Oh, boy, do I have a story for you! Back in 1908, a French animator named Émile Cohl created the first-ever animated cartoon called “Fantasmagorie.” It was a wild ride through a bunch of different shapes and objects that transformed into all sorts of crazy things. And get this: he drew every single frame by hand on paper! Talk about dedication.
You can see it here on SilentFilmHouse YouTube Channel.
After that, animated cartoons started to become more and more popular, and some of the most famous ones were created in the early 1900s. There was “Gertie the Dinosaur” in 1914, where the dinosaur actually interacted with her creator (so meta).
You can see it here on Change Before Going Productions YouTube Channel.
And who could forget “Felix the Cat” in 1919? That little guy was one of the first animated characters to really hit the big time.
You can see it here on ClassiCult YouTube Channel.
There was also “Krazy Kat,” which started as a comic strip and was later turned into an animated series. And let’s not forget about “Alice Comedies,” created by none other than Walt Disney himself. Those shorts featured a live-action girl named Alice who hung out with animated characters in a cartoon world. Cool, right?
Last but not least, there was “Oswald the Lucky Rabbit,” which Disney created with his pal Ub Iwerks. Oswald was a hit, but then Disney lost the rights to the character and had to come up with a new one – enter Mickey Mouse.
You can see it here on Walt Disney Animation Studios YouTube Channel.
All of these early cartoons helped pave the way for the animated entertainment we know and love today. So the next time you’re watching your favorite cartoon, take a moment to appreciate all the hard work and creativity that went into making it happen!
Clusterado 
I was hoping to find out something about The Doodlebugs. When we were kids my brothers and I found some old movies and a hand-cranked projector at my grandparents, and we loved to watch a Doodlebug silent short. They seem to be lost to history.
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It’s great to hear that you have fond memories of watching The Doodlebugs as a child! I’m sure they hold a special place in the hearts of many who enjoyed the charm of those silent shorts. While it’s true that The Doodlebugs may not be as widely known today, they are indeed a part of film history but that history seems to be hidden well. I went into a deep dive this evening and couldn’t find much on Doodlebugs! Hold onto those cherished memories, and who knows, maybe one day their legacy will find its way back into the spotlight.
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