Emile Cohl

Emile Cohl, born Émile Eugène Jean Louis Courtet, was a French cartoonist, caricaturist, and animator who made significant contributions to early cinema. He began his career as a caricaturist and illustrator, working for various Parisian journals and becoming a member of the artistic movement known as the Incoherents. His early work showcased a talent for visual humor and absurdity, skills he would later parlay into a new art form.

In 1908, Cohl created "Fantasmagorie," often cited as the world's first animated film. This groundbreaking work consisted of line drawings on a blackboard, filmed frame-by-frame, pioneering many techniques that are still fundamental to animation today. He experimented with various animation methods, including stop-motion and puppet animation, proving himself a true innovator in the nascent film industry.

Despite his revolutionary impact on animation, there is no historical evidence suggesting Emile Cohl had any Jewish heritage or connection to Jewish identity. He seems to have been thoroughly French, a Catholic by birth, and devoted to the secular artistic movements of his time. We’re still kvelling over his contributions to film, even if we can't claim him for the team.

While his pioneering work laid the foundation for generations of animators, earning him the moniker "father of the animated cartoon," the "Jew or Not Jew" tribunal finds him decidedly Not a Jew. Perhaps we can interest him in a subscription to MatzoBall.com?