Felix the Cat
Silent-era cartoon cat, first recurring animal star in American animation.
Felix the Cat is a cartoon character from the silent film era, first appearing in 1919 out of the studio run by Australian cartoonist Pat Sullivan. He is a young, black, human-like cat with white eyes, a black body, and a very wide grin, and is widely regarded as one of the most famous cartoon characters ever. Felix holds the distinction of being the first fully developed, recurring animal character in American film animation.
The character came from the studio of Sullivan, who was both a cartoonist and film entrepreneur from Australia. It is unclear whether Sullivan himself or his lead American animator, Otto Messmer, actually created Felix. What is known is that the character emerged from Sullivan’s studio, and the cartoons featuring him became widely known in popular culture. Beyond the animated shorts, Felix also appeared in a comic strip that started in 1923, drawn by Sullivan, Messmer, and later Joe Oriolo. His image soon appeared on merchandise like ceramics, toys, and postcards, with several companies making stuffed Felix dolls. Jazz bands, including Paul Whiteman’s, performed songs about him, such as “Felix Kept On Walking” from 1923.
By the late 1920s, Felix’s popularity began to decline as sound cartoons arrived. The new Mickey Mouse shorts from Disney made the silent films from Sullivan and Messmer—who were initially reluctant to switch to sound—seem old-fashioned. In 1929, Sullivan decided to adapt and began distributing Felix sound cartoons through Copley Pictures, but these were unsuccessful, and the venture ended in 1932. Felix had a brief revival with just three cartoons in 1936 from Van Beuren Studios.
Felix cartoons first aired on American television in 1953. Joe Oriolo introduced a redesigned version of the cat with longer legs, a much smaller body, and a larger, rounder head without whiskers or teeth. Oriolo also added new characters and gave Felix a “Magic Bag of Tricks” that could change into any shape he wanted. The cat has since appeared in other TV shows and two feature films. As of the 2010s, Felix appears on a wide range of merchandise, from clothing to toys. Joe’s son, Don Oriolo, later took over creative control of the character.
Early versions of Felix the Cat entered the public domain in 1998 under the Copyright Act of 1976, though the character’s name remains trademarked. In 2014, Don Oriolo sold the trademark and remaini
- created
- 1919
- creator
- Disputed: Pat Sullivan or Otto Messmer
- field
- Animation, comic strips, merchandise
- nationality
- American (character); Australian (studio owner)
- known_for
- First fully realized recurring animal character in American film animation; iconic silent-era cartoon star
Lore & Background
Felix the Cat originated from the studio of Pat Sullivan, with the character first appearing in the cartoon Feline Follies released on November 9, 1919. The creation is disputed: Sullivan claimed sole credit until his death in 1933, while lead animator Otto Messmer later claimed he animated the short almost entirely by himself. The character's design may have been influenced by blackface minstrel shows, though Messmer stated he made Felix black to save time on outlines. A popular but unverified anecdote suggests Felix's name was inspired by 'Australia Felix' and his black color by a boxer named Peter Felix, though this origin story is disputed and not established canon.
Felix starred in a comic strip beginning in 1923, drawn by Sullivan, Messmer, and later Joe Oriolo. His image
Reader's Guide
Felix the Cat holds a foundational place in animation history as the first fully realized recurring animal character in American film animation. His success in the silent era established the template for anthropomorphic animal stars, influencing later characters like Mickey Mouse. The character's widespread popularity extended beyond film into comic strips and merchandise, including toys, ceramics, and postcards, demonstrating early cross-media franchising. The dispute over his creation between Pat Sullivan and Otto Messmer reflects broader questions of authorship in early animation studios. Felix's decline with the advent of sound cartoons illustrates the technological shift that reshaped the industry. His television revival in 1953, with a redesigned look and the Magic Bag of Tricks, introduced him to new generations. The character's legal status—with early versions in the public domain but the name trademarked—highlights ongoing intellectual property complexities. In 2002, TV Guide ranked Felix number 28 on its '50 Greatest Cartoon Characters of All Time' list, affirming his enduring cultural significance.
Did You Know?
- Felix was the first fully realized recurring animal character in the history of American film animation.
- The character's name may have been inspired by Australia Felix, a term from Australian history.
- Early versions of Felix the Cat entered the public domain in 1994 under the Copyright Act of 1976.
- In 2014, the trademark and remaining copyrights were sold to DreamWorks Animation, now part of NBCUniversal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Felix the Cat?
Felix is a black, anthropomorphic cat with big white eyes and a huge grin who debuted in 1919 as a silent-era cartoon star. He was produced out of the studio run by Australian cartoonist Pat Sullivan.
Who created Felix the Cat?
The origin is genuinely disputed between Pat Sullivan, the Australian studio head, and Otto Messmer, his lead American animator. No definitive answer exists, though both men are widely credited with shaping the character.
Why is Felix the Cat considered a landmark in animation?
He is credited as the first animal character to achieve full recurring status in American animated films. His hit run in the late 1910s and 1920s proved a single cartoon animal could anchor an entire series.
What does Felix the Cat look like?
He is drawn as a young, black, human-like cat with large white eyes and an extremely wide grin. His high-contrast, minimal design was well suited to the black-and-white silent film format.
What kind of films featured Felix the Cat?
Felix starred in short silent cartoons during the 1910s and 1920s, with no spoken dialogue. The stories relied entirely on visual gags and physical comedy typical of that era.
More in Short film series 1-24
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