Ko-Ko Baffles the Bulls

In this 1925 Fleischer masterclass, the boundary between the artist and the art is not just blurred—it is weaponized. Max Fleischer, playing a fictionalized version of himself, finds his inkwell creations, Ko-Ko the Clown and Fitz the Dog, in open rebellion. To regain control, Max sketches a stern detective into existence, tasking this ink-born authority figure with hunting down the fugitives. The narrative takes a surreal, psychological turn when the power dynamic shifts; Ko-Ko and Fitz eventually come to believe that Max himself has been abducted. In a desperate act of misguided loyalty, they summon their own detective to find their creator. The film is a frantic, meta-textual chase that explores the anxiety of influence and the chaotic nature of the creative process, set against the backdrop of a stylized bullfighting arena.