FELIX THE CAT (character)

Felix the Cat is a feline cartoon character (he had a "Magic Bag of Tricks") created in 1923 by animator Pat Sullivan, but many feel that most or all of the credit for Felix's actual creation should go to Otto Messmer, who was the lead animator for Sullivan at his studio (and who drew most of the early Felix cartoons, comic strips, and posters). The comic strip first appeared in 1923, and cartoons and toys quickly followed. Felix is one of the most recognized cartoon characters in film history. The franchise has spawned comics, television shows, and various merchandise. Felix WAS the most popular cartoon character in the world in the 1920s, but Pat Sullivan made a crucial error when he did not think that his cartoons needed sound, and Mickey Mouse did have sound, and he quickly supplanted Felix as the most popular cartoon character, and even though sound Felix cartoons were then created, he had lost much popularity. However, in the 1950s, new Felix cartoons were created, and he has been the subject of many cartoons and endless toys and other licensed items ever since!