Felix the Cat
Felix the Cat was the most famous cartoon character in the world before Mickey Mouse. He appeared in 1919 in films from Pat Sullivan's studio, where the animator Otto Messmer did most of the creative work — Sullivan took the credit, and Messmer's role was only widely recognised later.
About Felix the Cat
Felix the Cat was the most famous cartoon character in the world before Mickey Mouse. He appeared in 1919 in films from Pat Sullivan's studio, where the animator Otto Messmer did most of the creative work — Sullivan took the credit, and Messmer's role was only widely recognised later. Felix was among the first cartoon characters to be heavily merchandised, and a Felix doll was used in early television test broadcasts in 1928. The arrival of sound films hurt the silent-era star, and his second life came through Joe Oriolo's television series in 1958, which gave him the Magic Bag of Tricks. The property was acquired by DreamWorks Animation in 2014.
Felix was a global star in the silent era; the credit for creating him is now widely given to Otto Messmer.
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Key eras
| Era | Years | What happened |
|---|---|---|
| Silent films | 1919–1930 | Pat Sullivan's studio, with Otto Messmer animating. |
| Comic strips | 1923–1960s | Newspaper strips kept the character in print. |
| Television | 1958– | Joe Oriolo's series and the Magic Bag of Tricks. |