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.

The Top Ten

Mickey Mouse (Disney)

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 Studio in 1928.
The first cartoon featuring Mickey Mouse was the iconic "Steamboat Willie," released later that same year. Mickey... read more

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 (Looney Tunes)

Bugs Bunny is an animated cartoon character created by the staff of Leon Schlesinger Productions, which later became Warner Bros. Cartoons. He is one of the most iconic and recognizable cartoon characters, known for his appearances in the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series. His signature phrase... 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 Simpson (The Simpsons)

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 the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant... read more
Fred Flintstone (The Flintstones)

Frederick "Fred" Flintstone is the main character of the animated sitcom The Flintstones, which originally aired during prime time on ABC from 1960 to 1966. Fred is portrayed as the husband of Wilma Flintstone and the father of Pebbles Flintstone. He is famous for his loud, brash personality and for... read more
Pete (Disney)

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 (Felix the Cat)

Felix the Cat is a cartoon character created during the silent film era. He is an anthropomorphic black cat known for his black body, white eyes, and wide grin, often placed in surreal and imaginative scenarios. Felix became one of the most iconic cartoon figures in animation history.

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 (Peanuts)

Snoopy is a character in the comic strip Peanuts, created by Charles M. Schulz. He first appeared on October 4, 1950, and often sleeps on top of his doghouse. Snoopy is the pet beagle of Charlie Brown and appears in numerous television specials as well as the 2015 feature film The Peanuts Movie.
SpongeBob SquarePants (SpongeBob SquarePants)

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 (Betty Boop)

Betty Boop is an animated cartoon character created by Max Fleischer, with help from animators including Grim Natwick. She first appeared in the 1930 cartoon Dizzy Dishes produced by Fleischer Studios. Betty Boop became one of the most popular cartoon characters of the 1930s.
Private Snafu (Snafu)

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

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Gollum (The Lord of The Rings)

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 The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, he is portrayed... 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.
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Edward Elric (Fullmetal Alchemist)

Edward Elric, commonly nicknamed Ed, is a fictional character and the protagonist of the Fullmetal Alchemist manga series and its adaptations created by Hiromu Arakawa. He is a State Alchemist who searches for the Philosopher's Stone to restore his brother's body after a failed alchemical experiment... read more

The Contenders

Porky Pig (Looney Tunes)

Porky Pig is an animated cartoon character in the Warner Bros. Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series of cartoons. He is known for his signature stutter and his iconic closing line, Th-th-th-that's all, folks! Porky first appeared in 1935 and became one of the studio's most recognizable characters.

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 (Gravity Falls)

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.... read more
Fritz the Cat (Fritz the Cat)

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.
Bart Simpson (The Simpsons)

Bartholomew JoJo "Bart" Simpson is the eldest child and only son in the animated TV series The Simpsons, which premiered in December 1989. He was created by Matt Groening... read more
Larke Tanner (Beverly Hills Teens)
Tennessee Tuxedo (Tennessee Tuxedo & His Tales)
Eric Cartman (South Park)

Eric Theodore Cartman, commonly known by his last name, is a central character in the animated series South Park. Created by Matt Stone and Trey Parker and voiced by Parker, Cartman is one of four main characters, alongside Stan Marsh, Kyle Broflovski, and Kenny McCormick. He often serves as both an... read more
Pikachu (Pokemon)

Pikachu (Japanese: ピカチュウ) is a species of Pokémon that appears in video games, animated television shows and movies, trading card games, and comic books licensed by The Pokémon Company. It is the mascot of the Pokémon franchise and is widely considered the most iconic Pokémon. Pikachu... read more
Batman (Batman: The Animated Series)
Goku (Dragon Ball Z)

Son Goku (Saiyan name Kakarrot) is the main protagonist of the Dragon Ball franchise created by Akira Toriyama in 1984. He possesses many powerful abilities, including super strength, ki control, flight, teleportation, super speed, enhanced reflexes, and Super Saiyan transformations that increase his... 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.
Rose Quartz (Steven Universe)
Tom (Tom & 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. He is known for his long-running rivalry with Jerry Mouse. The series began in 1940 and became one of the most famous cartoon duos in animation history... read more
Lincoln Loud (The Loud House)

Lincoln Loud is the main character in The Loud House, an animated series that premiered on Nickelodeon in 2016. He is the only boy among eleven siblings and often navigates the chaos of his large family through creative problem-solving. The show has been praised for its humor and representation of family... read more

I love all the characters from *The Loud House*!
Arnold Shortman (Hey Arnold)
Jerry (Tom & Jerry)

Gerald "Jerry" Mouse is a fictional character and one of the title characters in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's Tom and Jerry series of theatrical cartoon short films. He is a clever mouse who is frequently pursued by Tom the cat but often manages to outsmart him. Jerry first appeared in the 1940 cartoon short... read more