Boop's Bizzy Bee is a 1932 Fleischer Studios animated short film starring Betty Boop and featuring Bimbo and Koko the Clown.-Plot:...
(1932) - Betty Boop, M.D.Betty Boop, M.D.Betty Boop, M.D. is a 1932 Fleischer Studio animated short film starring Betty Boop, and featuring Koko the Clown and Bimbo. The animated short is certainly one of the more surreal entries in the Betty Boop filmography.-Plot:...
(1932) - Betty Boop, Snow White." (1933)
- Betty Boop's Ker-ChooBetty Boop's Ker-ChooBetty Boop's Ker-Choo is a 1933 Fleischer Studios animated short film starring Betty Boop, and featuring Koko the Clown and Bimbo.-Plot:The story begins with a crowd of cartoon characters filling the seats in a stadium. We soon learn that today's event is an auto race...
(1933) - Betty Boop's PenthouseBetty Boop's PenthouseBetty Boop's Penthouse is a 1933 Fleischer Studios animated short film starring Betty Boop, and featuring Koko the Clown and Bimbo.-Plot:...
(1933) - Betty Boop's Birthday PartyBetty Boop's Birthday PartyBetty Boop's Birthday Party is a 1933 Fleischer Studio animated short film, starring Betty Boop and featuring Koko the Clown and Bimbo.-Plot:...
(1933) - Betty Boop's May PartyBetty Boop's May PartyBetty Boop's May Party is a 1933 Fleischer Studios animated short film starring Betty Boop, and featuring Koko the Clown and Bimbo.-Plot:...
(1933)