Betty Boop History

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• Evidence: animation is so closely based on live action focus so it reduced job of animator to trace live image (de-skilling of labor) • Some of the animators could get work done with little skill but limited artists • Got in way of possibilities of the medium for some o Also influenced realistic human figures in Snow White, although most of it was not actually rotoscoped • Effect: • When snow white interacts with animals, she has a very human look, so our interpretation of her changes • Tension between medium to be realistic and replicate live action or is it trying to reproduce what's on comics where human figures don't need to be realistic • Recurring characters: better for larger audience and merchandising of products (create recognizable characters to build a brand) • Koko: developed to showcase the rotoscope • Popular because he was suited to silent film era: mischievous qualities best expressed through visual gags • Info had to be communicated through visual means because language was limited in what it could do • Betty Boop : became first cartoon sex symbol • Underwent dramatic changes as a result of Hayes code • Belonged to era of sound film: sung in films • Because simple novelty of sound • Tied to jazz era: • 1932 mini the moocher • Hayes code: adopted in 1930 but not seriously enforced until 1934 • Difference with other studios: more concerned having characters fit with their time (more timely rather than longevity) • More concerned with impact of characters and retired characters when they believed their time was done, then pass torch to the next character • Betty Boop retires: both with Popeye's to pass the torch • Jazz age and betty boop o Koko suited to silent film era, but Betty created for sound film era o Novelty of sound led to many animated cartoons featuring singing and characters playing musicl instruments • Used to be
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