Here's why:
* Early Appearance: Felix the Cat's first appearance was in a short film called "Feline Follies" in 1919, making him older than Mickey Mouse, Bugs Bunny, and many other famous cartoon characters.
* Longevity: Felix has been around for over a century and still appears in modern media, which is a testament to his enduring popularity.
Important Note: There were animated characters before Felix the Cat, but many of them were lost to time, making it hard to establish definitive "oldest" claims.