31 Most Iconic Cartoon Characters of All Time

We all love cartoons, no matter the age. Watching these cartoons made our childhood great and each time we watch these classics we feel great. Some of the cartoon characters are legendary and will continue to inspire us. These are 31 of the most iconic cartoon characters of all time:

31. Top Cat

“Top Cat” tells the story of a cat gang, run by their charismatic leader: Top Cat. He tries to get rich with all costs by gambling, eating for free, or just tricking somebody, but the local cop, the officer Dibble, keeps his eyes on him. These will lead to a series of funny events like the one below:

30. Elmer Fudd

First appearance of Elmer Fudd took place in “Egghead Rides Again”, under the name of: Egghead. The first official appearance was in “Elmer’s Candid camera”, but back then he was a little different. Little changes were made to his character. In a few cartoons his character was fat. He had conflicts with Bugs Bunny or Daffy Duck and most of the times he played a hunter’s role.

What is particular to Elmer, is that he speaks with a “w” instead of an “r” (for example wabbit-rabbit). One of his famous lines is: “Shhh. Be vewy vewy quiet, I’m hunting wabbits”:

29. Pink Panther

Pink Panther is a British cartoon character of pink color (obvious), cool, curious, confident. He never uses words. He communicates by facial expressions and everyone can see what he is thinking about. He is proud that he is pink, but this is not stopping him to be as masculine and confident as possible.

28. Cartman

Cartman is a fictional cartoon character from the famous show “South Park”. He is one of the four main characters of the cartoon, all 8 y.o. He is selfish, almost narcissistic, temperamental, manipulative, unfair, cowardly, racist, aggressive, and defies everyone, even those who consider him a friend.

Here is one of the best moments of Cartman:



27. George Jetson

George Jetson is the main character from the futuristic animated series: “The Jetsons”. He is a hard-working man, with a tiring job at Spacely’s Sprockets (named after his tough boss). His favorite activity is to rest after a hard day of work, but the other members of the family just won’t let him.

And here is how George Jetson starts his day:



26. Sylvester the Cat

Sylvester the Cat is one of the most popular cat cartoon characters in the world. He won three Oscars on Academy Awards for Looney Tunes series and Merrie Melodies, for the cartoons based on his ongoing chase over Tweety, Hippety Hopper, and Speedy Gonzales. In some episodes, you can spot Sylvester with his son: Sylvester Junior, who came out in 12 cartoons. You can also spot Sylvester in four different episodes with Porky Pig.

And a singing moment from Sylvester:



25. Huckleberry Hound

Huckleberry Hound is a cartoon character created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera. The Huckleberry Hound Show was the 2nd television series Hanna-Barbera trademark. It was launched in 1958 and sponsored by Kellogg. Huckleberry Hound was replaced later by Hockey Wolf.

Huckleberry Hound is a blue dog that loves the song: “Oh, my darling, Clementine” and it is a true handy-man. In the various episodes, he impersonates a science man, a Scotland Yard detective, a cowboy (most often) and a modern politician. His name is clearly a reference to the famous Huckleberry Finn.

And a “saving the day” moment for Huckleberry Hound:

24. The Red Guy

The Red Guy is the main villain of the show “Cow and Chicken”. He is an eternal enemy of the two brothers. He impersonates different characters, like: policemen, movie directors, hunters, etc.. Initially The Red Guy was the devil in the pilot episode.: “No Smoking”. He never wears pants, and that’s why he makes a lot of jokes about pants. He also has some appearances in “I am Weasel”.

A typical appearance for Red:

23. Goofy

Goofy is a cartoon character created by Walt Disney Studios in 1932. He is a tall anthropomorphic dog, who always wears a sweater, vest, pants, shoes, white gloves, and a tall green hat. He is distinctive by his funny (goofy) laugh: “ah-hyuck!”. He is a good friend of Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck and one of the most famous Disney characters. Goofy is presented in most of the episodes as clumsy, but he can be intuitive and ingenious, in his own eccentric way.

An episode with Goofy in a two week vacation:



22. Droopy

Droopy is an animated cartoon character created by Tex Avery for Metro Goldwyn Mayer. He is a small white dog who is bored to death. He is always tired and grumpy. The first appearance was in Dumb-Hounded. His name was used after 5 episodes, in the first four, he was just a John Doe dog. He has many enemies, like Spike and a stutter wolf.

Droopy being Droopy in this video:

21. HIM

HIM is a demonic creature, effeminate and a very powerful entity. He is one of the main villains of the “Powerpuff Girls” cartoon. He has red skin and claws (like lobsters).

He is considered the most powerful enemy of the Powerpuff girls and practically he is the incarnation of evil. His character is unique and one of the most recognizable villains of all time.

An epic moment with HIM in his bathtub:



20. Sailor Moon

Sailor Moon is the title of the Japanese franchise created by Naoko Takeuchi. During the 90s, the show was popular all over the world. Sailor Moon was considered a model character for all girls because she was a superheroine who fought for the good, but at the same time, in most of the episodes, her personal life and feelings were presented, making the teenage girls identify with the character.

Just to remember, the Sailor Moon transformation:



19. Sebastian the Crab

Sebastian is the most famous crab in the world. It is a character from Disney’s 1989 animated movie “The Little Mermaid”. He is the right hand of King Triton (the ruler of the seas and the father of Ariel). He is also the advisor and the court composer. He will remain forever in our hearts for trying so hard to watch over Princess Ariel, while she makes his life impossible.

Sebastian’s epic song: “Under the Sea”:



18. Tweety

Tweety, the canary, is a cartoon character created by Warner Brothers, that is part of Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series. Tweety had its first appearance in 1942 in “A Tale of Two Kitties” episode. Even if he looks shy and innocent, under its golden feathers lies a true cunning survivor. Living happily in its cage, Tweety manages to get away from Sylvester’s claws each time. The canary is famous for the: “I tawt I taw a putty tat… I did! I did taw a putty tat!”

A Tweety-Sylvester moment:



17. Popeye the Sailor Man

Popeye the Sailor Man is a famous animated character and one of the oldest ones. Popeye had his debut in “Timble Theatre” magazine in 1929 as a secondary character. The character was created by E.C Sedar.

Popeye is a muscular sailor who smokes all the time a pipe. He gains superpowers when he eats spinach. (The same powers Asterix has when he drinks the magic potion). He fights different villains, but the most competitive one for him is Bluto.

Here is Popeye singing: “I am Popeye the Sailor Man”:



16. Muttley

Muttley is a fictional cartoon character originally voiced by Don Messick. He is well-known for the appearances in cartoons like: “Wacky Races”, “Stop that Pigeon”, “Dastardly and Muttley”. He also has appearances in animated movies with Yogi Bear and Huckleberry Hound. He is the main character in “Magnificent Muttley”, a 17 episode series, where he lives a self-made fantasy in each episode.

He will remain an iconic character for his evil, wheezing laughter:

15. Dexter

Dexter is the main character of Dexter’s Laboratory animated show. He is a super-gifted child that has in his basement a laboratory where he invents all kinds of cool stuff. He is under 3.2 feet tall (under 1 meter) and has a funny accent. His main challenge is to stop Dee Dee (his sister) from destroying his lab and inventions.

Here is a Dee Dee – Dexter moment:

14. Wile E. Coyote

Wile E. Coyote is a cartoon character and his only purpose in life is to catch the Road Runner, but he never succeeds. He is very naive and has weird ideas on how to catch the Road Runner (for example to throw dynamite on it)

He remains an epic character of the genre and will remain in history for the total fails he is capable of.

A normal day from Wile E. Coyote life, falling off a cliff:



13. Woody Woodpecker

Woody Woodpecker is a fictional cartoon woodpecker from the series with the same name. The series were created by Walter Lantz for Universal Pictures. Woody made its first appearance in 1940 (Knock Knock). The series ran for 30 years. In 1972, aired the last episode, where Woody Woodpecker had the main role. Woody Woodpecker is famous for the phrase: “Guess who?” and “Ha-Ha-Ha-Ha-Ha!”

A few moments with Woody Woodpecker’s famous laugh:



12. Courage the Cowardly Dog

Courage the Cowardly Dog is an animated horror comedy television series nominated for the Oscars. Courage is a little dog that is always scared and lives in Nowhere, Texas. (practically in the middle of nowhere). He was abandoned when he was just a poppy, but it was found by Muriel, who brought him home.

The dog has a tough time in his new home, because Muriel’s husband, Eustace, can’t stand him, always yelling: “Stupid dog!”, and scaring him often with a Voodoo mask. Even if his owners are not aware, they are always saved by this cowardly dog from extreme dangers. He can speak with the viewers, but when he wants to speak with other characters, he stumbles and can’t pass the message.

If you would like to see some of his famous screamings, check them out:



11. Johnny Bravo

Johnny Bravo is the main character of the show with the same name. He is a narcissistic and misogynist guy, who always wears the same clothes: sunglasses, black T-shirt and blue jeans. He always puts in value his muscles of Casanova. Despite the fact that he has many flaws, Johnny Bravo never gives up, hoping that in the end, women will fall for him.

Here some of his “best” pick-up lines:



10. Scooby-Doo

Scooby-Doo is the main character of the series with the same name. Scooby is a brown dog scared by ghosts and ghouls. At the famous question: “Scooby-Doo, Where are you?”, the answer is simple: he hides in the Mystery Machine eating Scooby snacks. Scooby-Doo is a Great Dane dog, part of a detective team, and each time when things take a scary turn, he runs away. Even if he and his best friend Shaggy try to stay away from trouble, the trouble finds them. His famous phrase found at the end of each episode is: “Scooby-Dooby-Dooooooo!”.

Check all the intros for this epic cartoon since 1969 to 2016:



9. Yogi Bear

Yogi Bear is a cartoon character created by Hanna-Barbera. He wasn’t always a main character. His first appearances were in Huckleberry Hound series and in Snagglepuss show.

He wears a green hat, a green tie, and a white collar. His main activity is to eat, and that’s why his main purpose is to steal people’s picnic baskets in the park. His second great wish is to escape from Jellystone Park:

8. Homer Simpson

Homer Jay Simpson is the main character of the American TV series “The Simpsons” and the father of the famous family. He represents the standard type of middle-aged American man: fat, lazy and grumpy. His voice is played by actor Dan Castellaneta.

Here are 2 minutes of one of his best moments, trying to be a prankster:



7. Porky Pig

Porky Pig is a cartoon character from Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series made by Warner Bros. Porky is a stutter, wears a white shirt, blue coat and a red bow tie. He is famous for the line found at the ending of many Warner Bros cartoons and movies: “Th-th-th-that’s all folks!”:

6. Daffy Duck

Daffy Duck is a cartoon character played by a unique black duck with many personalities. In the first episodes, he was a crazy character who gave headaches to his “enemies”, but during the years, the directors changed his personality in a selfish disagreeable duck. In most of the episodes, you will find Daffy Duck in the companion of Bugs Bunny, Porky, Elmer Fudd. His biggest enemy is himself because he always makes crazy choices, and in the end, everything turns against him.

Here are some of Daffy Duck’s best moments in a short compilation:



5. Fred Flintstone

Fred Flintstone is the main character of the series: The Flintstones. Fred Flintstone is a 9 to 5 working caveman and the single provider for his stone-age family. He loves Wilma (his wife), Pebbles (his daughter) and bowling (anyway this is not quite the order).

Repeating all the time, one of the most famous phrases in the cartoon industry: “Yabba-Dabba-Doo!”, Fred always get into trouble with his best friend Barney, and usually, the wives help them out.

Here is the ending of each episode of Flintstones, one of the most famous endings in the history of television:



4. Bugs Bunny

Bugs Bunny is a fictional rabbit, that shows up in the animated series of Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies, created by Leon Schlesinger Productions (later in 1945, Warner Bros Cartoons). He is one of the most popular cartoon characters in the world. In 2002 was nominated by TV Guide, as the best cartoon character of all time. Now he is the mascot of Warner brothers.

His favorite phrase is: “What’s up, Doc?”:

3. Donald Duck

Donald Duck is a cartoon character created by Walt Disney in 1934. Donald is an anthropomorphic white duck with a yellow-orange beak and legs. Usually he wears a sailor’s shirt, a beret, and a red bow tie. But he never wears pants (only when he goes to the beach – a paradox isn’t it?). His main characteristics are his personality and explosive temper. Donald was nominated as the third most popular cartoon character of all time. On the 1st place is his friend Mickey Mouse, and on the second place is Bugs Bunny. Donald Duck appeared in more films than any other Disney character.

Here is one of his famous angry moments:



2. Tom

Thomas the Cat or simply Tom, as everyone recognizes him, is a fictional cartoon character from the “Tom and Jerry” series. Created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, Tom is a blue/grey cat that had the first appearance on screens in 1940 in the episode: “Puss Gets the Boot“. Initially Tom was known as Jasper in this first episode, but in the next one: “The Midnight Snack” he receives the long-standing name of Tom.

As you all know, sadly Tom is always the character that is getting hurt in his eternal war with Jerry. Practically Tom was never a winner in any episode. Tom remains one of the most iconic cartoon characters in the history of television.

Here is a moment when the characters from “Tom & Jerry” tried to make peace… but not for long…:

1. Mickey Mouse

Mickey Mouse is a cartoon character created by the director and cartoonist Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks in 1928. A little mouse dressed in red pants, big yellow shoes, and white gloves, became one of the most iconic symbols of the American cinema and culture. He has a modest and pleasant personality, he is practically an enthusiastic and determined character and always seeks adventures and mysteries. Mickey Mouse is considered the leader of his gang of friends and he is seen most of the time alongside his girlfriend Minnie, his dog Pluto and his best friends: Donald Duck and Goofy.

Mickey Mouse is considered the most famous and the most iconic cartoon character in the world. On 18th November 1978, at hist 50th anniversary, Mickey Mouse became the first animated character to have his own star on the Hollywood Hall of Fame.

Here is a full episode of Mickey Mouse from 1936:

