thumb|right|[[Felix the Cat, Messmer's best-known work]]

Otto James Messmer (; August 16, 1892 – October 28, 1983) was an American animator known for his work on the Felix the Cat cartoons and comic strip produced by the Pat Sullivan studio.

The extent of Messmer's role in the creation and popularity of Felix is a matter of ongoing dispute, particularly as he only laid his claim to the character after the death of Sullivan, who until that time had received the credit.

Early life

Messmer was born on August 16, 1892, to a German Catholic family in West Hoboken, New Jersey (now Union City). He attended Holy Family Parochial School. He had a love of vaudeville and the entertainment industry instilled in him by his parents and teachers which began at a young age. He attended the Thomas School of Art in New York City from 1911 to 1913, and participated in a work-study program with the Acme Agency, where he did illustrations for fashion catalogs.

Career

thumb|right|220px|Messmer with Pat Sullivan c. 1920s

Messmer's first love, however, was cartooning. Inspired by Winsor McCay's animated films, such as How a Mosquito Operates, Messmer began creating his comics for local newspapers in 1912, the same year he met Anne Mason, whom he married in 1934. One of his comics, Fun, ran as part of the Sunday comics' page for New York World. In addition to Sullivan's handwriting in Feline Follies, the Australian term for mother, "MUM", is used in a speech bubble of one of the kittens at the 4:00 mark of Feline Follies.

Felix was the first cartoon character created and developed for the screen, as well as the first to become a licensed, mass-merchandised character. Both his design and his unique character were highly influential. Sullivan took the credit for Felix, and though Messmer directed and was the lead animator on all of the episodes he appeared in, Sullivan's name was the only onscreen credit that appeared in them. Messmer also oversaw the direction of the Felix newspaper strip, doing most of the pencils and inks on the strip until 1954.

References

Sources

  • Mavromatis, Kally; "Felix the Cat – Silent Star of April 1999", accessed April 5, 2007.
  • Gordon, Ian. Felix the Cat at St. James Encyclopedia of Pop Culture, accessed April 5, 2007.
  • Canemaker, John. Felix: the Twisted Tale of the World's Most Famous Cat. New York: Pantheon, 1991.
  • Otto Messmer.com
  • Lambiek Comiclopedia article