Out of the Inkwell

The series was the result of three short experimental films that Max Fleischer independently produced from 1914 to 1916 to demonstrate his invention, the rotoscope, a device consisting of a film projector and easel used to achieve realistic movement for animated cartoons. The rotoscope projected motion picture film through an opening in the easel, covered by a glass pane serving as a drawing surface. The image on the projected film was traced onto paper, advancing the film one frame at a time as each drawing was made. Fleischer's younger brother Dave Fleischer, who was working as a clown at Coney Island, served as the model for their first famous character, eventually known as Koko the Clown, who in each cartoon popped out of the inkwell into the "real world".

The earlier shorts followed a rather simple formula: Fleischer would draw the clown who, driven by curiosity, ended up getting himself and the "Boss" as well into trouble. However, the arrival of animator Dick Huemer in mid-to-late 1922 triggered a number of important changes, beginning with the clown being redesigned to look more appealing and easier to animate, which not only helped reduce Fleischer's dependency on the Rotoscope for fluid animation, but also allowed for more complex and outlandish premises as well as giving the cartoons a newspaper comic-like look. Huemer also christened the still-unnamed clown as "Ko-Ko" in 1925 and, influenced by his work on the Mutt and Jeff cartoons (where he began his career in 1916), created a small canine companion named Fitz, who would become Ko-Ko's none-too-bright stooge and later evolved into Bimbo in the sound era. Nevertheless, the interaction of the live-action sequences with the artist/creator, Max Fleischer, and his pen and ink creations remained the foundation of the series.

The Out of the Inkwell series ran from 1919 to mid 1927,^[3] and was renamed The Inkwell Imps for Paramount, continuing until 1929.^[4] In all, 77 Out of the Inkwell and 57 Inkwell Imps films were produced in eleven years.

In late 1928, the Fleischers fell out with business partner Alfred Weiss and left Inkwell Pictures to establish a new studio. As a result, Weiss retained the Ko-Ko character, while the Inkwell Imps series continued under another staff until July 1929, when Paramount replaced it with Fleischer's Talkartoons. Weiss would re-issue a handful of 1921–26 Out of the Inkwell shorts with sound beginning in the fall of 1929.

Fleischer regained rights to Koko the Clown in 1931, adding him to the Talkartoons series as a supporting character to Bimbo and Betty Boop. Koko's last Fleischer theatrical appearance was in the Betty Boop cartoon Ha! Ha! Ha! (1934), a fully-animated remake of the silent Inkwell film The Cure (1924). Years later, Koko had a brief cameo in the Famous Studio-produced Screen Song entry Toys will be Toys (1949), his only theatrical appearance in color.

In 1950, Stuart Productions released a number of the Inkwell Studios Out of the Inkwell cartoons, and a selection of the Paramount Inkwell Imps cartoons to television.^[5] In 1955, the Inkwell Imps, along with 2,500 pre-October 1950 Paramount shorts and cartoons were sold to television packagers, the majority acquired by U.M. & M. TV Corporation.

In 1958, Max Fleischer revived his studio in a partnership with Hal Seeger, and in 1960 produced a series of one hundred Out Of The Inkwell five-minute cartoons. In the new color series, Koko had a clown girlfriend named Kokette, a pal named Kokonut, and a villain named Mean Moe. Larry Storch provided the voice for Koko and all of the supporting characters.

As of 2025, all of the shorts in the series are now in the public domain. One short in the series, 1922's The Hypnotist, was preserved by the Academy Film Archive in 2010.^[6] In 2024, the short Koko's Earth Control was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".^[7]

The following is an attempt to list the complete filmography of the Out of the Inkwell/Inkwell Imps shorts, assembled from the best surviving documentation.^[8][9][10]

The Bray Studio Years (1918–1921)

• Experiment No. 1 (10 June 1918) (lost)
• Experiment No. 2 (5 March 1919) (lost)
• Experiment No. 3 (2 April 1919) (lost)
• The Clown's Pup (30 August 1919)
• The Tantalizing Fly (4 October 1919)
• The Boxing Kangaroo (2 February 1920)
• The Chinaman (19 March 1920)
• Slides (12 April 1920) (lost)
• The Circus (6 May 1920)
• The Ouija Board (4 July 1920)
• The Clown's Little Brother (6 July 1920)
• Poker (aka The Card Game) (2 October 1920) (lost)
• Perpetual Motion (2 October 1920)
• The Restaurant (6 November 1920)
• Cartoonland (2 February 1921) (lost)
• The Automobile Ride (20 June 1921)

Inkwell Studio: Out of The Inkwell years 1921–1927

• Modeling (1 October 1921)
• November (1 November 1921)
• Fishing (21 November 1921)
• Invisible Ink (3 December 1921)
• The Fish (7 January 1922)
• The Dresden Doll (aka. The Mechanical Doll) (7 February 1922)
• The Mosquito (6 March 1922) (lost)
• Bubbles (20 April 1922)
• Flies (1 May 1922)
• Pay Day (8 July 1922)
• The Hypnotist (26 July 1922) (partially survives as a 3-minute excerpt)
• The Challenge (29 August 1922)
• The Show (21 September 1922)
• The Reunion (27 October 1922)
• The Birthday (4 November 1922)
• Jumping Beans (15 December 1922)
• Surprise (15 March 1923)
• The Puzzle (15 April 1923)
• Trapped (15 May 1923)
• The Battle (1 July 1923)
• False Alarm (1 August 1923)
• Balloons (aka. Koko's Balloons) (1 September 1923)
• The Fortune Teller (1 October 1923)
• Shadows (1 November 1923) (Lost)
• The Contest (1 December 1923)
• Bed Time (12 December 1923)
• Ko-Ko's Lunch on a Cart (20 January 1925)
• Masquerade (1 February 1924)
• The Cartoon Factory (21 February 1924)
• Mother Gooseland (21 March 1924)
• Trip To Mars (aka. The First Man on the Moon) (1 April 1924)
• A Stitch in Time (aka. Koko Needles the Boss) (1 May 1924)
• Clay Town (28 May 1924)
• The Runaway (25 June 1924)
• Vacation (23 July 1924)
• Vaudeville (aka Koko's Showtime) (20 August 1924)
• League of Nations (17 September 1924)
• Sparring Partners (1 October 1924)
• The Cure (13 December 1924)
• The Laundry (30 December 1924) (Lost)
• Thaddeeus and Arlene (2 January 1925)
• Ko-Ko the Barber (25 February 1925)
• Big Chief Ko-Ko (2 March 1925)
• The Storm (aka. Koko's Storm) (21 March 1924)
• Ko-Ko Trains 'Em (aka. Koko's Pup Talent) (9 May 1925)
• Ko-Ko Sees Spooks (aka. Koko Haunted Hat) (13 June 1925)
• Ko-Ko Celebrates the Fourth (4 July 1925)
• Nutcracker Suite (1 September 1925)
• Ko-Ko Nuts (15 September 1925)
• Ko-Ko on the Run (26 September 1925)
• Ko-Ko Packs 'Em (17 October 1925)
• Ko-Ko Eats (15 November 1925) (Lost)
• Ko-Ko Steps Out (21 November 1925) (Lost)
• Ko-Ko's Thanksgiving (21 November 1925)
• Ko-Ko in Toyland (12 December 1925)
• Ko-Ko the Hot Shot (30 December 1925)
• Ko-Ko's Paradise (aka. Heavenly Daze) (27 February 1926)
• Ko-Ko Baffles the Bulls (6 March 1926)
• It's the Cat's (1 May 1926)
• Ko-Ko at the Circus (1 May 1926)
• Toot Toot (aka. Koko's Toot Toot) (5 June 1926)
• Ko-Ko Hot After It (12 June 1926)
• The Fadeaway (1 September 1926)
• Ko-Ko Kidnapped (26 October 1926) (Lost)
• Ko-Ko's Queen (1 October 1926)
• Ko-Ko the Convict (1 November 1926)
• Ko-Ko Gets Egg-Cited (1 December 1926)
• Koko in 1999 (10 March 1927)

Inkwell Imps (1927–1929)

• Koko the Kavalier (10 April 1927)
• Koko Makes 'Em Laugh (29 July 1927)
• Koko Plays Pool (6 August 1927)
• Koko's Kane (20 August 1927)
• Koko the Knight (3 September 1927)
• Koko Hops Off (17 September 1927)
• Koko the Kop (1 October 1927)
• Koko Explores (15 October 1927)
• Koko Chops Suey (29 October 1927)
• Koko's Klock (26 November 1927)
• Koko's Kicks (30 November 1927)^[11]
• Koko's Quest (10 December 1927)
• Koko Back Tracks (aka. Koko in Reverse) (24 December 1927)
• Koko the Kid (24 December 1927)
• Koko's Kink (7 January 1928)
• Koko's Kozy Korner (21 January 1928)
• Koko's Germ Jam (4 February 1928)
• Koko's Bawth (18 February 1928)
• Koko Smokes (3 March 1928)
• Koko's Tattoo (17 March 1928)
• Koko's Earth Control (31 March 1928)
• Koko's Hot Dog (14 April 1928)
• Koko's Haunted House (28 April 1928)
• Koko Lamps Aladdin (12 May 1928)
• Koko Squeals (26 May 1928)
• Koko's Field Daze (9 June 1928)
• Koko Goes Over (23 June 1928)
• Koko's Catch (7 July 1928)
• Koko's War Dogs (21 July 1928)
• Koko's Chase (11 August 1928)
• Ko-Ko Heaves Ho (25 August 1928)
• Ko-Ko's Big Pull (7 September 1928)
• Ko-Ko Cleans Up (21 September 1928)
• Ko-Ko's Parade (8 October 1928)
• Ko-Ko's Dog Gone (22 October 1928)
• Ko-Ko in the Rough (3 November 1928)
• Ko-Ko's Magic (16 November 1928)
• Ko-Ko on the Track (4 December 1928)
• Ko-Ko's Act (17 December 1928)
• Ko-Ko's Courtship (28 December 1928)
• No Eyes Today (11 January 1929)
• Noise Annoys Ko-Ko (25 January 1929)
• Ko-Ko Beats Time (8 February 1929)
• Ko-Ko's Reward (23 February 1929)
• Ko-Ko's Hot Ink (8 March 1929)
• Ko-Ko's Crib (23 March 1929)
• Ko-Ko's Saxophonies (5 April 1929)
• Ko-Ko's Knock Down (19 April 1929)
• Ko-Ko's Signals (3 May 1929)
• Ko-Ko's Conquest (31 May 1929)
• Ko-Ko's Focus (17 April 1929)
• Ko-Ko's Harem Scarum (14 June 1929)
• Ko-Ko's Big Sale (28 June 1929)
• Ko-Ko's Hypnotism (12 July 1929)
• Chemical Ko-Ko (26 July 1929)

Out of the Inkwell (1962 TV series)

The following is a list of Out of the Inkwell cartoons produced by Hal Seeger, which aired in first-run syndication starting in 1962. They were distributed by Seven Arts Television.

More information No., Title ...

No.	Title	Animation Direction
Pilot	East Side, West Side	Myron Waldman
1	Balloon Blues
2	Koko Gottum Injun Trouble
3	Koko Meets Boobnik
4	Baby Face	Shamus Culhane
5	Flying Saucery
6	Knight Work
7	Kononut, Private Eye
8	Love in Bloom
9	Mean Moe Means Well
10	Now You See It...Now You Don't!
11	Polar Bear Facts
12	Pow-Wow-Wow!
13	The Egg and Me
14	The Mystery Guest
15	The Refriger-Raider	Al Eugster
16	A Fishy Story
17	A Haunting We Will Go	Orestes Calpini
18	A Queen for a Day
19	Bluebeard's Treasure
20	Comic Strip
21	Fastest Pop Gun in the West
22	Gigantical
23	In the Army
24	Koko Meets Robin Hood
25	Koko Roams in Rome
26	Mean Moe Takes Over
27	Mean Moe's Money Mad
28	Moving Madness
29	Mummy's the Word
30	Reflection Land
31	Success Story
32	That's Show Biz
33	The Big Bank Robbery
34	TV or Not TV
35	Whale of a Story
36	Which Witch is Which
37	Irving the Indian Nut
38	Mad Scientist Gets Madder
39	Mean Moe Rain Maker
40	Medicine Man
41	No Soap
42	On With the Show
43	Rodeo
44	So Long, Ceylon
45	Wild West Story	Tom Golden
46	A Dog Gone Snooper
47	Arabian Daze	James Tyer
48	Comic Book Capers
49	Enchanted Prince
50	Extra Special Delivery
51	Footloose Fox
52	Make Room for Moe
53	Plane Stupid
54	Pony Express
55	Sing-Along with Moe	James Tyer
56	Station Breaks
57	Strictly from Lumber
58	The Invisible One	James Tyer
59	The River Robbers
60	Arty Party	Shamus Culhane
61	Blunder Down Under
62	Growing Pains
63	Koko in a London Fog
64	Koko Meets Barney Beatnik
65	Mean Moe and Cleopatra
66	Mean Moe Gets the Bird
67	Mean Moe the Great
68	Mean Moe the Star
69	Moe Moves In	James Tyer
70	Rocket Ranger
71	Sold on Manhattan
72	The Cliff-Hanger
73	The Fan Letter
74	You Are Here
75	A Lot of Bull
76	Achilles is a Heel
77	Bomb-y Weather
78	Fearless Female
79	Funnyland
80	Gone Hollywood
81	Having a Hex of a Time	Tom Golden, Arnie Levey
82	Jungle Bungle	Al Eugster
83	Let George Do It
84	Mean Moe Day	Myron Waldman
85	Mean Moe Tells William Tell	Myron Waldman
86	Mean Moe the Lion Tamer
87	Mean Moe's Fairy Tale
88	Musketeer Moe
89	Romance Machine Made
90	Sahara Today, Gone Tomorrow
91	The Hillbillies
92	The Sleeping Beauty
93	The Unwashables	Tom Golden, Arnie Levey
94	Tic-Tac-Moe
95	Who's Napoleon?
96	Down to Earth
97	Mayor Mean Moe	Myron Waldman
98	Mean Moe Cools Off
99	Mean Moe's Side Show
100	Speak for Yourself, Mean Moe

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