Otto Messmer
Encyclopedia
Otto James Messmer was an American
animator
, best 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. However, most prominent comics and animation historians support Messmer's claim, as do the veterans of the Sullivan studio.
(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 beginning at a young age. He attended the Thomas School of Art in New York City
from 1911–1913, and participated in a work-study program with the Acme Agency, where he did illustration
s for fashion
catalogs.
on October 28, 1983, aged 91. Today Felix the Cat is run in syndication in over 250 newspapers all over the world.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
animator
Animator
An animator is an artist who creates multiple images that give an illusion of movement called animation when displayed in rapid sequence; the images are called frames and key frames. Animators can work in a variety of fields including film, television, video games, and the internet. Usually, an...
, best known for his work on the Felix the Cat
Felix the Cat
Felix the Cat is a cartoon character created in the silent film era. His black body, white eyes, and giant grin, coupled with the surrealism of the situations in which his cartoons place him, combine to make Felix one of the most recognized cartoon characters in film history...
cartoons and comic strip
Comic strip
A comic strip is a sequence of drawings arranged in interrelated panels to display brief humor or form a narrative, often serialized, with text in balloons and captions....
produced by the Pat Sullivan
Pat Sullivan (film producer)
Patrick Sullivan was an Australian cartoonist, pioneer animator and film producer, best known for producing the first Felix the Cat silent cartoons. Sullivan arrived in the United States around 1910, after spending several months in London...
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. However, most prominent comics and animation historians support Messmer's claim, as do the veterans of the Sullivan studio.
Early life
Messmer was born August 16, 1892 in West Hoboken, New JerseyWest Hoboken, New Jersey
West Hoboken was a municipality that existed in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States, from 1861 to 1925.West Hoboken was originally incorporated as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 28, 1861, from portions of North Bergen Township. The township was reincorporated on...
(now Union City
Union City, New Jersey
Union City is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. According to the 2010 United States Census the city had a total population of 66,455. All of the city is on land, an area of...
). He attended Holy Family Parochial School. He had a love of vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
and the entertainment industry instilled in him by his parents and teachers beginning at a young age. He attended the Thomas School of Art in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
from 1911–1913, and participated in a work-study program with the Acme Agency, where he did illustration
Illustration
An illustration is a displayed visualization form presented as a drawing, painting, photograph or other work of art that is created to elucidate or dictate sensual information by providing a visual representation graphically.- Early history :The earliest forms of illustration were prehistoric...
s for fashion
Fashion
Fashion, a general term for a currently popular style or practice, especially in clothing, foot wear, or accessories. Fashion references to anything that is the current trend in look and dress up of a person...
catalogs.
Career
As a youth, Messmer was fascinated with drawing and the cinema. He learned the craft of animation from Hy Mayer, with whom he produced advertising films in 1914. His talents were noted by Pat Sullivan, who hired Messmer in 1915 for his new animation studio in New York City. Together Sullivan and Messmer produced more advertising films, but their partnership was interrupted for three years while...Death and legacy
Messmer died of a heart attack at Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck, New JerseyTeaneck, New Jersey
Teaneck is a township in Bergen County, New Jersey, and a suburb in the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 39,776, making it the second-most populous among the 70 municipalities in Bergen County....
on October 28, 1983, aged 91. Today Felix the Cat is run in syndication in over 250 newspapers all over the world.
External links
- Otto Messmer.com Retrieved on 2008-01-25