From the very first cartoon in 1908, cartoons have been a hotbed of creativity and self-expression. The freedom you gain from being able to animate every inch of a fictional world allows you to create an incredibly immersive story. Anyone who says cartoons are just for kids is just plain wrong! Cartoons can make people of all ages laugh, cry, and even learn important life lessons.
Take a trip down memory lane with us as we list 27 of the most famous cartoon characters of all time.
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27. The Tasmanian Devil
From: Looney Tunes
With his wild spinning and crazy teeth, Taz continues to be a crowd favourite in 2019.
26. Droopy Dog
From: Tex Avery shorts
He may not be as popular as he was back in his day, but everyone still loves Droopy for his monotone voice and crazy reactions.
25. Yosemite Sam
From: Looney Tunes
Cartoon cowboys are always entertaining, and Yosemite Sam is no exception.
24. Rocky and Bullwinkle
From: The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends
Name a more iconic duo! While Rocky and Bullwinkle are great characters in their own right, the way they complement each other on-screen really solidifies them as cartoon greats.
23. Mojo Jojo
From: The Powerpuff Girls
He’s an overly dramatic cartoon monkey with a big brain on his head! How can you not love him?
22. Jimmy Neutron
From: The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius
For a lot of ‘00 kids, the adventures of Jimmy and his friends served as a fun gateway into more serious sci-fi.
21. Huckleberry Hound
From: The Huckleberry Hound Show
Huckleberry Hound helped pave the way for other cartoon dogs with his southern drawl and tone-deaf singing.
20. Smurfette
From: The Smurfs
As one of the few girls in a village full of identical cartoon people, Smurfette’s become an icon for the series.
19. Porky Pig
From: Looney Tunes
Who doesn’t love Porky Pig? With his endearing stutter and his signature catchphrase, he remains one of Looney Tunes’ most popular characters.
18. Gwen
From: Total Drama
In a show with a cast as large as Total Drama’s, it takes a special character like Gwen to stand out above the rest.
17. Arnold Shortman
From: Hey Arnold!
Arnold stood out among other cartoon boys for being a lot more cool, calm, and collected. And, yes, that actually is his last name!
16. Strawberry Shortcake
From: Strawberry Shortcake
This pretty little lady continues to be a favourite for a lot of little girls for her cute design and her relentless optimism.
15. Voltron
From: Voltron: Legendary Defender
Cartoons are known for having cool giant robots, and Voltron is one of the GOATS.
14. Penelope Pitstop
From: Wacky Races
Despite being designed as an afterthought, Penelope Pitstop became one of Hanna-Barbera’s most famous female characters.
13. Tommy Pickles
From: Rugrats
Tommy fueled the imaginations of ‘90s kids all over the world with his can-do attitude and all of his crazy ‘adventures’.
12. Finn The Human
From: Adventure Time
As a flawed character that goes through real growth over the course of the show, Finn helped usher in a new era for Western cartoons.
11. Steven Universe
From: Steven Universe
Steven’s a real gem. Like Finn from Adventure Time, he’s a part of a new generation of progressive cartoons that help kids learn about mature themes from a safe space.
10. Fred Flintstone
From: The Flintstones
As the main character of the first major family cartoon, Fred Flintstone has definitely earned his spot as one of the most famous cartoon characters of all time.
09. Bender
From: Futurama
In a show as quotable as Futurama, Bender still stands out as the show’s most quotable character.
08. Ash Ketchum
From: Pokémon
For the last 20 years, Ash and his Pokémon inspired kids to push themselves to be the very best, like no one ever was. Plus, you know a character is popular with an entire generation when international news covers his first major tournament win like a real event.
07. Scooby-Doo
From: Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?
Who would’ve thought this cartoon dog would still be as popular as he was when his show debuted 50 years ago? Scooby may not be the bravest dog, but he’s definitely one of the most lovable dogs of all time.
06. Son Goku
From: Dragon Ball
If you asked someone who their favourite anime characters are, chances are they’ll name characters inspired by Goku. With his spiky hair and strong will, he embodies what a lot of people love about anime.
05. Homer Simpson
From: The Simpsons
The Simpsons would never have been as culturally significant as it is without the dopey but endearing Homer Simpson.
04. Ariel
From: The Little Mermaid
With her beautiful red hair and her even more beautiful voice, Ariel didn’t just help start the Disney Renaissance but she seemed to usher in a new golden age for the cartoon medium as a whole.
03. Wonder Woman
From: Justice League
As one of the first female superheroes, Wonder Woman showed the world that cartoon girls could be heroes too.
02. Bugs Bunny
From: Looney Tunes
This wisecracking rabbit probably gave a ton of parents migraines after introducing a whole generation of kids to sarcasm.
01. Mickey Mouse
From: Steamboat Willie and other Disney cartoons
No one else deserves the top spot as much as this guy. Without Mickey Mouse and other characters from the classic Disney era, cartoons might’ve never become as big as they are today.
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