Top 10 Best Cartoon Characters

You know the drill: waking up on Saturday mornings just to catch your favorite animated friends, laughing at the antics of Bugs Bunny, or getting lost in the underwater world of SpongeBob SquarePants. Cartoon characters aren't just doodles on a screen; they're the VIPs of our childhoods and continue to bring us joy no matter our age. Seriously, who didn't want to be a Powerpuff Girl or join Ash Ketchum on a Pokémon adventure?

The cartoon universe is EPIC. Whether you're into the timeless hand-drawn legends like Mickey Mouse or the cutting-edge 2D masterpieces like "Rick and Morty," the animation world has something for everyone. Heroic figures like Superman and Batman patrol the animated streets, while adorable goofballs like Patrick Star and Homer Simpson keep the laughs coming.
The Top Ten
1 SpongeBob SquarePants (SpongeBob SquarePants) SpongeBob SquarePants is a fictional character and the titular character and protagonist of the American animated television series of the same name.

Easily the greatest cartoon to ever grace Nickelodeon, Bikini Bottom was full of colorful characters to fall comically in love with, but none were more endearing and hilarious than the show's title character, SpongeBob. His unfailing innocence and naivety are certainly the base of his personality, and his relentless devotion to pleasing his hateful neighbor Squidward and greedy boss Eugene Krabs provide some unforgettable interactions. And how about his musical talent? Kids everywhere are still singing his classic, the "Campfire Song" song. After all, it'll help if you just sing along.

2 Homer Simpson (The Simpsons) Homer Jay Simpson is the main protagonist of the American animated television series The Simpsons as the patriarch of the eponymous family.

If there were ever a character who could do so much wrong and yet so much right at the same time, Homer is it. While he may in fact be the worst father/husband ever drawn (although Peter Griffin would like to argue), he still is a father/husband because deep down he loves his children and his wife, and we adore him for it. And what more can be said about that catchphrase? Were I feeling funny during a moment of pain, all that would be uttered would be "D'oh!"

Homer Simpson Quotes:
Operator! Give me the number for 911!
Oh, so they have internet on computers now!
Donuts. Is there anything they can't do?
Son, when you participate in sporting events, it's not whether you win or lose. It's how drunk you get.
I'm having the best day of my life, and I owe it all to not going to church!
Dad, you've done a lot of great things, but you're a very old man, and old people are useless.

3 Bugs Bunny (Looney Tunes) Bugs Bunny is an animated cartoon character, created by the staff of Leon Schlesinger Productions (later Warner Bros.) He is one of (if not) the most famous cartoon characters, and he is in the show Looney Tunes. His famous quote is "What's up doc?". He is a gray colored bunny with big teeth and big... read more

The most creative, witty, awesome cartoon character ever. And he doesn't have to be fat or gay like Homer or SpongeBob. He's also voiced by one of the most talented men in the business, Mel Blanc. Bugs is the oldest and the greatest, and he has class. He doesn't kill, nor cuss, and he's not a pervert. It makes me depressed about the world today to see him beaten by Homer and SpongeBob. Really? Come on!

And did I fail to mention he's got the funniest villains to fight, and they get their butts whooped in the funniest ways? Bugs is just so witty and creative in all his words and actions, and I'm going to go watch him right now!

4 Eric Cartman (South Park) Eric Theodore Cartman, often referred to just by his surname, is a main character, as well as a major antagonist and occasional antihero in the animated television series South Park, created by Matt Stone and Trey Parker, and voiced by Parker. He is one of four central characters in South Park, along... read more

While his relentless anti-Semitism/immigration politics and superiority complex have been the subject of much controversy, they have also made Eric Cartman one of the most memorable cartoon characters ever, and certainly the most unforgettable one constructed entirely out of cardboard.

He can outsmart Batman, L, Light Yagami, Brainiac, Scott Tenorman, and Sherlock Holmes. He's funnier than Homer, Stewie, Peter, and anyone you can think of. If he had a Death Note, he would scare Ryuk. Cartman makes Satan look as heroic as Goku or Superman. Yes, I said that Eric Cartman is scarier and more evil than Satan. But he is the best cartoon character of all time.

5 Mickey Mouse (Mickey Mouse Universe) Mickey Mouse is a funny animal cartoon character and the official mascot of The Walt Disney Company. He was created by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks at the Walt Disney Studios in 1928. The first cartoon featuring Mickey Mouse was the iconic "Steamboat Willie" released in the year 1928.

If you don't know Mickey Mouse, you don't even know what "cartoon" means.

You could say Mickey Mouse is the father of all cartoon characters, and the reason he's better than all the others is that, unlike SpongeBob and 99% of other cartoon characters, he always appears in a new movie or short. There's Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, the old-styled version on Disney Channel. He has movies like Mickey Mouse's Christmas Carol, and there are always new things to see him in. He may be old in years (he turned 91 this year - 2019), but socially he never gets old. Mickey Mouse is always the best!

6 Scooby Doo (Scooby-Doo) Scooby Doo is a famous fictional dog character from the show Scooby-Doo Where Are You? He is the protagonist of his series .

I love Scooby-Doo. He is my favorite and the best cartoon character in the entire world. He is the only cartoon character that can make me laugh and go Aah. He is so cute. I especially love the old classics such as Scooby Doo, Where Are You, The New Scooby-Doo Movies, The Scooby-Doo Show, Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo, and A Pup Named Scooby-Doo. Scooby-Doo is my number one forever. He is classic and rocks!

Scooby-Doo has got to be one of the best cartoon characters ever! The Great Dane makes all the other cartoon characters say, "Ruh-Row!" when compared! With classic cuteness, a funny attitude, an adorable catchphrase, and a scaredy-cat sidekick, the show will make you howl with delight! Now the only thing left is to give me a Scooby Snack, and then I'll be ready to ask, "Scooby-Doo, where are you?" On my TV screen, that's where!

7 Bender (Futurama) Bender Bending Rodríguez is a fictional character who is one of the main characters in the animated television series Futurama. He was created by series creators Matt Groening and David X. Cohen and is voiced by John DiMaggio.

Bender is a god with several variations of his catchphrase.

"Bite my Splintery Wooden Ass!"
"Bite my Glorious Golden Ass!"
"Lick my Frozen Metal Ass!"
"Bite my Colossal Metal Ass!"
"Bite my Red Hot Glowing Ass!"
"Bite my Shiny Metal Ass!"
"Maybe you could interface with my ass... by biting it!"

Bite my shiny, red hot, cold, frozen, glorious golden ass! Heheheheheheheheheh. Well, I guess if you want children beaten, you have to do it yourself. He is the best Futurama character in my opinion. Next is Zoidberg.

Bender is great. He should really be way up on this list. "I need mouth-to-ass resuscitation." Fry is the story behind Futurama, but I think Bender should have been.

8 Patrick Star (SpongeBob SquarePants) Patrick Star is a fictional character in the American animated television series SpongeBob SquarePants, and he is one of the 10 main characters in the show. He is voiced by actor Bill Fagerbakke, who also voices numerous other characters on the show. Created and designed by marine biologist and cartoonist... read more

He used to be one of the best characters in the show through the first 5 seasons, but they completely ruined him in seasons 6, 7, and 8. No matter how bad he is in the later seasons, every time I see Patrick, I think of the classic funny Patrick and not the jerky prick Patrick. "Is mayonnaise an instrument?" "Who are you calling pinhead?" "This is crazy talk, BLAH BLAH BLAH!" "Where's the leak, ma'am?" "I love you!"

Twinkle, Twinkle, Patrick Star, oh my, I love Patrick Star. He's awesome. I hope Nick never cancels and/or sells SpongeBob SquarePants. I mean, just imagine "Disney's SpongeBob SquarePants: The Show" and "Disney's SpongeBob SquarePants: The Movie." They would ruin it. But my point is, nobody has that funny quality like Patrick Star.

9 Squidward Tentacles (SpongeBob SquarePants) Squidward Tentacles is a fictional character voiced by actor Rodger Bumpass in the American animated television series SpongeBob SquarePants.

He is probably one of the funniest cartoon characters ever. His design is original and very expressive. His voice actor, Rodger Bumpass, is a comedy marvel with the dialogue. It's his body language, his facial expressions, his rounded and very human personality that have contributed to him getting a LOT of sympathy from fans in later seasons. He's like a very deadpan, very sarcastic Daffy Duck. The guy who can never win so chooses to be snide and sarcastic about everything. And we feel for this guy because most of the time the world is just out to get him. Whatever he tries, he can't win. He can't escape it. Wherever he goes, trouble finds him.

I know that quite a bit of the time, he IS the trouble. He's the one causing problems for his neighbors either because he thinks it's funny or because he thinks he's better than them. What an ego that guy has! He's only a half-decent clarinet player!

And boy, is he hilarious. In the earlier seasons, his reactions to everything were comic timing perfection, whether he's making mischief or reacting to something weird that SpongeBob or Patrick does.

And he's not perfect. Of course not. That's what makes him so great. That's what makes him one of the funniest, most relatable, most rounded cartoon characters I've ever seen in my life.

10 Bart Simpson (The Simpsons) Bartholomew JoJo "Bart" Simpson is the oldest child, and the only son, in the 1987 show The Simpsons. He was created by Matt Groening. His hobbies are pranking people including Lisa Simpson and Homer Simpson.

Back in the early '90s, it wasn't Homer who stood out the most among the Simpsons. It was Bart who stood out the most in the family. He was one of the most popular characters on television at the time, and his famous popularity is known as "Bartmania." At the time, he appeared in many Butterfinger commercials, media, and merchandise, such as T-shirts, which were later banned in American schools. He was primarily a focused character in some episodes of The Simpsons and had his own songs, such as the famous song at the time, "Do the Bartman," and "Deep Deep Trouble." That explains why he was one of the best cartoon characters in history. However, he was considered a bad role model for children by educators (such as teachers) and parents, so it makes sense why his T-shirts were banned in American schools back then.

The Contenders
11 Stewie Griffin (Family Guy) Stewart Gilligan "Stewie" Griffin is a main character from the animated television series Family Guy. Obsessed with violence and matricide, Stewie is the youngest child of Peter and Lois Griffin, and the brother of Meg and Chris Griffin.

He has the best voice on the show, an impeccable British accent, and his football-shaped head is amazing. In earlier seasons, he was an evil baby bent on world domination and matricide. In later seasons, he has gone a bit soft, but his episodes with Brian are still hysterical. Speaking of that, Stewie's relationship with Brian might be the best thing about the entire show. As this relationship develops later on, they really become close. This develops to the point where Stewie makes himself pregnant with him and Brian's children using one of his machines (Stewie is Enceinte). Anyway, Stewie has always been amazing, but it would be nice to see him go back to his former, evil self once in a while.

12 Daffy Duck (Looney Tunes) Daffy Duck is an animated cartoon character produced by Warner Bros. Styled as an anthropomorphic black duck, the character has appeared in cartoon series such as Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies, where he usually has been depicted as the best friend and occasional arch-rival of Bugs Bunny.

I agree with the other posters about this character. Everything about this character is funny, and everything he does is funny. I don't know anyone who doesn't like Daffy Duck.

Oh my gosh, Daffy Duck was so funny in the Looney Tunes show. He is my favorite character. I wonder if Daffy Duck will meet Donald Duck. They won't get along as well, but these two ducks have one thing in common besides being ducks: they are in TV shows. Donald Duck is in Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, and you know Daffy Duck.

You're right. He is one of a kind, and an original cartoon character. Everything he does is funny, and his speech is also funny!

13 Tom (Tom and Jerry) Thomas "Tom" Cat is a fictional character and one of the title characters in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's series of Tom and Jerry theatrical cartoon short films.

The modern Tom and Jerry sucks and has that whole slice-of-life thing going on. Therefore, it is garbage. Then there are new characters, random girlfriends, etc., but the classic Tom and Jerry is amazing, and I remember watching it a lot when I was little.

Tom & Jerry are by far the greatest cartoons ever... And Tom is at least in the top 5!

He is a lot better even than Mickey Mouse or Bugs Bunny, and anyone who doesn't feel the same is just an idiot!

Um, hello, Tom & Jerry are the best ever! Can't believe they're not in the top ten. They're so funny and clever that they don't even need to talk. Tom & Jerry forever!

14 Peter Griffin (Family Guy) Peter Griffin is the main protagonist and titular character of the American animated sitcom Family Guy.

The fact that Peter Griffin beats up his friends and family (especially Meg), gives them drugs, and attacks random people in the street is what makes him AWESOME. His goofiness and annoyance toward the other characters on the show is what makes the show funny. In my opinion, Brian is the coolest character on the show, but without Peter Griffin, there would be no Family Guy...literally.

Peter Griffin is an awesome character. He always comes up with the most crazy ideas to do with his family or his friends Joe, Cleveland, and Quagmire. He might be fat, lazy, and drunk, but that, in my opinion, just makes him so much funnier.

15 "My Leg" Guy (SpongeBob SquarePants)

Fred, voiced occasionally by Mr. Lawrence, occasionally by Dee Bradley Baker, and occasionally by Thomas F. Wilson.

His name is Fred Richard. He's a janitor and cameraman. He has two sons named Tommy and Monroe. A wife named Sadie and an ex-wife named Mable Monica. Just saying.

This dude is so weak, I bet if a baby touched him, he would say MY LEG!

16 Mordecai (Regular Show) Mordecai is one of the two main protagonists of Regular Show, along with his best friend Rigby. He made his debut in the non-canon short "2 in the AM PM" as a human cashier, who then morphs into a prototype Mordecai-like character with a fanny pack. He later makes his first official appearance in the... read more

Super cool, but not a totally infallible character. He tries to be the voice of reason but sometimes gets led astray by his counterpart. At times, he can be rather nasty to his best friend, but on the whole, he's a loyal friend. However, his relationship issues cause nothing but grief for himself and others. He generally got overtaken by Rigby in later episodes of Regular Show.

O-VER-RA-TED! (clap clap, clap clap clap) O-VER-RA-TED! (clap clap, clap clap clap) Seriously, all he does is whine and act like a jerk to his friends. I have no idea why he's above classic characters like Bart, Jerry, and Snoopy.

17 Donald Duck (Mickey Mouse Universe) Donald Duck is a cartoon character created in 1934 at Walt Disney Productions. Donald is an anthropomorphic white duck with a yellow-orange bill, legs, and feet. He typically wears a sailor shirt and cap with a bow tie.

Donald Duck is the funniest character of the Disney universe (and this is the most important part of Disney comics and cartoons), but also the most human-like creature in the Disney universe. His fate is accompanied by realism, while Mickey is the winner type, Donald wins but also loses.

Mickey's too nice. Donald's the one who always gets me laughing with his speech impediment and quick temper. He's definitely one of the best cartoon characters of all time.

I've grown up reading Donald stories. He truly is one of a kind.
For me, he'll always be that character that I've always wished was real.

18 Aang (Avatar: The Last Airbender) Avatar Aang is a fictional character and the protagonist of Nickelodeon's animated television series Avatar: The Last Airbender, voiced by Zach Tyler Eisen. Aang is the last surviving Airbender, a monk of the Air Nomads' Southern Air Temple.

Honestly, Aang is one of the most realistic kids ever, which is ironic since being the Avatar is basically being the Jesus of the Avatar World. He's powerful like Naruto and Goku and can be childish and fun-loving like them, but Aang, in my opinion, is written better because he is childish, naive, and kind but not stupid. Naruto forgives too easily and buddies up with enemies using the Talk No Jutsu moves, but Aang, while not going as far as to kill his enemies, doesn't befriend them. Instead, he defeats them to a point where they can't hurt others. He's also completely alienated from other customs, like Goku and others. Aang rocks.

19 Dipper Pines (Gravity Falls) Dipper Pines is one of the main characters from the Disney cartoon Gravity Falls which aired from 2012 to 2016. He is the twin brother of Mabel Pines.

I'm a girl and I relate to Dipper more than Mabel! He's so relatable and one of my top 3 characters in Gravity Falls (the others being Mabel and Bill Cipher, of course).

Dipper and Mabel both need to be higher on the list. Why the hell is Bill Cipher ahead of both of them?

Adorable and very smart, and will almost sacrifice anything for the people he loves.

20 Kenny (South Park)

Wow... I don't see why Kenny's not at least in the top fifty. He's a great character, much more developed than Cartman. Everyone recognizes the ever-so-familiar orange parka. He's so much more than just a pervert. He's an iconic character in many different ways that I just can't even explain. In short, Kenny is an awesome character and deserves better than 105th place. Okay, rant over.

I think that pretty much everyone can relate to this pint-sized pervert. He has both good and bad traits, and unlike most characters, he never really takes a side in good or bad. Plus, when Trey and Matt give him dialogue, he's one of the funniest characters.

21 Jerry (Tom and Jerry) Gerald "Jerry" Mouse is a fictional character and one of the title characters in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's series of Tom and Jerry theatrical cartoon short films. He is a mouse that gets chased by Tom, but tries to trick Tom so he won't catch him.

Tom and Jerry are the best (with the exception of Kids, Tales, and the new show). In the cartoons, sometimes Jerry wins because of Tom's stupidity. I like Jerry more in the Hanna-Barbera shorts. But in the 2014 show, they are both stupid. I especially hate Tuffy in that show.

Original - Very cool
Tales - same as the old version
Tom and Jerry Show 2014 - Annoying version of himself, like crap
Tom and Jerry Show 2016 - Almost like the old one and better than 2014 Jerry.

Those that badmouth him, are you forgetting shorts like The Lonesome Mouse, Dog Trouble, and Baby Butch where he helped/teamed up with Tom? He's my all-time favorite character.

22 Pikachu (Pokémon) Pikachu (Japanese: ピカチュウ) are a species of Pokémon, fictional creatures that appear in an assortment of video games, animated television shows and movies, trading card games, and comic books licensed by The Pokémon Company, a Japanese corporation. A mascot of the Pokemon franchise, it's... read more

The only anime character to appear on the list, Pikachu's appeal comes entirely from his adorability. The little guy can only say his name, and he has red dots for cheeks. Come on, now. While the video games and trading card game helped, Pikachu's appearance as a cartoon character is what has made him a worldwide icon for the Pokemon franchise and Japanese animation in general.

Pikachu is loyal to his friends, friendly, and fun to be around, and won't cause trouble. He is very formidable in battle. Not only that, but he's cute. The only problem I have with him is that I think, buried deep within the inner sanctum of his mind, lies a psychopathic personality that might manifest itself one day and doom humanity to vertigo.

23 GIR (Invader Zim)

GIR is life. I love GIR more than any Nickelodeon character ever. GIR should be in the top 10. He is possibly the cutest thing I've ever seen.

Invader Zim is the best cartoon ever invented, and Gir is the cutest thing ever!

I love Gir! He's the cutest dog alien ever! Love him! Can I be a mongoose dog?

24 Snoopy (Peanuts) Snoopy is a character in comic strip Peanuts. He first appears in the strip from October 4 1950. He often sleeps on the top of his dog house. He belongs to Charlie Brown. He was created by Charles M. Schulz. He also appears in all the specials and the 2015 Peanuts Movie.

When people hear Peanuts, who's the first character they think of? Snoopy! That's who! Heck, you could say Charlie Brown and people will still remember Snoopy, his flying ace routine, his friend Woodstock, and that wild imagination that has kept his name remembered to this day! Did I mention he's been in the Thanksgiving parade longer than any other character? Well, he has!

He had fantasies of being a World War One pilot. This propensity by Schultz to glorify war through the fantasies of a hawkish beagle with bloodlust is disturbing, albeit eerily fascinating. I am torn between admiration and condemnation when I contemplate my feelings toward this perverse abomination of the cartooning medium.

25 Invader Zim (Invader Zim)

This show is awesome! Zim is hilarious and adorable, and he manages to make me root for him even if he's trying to take over the world I live in. His ego is so hilariously huge. He is also trying to run away from his old life, which can be relatable to many people. I still don't understand how a sponge who has turned into a one-dimensional character can beat Zim. If this show had at least reruns, kids would probably know this show better.

Zim is insensitive, inept, and irresponsible about his regular acts. That is the Zim we adore. This form of acting in some characters may not work very well (Ren Hoek-Ren and Stimpy: Adult Party Cartoon), but sometimes, like this and other occasions (Rick Sanchez-Rick & Morty), when you manage to attach these adjectives to a character that was meant to be like this, you get an unforgettable character that is Zim.

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