Long before Mickey or Bugs, one clever black cat paved the way for animated stardom. Feline Follies, released in 1919 by Paramount Magazine and produced by Pat Sullivan Studios, is widely regarded as the first appearance of Felix the Cat - though he wasn’t called Felix yet. In this silent short, the character was named “Master Tom.”
The cartoon follows Master Tom as he woos a female cat named Miss Kitty White. After a night of romance and music, Tom returns to find he’s become a father to a massive litter of kittens - leading him to a comically dark ending. The humor, timing, and personality stood out in an era when animated characters rarely had such expressive traits.
Why it matters?
- Considered the birth of Felix the Cat, one of animation’s first global stars
- Showcased early personality animation, predating Disney's character-driven storytelling
- Helped establish the appeal of recurring cartoon characters in theaters
Created by animator Otto Messmer (though Pat Sullivan received studio credit), Feline Follies was an instant hit and launched a series of Felix shorts that dominated the silent animation era throughout the 1920s.
Today, Feline Follies is in the public domain, and remains a key milestone in the history of animated storytelling.