`JOSIE AND PUSSYCATS' CREATOR USED TO HANG OUT AT HIGH

`JOSIE AND PUSSYCATS' CREATOR USED TO HANG OUT AT HIGH SCHOOLS

SCARSDALE, N.Y. (Wireless Flash) -- Looking at teenage girls might not seem respectable to you but it's important research for a former Archie Comics illustrator. Comic artist Dan DeCarlo -- the creator of Josie And The Pussycats and Sabrina The Teenage Witch -- admits he based the character of Josie on his wife. However, the characters' fashions were inspired by hanging around high schools and sketching the hip fashions worn by the girls. DeCarlo ensured fashion accuracy by having his kids and grandkids critique all outfits. It must have worked, because he says he's seen designer outfits that he's pretty sure were inspired by his cartoon clothes. A film version of Josie And The Pussycats, starring Rachael Leigh Cook is scheduled for release in April.