Top 10 Most Important Animated Characters
From classic cartoon characters like Mickey Mouse and Bugs Bunny to modern-day anime heroes like Goku and Naruto, the world of animation has given us some of the most beloved and memorable characters in pop culture history.Whether you grew up watching Saturday morning cartoons or binged on animated movies and TV shows as an adult, there's no denying the impact these characters have had on our lives. They've made us laugh, cry, and even taught us important life lessons. And while we all have our personal favorites, there are certain characters that have stood the test of time and cemented their place in animation history.
But who are these characters? Which animated icons are truly the most important to the world of animation? It's a question that's sure to spark some debate, but that's what makes this list so exciting - it's open to your input! If you see a character that you believe should be on this list, feel free to add them and make your voice heard.
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. I mean, this guy means a lot, even if you're not a huge Disney fan. I used to make fun of Disney until I put my pride aside. Now I realize how big this mouse is.
If Mickey never existed, anime wouldn't exist because he was the inspiration for the first anime character ever, Astro Boy.
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 While Porky may have been the first major Looney Tunes character, Bugs Bunny surpassed all of them and became the face of Looney Tunes.
Homer Jay Simpson is the main protagonist of the American animated television series The Simpsons, serving as the patriarch of the eponymous family. It is implied that he is not very intelligent, with a crayon stuck in his brain often cited as the reason. He works at a nuclear power plant and does his... read more
Frederick "Fred" Flintstone, is the main character of the animated sitcom The Flintstones, which aired during prime-time on ABC during the original series' run from 1960 to 1966. Fred is the husband of Wilma Flintstone and father of Pebbles Flintstone.
Without him, Mickey Mouse wouldn't have existed, Donald wouldn't have existed, and Goofy wouldn't have existed. Even all the Disney villains owe it to the original Disney villain.
He made his first appearance in the Alice Comedies by Walt Disney as an antagonist three years before the debut of Mickey Mouse.
Felix the Cat is a funny-animal cartoon character created in the silent film era. The anthropomorphic black cat with his black body, white eyes, and giant grin, coupled with the surrealism of the situations in which his cartoons place him, combine to make Felix one of the most recognized cartoon characters... read more First appearing in 1919, Felix was one of the first images ever to be broadcast on television. He was also the first animated character popular enough to draw movie audiences.
Sorry if I'm taking this too far, but should he be higher than Mickey?
Felix the Cat was the first cartoon star and deserves more attention.
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.
SpongeBob SquarePants is a fictional character and the titular protagonist of the American animated television series of the same name. SpongeBob is known for his bright optimism and naive, childish tendencies. He often gets into trouble in Bikini Bottom... read more I spent my childhood watching this show, so naturally, when I hear "animated character," SpongeBob is the first thing that comes to mind.
Perhaps no other Nickelodeon character is more iconic or has had as much success as the yellow sponge himself.
Betty Boop is an animated cartoon character created by Max Fleischer, with help from animators including Grim Natwick.
A character made specifically for the military in a series of wartime cartoons. Since a lot of soldiers at the time were illiterate, the best way to teach them the importance of following military procedures was by showing a cartoon about it.
Snafu, which actually stands for Situation Normal All F-ked Up (or Fouled Up), was portrayed as the worst soldier in the army. He always managed to screw everything up and usually ended with his own demise, which was important to show soldiers how to avoid making the same mistakes.
The topics covered included everything from keeping military secrets to the importance of wearing gas masks, as well as avoiding booby traps. Since it was made only for the army, the creators didn't have to follow strict studio codes, which allowed them to include raunchy humor, nudity, and curse words.
The Newcomers
Gollum is a fictional character from J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium. He was introduced in the 1937 children's fantasy novel The Hobbit, and became an important supporting character in its sequel, The Lord of the Rings. In Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies, he is portrayed via motion... read more A prototype for what is commonly known as performance capture or motion capture. Essentially, an actor wears a green suit with dots, and his or her movements are captured in photorealistic animation.
Porky Pig is an animated cartoon character in the Warner Bros. Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series of cartoons. Without him, Bugs Bunny wouldn't have existed, Daffy Duck wouldn't have existed, and all of the Looney Tunes characters wouldn't have existed without Porky Pig.
Mabel Pines is one of the lead characters of the Disney XD animated series Gravity Falls. The character is voiced by Kristen Schaal, and designed by the series creator, Alex Hirsch. She is inspired by Hirsch's own twin sister, Ariel Hirsch. She is a caring, boy-crazy 12 year old girl that spent the... read more
Before there was South Park, Rick and Morty, Family Guy, or even Drawn Together, there was the character who started the whole adult cartoon genre. Back when the idea of a cartoon for adults was unheard of, Fritz the Cat, brought to life by Ralph Bakshi, explored the world of sex, drugs, and violence.
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.
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
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
Son Goku (Kakarrot) is the main protagonist in Dragon Ball franchise created by Akira Toriyama in 1984. He has many abilities like, super strength, utilization of ki, flight, teleportation, super speed, enhanced reflexes, and Super Saiyan transformation that increase strength, speed, and durability... read more While not technically a cartoon character, he is still animated. And come on, it's the true legendary Super Saiyan himself! He's pretty much the reason so many people are into anime. I might even consider him a modern-day Superman in a way, and possibly even better than the Man of Steel himself.
For most people, *Dragon Ball Z* was their introduction to anime, and no other anime character is more iconic than Goku.
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.
I love all the characters from *The Loud House*!
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.