Betty Boop made her first appearance as an animated character on August 9, 1930. This appearance was in the film cartoon "Dizzy Dishes," an installment of the Talkartoon series.
The original designer of Betty Boop was renowned animator Grim Natwick, who would later become lead director and animator at Walt Disney Studios.
Betty Boop's strong accent and characteristic dress were modeled after two 1920s film stars: Helen Kane and Clara Bow. She was seen as a stereotypical "flapper girl" in the mode of 1920s teens.
The minor sex-symbol Boop became after three successful years in her own animated series was altered in 1933 by the National Legion of Decency and Production Code. She was toned down to become a career girl with a full dress or skirt.
By 1955, Betty Boop had made 110 cartoon appearances. She made two television specials in the 1980s and has starred in various television commercials. Today, the rights to Betty Boop are owned by Time Warner.
In 1995, an eight-volume set, "Betty Boop: The Definitive Collection," was released on VHS. Since the 1930s, Betty has been the highest-selling female cartoon character in merchandise.
Betty Boop made a famous cameo in the highly successful 1988 film "Who Framed Roger Rabbit." This appearance was one of only a few animated appearances by Boop that were in full color.