Max Fleischer (July 19, 1883 – September 11, 1972) was an American animator, inventor, film director and producer. Fleischer was a pioneer in the development of the animated ******* and served as the head of Fleischer Studios. He brought such animated characters as Betty Boop, Koko the Clown, Popeye, and Superman to the movie screen and was responsible for a number of technological innovations.