Max Fleischer (born Majer Fleischer ; / ˈ f l aɪ ʃ ər / ; July 19, 1883 – September 25, 1972) was a Polish-American animator, inventor, film director and producer. Born in Kraków , Poland , Fleischer became a pioneer in the development of the animated cartoon and served as the head of Fleischer Studios , which he co-founded with his younger brother Dave , in the United States . He brought such animated characters as Koko the Clown , Betty Boop , Popeye , and Superman to the movie screen and was responsible for a number of technological innovations including the Rotoscope , the "Bouncing Ball" song films, and "The Stereoptical Process". Film director Richard Fleischer was his son.