The Silent Film Icon That Made History

Before Mickey Mouse arrived, Felix the Cat was the first global superstar of animation. This grinning black cat became a household name long before cartoons ever had sound.

Created in 1919, Felix dominated the silent film era with his surreal ability to manipulate his own body parts into tools. Because he didn't need dialogue to be funny, his films were easily exported to international audiences. He essentially set the blueprint for how cartoon characters should look and move on the big screen. His massive popularity in the early 20th century paved the way for every animated character you see today.