Felix Sees Stars

Depicting violence in an animated cartoon is more than just a punch in the mouth.

Otto Messmer used a great effect in the later Felix the Cat cartoons made for Pat Sullivan. He created a flashing effect using positive and negative silhouettes, and black and white drawings of stars. Generally, the drawings were shot on only one frame, quickening the pace.

Here are some examples from Daze and Knights, released October 30, 1927.

Messmer was never credited on these shorts, let alone the animator.

The same type of effect was used in the sound era by Bill Hanna and Joe Barbera at MGM, and Shamus Culhane at Lantz, with coloured cards inserted on the screen.