Daydreams and Nightmares by Winsor McCay

His comic strip work has influenced generations of artists, including creators such as William Joyce, André LeBlanc, Moebius, Maurice Sendak, Chris Ware and Bill Watterson.Home > Artists > Winsor McCay Winsor McCay Born: Septem| Died: JBiographyĪn influential figure for cartoonists and animators throughout the 20th century and beyond, Winsor McCay (1869-1934) is perhaps best known for the creation of the Little Nemo in Slumberland comic strip.įirst published on October 15, 1905, the weekly Little Nemo strip followed the adventures of a young boy named Nemo whose fantastical nightly dreams were detailed through the comic panels. His extravagant visions were not confined to any particular time or place and were often not based in reality. In any given week, you could fine Nemo fighting Native Americans, battling giants, enjoying a ride on an enormous condor, chopping down George Washington’s cherry tree of lore, receiving a kiss from a princess, visiting Jack Frost’s frozen palace, touring the countryside in the mouth of a dragon, or sailing alongside a band of pirates. Each strip ends with Little Nemo’s awakening, through literally falling into bed, waking in fright, or through the rousing words of an adult. For legal reasons, he worked under the pen name Silas on the comic strip Dream of the Rarebit Fiend.Ī prolific artist, McCay's pioneering early animated films far outshone the work of his contemporaries, and set a standard followed by Walt Disney and others in later decades. Was an American cartoonist and animator, best known for the comic strip Little Nemo (begun 1905) and the animated cartoon Gertie the Dinosaur (1914). His comic strip work has influenced generations of artists, including creators such as William Joyce, André LeBlanc, Moebius, Maurice Sendak, Chris Ware and Bill Watterson.

A prolific artist, McCay's pioneering early animated films far outshone the work of his contemporaries, and set a standard followed by Walt Disney and others in later decades. For legal reasons, he worked under the pen name Silas on the comic strip Dream of the Rarebit Fiend.

Daydreams and Nightmares by Winsor McCay