Top 50 Cartoon Characters

Cartoon characters are as endearing to adults as children. Many times we can relate to them. Most of the time we just love to laugh at their antics and misfortune. Following is the list of top 50 cartoon characters of all time, judged for their influence, their popularity and their hilarity.

Bobby Hill

Twentieth Century Fox

Bobby Hill is my favorite character on King of the Hill. He's the SpongeBob of the group, always optimistic, a dreamer. If I could ask creator Mike Judge one question, it would be, "What will Bobby Hill be when he grows up?" He has so many aspirations, I just can't imagine the answer.

Wonder Woman

Turner Broadcasting

Before those snappy drawers called Underoos were made, back when underpants looked like, well, underpants, I just took red and blue markers to my own white bottoms (as any 5 year old will) and made my own Wonder Woman costume. Thank goodness we lived way, way out in the country. Regardless, Wonder Woman gave little girls their own superhero, one who was strong and gorgeous with lots of cool toys.

Daria

Pricegrabber.com

If Daria were alive, right now, would she be Emo or Goth? Probably neither, as Daria doesn't conform to anyone's trend. She's smart and witty, a teenage girl trying to figure out how to be her own person and still have a boyfriend at the same time.

 Batman

Turner Broadcasting

Can you imagine a time when Batman wasn't the Dark Knight we know now? Hard to believe the many transformations this superhero has seen through the years, especially on television. You can catch this caped crusader now on Cartoon Network in Batman: The Brave and the Bold. His chest is huge!

Superman

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To me, Superman is the ultimate superhero. But is he a true superhero since he only has powers because he's an alien, from another planet? Or is he just a guy who fell to ground on the right planet? I'm sure fanboys debate this issue frequently, but as long as any incarnation of Superman includes a broad chest, incorruptible morals and old-fashioned chivalry, I'm there.

George of the Jungle

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If you doubt the popularity of George of the Jungle, just watch the new cartoon on Cartoon Network, or rent the DVD of the live-action film starring Brendan Fraser. George of the Jungle originated in the '60s, a parody of the Tarzan story. He's known for swinging on vines and slamming into trees, as well as his rhythmic theme song, "George, George, George of the Jungle... watch out for that tree!"

Spider-man

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Spider-man is the everyman superhero. He started out as the geek next door and was transformed into a mega-strong, mega-agile dude. Spider-man has been reproduced in TV cartoons many, many times. Most recently Spidey starred in The Spectacular Spider-Man.

The Powerpuff Girls

Cartoon Network

Girl power times three. Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup keep Townsville, USA safe from evil, while dealing with the pressures of kindergarten. The visual style of The Powerpuff Girls sets it apart, though. It's part high art and part drug-induced pop art. Whichever way you go, those giant eyes and crazy voices keep the cartoon from ever being stiff.

Angelica Pickles

Nickelodeon

Why do bullies get all the good lines? Angelica Pickles is the bossy, spoiled toddler from Rugrats. She is the most familiar character from Rugrats, but possibly only because she is the meanest and talks the most (she's older than the babies).

Felix the Cat

Classic Media

Felix is a black and white cat created during the silent film era of the early 20th Century. His simple form and face make him easily recognizable. He was also the first cartoon character to gain enough popularity to award him a feature film. 

Tom and Jerry

Turner Broadcasting

This cat and mouse team were the inspiration for The Simpsons Itchy and Scratchy (without the gore). Tom and Jerry chase each other, torment each other and generally try to defeat the other. Though Tom has the upper hand more than, say, Sylvester, he still has yet to make a meal of Jerry.

Woody Woodpecker

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Another anti-hero, Woody Woodpecker lives to cause trouble. His most famous trait is no doubt his cackling, stuttering laugh.

Alvin (the Chipmunk)

Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images

Alvin, lead singer of Alvin and the Chipmunks, is the guts of the operation. He's the one who finds the loopholes in most situations. These rodents are so popular they just released another CD, after the 2007 movie soundtrack.

Donald Duck

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As Mickey Mouse's cynical sidekick, Donald Duck was always my favorite. (Much like Oscar the Grouch was my favorite on Sesame Street. Hm, issues?) It wasn't the raspy voice or fashionable duds, but his eye-rolling attitude and exasperation with most of the world that made him so relatable.

Mighty Mouse

"Here I come to save the day!" Before Andy Kaufman lip-synched Mighty Mouse's theme on Saturday Night Live, Mighty Mouse had been through many incarnations. Part mouse, part superhero, Mighty Mouse kept Mouseville safe from a variety of cat villains.

Yogi Bear and Boo Boo

Turner Broadcasting

Another Hanna-Barbera staple was the team of Yogi Bear and Boo Boo. Like other classic Hanna-Barbera characters, Yogi continually found himself in trouble and Boo Boo usually figured a way out. The duo lived in Jellystone Park. Yogi's character is most likely based on the Ed Norton character from The Honeymooners, another reason he was so lovable.

Space Ghost

Adult Swim

Sure, Space Ghost was a popular character in '60s Hanna-Barbera cartoons, when he battled villains in outer space. But his stint as a late-night talk show host on Space Ghost: Coast to Coast sent him into the stratosphere of stardom. 

Bill from 'Schoolhouse Rock'

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Schoolhouse Rock was a set of animated shorts that helped educate kids in the '60s and '70s about conjunctions, the magic number three, and especially, the legislative process. The latter lesson starred a rolled-up paper named Bill, and showed how he went from the House to the Senate and eventually became a law. His "I'm Just a Bill" tune is most memorable.

Arthur

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Arthur is a highly recognizable character from his own children's book series who made the leap to his own TV cartoon on PBS. And if you're wondering, yes, he's an aardvark.