DreamWorks Animation has acquired all rights to Felix the Cat, the feline cartoon from the silent film era, DWA CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg revealed during a speech at the Licensing Expo in Las Vegas.
DreamWorks Animation has been on the lookout for other properties to snap up, apart from creating its own content, targeting the Troll dolls most recently.
A popular cartoon throughout the 1920s, Felix first appeared in film shorts and a comic strip. He resurfaced in various TV shows and movies since the introduction of sound, and ranks as one of the greatest cartoon characters of all-time.
“Felix really goes beyond evergreen status and rises to something even more uncommon, as he is a true icon. We plan to make him one of the most desired fashion brands in the world,” Katzenberg said during a speech given to executives from retail, fashion and entertainment.
Felix joins DWA’s growing stable of memorable characters from old kids’ shows. The company bought the rights to Casper the Friendly Ghost, Lassie and The Lone Ranger among others, when it acquired Classic Media in 2012.
In addition to the Felix announcement, Katzenberg also brought details of the company’s plan to launch DreamWorks’ DreamHouse, which will be an amped-up version of a Santa’s grotto featuring characters from the studio’s ‘toons. Plans are afoot for it to be launched in US in the time for Christmas this year.
