Bimbo's Initiation (1931) - Fleischer Studios

Bimbo is initiated into a secret society in a sadistic 'fun house', Betty Boop lends a hand.

"The 'darkest' of all the Fleischers' cartoons"
- Leonard Maltin

"One of the things that laid the foundation for my life's philosophy."
- Jim Woodring

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Fleischer Studios, Inc., was an American corporation which originated as an animation studio located at 1600 Broadway, New York City, New York.

It was founded in 1921 as Inkwell Studios (or Out of the Inkwell Films) by brothers Max Fleischer and Dave Fleischer who ran the company from its inception until Paramount Pictures, the studio's parent company and the distributor of its films, forced them to resign in April 1942.

In its prime, it was Walt Disney Productions's very first significant competitor and is notable for bringing to the screen cartoons featuring Koko the Clown, Betty Boop, Bimbo, Popeye the Sailor, and Superman.

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Bimbo's Initiation

6.28 . Black & White . English

Directed by Dave Fleischer
Produced by Max Fleischer
Animation by Grim Natwick

Voices by Mae Questel Billy Murray
Music by Sammy Timberg

Studio Fleischer Studios
Distributed by Paramount Publix Corporation

Release date July 24, 1931

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[_teriyaktastic]

I will never stop loving nor stop being weirded out by old cartoons.

[lfx]

So basically, if fear doesn’t get you to join they use women to entice you. Thats what I took away from this.

[morganhabecker]

Did you notice that Mickey Mouse was the one who locked bimbo in the sewer?

[litningmakween]

0:35 Looks like Fleischer really hated Disney for stealing his work...

[jsipe]

That ass smackin wheel is revolutionary.

[mtamorphosissystem]

0:35 Max Flisher hates Disney so much that Mickey locked bimbo underground 😂😂😂

[KennethMoreland]

After playing Cuphead for so many times, coming back to see these vintage classic cartoons done in Fleischers' style really makes you appreciate it more.

I'd love to see it make a comeback in modern cartoons these days.

[hollysscribbles]

Am I the only person who wasnt brought here by matpat? I just like old cartoons lmao

[SpongeMagic]

4:52 Damn, even now, this whole sequence is technically impressive.

[daneeckhart]

Imagine if this was a bonus level in Cuphead.

[JacksonMerril]

Wanna be a member?
Wanna be a member?



No!

[BoozyBeggar]

Initiation rites. That mouse that locks the sewer at 0:34
Max knew what was going on, but there's no tellin what Max was up to as well.
When Bimbo lands in the dungeon, all the members' butts are shaking with excitement. They turn everything upside down, invert the world, make good evil and evil good. The "blade" is constantly "stabbing" Bimbo in the ass. The "blade" starts licking its lips seeing Bimbo's ass and thinking of the prospect of stabbing it again. As Bimbo fights to get away from the "blade", it only excites the blade more, causing it to rise and get larger.
WHEW, lads, the gravy ladle is overflowing with this one.

[robertoal]

2:20 sounds like "OH shit c'mon oh oooh!!"

[Bluebottle]

I miss these old cartoons where there was only a passing nod to reality.

[josejavierbiedma]

I'd be a better idea to convince Bimbo in the look of Betty Boop from the beginning. Great cartoon!

[litlgrey]

This version is clean as a whistle! What a refreshing way to watch!

[gymbo]

Fleischer animation was far ahead of Disney, at the time, but Disney made the right business decisions that made them the powerhouse industry that they are today.

[benjamincrew]

2:20. Did I just hear "Oh, shit!"?

[theBraveAnselmo]

I think "Swing, You Sinners!" has got this one beat for surrealism and darkness, but yeah. Still pretty out there!

[stickofthemick]

This cartoon was heavily referenced at the end of the Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog episode Robotnikland.