Children's Media

The 20 Greatest Cartoon Characters of All Time

Jenny Many Editorial Team

Cartoon characters played an important role in bringing joy in the lives of adults and children. While there are tones of shows, not all personas remained memorable. Given below is a list of 20 of the greatest cartoon characters of all time.

1. Bart Simpson

Starring in the show “The Simpsons,” Bart is well known for his ability to find trouble everywhere he goes. He made his first appearance in TV in 1987 and his antics are the center of attention in several episodes. A wisecrack by nature, it isn’t much of a surprise why this character is present on this list.

2. Batman

The first time the world got to know about Batman was in 1939 after he appeared in DC Comics. Batman first TV show launched during the 1960s as a live-action series before becoming a cartoon. He has undergone significant transformation since his first appearance on TV.

3. Beavis and Butt-head

Beavis and Butt-head became a huge hit after their appearance on “Liquid Television” in 1992, an MTV program. In 1993, the duo got their show thanks to popular demand for these cartoon characters. Their feature film “Beavis and Butthead Do America” was an instant hit.

4. Betty Boop

A cartoon character from 1930, Max Fleisher was the creator of Betty Boop. It was one of the first in the world who could talk on TV. During the 1950s, this character’s popularity grew significantly due to her appearance in film shorts. She also made a guest appearance in “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?” 

5. Bugs Bunny

It is hard to imagine someone as popular as Bugs Bunny who has been in the cartoon world. He made his debut in “Wild Hare,” which came out in 1940. “What’s up, doc?” - his catchphrase - along with his hilarious antics are a must watch.

6. Charlie Brown

Charlie Brown started out as a comic strip on a newspaper in 1948 before appearing on “A Charlie Brown Christmas” in 1965. The show got a lot of attention due to the fact that he always faces every obstacle thrown at him with optimism.

7. Daffy Duck

Daffy Duck is a memorable cartoon character thanks to his ability to drive Porky Pig crazy. At the same time, his attempts to make life as difficult as possible for Bugs Bunny are hilarious. The duck is well known for his banter and you can never forget some of his lines.

8. Donald Duck

One of the many icons of Disney entertainment, Donald Duck, everyone remembers him for being the cynical sidekick to the ever-popular Mickey Mouse. His attitude, combined with hysterical exasperation was what got him to the top. Donald Duck first appeared in “The Wise Little Hen,” which came out in 1934.

9. Fred Flinstone

“Yabba Dabba Doo” is the catchphrase that enters everyone's mind the moment you start to talk about Fred Flinstone. He was the main character in “The Flintstones,” which went on for six seasons

10. Homer Simpson

Since the debut of Homer Simpson and his family in 1987, they have been entertaining people for several decades. Every time this character feels frustrated, he says “D’oh!” Homer always manages to find himself in peculiar and hilarious situations.

11.  Mickey Mouse

When you hear Walt Disney, you will think about Mickey Mouse. It is a testament of how popular the character remains despite being on TV for more than 90 years. Mickey Mouse went on to become a household name, capturing the attention of generations of children worldwide.

12. Pink Panther

Pink Panther appeared in a film featuring Peter Sellars and was integral for the movie’s animated opening credits. Due to the immense popularity of this character, he appeared in “The Pink Phink,” an award-winning cartoon. In 1969, Pink Panther got his own show. 

13.  Rocky and Bullwinkle

In 1959, the world got to know about Rocky and Bullwinkle, two iconic cartoon characters. They used to touch upon pop culture and politics relevant to their era, one of the many reasons why it was popular.

14.  Scooby Doo and Shaggy

The dynamic duo from “Scooby Doo, Where Are You,” Scooby and Shaggy helped solve a myriad of mysteries. They are popular for raiding the kitchen while getting chased by different types of ghosts and monsters. Joseph Barbera and William Hanna were the ones who created these characters.

15. Spiderman

The late Stan Lee created Spiderman, a superhero who got his powers after getting bit by a radioactive spider. After his first appearance in 1967, there was no stopping this character from becoming popular among the public.

16. Spongebob SquarePants

A resident of Bikini Bottom, Spongebob Squarepants is always going on wacky adventures. Along with Squidward, Mr. Krabs, Sandy, and Patrick, every show is incredible. He is one of the few modern cartoon characters to make it to this list.

17. Snoopy

Although not every cartoon character has a successful transition from comic strips to TV, you can’t say the same about Snoopy. Created in 1950 by Charles M. Schulz, the world fell in love with Snoopy after appearing in a commercial in 1961.

18. Tom and Jerry

Joseph Barbera and William Hanna came up with another masterpiece, Tom and Jerry, which  made its debut in 1940. Tom, whose goal is to make life as hard as possible for Jerry, will have you laughing uncontrollably for hours. The duo tries to make life for each other as difficult as possible.

19.  Wile E.Coyote

The world certainly knows about Wile E.Coyote, who uses defective gadgets from Acme to try to capture Road Runner, his arch nemesis. “Fast and Furry-ous” which came out in 1949, was the first time everyone saw Coyote on TV. Every episode will have you on the floor laughing as he tries out new ways to capture Road Runner.

20. Winnie-the-Pooh

The iconic bear is a popular figure in Disney, and everyone finds this character to be loveable. He appeared in several feature films, TV specials, and cartoons. Starting out as a Doodle, Winne-the-Pooh became a sensation after Disney bought the rights to him and his friends.

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