12 Ridiculous Early Concept Designs Of Iconic Characters

12. Felix The Cat

Felix The Cat is an legend of early American cinema, even predating Mickey Mouse. The cat would become a staple of pre-film animation shorts in American theaters, before eventually losing his place to the world's most famous rodent. How ironic it must be that the rat beat out the cat in this case.

Still though, Pat Sullivan and Otto Mesmer managed to create an acclaimed character design that would persist well after the cartoon's popularity wore off. Even people who've never seen a Felix short can still identify the cat whenever they see his signature smile.

The aesthetic was perfect for black and white, with Felix almost always being in monochrome, and his rounded features echoed their way into other character designs, like Sonic The Hedgehog. However, the original drawing was never so smooth.

The very first animated short, Feline Follies, dubbed Felix the more regal, Master Tom, and had him a touch more realistic, with him often standing on all fours, rather than on his hind legs like most anthropomorphic animals. As time progressed and Felix took to standing like a human, he still needed to be rolled out, often looking more jagged and sharp before he dawned the iconic silhouette known today.

While Felix and Master Tom's early days may not be much to speak of, his metamorphosis gave America its oldest cartoon icon.