Winsor McCay

Winsor McCay

Winsor Zenic McCay (c. September 26, 1869 – July 26, 1934) was an American cartoonist and animator, best known for the comic strip Little Nemo (begun 1905) and the animated cartoon Gertie the Dinosaur (1914). For legal reasons, he worked under the pen name Silas on the comic strip Dream of the Rarebit Fiend.

McCay was a prolific artist and his pioneering early animated films far outshone the work of his contemporaries. His films set a standard followed by Walt Disney and others in later decades. His comic strip work has influenced generations of artists, including creators such as William Joyce, André LeBlanc, Mœbius, Maurice Sendak, Chris Ware, and Bill Watterson.