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Julius the Cat is a funny animal cartoon character created in 1922 by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks. He first appeared in the very first animated series created by Walt Disney, the Alice Comedies, making him the predecessor of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit and Mickey Mouse. Julius is an anthropomorphic cat, appearing intentionally similar to Felix the Cat. A bold and inventive hero, he gradually became the primary focus of the Alice Comedies, to the point Disney abandoned live action for pure animation on subsequent projects.
Julius was the first of Disney's animated protagonists to battle Pete, their oldest continuing character.
The two "Julius Katz" stores on Buena Vista Street in Disney California Adventure are named in his honor.
History[]
The character first appeared (without a name) in eight of the ten animated shorts created by Disney's first studio effort, Laugh-O-Gram Studio, the last of these being the pilot of the Alice Comedies, Alice's Wonderland. After a trial run as "Mike" (in Alice the Peacemaker), he would receive his permanent name of Julius in Alice's Egg Plant, making him Walt Disney's first named animated character. The primary motivation for the creation of the character was that Charles Mintz wanted to have the greatest possible visual gags in the series.Since the young Alice, first played by Virginia Davis, then only seven years old, could not be relied on for the comic role, she needed a partner, and Julius the Cat filled that role. Throughout the course of the Alice series, the animated Julius was increasingly made the central focus, over the live action Alice.
In one of his first appearances, Alice's Fishy Story, Julius' tail demonstrates its great versatility, a recurring characteristic in the series. Walt repeatedly played on the mythology of cats having nine lives. In the short film Alice the Peacemaker, he is partnered with a mouse named Ike (a forerunner to Mickey Mouse). This cat/mouse pairing was one of many famous animated duos from Krazy Kat (and Ignatz) through Tom and Jerry and Itchy and Scratchy. Julius was the first of Disney's animated characters to be antagonized by Pete, beginning in Alice Solves the Puzzle. He would later box him in Alice Picks the Champ.
He has occasionally appeared in Disney comics under the name "Mio Miao" in Italian and "Otto" in Swedish.
Character[]
Julius was bold, resourceful and ingenious, playing the role of the hero, frequently rescuing damsel-in-distress Alice. He often used his prehensile tail to his advantage, as a crane, unicycle, ladder, or other useful tool. Ub Iwerks' unique animation style resulted in smooth, fluid movement.
Similarity to Felix[]
In the early days of animation, Felix the Cat, who was created in November 9, 1919 by Otto Messmer for Pat Sullivan's studio, was the template for a successful animated character. Julius' similarity to Felix was not accidental, but due to Margaret Winkler urging the reluctant Disney to copy him. She had been the distributor for Felix the Cat, but was constantly fighting with Sullivan, eventually leading to a split, so she turned to Disney to fill the void. Like Felix, Julius would pace and detach his tail. When he was in a quandary, visible question marks would form over his head. The New York Times went so far as to call Julius a "blatant clone... from the rubber-hose-and-circle design to the detachable body parts."
Legacy[]
Many of the individual Alice Comedies films have been re-released, in packages like Disney Rarities: Celebrated Shorts: 1920s–1960s and Walt Disney Treasures: The Adventures of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. The Mickey Mouse cartoon Runaway Brain also features a character who, though visually modeled after Pete, is named Julius.
Disney California Adventure's Julius Katz Shoe & Watch Repair and Julius Katz & Sons Appliance Repair stores on Buena Vista Street are named after Julius.
Filmography[]
1922[]
Little Red Riding Hood (anonymous appearance)
The Four Musicians of Bremen
Jack and the Beanstalk
Jack the Giant Killer
Goldie Locks and the Three Bears
Puss in Boots
Cinderella
1923[]
Jack and the Beanstalk
Alice's Wonderland (anonymous appearance; work unfinished at studio bankruptcy)
1924=[]
Alice's Day at Sea
Alice's Spooky Adventure
Alice's Fishy Story
Alice the Peacemaker (named Mike; name not used again)
Alice Hunting in Africa
Alice and the Three Bears
Alice the Piper
1925[]
Alice Cans the Cannibals
Alice the Toreador
Alice Gets Stung
Alice Solves the Puzzle (first appearance of Pete)
Alice's Egg Plant (named Julius)
Alice Loses Out
Alice Wins the Derby
Alice Picks the Champ
Alice's Tin Pony
Alice Chops the Suey
Alice the Jail Bird
Alice Plays Cupid
Alice in the Jungle
1926[]
Alice on the Farm
Alice's Balloon Race
Alice's Orphan
Alice's Little Parade
Alice's Mysterious Mystery
Alice Charms the Fish
Alice's Monkey Business
Alice in the Wooly West
Alice the Fire Fighter
Alice Cuts the Ice
Alice Helps the Romance
Alice's Spanish Guitar
Alice's Brown Derby
Alice the LumberJack
1927[]
Alice the Golf Bug
Alice Foils the Pirates
Alice at the Carnival
Alice at the Rodeo
Alice the Collegiate
Alice's Auto Race
Alice's Circus Daze
Alice's Knaughty Knight
Alice's Three Bad Eggs
Alice's Channel Swim
Alice in the Klondike
Alice's Medicine Show
Alice the Whaler
Alice the Beach Nut
See Also[]
- Figaro