F is for Felix #AtoZChallenge

For this year’s A to Z Challenge, I have chosen the theme of cats as characters. Whether they appear in film, TV, cartoons or literature, these felines may be the star of the show or just a supporting character.

 If you are here looking for my typical Wednesday Quote of the Week, I will go back to my regular schedule in May. Until then, enjoy the A to Z Challenge…

F is for Felix the Cat, the cartoon character created in 1919 by Pat Sullivan and Otto Messmer. Felix started in short films that were shown before the movie during the silent film era. He was the first animated character to attain a level of popularity to draw in audiences. Felix is known for his famous pace (hands behind his back, head down, deep in thought) as well as his expressive tail which could be a shovel, an exclamation mark or pencil as needed.

In 1923, a comic strip featuring Felix began. It ran for 43 years, ending in 1966. In 1953, Felix cartoons began airing on TV. This Felix was a redesigned version of the original featuring longer legs.

Felix succeeded because of his sense of wonder and ability to take everything in stride. Here is a clip of one of his animated shorts.

In case you missed out…

A is for the Aristocats

B is for Binx

C is for Cheshire Cat

D is for DC

E is for Elsa