. . . at least from the time of "J.W. 'Duke' Gacy" through the many lives of IT. INVISIBLE INK is an early example of Clown Horror. A black-garbed bozo creates havoc in an artist's life, and refuses to be erased! (This is not unlike cooking up a bean casserole, and later on finding it defiantly balking at being flushed down the toilet!) The accommodating cartoonist bends over backwards to be nice to the clown, even drawing it an exit door (while thoughtfully writing in an "Exit" sign above this portal of egress). Just so the devious imp cannot miss his message, the draughtsman adds another imperative touch, penning a "This means you!" hint to see off his fiendish joker. However, after the crazy clown makes use of this convenient doorway, he immediately scratches and claws his way back into his Creator's ken, ripping and tearing through the expensive sketch parchment to further harass his Master. INVISIBLE INK concludes with a note of terror, as this insidious jokester swims around inside a bottle of the title fluid until he disappears. It's anyone's guess as to exactly WHEN and WHERE this demonic prankster will make his return!
6 Reviews
Koko Comes Through Again!
ccthemovieman-16 October 2007
The more I see of these "Koko the clown" silent cartoons, the more I shake my head in amazement how good they were, especially for something in the very early days of film- making.
Every time artist Max Fleischer tips his fountain pen in his magic inkwell (my description), he loses the tip. It turns out his pal "Koko The Clown," who resides inside, is playing with him and stealing the tips. Max finally yanks him out and tells him, "Come on, let me finish my drawing. Go back where you came from." Koko gives him a hard time, jumping on his favorite place - the canvas - and refusing to go away, even when Max erases him. He always finds a way to come back through the canvas. You have to see this "skits" to appreciate them. They are very inventive and different from most things people saw from the "talkies" to the present. There is no sound, not even sound-effects, but the creativity in these stories is so good that it still keeps your attention.
Later, Max uses "invisible ink" to try to torment Koko, and drawn him back inside the inkwell, but the clown always has the last laugh and turns the tables on the artist. Both these main characters are "rascals," as Max calls Koko. Great stuff!
This was one of the "From the vault" extra features from disc 3 on the "Popeye The Sailor Man Volume One DVD set Don't pass it up.
Every time artist Max Fleischer tips his fountain pen in his magic inkwell (my description), he loses the tip. It turns out his pal "Koko The Clown," who resides inside, is playing with him and stealing the tips. Max finally yanks him out and tells him, "Come on, let me finish my drawing. Go back where you came from." Koko gives him a hard time, jumping on his favorite place - the canvas - and refusing to go away, even when Max erases him. He always finds a way to come back through the canvas. You have to see this "skits" to appreciate them. They are very inventive and different from most things people saw from the "talkies" to the present. There is no sound, not even sound-effects, but the creativity in these stories is so good that it still keeps your attention.
Later, Max uses "invisible ink" to try to torment Koko, and drawn him back inside the inkwell, but the clown always has the last laugh and turns the tables on the artist. Both these main characters are "rascals," as Max calls Koko. Great stuff!
This was one of the "From the vault" extra features from disc 3 on the "Popeye The Sailor Man Volume One DVD set Don't pass it up.
How can you not love Koko??!!
planktonrules20 August 2018
I have seen quite a few Koko cartoons and it's a darn shame that he's pretty much forgotten today. I am sure most of it is because he was mostly a silent film star...and very few people would even consider seeing any silent film...even a short one.
Koko was created by the Fleischer brothers--the same folks who later created the Popeye and Betty Boop cartoons. Using their own invention, the Rotoscope, Max Fleischer animated and appeared in the films while his brother, Dave, was the actor who acted out Koko's movements...and using that machine, Max traced over film footage of Dave to create these wonderful shorts.
In "Invisible Ink", Koko is his usual self...in other words, he's a bit of a jerk...but a likable jerk! It begins with Max trying to make a cartoon. And, like they did in the good old days, he's using an inkwell...but Koko is hiding inside and doesn't want to cooperate. Eventually, Max tries to trick Koko into coming out...and Koko then decides to use the same strategy to trick Max. It's all very clever and exactly the sort of wonderful combination of animation and real life footage that made the cartoons so popular back in the day.
Koko was created by the Fleischer brothers--the same folks who later created the Popeye and Betty Boop cartoons. Using their own invention, the Rotoscope, Max Fleischer animated and appeared in the films while his brother, Dave, was the actor who acted out Koko's movements...and using that machine, Max traced over film footage of Dave to create these wonderful shorts.
In "Invisible Ink", Koko is his usual self...in other words, he's a bit of a jerk...but a likable jerk! It begins with Max trying to make a cartoon. And, like they did in the good old days, he's using an inkwell...but Koko is hiding inside and doesn't want to cooperate. Eventually, Max tries to trick Koko into coming out...and Koko then decides to use the same strategy to trick Max. It's all very clever and exactly the sort of wonderful combination of animation and real life footage that made the cartoons so popular back in the day.
Invisible Ink is another entertaining short of Max Fleischer's Koko the Clown
tavm25 January 2007
Warning: Spoilers
Max Fleischer keeps losing the tip of his fountain pen in the inkwell. It seems Koko's been removing those tips from inside. Max doesn't want to play with him on the drawing board so he draws an exit door for him to go through. Koko just dances around so Max draws chains on him and uses a sticker to keep him in one place. Thinking of a better idea, Max then uses invisible ink to draw a bike and some gymnastic equipment so when Koko is set free those items disappear. Koko does, however, ride the invisible bike! He then draws a line off the drawing board and on to various buildings which Max follows to the letter. The clown then finds other drawing boards where he copies himself hundreds of times. Just as Fleischer finds the real Koko, Koko dives in the invisible ink and disappears...Another funny live-action/animation hybrid from the early days of Max Fleischer that were real steps forward in the silent days of films. Well worth seeing for any animation buff.
Who's in charge?
Horst_In_Translation25 August 2015
Warning: Spoilers
"Invisible Ink" is Koko the Clown short film from almost 100 years ago. It's black-and-white, silent and was made by animation legend Dave Fleischer. It runs for slightly over 7 minutes and is a mix of animation and live action as many other "Out of the Inkwell" cartoons. Koko the Clown is a real nuisance to the animator here as he apparently wants to draw something different, but Koko just won't go away and even keeps trolling the human in this short movie. Near the end, he enters through the guy's mouth and leaves through his ears. Thank God, later on, there were characters like Daffy or Elmer who had to deal with other characters being an annoying little pain in the arse and the creator did not have to deal with this nonsense himself. All in all, an okay film without moments of greatness. Only worth a watch for animation junkies or those with a deep interest in the early years of film.
Mustn't stay invisible
TheLittleSongbird15 February 2018
Dave Fleischer was responsible for many gems. Ones that were amusing and charming, though over-cuteness did come through in some efforts and the stories were always pretty thin, with appealing characters, outstanding music and visuals that were inventive and with innovative animation techniques.
Ko-Ko similarly was an always amiable character to watch and among the better recurring characters in Fleischer's early work. Likewise, his series of Out of the Inkwell cartoons were among the best early efforts of Fleischer and silent cartoons in general. Fleischer may not be at his very finest and there are other cartoons of his that fit the word gem more. 'Invisible Ink' is still great though and for me one of the best Ko-Ko cartoons.
Sure, there is not much special or anything much for that matter to the story, which is generally best to be forgotten.
Everything else though is done so brilliantly that any issues had with the story don't stay for long.
One expects the animation to be primitive and very low quality. While Fleischer became more refined and inventive later certainly, the animation is surprisingly pretty good with some nice visual wackiness and wit.
'Invisible Ink' is lively in pace and the bizarre and wild nature of the humour is done very imaginatively and never less than fun to watch. The interplay with Max is a delight, the crew were clearly having a ball doing this, and Ko-Ko as always is amiable and amusing.
Altogether, great and one of Ko-Ko's best. 9/10 Bethany Cox
Ko-Ko similarly was an always amiable character to watch and among the better recurring characters in Fleischer's early work. Likewise, his series of Out of the Inkwell cartoons were among the best early efforts of Fleischer and silent cartoons in general. Fleischer may not be at his very finest and there are other cartoons of his that fit the word gem more. 'Invisible Ink' is still great though and for me one of the best Ko-Ko cartoons.
Sure, there is not much special or anything much for that matter to the story, which is generally best to be forgotten.
Everything else though is done so brilliantly that any issues had with the story don't stay for long.
One expects the animation to be primitive and very low quality. While Fleischer became more refined and inventive later certainly, the animation is surprisingly pretty good with some nice visual wackiness and wit.
'Invisible Ink' is lively in pace and the bizarre and wild nature of the humour is done very imaginatively and never less than fun to watch. The interplay with Max is a delight, the crew were clearly having a ball doing this, and Ko-Ko as always is amiable and amusing.
Altogether, great and one of Ko-Ko's best. 9/10 Bethany Cox
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