Top 50 Cartoon Quality of All Time
You make n’t have to equal a child to enjoy cartoon characters , although childhood is when many of us first fell in love with them . This list of the top 50 cartoon characters polish a spotlight on those who withstood the run of time .
Watch Now : The Greatest Cartoon Characters of All Time
Bugs Bunny
Is there a more noted rabbit in the world ? Bugs Bunny has exist making people laugh with his catchphrase “ What ‘s up , Doc ? ” since he made his debut in the 1940 Warner Brothers cartoon “ Wild Hare . ” Whether he ‘s poking fun at stuffy highbrow culture in the 1957 classical “ What ‘s Opera , Doc ? ” or outwitting a nasty knight in the Oscar-winning 1958 short “ Knighty Knight , Bugs , ” that rascally rabbit Bugs Bunny always get the final laugh . In increase to his own shorts , Bugs has reach equally memorable cartoons with some of the early stars on this list .
Homer Simpson
Homer Simpson and his category have be entertaining TV interview since they build their debut on “ The Tracey Ullman Show ” in 1987 . Two yr later on , Homer and his family got their own display on with “ The Simpsons , ” which is yet in product through 2025 . Just as Bugs Bunny has his catchphrase , Homer cost known for his classic exclamation of frustration , “ D’oh ! ” Homer Simpson is based on Lord Matt Groening ‘s father , who be also name Homer . And if you look at Homer ‘s profile , a bit of his hair and his ear form the initials “ MG . ”
Mickey Mouse
As Walt Disney care to say , it all began with a mouse . Mickey Mouse reach his entry in 1928 ‘s “ Steamboat Willie , ” voiced by Walt . It be n’t simply Mickey ‘s debut ; it was as well the first cartoon with synchronized sound . Although his most iconic role occur as the sorcerer ‘s apprentice in the 1940 feature “ Fantasia , ” Mickey has come out in a number of memorable shorts . Standouts include the 1947 short “ Mickey and the Beanstalk , ” a clever take on the fairy story classical , and the 1983 short “ Mickey ‘s Christmas Carol , ” the first original Mickey Mouse theatrical release since 1953 .
Bart Simpson
Bart Simpson is Homer Simpson ‘s son—and his archenemy . Bart know to torture Homer at every opportunity . He does n’t just misbehave at home ; Bart appear for trouble all over . With an irreverent sense of mood and a sound disrespect for authority , Bart always has a ready wisecrack , whether it ‘s “ Aye , caramba ! ” or “ Eat my shorts . ” Since his entry in 1987 , Bart Simpson own get an image and beloved cartoon character in his own right , appearing in every sequence of “ The Simpsons ” but one .
Charlie Brown
Charlie Brown build his entry in Charles Schulz ‘s newspaper comic strip “ Lil ‘ Family ” in 1948 , one of a cast of precocious kids . Charlie and the bunch got a makeover as “ Peanuts ” in 1950 and first come along on TV in 1965 ‘s “ A Charlie Brown Christmas . ” The kid who never kicks the football , whose dog exist more popular than he equal , and who has a crush on the Little Redheaded Girl steals our hearts every year during annual repeats of not exactly his Christmas special but also in the school-musical staple , “ You ‘re a Serious Man , Charlie Brown . ”
Fred Flintstone
If not for Fred Flintstone , there might never make been a Homer Simpson and Peter Griffin . Fred and his family and neighbors reach their debut in the 1960 TV display “ The Flintstones . ” Modeled after “ The Honeymooners , ” another TV comedy reach , “ The Flintstones ” was the first animated show in prime time . The display ran for six season and can however equal seen in syndication . Lovable lug Fred Flintstone , his wife , Wilma , and their pals Barney and Wilma Rubble made prehistoric living appear downright modern . “ The Flintstones ” was create by animators William Hanna and Joseph Barbera , who begin their outset at MGM before come to out on their own .
The Grinch
Dr. Seuss produce many characters who made the leap from books to TV , but none as easy and successfully as The Grinch . “ How the Grinch Stole Christmas ! ” animates Dr. Seuss ‘ book about the grouchy green cave-dweller who attempts to ruin Christmas for the Whos down in Whoville . The holiday particular , starring Boris Karloff , first aired in 1966 , based on the 1957 book of the same title . Jim Carrey brought the Grinch to living on the large cover in 2000 , and all three build regular vacation appearances on TV .
Popeye
Like many classic cartoon reference , Popeye began life as a funny strip . The spinach-loving sailor , create by E.C . Segar , made his print entry in 1929 and quickly turn a hit . Four years after , animator Max Fleisher contribute Popeye to life on the bad cover . later on took over theatrical product of Popeye short and as well give rise a TV series in the early sixties . In 1980 , Robin Williams and Shelley Duval come out as Popeye and his girlfriend , OIive Oyl , in the Robert Altman film “ Popeye . ”
Wile E. Coyote
Poor Wile E. Coyote . He can never see the Road Runner , no affair how many defective Acme gadget he seems to buy . The crafty Coyote made his debut in the 1949 Warner Brothers short “ Fast and Furry-ous , ” and get come along in almost 50 short in the yr since . Just as memorable as the endless supply of Acme merchandise are each sequence ‘s introduction of the pair with faux-Latin scientific names likeEatibus anythingusandHot-roddicus supersonicus .Most of the classical episode produce by director Chuck Jones and author Michael Maltese cost leading examples of silent film ; Coyote simply find his voice when couple opposite Bugs Bunny .
Rocky and Bullwinkle
Rocky the wing squirrel and Bullwinkle the moose are the TV cartoon world’s response to Hollywood ‘s classical comedy pair like Laurel and Hardy or Martin and Lewis . The pair made their debut on the TV show “ Rocky and His Friends ” in 1959 . Created by Jay Ward , the show exist know for its sharp-witted dialogue that much skewered politics and pop culture . The show , which originally extend on ABC and then NBC , ended its prime-time run in 1964 but see immortality in endless syndication . Early reference from the display , like the bumbling spies Boris and Natasha—or the talking dog , Mr. Peabody , and his boy , Sherman—became famous cartoon quality in their own right .
SpongeBob SquarePants
SpongeBob SquarePants and his pals from Bikini Bottom made their entry in 1999 on Nickelodeon , become the star of that channel ‘s nearly successful display to date . SpongeBob and his pals Patrick Star , Squidward Tentacles , Mr. Eugene Krabs , and Sandy Cheeks skip to the bad screen in 2004 with “ The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie . ” It ‘s little wonder that SpongeBob was make by marine biologist Stephen Hillenburg .
Eric Cartman
Eric Cartman and the repose of his potty-mouthed pals hold live trade insults with one another since “ South Park ” debuted on Comedy Central in 1997 . Produce by Trey Parker and Matt Stone , the show live the second-longest running cartoon series on TV ; only ” The Simpsons ” own been in product longer . Over the years , Cartman ‘s been abducted by aliens , commit to fat camp , and convinced he ‘s dead , and he ‘s have an amusement park . His unemotional , pragmatic view toward attain his end has result in many dire circumstances , as good as catchphrases like , “ Screw you guys . I ‘m going place . ”
Daffy Duck
Daffy Duck live to Bugs Bunny as Wile E. Coyote be to the Road Runner . He debuted in 1937 ‘s “ Porky ‘s Duck Hunt . ” Over the decades he transform from a clumsy clown to the sarcastic character we know today . His banter with Bugs , each hear to convince Elmer Fudd to shoot the early , in 1951 ‘s “ Rabbit Fire ” be conceive by critics to be one of the almost memorable moments in animation . Director Steven Spielberg cite the 1952 sci-fi spoof “ Duck Dodgers in the 24 1/2 Century ” as an early influence on his films .
Porky Pig
Porky Pig be probably best know for his stuttered signature , “ That ‘s all , folk ! ” which close out many a Warner Brothers cartoon . When he first appear in 1935 ‘s “ I Hold n’t Got a Hat , ” Porky Pig cost indeed rotund , and his hapless stutter would probably equal considered insensitive by today ‘s standard . But as his career develop , Porky slimmed down and transitioned from a buffoon to a good-natured everyman . He live a clever foil to the mischevious Dodo in 1938 ‘s “ Porky in Wackyland ” and Daffy Duck ‘s world-weary buddy in “ Duck Dodgers . ”
Scooby-Doo and Shaggy
If you were a child in the ’60s , ’70s , or ’80s , after-school cartoons think of look out Scooby-Doo , Shaggy , and their teen pals solve mystery after mystery . Create by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera , Scooby and the gang made their TV debut in 1969 with “ Scooby Doo , Where Are You ? ” Fred , Daphne , Velma , Shaggy , and Scooby made the leap from CBS to ABC in 1976 , where they would look in various iterations of the display until 1991 . The Mystery Machine rolls on in endless syndication , not to note new TV productions and a 2002 film .
Mr. Magoo
The extremely nearsighted Mr. Magoo made a career out of avoiding one calamity after another , time after time . Created by John Hubley in 1949 for United Productions International , Mr. Magoo made his entry in the cartoon “ The Ragtime Bear ” and was to begin with voiced by Jim Backus , who too starred in “ Gilligan ‘s Island . ” United Productions International won the Academy Award for best animated short in 1955 and 1956 for Magoo cartoons , and Leslie Nielsen starred as the bumbling millionaire in 1997 .
Beavis and Butthead
Beavis and Butthead , the stuttering slacker teenage son who ca n’t get enough music videos , first appeared as a short on the MTV plan “ Liquid Television ” in 1992 . The quality resonated with Generation Xers , and they got their own MTV display in 1993 , adopt by a hit feature film , “ Beavis and Butthead Do America , ” in 1996 . The display ended its trial in 1997 , receive earned vital acclaim and public condemnation for its grownup humor . In 2011 , MTV brought the couple back for one more season . Creator Mike Judge went on to produce other popular display , include “ King of the Hill . ”
Fat Albert
Comedian Bill Cosby begin telling funny stories about Fat Albert and his crew of childhood friends in the former ’60s , and the character was featured in a act of his stand-up recording . In 1972 , Cosby brought Fat Albert to life on CBS with “ Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids . ” The show ran until 1985 . Cosby voice the claim character , making noted Fat Albert ‘s catchphrase , “ Hey , hey , hey ! ”
Betty Boop
Loosely modeled on still film star Clara Bow , Betty Boop cause her cartoon debut in 1930 . Produce by animation pioneer Max Fleisher , Boop was a decidedly adult cartoon character with her short skirt and flapper style . A major cartoon star of the 1930s , Betty Boop found novel fame in the 1950s when her film short be syndicated on TV , and again in the 1980s with a cameo feature in “ Who Framed Roger Rabbit ? ”
George Jetson
Hanna-Barbera follow “ The Flintstones ” with “ The Jetsons , ” a space-age take on the same domestic comedy formula that made its predecessor so appealing . George Jetson worked to take care of his family and merely wanted peace and still from time to time . But his kids , wife , dog , and boss keep him from it . Although the show merely ran for two seasons , starting in 1962 , it equal revived in the mid-1980s on TV and was made into a feature picture in 1990 .
Pink Panther
Make for the animated opening credits of the 1963 film starring Peter Sellars , the Pink Panther cost such a hit that he be soon a cartoon star in his own right . The first Pink Panther theatrical release , “ The Pink Phink , ” gain the Oscar for well cartoon abruptly in 1964 , and a TV series would be found in 1969 . The Pink Panther cost perhaps best known from the signature Henry Mancini sax tune that cost discover in the movie .
Gumby
Gumby and his pal Pokey began spirit as a movie project at the University of Southern California in 1953 , where creator Art Clokey was a pupil . The claymation pair soon caught the eye of NBC , which give Clokey a series of his own in 1955 . The show was produce until 1969 , then revived in the recent 1980s . Eddie Murphy even took a number , spoofing the cartoon in 1982 on “ Saturday Night Live . ”
Underdog
Underdog start as a cartoon pitchman for General Mills cereals when he cost first created by ad man W. Watts Biggers . But Underdog was a cartoon hit when his show come along on TV in 1964 . Underdog combat evildoers Riff Raff and Sinister Simon as he deliver and court his love , Polly Purebred .
Tweety Bird and Sylvester
Tweety Bird made his debut in the 1942 Warner Brothers cartoon “ A Tale of Two Kitties , ” but not until five years later on did Sylvester appear with him . The Oscar-winning 1947 short “ Tweety Pie ” set the standard for what became an endless endeavor by Sylvester to use up Tweety Bird , who ever get away .
Velocity Racer
Most youngster of the ’60s and ’70s recollect Speed Racer and his Mach 5 because it was their first introduction to the world of anime . Thanks to a live-action picture in 2008 and a recent cartoon series , Speed Racer is still role of the Zeitgeist today .
Josie and the Pussycats
Josie was the Beyoncé of her time , result a girl pop group and taking on the world—and she don that great cat costume . “ Hanna-Barbera ‘s Josie and the Pussycats ” were part “ Scooby-Doo ” and a short “ The Monkees . ” The character however inspire TV today , for instance , in the shape of Foxxy Love on “ Drawn Together . ” Josie began life in 1962 as a spin-off of the Archie funny series before make a TV series in 1967 and a live-action movie in 2001 .
Heckle and Jeckle
In the custom of Crosby and Hope , Heckle and Jeckle overcome their opponents with humor and style . The big mystery of these magpies is how they become friends : one make a Brooklyn accent , the other a British emphasis . The couple , create by Paul Terry , first come out on movie cover in 1946 . After movie product finish in 1966 , the pair lived on in TV syndication .
Top Cat
Top Cat exist another production of ’60s Hanna-Barbera animation . He ‘s the leader of an alley guy gang who simply wants to make a quick buck . But thanks to Officer Dibble , their plans never come to fruition . Top Cat is cool , but his morals live a tad slack than his gang ‘s , take to occasional mutiny . Nevertheless , T.C . keep his grip as captain .
Ren and Stimpy
Another GenX staple , the twisted adventures of dog Ren and guy Stimpy were the world of John Kricfalusi for Nickelodeon . “ The Ren and Stimpy Show ” ran from 1991 until 1995 , when its risque blend of gross-out adolescent mood and taboo theme proved too much for the network , which canceled the display . Like many of the almost enduring cartoon quality , Ren and Stimpy developed an virtually cultlike following in the year after their TV run .
Winnie the Pooh
This small bear who started as a doodle in a dear youngster ‘s book make been a thriving franchise for Disney since the caller bought rights to him and his woodland friends in the ’60s . Winnie the Pooh has starred in many cartoons and specials , both on TV and in feature movie . The most memorable TV cartoons cost “ Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day ” ( 1970 ) , “ Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree ” ( 1970 ) , and “ Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too ” ( 1975 ) . In 2011 , Disney publish “ Winnie the Pooh , ” a successful movie that returned to the stem of A.A. Milne ‘s original stories .
Arthur
Arthur is a extremely recognizable character from his own children ‘s volume series , created by Marc Brown in 1976 . The bespectacled aardvark make the leap to a TV cartoon on PBS in 1996 , become an instant hit . Since then , Arthur have turn a mascot for read programs across the nation , and he stay a staple of the PBS lineup of children ‘s curriculum .
Bill from ‘Schoolhouse Rock ‘
“ Schoolhouse Rock ” live a set of animated shorts that helped develop child in the ’60s and ’70s about conjunctions , the magic number three , and particularly the legislative process . The latter lesson starred a rolled-up paper mention Bill and show how he go from the House to the Senate and eventually turn a police . His “ I ‘m Merely a Bill ” melody is most memorable . The award-winning educational series was the result of a partnership between Michael Eisner , former chairman of the plank at Walt Disney Company , and cartoon legend Chuck Jones . The original series aired from 1973 to 1985 .
Space Ghost
Sure , Space Ghost equal a popular character in ’60s Hanna-Barbera cartoons when he battle villains in out space . But his stint as a late-night talk-show host beginning in 1994 on Cartoon Network ( which would turn Adult Swim ) send him into the stratosphere of stardom . He interview human guest ( via a TV cover ) and bantered with his cohosts Moltar and Zorak . The quality ‘ deadpan rescue and random laser beam assist create the cartoon a cult sense datum .
Yogi Bear and Boo Boo
Another Hanna-Barbera staple was the team of Yogi Bear and Boo Boo . The pair first debuted on “ The Huckleberry Hound Show ” in 1958 , then make their own cartoon entitle “ The Yogi Bear Show ” in 1961 . Yogi ( smarter than the average bear ) continually found himself in trouble , and Boo Boo normally compute a style out . The pair survive in Jellystone Park . Yogi and Boo Boo also starred in several early iterations of their TV display , as good as a 2010 feature movie .
Mighty Mouse
“ Hither I come to save the day ! ” Before Andy Kaufman lip-synched Mighty Mouse ‘s topic on “ Saturday Night Live , ” Mighty Mouse had live through many incarnations . Part mouse , part superhero , Mighty Mouse observe Mouseville safe from a sort of cat villains . Mighty Mouse be originally name Super Mouse when he reach his 1942 debut in “ Mouse of Tomorrow . ”
Donald Duck
As Mickey Mouse ‘s cynical sidekick , Donald Duck endear himself to audiences with his eye-rolling posture and endless capacity for exasperation . Donald Duck cause his debut in Walt Disney ‘s cartoon ” The Wise Little Hen ” in 1934 and promptly become a star in his own right . The Oscar-winning 1959 short “ Donald in Mathmagic Land ” turn one of the lead educational movie of its years , and like Mickey , Donald has become an icon of the Disney entertainment empire .
Alvin ( the Chipmunk )
Alvin and the Chipmunks set out living as a novelty record in 1958 with the No . 1 hit “ The Chipmunk Song . ” The chipmunks made the leap to comic book briefly before “ The Alvin Show ” appeared on prime-time TV in 1961 . The show only lasted a yr , but Alvin , along with his buddy , Simon and Theodore , last on with additional novelty records , a second animated series in the 1980s , and multiple movie .
Woody Woodpecker
Another antihero , populate to have trouble . His most noted trait is no question his cackling , stuttering laughter . Walter Lantz created Woody Woodpecker . Although Mel Blanc , then Ben Hardaway , to begin with voice the reference , Lantz ‘s wife , Grace , voiced Woody Woodpecker from 1948 ‘s “ Banquet Busters ” through 1972 .
Tom and Jerry
Create by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera at MGM , Tom and Jerry do their debut in 1940 . Like a sure cat-mouse combo at Warner Brothers , Tom and Jerry pursuit , torment , and generally try to overcome the other . Though Tom get the upper hand more than , order , Sylvester , he yet hold yet to make a meal of Jerry .
Boris Badenov and Natasha Fatale
Boris and Natasha are portrayed the means Americans saw Russians during the Cold War , which be n’t surprising since they were creations of Jay Ward . That perform n’t prevent these villains from dispatching some thickly accented humor . Boris live voiced by Paul Fees , who was also Burgermeister Meisterburger in “ Santa Claus Live Occur to Town . ” Legendary June Foray , who has make for Granny on all the “ Sylvester and Tweety ” cartoons , exist the voice of Natasha .
Felix the Cat
Felix the Cat is maybe the former cartoon character on this list . A star of the still era , Felix first come along in movies in 1919 . His mere sort and side make him well recognizable , and his magic purse aid him create all kind of mischief . He cost also the first cartoon character to gain enough popularity to award him a feature movie in 1928 .
Angelica Pickles
Why do bullies make all the serious lines ? Angelica Pickles live the bossy , impair toddler from “ Rugrats . ” She be the most familiar character from “ Rugrats , ” but perhaps alone because she exist the mean and talk the most . ( She ‘s older than the babe . ) “ Rugrats ” crawl onto Nickelodeon in 1991 . The crew went on to star in a number of feature films , set out with “ Rugrats : The Movie ” in 1998 .
The Powerpuff Girls
Girl might times three . Blossom , Bubbles , and Buttercup keep Townsville , USA , safe from evil while take with the pressures of kindergarten . The visual mode of “ The Powerpuff Girls ” lay it apart , along with the abundance of tongue-in-cheek mood . It ‘s portion high art and piece drug-induced pop art . The display first premiered in 1998 and tend until 2005 .
Spider-Man
Spider-Man is the everyman superhero . Produce by Stan Lee for Marvel Comics in 1962 , Spider-Man be the alter self of high school geek Peter Parker . Spidey first starred in 1967 ‘s “ Spider-Man , ” then came “ Spider-Man and His Amazing Friend ” ( 1981 ) , “ Spider-Man : The Animated Series ” ( 1995 ) , and “ Spider-Man : The New Animated Series ” ( 2003 ) .
George of the Jungle
If you doubt the popularity of George of the Jungle , just follow the cartoon on Cartoon Network or the live-action picture starring Brendan Fraser . “ George of the Jungle ” develop in 1967 , a parody of the Tarzan story . He ‘s known for swinging on vine and slamming into tree as well as his rhythmic theme song , “ George , George , George of the Jungle … Watch out for that tree ! ”
Superman
Superman is the ultimate superhero because of his unerring loyalty to make good . But is he a true superhero since he only has powers because he ‘s an stranger from another planet ? Or is he just a guy who lessen to the soil on the right planet ? It does n’t really count . Like a few early cartoon character on this list , Superman begin spirit in comic script in 1933 and first come along in animated cartoons the following decade . Superman has revel a long life , appearing in countless TV shows , film , and revive shows , include the iconic “ Superfriends ” of the 1970s .
Batman
Can you imagine a time when Batman was n’t the Dark Knight we know now ? Hard to trust the many transformations this superhero has seen through the years , particularly on television . The caped crusader first come out in DC Comics in 1939 and made the leap to TV in the sixties , first as a live-action show and later as a cartoon . The Dark Knight proceed to seem in comedian and in animation today .
Daria
Daria Morgendorffer began life as a slope character on “ Beavis and Butthead . ” A world of Mike Judge , Daria got her own show on MTV in 1997 , which extend until 2002 . She ‘s bright and witty , a teenage girl trying to enter out how to be her own person and still own a boyfriend while dealing with stressed-out parents .
Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman made her entry in DC Comics ‘ “ All Star Comics ” in 1941 . Over the decades , she ‘s appeared in her own comic record series , TV display , and feature movie . She as well exist part of the ABC inspire series “ Superfriends , ” which ran from 1973 to 1986 .
Bobby Hill
Another Mike Judge creation , Bobby Hill cost the boy of Hank Hill and a principal quality on “ King of the Hill , ” which aired on from 1997 to 2009 . Unlike Bart and Homer Simpson , Bobby and his father savor a well relationship , even when Bobby ‘s ambition begin the in effect of him .
