Here Are The 59 Most Famous Cartoon Characters Of All Time

    These characters are everything.

    Michele Bird
    by Michele Bird

    BuzzFeed Contributor

    Who didn't grow up watching cartoons?

    Nickelodeon / Via giphy.com

    I spent more weekends than I can remember binge-watching all my favorite animated TV shows and movies.

    Disney+ / Via giphy.com

    Let's rewind and take a look back at some of the most iconic cartoon characters from the past to present.

    1. Tom Cat

    Tom the cat pours milk for Jerry the mouse in a classic cartoon scene
    WB

    Where you've seen him: Tom and Jerry shorts since 1940 and most recently in the feature length 2021 movie Tom & Jerry.

    Iconic quote: Tom doesn't talk, but his frequent yelps of pain are pretty iconic.



    2. Dora the Explorer

    Dora the Explorer holding Boots the Monkey in a forest setting
    Nickelodeon Network / ©Nickelodeon Network/Courtesy Everett Collection

    Where you've seen her: Dora the Explorer, Go, Diego, Go!, Dora and Friends: Into the City, and Dora and the Lost City of Gold. 

    Iconic quote: "Swiper no swiping!"


    3. Peppa Pig

    Peppa Pig character standing on stage with curtains on the sides
    STX Entertainment / courtesy Everett Collection

    Where you've seen her: Peppa Pig since 2004

    Iconic quote: "I love muddy puddles!"

    4. Jerry Mouse

    Animated character Jerry from "Tom and Jerry" standing beside green shoes
    WB

    Where you've seen him: Tom and Jerry shorts since 1940 and most recently in the feature length 2021 movie Tom & Jerry.

    Iconic quote: Jerry doesn't talk, but he frequently giggles at Tom's pain.


    5. Toph Beifong

    Toph from Avatar: The Last Airbender is shown with a focused expression
    Nickelodeon

    Where you've seen her: Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra

    Iconic quote: "I am the greatest earthbender in the world! Don't you two dunderheads ever forget it!"


    6. Prince Zuko

    Animated character Zuko from "Avatar: The Last Airbender" with a scar over his left eye
    Nickelodeon

    Where you've seen him: Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra

    Iconic quote: "That's rough buddy."

    7. Tinker Bell

    Tinker Bell from Peter Pan is standing on a mirror, with a feather and books in the background
    Courtesy Everett Collection

    Where you've seen her: Peter Pan, Return to Neverland, and the Tinker Bell film series

    Iconic quote: She doesn't speak, so Tinker Bell doesn't really have iconic quotes.


    8. Chip Skylark

    Animated character Chip Skylark smiling with a pointed finger up, against a night sky backdrop
    Nickelodeon

    Where you've seen him: The Fairly OddParents

    Iconic quote: "My shiny teeth that twinkle just like the stars in space"


    9. Tommy Pickles

    Tommy Pickles in Rugrats
    © Paramount / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Where you've seen him: Rugrats, The Rugrats Movie, Rugrats in Paris: The Movie, and Rugrats Go Wild

    Iconic quote: "A baby's gotta do what a baby's gotta do."

    10. Mickey Mouse

    Mickey Mouse in Fantasia
    © Walt Disney / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Where you've seen him: Fantasia, Mickey's Christmas Carol, and more Disney films

    Iconic quote: "Oh, boy!"

    11. D.W. Read

    PBS / Via giphy.com

    Where you've seen her: Arthur

    Iconic quote: "That sign won't stop me because I can't read."

    12. SpongeBob Squarepants

    SpongeBob Squarepants
    © Paramount / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Where you've seen him: The SpongeBob Squarepants series on Nickelodeon and The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie

    Iconic quote: "I'm ready, I'm ready."

    13. Helga Pataki

    Nickelodeon / Via giphy.com

    Where you've seen her: Hey Arnold!

    Iconic quote: "Move it football head!"

    14. Stewie Griffin

    Stewie Griffin
    © Fox / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Where you've seen him: Family Guy

    Iconic quote: "Damn, you vile woman."

    15. Homer Simpson

    Homer Simpson in The Simpsons
    © 20th Century Fox Film Corp. / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Where you've seen him: The Simpsons and The Simpsons Movie

    Iconic quote: "D'oh!"

    16. Louise Belcher

    Louise Belcher
    © Fox / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Where you've seen her: Bob's Burgers and The Bob's Burgers Movie

    Iconic quote: "You think you know how to kiss?"

    17. Scooby-Doo

    Scooby-Doo
    CBS / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Where you've seen him: Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!, Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo, A Pup Named Scooby-Doo, and more

    Iconic quote: "Scooby Doobie Doooo!"

    18. Courage

    Courage the Cowardly Dog
    © Cartoon Network / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Where you've seen him: Courage the Cowardly Dog

    Iconic quote: "The things I do for love."

    19. Stitch

    Stitch in Lilo & Stitch
    © Walt Disney Co. / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Where you've seen him: Lilo & Stitch, Stitch! The Movie, Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch, and Leroy and Stitch

    Iconic quote: "Nobody gets left behind."

    20. Ms. Frizzle

    Ms. Frizzle
    © Nelvana / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Where you've seen her: The Magic School Bus

    Iconic quote: "Take chances, make mistakes, get messy!"

    21. Snoopy

    Snoopy and Woodstock in The Snoopy Show
    © Apple TV+ / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Where you've seen him: The Peanuts comics, The Snoopy Show, It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, and more

    Iconic quote: "Never forget to smile."

    22. Garfield

    Boomerang / Via giphy.com

    Where you've seen him: The Garfield comics, Garfield and Friends, The Garfield Show, and more

    Iconic quote: "Love me, feed me, never leave me."

    23. The Powerpuff Girls

    The Powerpuff Girls
    © Warner Bros. / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Where you've seen them: The Powerpuff Girls

    Iconic quote: "Sugar, spice, and everything nice."

    24. Angelica Pickles

    Angelica Pickles in Rugrats
    © Paramount / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Where you've seen her: Rugrats, The Rugrats Movie, Rugrats in Paris: The Movie and Rugrats Go Wild

    Iconic quote: "You babies are so dumb."

    25. Dexter

    DeeDee and Dexter in Dexter's Laboratory
    © Cartoon Network / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Where you've seen him: Dexter's Laboratory

    Iconic quote: "You are stupid! You are stupid! And don't forget, you are stupid!"

    26. Johnny Bravo

    Johnny Bravo
    © Cartoon Network / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Where you've seen him: Johnny Bravo

    Iconic quote: "I am Johnny Bravo, the one-man army!"

    27. Pink Panther

    Pink Panther in The Pink Panther Show
    NBC / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Where you've seen him: The Pink Panther Show, Pink Panther and Sons, and more

    Iconic quote: "Why can't humans behave more like animals?"

    28. Charlie Brown

    Charlie Brown and Linus in A Charlie Brown Christmas
    CBS / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Where you've seen him: The Peanuts comics, A Charlie Brown Christmas, It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, and more

    Iconic quote: "Good grief!"

    29. Shaggy Rogers

    Scooby-Doo and Shaggy
    Cartoon Network / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Where you've seen him: Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!, The Scooby-Doo Movies, The Scooby-Doo Show, and more

    Iconic quote: "Zoinks!"

    30. Minnie Mouse

    Disney / Via giphy.com

    Where you've seen her: Steamboat Willie, House of Mouse, Mickey's Christmas Carol, and more

    Iconic quote: "Yoo-hoo!"

    31. Bart Simpson

    Bart Simpson in The Simpsons
    © Fox / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Where you've seen him: The Simpsons and The Simpsons Movie

    Iconic quote: "Eat my shorts!"

    32. Fred Flinstone

    The Flinstones
    ABC / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Where you've seen him: The Flinstones

    Iconic quote: "Yabba dabba do!"

    33. The Grinch

    Max and The Grinch in How the Grinch Stole Christmas
    CBS / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Where you've seen him: How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

    Iconic quote: "The Grinch's heart grew three sizes that day."

    34. Popeye

    Popeye
    © Paramount / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Where you've seen him: Popeye the Sailor

    Iconic quote: "I'm strong to the finish, cause I eats me spinach, I'm Popeye the Sailor Man!"

    35. Yogi Bear

    Yogi Bear
    Hanna-Barbera Productions / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Where you've seen him: Yogi Bear

    Iconic quote: "I'm smarter than the average bear."

    36. Peter Pan

    Disney / Via giphy.com

    Where you've seen him: Peter Pan

    Iconic quote: "You're next, Hook!"

    37. Timmy Turner

    Timmy Turner in The Fairly OddParents
    © Nickelodeon / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Where you've seen him: The Fairly OddParents

    Iconic quote: "But you hate the Dinklebergs!"

    38. Belle

    Disney / Via giphy.com

    Where you've seen her: Beauty and the Beast, Belle's Magical World, and more

    Iconic quote: "I want adventure in the great wide somewhere."

    39. Rick

    Rick in Rick and Morty
    © Adult Swim / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Where you've seen him: Rick and Morty

    Iconic quote: "Wubba lubba dub dub!"

    40. Doug Funnie

    Nickelodeon / Via giphy.com

    Where you've seen him: Doug and Doug's 1st Movie

    Iconic quote: "Dear journal..."

    41. Chuckie Finster

    Chuckie in The Rugrats Movie
    © Paramount / Nickelodeon Movies / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Where you've seen him: Rugrats, The Rugrats Movie, Rugrats in Paris: The Movie, and Rugrats Go Wild

    Iconic quote: "This place gives me the juice bumps."

    42. Beavis and Butt-Head

    Beavis and Butt-Head
    © MTV / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Where you've seen them: Beavis and Butt-Head, Beavis and Butt-Head Do America, and more

    Iconic quote: "Uh, hey, baby."

    43. Daria Morgendorffer

    Daria
    © MTV / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Where you've seen her: Daria

    Iconic quote: "I've been busy procrastinating all day."

    44. Ashley Spinelli

    Ashley Spinelli in Recess
    Disney

    Where you've seen her: Recess and Recess: School's Out

    Iconic quote: "Get to the end of the line, Randall, before I give you the end of my fist!"

    45. Otto Rocket

    Nickelodeon / Via giphy.com

    Where you've seen him: Rocket Power

    Iconic quote: "Woogie, woogie, woogie, woogie."

    46. Zim

    Zim in Invader Zim: Enter the Florpus
    © Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Where you've seen him: Invader Zim and Invader Zim: Enter the Florpus

    Iconic quote: "Prepare to meet your horrible doom!"

    47. CatDog

    CatDog
    © Nickelodeon / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Where you've seen them: CatDog and CatDog: The Great Parent Mystery

    Iconic quote: "Hi ho diggety."

    48. Eliza Thornberry

    Eliza Thornberry, Darwin and Spike
    © Paramount / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Where you've seen her: The Wild Thornberrys, The Wild Thornberrys Movie, and Rugrats Go Wild

    Iconic quote: "This is me, Eliza Thornberry, part of your average family."

    49. Snow White

    Disney / Via giphy.com

    Where you've seen her: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

    Iconic quote: "Everything's going to be alright."

    50. Krumm

    Krumm, Ickis and Oblina in AAAHH!!!! Real Monsters
    © Klasky-Csupo / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Where you've seen him: AAAHH!!!! Real Monsters

    Iconic quote: "There's the dinner bell!"

    51. Eric Cartman

    Eric Cartman in South Park
    © Comedy Central / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Where you've seen him: South Park and South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut

    Iconic quote: "Screw you guys, I'm going home!"

    52. Ariel

    Disney / Via giphy.com

    Where you've seen her: Little Mermaid and The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea

    Iconic quote: "It's a dinglehopper."

    53. Phineas Flynn

    Phineas in Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Candace Against the Universe
    © Disney+ / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Where you've seen him: Phineas and Ferb, Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Across the 2nd Dimension, and Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Candace Against the Universe

    Iconic quote: "Oh, there you are, Perry."

    54. Mulan

    Walt Disney Pictures / Via giphy.com

    Where you've seen her: Mulan and Mulan II

    Iconic quote: "My name is Mulan. I did it to save my father!"

    55. BoJack Horseman

    BoJack Horseman
    © Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Where you've seen him: BoJack Horseman

    Iconic quote: "I feel like my life is just a series of unrelated wacky adventures."

    56. Bugs Bunny

    Bugs Bunny
    © Warner Bros. / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Where you've seen him: The Bugs Bunny Show, Looney Tunes, Space Jam, and more

    Iconic quote: "What's up, Doc?"

    57. Winnie the Pooh

    Winnie the Pooh
    © Walt Disney Co. / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Where you've seen him: The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

    Iconic quote: "Oh, bother."

    58. Gaston

    Disney / Via giphy.com

    Where you've seen him: Beauty and the Beast

    Iconic quote: "As a specimen, yes, I'm intimidating"

    59. Tina Belcher

    Tina Belcher in Bob's Burgers
    © Fox / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Where you've seen her: Bob's Burgers and The Bob's Burgers Movie

    Iconic quote: "Uhhh."

    Animation fans: Which TV or movie cartoon character do you love the most? Share your top pick in the comments!