By Dustin Cabeal

I'm really just posting this because I love the animation, but one thing became clear to me when I sat down and read Dynamite's Betty Boop comic... it's a property that doesn't work in the modern era, and that's okay. There's a lot of that in comics, The Shadow, Man-Thing, there's others that are mostly Golden Age. My point is, they don't work in the world because they represent another time and that's okay. We can leave them there or just enjoy them as merchandise. The animation is pretty good for clearly having a small budget. The story makes no sense really, but whatever. I loved to look at it, but I don't know for how long that would last.

Press Release

The fashion industry is on “red” alert as Betty Boop steps into the spotlight with the world’s biggest arbiters of fashion, color and style: Zac Posen, Pantone Color Institute, and M·A·C. It will start with global fashion designer Zac Posen’s reveal of a signature Betty Boop dress collection in the exclusive Pantone “Betty Boop Red” in the March issue of Marie Claire. The reveal coincides with the launch of M·A·C Cosmetics’ “Betty Boop Red” Lipstick and an all-new three-part animated short featuring the original sass symbol. The rollout has been coordinated with brand owner Fleischer Studios and King Features (Betty Boop’s exclusive worldwide licensing agent) as they bring together top style gurus who embrace Betty Boop to present her to the global fashion world and new generations of fans.

The Betty Boop dress collection will feature two signature red dresses that encapsulate the doe-eyed diva’s sassy spirit and unique style and will be available on ZacPosen.com on February 14, 2017 as part of Posen’s ZAC Zac Posen line. The dresses will make their debut in a full two-page Marie Claire spread featuring supermodel Crystal Renn wearing the Betty Boop-inspired designs. Best known for his glamorous gowns, Zac Posen’s red carpet looks have been worn by celebrities from Gwyneth Paltrow and Natalie Portman to Naomi Campbell and Claire Danes. Posen’s Betty Boop creations will retail at $250 for the dress and $550 for the gown. 

Following months of research and testing, the teams at the Pantone Color Institute, King Features and Fleischer Studios worked together to determine the exact right shade for Betty. The global authority on color and provider of professional color standards for the design industries, Pantone developed this dramatic red color to represent Betty Boop’s adventurous and youthful spirit. Symbolizing vivacity, ebullience and energy, the new Betty Boop Red is an enchanting and eye-riveting fiery red that instantly commands attention. This vibrant and passionate new Betty Boop red shade will be utilized in Zac Posen’s signature dress collection. In addition, an upcoming M·A·C Cosmetics lipstick collaboration will match the Pantone color, introducing a Betty Boop twist to the iconic red lip, available from February 14 at MACCosmetics.com.

The campaign will also be supported by new original animated content starring Betty Boop in her first animated short for the Digital Age. The three-part animated short features for the first time ever Zac Posen as an animated cartoon co-star and spotlights the new Betty Boop Red Lipstick by M·A·C. The animation will harken back to the original Fleischer Studios Betty Boop animation with a contemporary soundtrack meant to engage viewers and gradually introduce her signature vibrant red color by Pantone.

“Betty Boop is the ultimate femme fatale and feminist,” said Zac Posen, “and it has been an exciting journey to work alongside the various partners to revamp her.”

“Betty Boop is iconic. In working with the team at Hearst we wanted to create a bold and spirited red shade that would help Betty enhance her singular color identity,” said Laurie Pressman, VP, Pantone Color Institute. “Captivating and charismatic, the classic appeal of Betty’s new true red shade conveys the feminine, fun and playful nature of Betty and at the same time communicates the glitz and the glam of the rich Hollywood heritage that are her unique hallmark.” 

“Betty Boop could be the ultimate timeless bombshell,” said James Gager, Chief Creative Officer of M·A·C. “Her signature rouge lipstick makes a really bold, bold statement. In celebration of this icon, M·A·C has developed her own classic red, which encapsulates her personality.”

“As a cartoonist, I consider Betty Boop the 8th Wonder of the World,” said Frank Caruso, VP/Creative, King Features Syndicate. “When Max Fleischer dipped his pen into the inkwell, out came a masterpiece that would influence generations of artists, animators, musicians and fashion designers. 

“The marathon that is Betty Boop has outrun her legend as animation icon and taken the lead in the world of fashion, style and our hearts,” Caruso said.