Final answer:
Max Fleischer was an important figure in the history of animation, but he did not retain ownership of his cartoons, as his company was acquired by Paramount Pictures. Therefore, the statement is false.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question is about Max Fleischer, who was indeed one of the great early animators and businessmen in the realm of animation. However, the statement that he always retained ownership of his cartoons is false. While Fleischer was highly influential in the animation industry, creating memorable characters like Betty Boop and bringing characters like Popeye to the screen, his company, Fleischer Studios, was acquired by Paramount Pictures, and he eventually lost control of his creations. This is similar to how the history questions provided are examining other factual events or contributions by specific individuals in the past, such as the market revolution and Benjamin Franklin.