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Which Of These Famous Cartoon Characters Are Your Favourite?

Take a look at 27 of the most famous cartoon characters of all time. - by Rhys McKay
  • 03 Dec 2019
Which Of These Famous Cartoon Characters Are Your Favourite?
Getty

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.

RELATED: 90s Cartoons: 18 Best 90s Kids Shows

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.

A kid and his mum watching tv together
Getty

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.

The Smurfs - Trailer

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.

"Here Comes a Thought" | Steven Universe | Cartoon Network

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.

RELATED: All the shows you have to watch after you've finished binging season 3 of Stranger Things

Rhys McKay

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