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The 50 Best Cartoon Characters of All Time

By Joseph Stanichar and Josh Jackson and Paste Staff | January 30, 2023 | 9:18am

TV LISTS ANIMATION

Cartoons have changed a lot in the decade since Paste originally published this list.
Sure, new episodes of The Simpsons, Family Guy, South Park and SpongeBob
Squarepants are churned out each year like clockwork, but they’re only the tip of the
iceberg. Traditional cable networks have created new and exciting characters and
worlds in animation, while streaming platforms have allowed even more creators to
make the animated shows they want to make.

No longer are cartoons something only for children to enjoy on Saturday mornings.
Many employ wittier humor, more complex characters and deeper stories to engage
those of any age, while even more target teens or adults as their prime audience,
giving them the ability to tell relatable, powerful and hilarious stories within the realm
of animation. Western cartoons have never been as varied as they are now, and I
believe they have the potential to reach the same cultural status anime took decades
ago in Japan.

With the world of cartoons changing so dramatically, we decided it was time to update
our list of the top 50 cartoon characters of all time, taking into account the cultural
influence, relatability, and relevance these animated humans, animals, vegetables, etc.
hold within the realm of animation in the 2020s. Many of these characters have
expanded beyond their cartoon origins into other media, but for the purposes of this
list, we will only be examining these characters as they appear in cartoons, originating
either from the show itself or corresponding comics and books. —Joseph Stanichar
50. Peppa Pig

Created: 2004
Creators: Neville Astley and Mark Baker
Voice: Lily Snowden-Fine, Harley Bird

Peppa Pig is geared toward the youngest audience of any character on this list, but the
adorable piglet’s British accent and gentle humor have melted the hearts of adults not
just in the U.K. but across the pond as well. —Joseph Stanichar

49. Bender (Futurama)

Created: 1999
Creator: Matt Groening
Voice: John DiMaggio

Made in Mexico, Bender is a sociopath of steel (er, well, iron, titanium, lead, zinc,
dolomite and nickel), who has kidnapped Jay Leno’s head and sent his own son to
robot hell. But he really just wants to be a folk-singer. —Josh Jackson
48. Beavis & Butt-Head

Created: 1992
Creator: Mike Judge
Voices: Mike Judge

Beavis and Butt-Head made MTV’s lack of music much more palatable. The show
managed to both satirize and celebrate the lowest common denominator of the 1990s.
Since then, we’ve had another season in 2011 and two more on their way during the
‘20s, ensuring these two doofuses’ influence throughout four decades. —Josh Jackson

47. Larry the Cucumber (Veggie Tales)

Created: 1993
Creators: Phil Vischer, Mike Nawrocki
Voice: Mike Nawrocki

After all the cultural good that Christianity gave us over the last two Millennia, the
second half of the 20th century wasn’t exactly a high-water mark. But in the 1990s,
Veggie Tales became the exceptional piece of genius pop culture in the typical
Christian bookstore. And Larry the Cucumber was the biggest reason why, with his
“Silly Songs with Larry” segments being the most popular among both kids of the
‘90s and today in the show’s current iteration, The VeggieTales Show. —Josh Jackson

46. Angelica Pickles (Rugrats)

Created: 1991
Creator: Arlene Klasky
Voice: Cheryl Chase

The ultimate spoiled brat alpha child, Angelica Pickles ran the baby Rugrats like her
own syndicate. An off-key antagonist who never saw something she couldn’t be
jealous of or use for her own motivations, Angelica’s greatest legacy is making
viewers realize she doesn’t represent their “terrible” sibling, but more honestly
themselves. —Allison Keene
45. Space Ghost (Coast to Coast)

Created: 1966
Creators: Alex Toth, William Hanna, Joseph Barbera / Mike Lazzo
Voices: George Lowe, C. Martin Croker, Andy Merrill, Don Kennedy

On his own, most probably wouldn’t remember brief Hanna Barbera creation Space
Ghost. But thanks to Mike Lazzo, the character was repurposed in the 1990s as the
awkward, hostile host of a surrealist talk show that ended up launching careers and
inspiring a number of other great series (like Sealab 2021 and Harvey Birdman:
Attorney at Law) that similarly repurposed old Warner IP for our modern amusement.
—Allison Keene

44. Johnny Bravo

Created: 1995
Creators: Van Partible
Voice: Jeff Bennett

It’s unlikely that a show like Johnny Bravo would be made today. Created right before
the realm of adult cartoons really took off, this show was still marketed for kids but let
lots of risque humor through under Cartoon Network’s radar. Even though Johnny’s
behavior borders on the chauvinistic, the show makes clear that he’s meant to be
the opposite of a role model, nearly always suffering some awful fate due to his
hubris. Still, his nonsensical pick-up lines are ironically delightful. My favorite one:
“Hey pretty mama, wanna see me comb my hair really fast?” —Joseph Stanichar

43. Felix the Cat

Created: 1919
Creators: Pat Sullivan, Otto Messmer
Voices: Jack Mercer, various others

Most stars of the silent era didn’t survive the transition to sound, but Felix—who once
shared screen-time with Charlie Chaplin—did just fine and remains an icon. —Josh
Jackson
42. Cosmo and Wanda (The Fairly Oddparents)

Created: 1997
Creator: Butch Hartman
Voices: Daran Norris, Susanne Blakeslee

The wacky, impulsive Cosmo and the calm, pragmatic Wanda may seem like a (fairly)
odd couple, but given that they’ve been together for 10,000 years, they’re obviously
doing something right. The fairy godparents of 10-year-old Timmy Turner, Cosmo
and Wanda have the power to grant his every wish, which always inevitably goes
wrong. It’s this premise that gave The Fairly Oddparents its fun, lighthearted style in
each of its 172 episodes. —Joseph Stanichar

41. Arthur

Created: 1976
Creator: Marc Brown
Voices: Michael Yarmush, Roman Lutterotti, various others

Based on Marc Brown’s children’s books, the Arthur TV series has been on the air
since 1996. In that time, the aardvark—along with his friends and family—has learned
hundreds of lessons about how to “get along with each other,” as the groovy theme
song indicates. Arthur and his friends feel like real kids, acting and speaking in ways
that actual kids their age do, getting into arguments and misbehaving in ways that
other shows might try to censor. The PBS show has also been consistently inclusive
with representations of characters with different cultures, identities, disabilities and
even diseases such as cancer, in a way that’s respectful while not talking down to kids.
—Joseph Stanichar

40. Yogi Bear

Created: 1958
Creators: William Hanna, Joseph Barbera, Ed Benedict
Voices: Daws Butler, Greg Burson, various others

He’s smarter than the average bear, but it’s not just cleverness that makes Yogi great.
It’s his joyful love of harmless mischief that made every episode a classic. —Josh
Jackson
39. Daffy Duck (Looney Tunes)

Created: 1937
Creators: Tex Avery, Bob Clampett
Voices: Mel Blanc, Jeff Bergman, various others

Yes, Daffy can himself be “despicable!” but as his enduring popularity shows, he’s
endearing all the same. —Josh Jackson

38. Daria Morgendorffer

Created: 1993
Creators: Mike Judge, Glenn Eichler
Voice: Tracy Grandstaff
Daria Morgendorffer weathered suburbia under an armor of sublime snark that was
essential for any alt girl in the 90s to study. Affecting and entertaining with absurd
sidestories and clever social commentary, Daria was so fun to watch. —Julia Askense

37. Ed, Edd & Eddy

Created: 1999
Creator: Danny Antonucci
Voices: Matt Hill, Samuel Vincent, Tony Sampson

A cartoonish incarnation of the three stooges, these characters brought simple, stupid
slapstick back onto TV, and we couldn’t be more grateful. —Joseph Stanichar
36. Grunkle Stan (Gravity Falls)

Created: 2012
Creator: Alex Hirsch
Voice: Alex Hirsch

A perfect combination of comedy and mystery, Dipper and Mabel Pines’ great-uncle,
aka. “Grunkle” Stanford Pines is a swindler, running a tourist trap named the Mystery
Shack and seemingly only interested in robbing people of their money through
cheaply made and fraudulently advertised products and attractions. However, as the
series progresses, we discover another, more secretive side to the grunkle, with fans
discovering an ominous cryptogram in Gravity Falls’ opening theme: “Stan is not
what he seems.” —Joseph Stanichar
35. Stewie Griffin (Family Guy)

Created: 1999
Creator: Seth MacFarlane
Voice: Seth MacFarlane

Other evil geniuses aren’t hampered by their youth, but one-year-old baby Stewie
doesn’t let that stop him. Despite, you know, being a year old for over 20 years. —
Josh Jackson

34. Popeye

Created: 1929
Creator: E. C. Segar
Voices: William Costello (1933-1935), Jack Mercer (1935-1984), various others

Among the earliest icons of American animation, Popeye the Sailor became instantly
beloved thanks to his wacky antics and superhuman strength upon downing a can of
spinach. —Joseph Stanichar

33. Phineas and Ferb

Created: 2007
Creators: Dan Povenmire, Jeff “Swampy” Marsh
Voices: Vincent Martella, Thomas Sangster

“Hey Ferb, I know what we’re going to do today,” Phineas says each show before
launching into their latest ambitious plan to pass the summer days, whether it’s
building a giant tree house that transforms into a giant robot, filming a movie or
creating a time machine. And even though the stepbrothers’ grand plans escape the
attention of their parents and drive Candace nuts, Phineas and Ferb remain completely
guileless. Hard to believe this was on the Disney Channel. —Josh Jackson
32. Garnet (Steven Universe)

Created: 2013
Creator: Rebecca Sugar
Voice: Estelle

Revealed to be a fusion of two other characters, Ruby and Sapphire, Garnet is the
embodiment of empowerment. A manifestation of these characters’ queer relationship,
she has both the ability to see into the future and kick serious ass to change it.
Nowhere is this as evident as in her fight song, “Made of Love,” in which she taunts
her opponent while explaining how her bond is unbreakable. More than any other
character in Steven Universe Garnet is completely unafraid to be herself, no matter
what others think of her. — Joseph Stanichar
31. Bobby Hill (King of the Hill)

Created: 1997
Creator: Mike Judge
Voice: Pamela Adlon

Hank might think his boy ain’t right, but he’s just fine by us. We like his self-
confidence that doesn’t depend on innate talent or beauty. He’s comfortable in his
own skin, and that often makes his daddy uncomfortable. — Josh Jackson

30. Betty Boop

Created: 1930
Creators: Max Fleischer, Grim Natwick
Voices: Margie Hines, Mae Questel, various others

Though Betty seems like a product of the Roaring ’20s, it’s important to remember
that she was actually the Queen of the Depression Era, a sexy reminder of better times
and an avatar for a younger generation. —Josh Jackson

29. She-Ra

Created: 1985
Creators: Larry DiTillio, J. Michael Straczynski
Voices: Melendy Britt, Aimee Carrero

Originally designed as a female counterpart to the ’80s cartoon superhero He-Man,

She-Ra became a character with her own following and successful TV series, despite
its corniness. However, the heroine got an unlikely reboot through Netflix in 2018,
telling a much more complex and emotionally resonant story in Princesses of
Power that took the likely accidental queer undertones of He-Man’s universe and
translated them into intentionally queer-coded characters. — Joseph Stanichar
28. Korra (Avatar: The Legend of Korra)

Created: 2012
Creators: Michael Dante DiMartino, Bryan Konietzko
Voice: Janet Varney

The next Avatar after The Last Airbender’s Aang, Korra represented a slightly older,
more mature reincarnation of the master of earth, water, fire and air. Instead of one
evil Fire Lord to face off against, Korra spends the entirety of her series fighting to
understand and address the problems facing Republic City and the world, while also
discovering her own legacy and path. Her final scene in which she holds hands with
another female character, Asami, may seem to be an understated form of LGBTQ+
representation when compared to others on this list, but it was an important first step
that paved the way for future representation. —Joseph Stanichar
27. Pinky & the Brain (Animaniacs)

Created: 1995
Creator: Tom Ruegger
Voices: Rob Paulsen, Maurice LaMarche

Plenty of cartoon characters have had ambitions for world domination, but no one else
just wanted to be a benevolent dictator like The Brain. His not-so-reliant sidekick
Pinky may cause The Brain constant headaches, but his enthusiasm and loyalty make
him impossible not to love. —Josh Jackson
26. Bart Simpson (The Simpsons)

Created: 1987
Creator: Matt Groening
Voice: Nancy Cartwright

Every principal’s nightmare, this merry prankster’s only two real talents are
skateboarding and troublemaking. —Josh Jackson

25. Harley Quinn

Created: 1992
Creator: Paul Dini, Bruce Timm
Voices: Arleen Sorkin, Kaley Cuoco, various others

In an unconventional twist, Harley Quinn made her debut not in a comic book, but in
the cartoon series Batman: The Animated Series. “In the script she was just an
unnamed Joker “hench-wench” w/ no discernible personality,” Joker voice actor Mark
Hamill shared recently. “When Arleen began reading her lines in that unforgettable
voice so poignant & full of heart I nearly fell off my chair! She brought SO much
more than was on the page & a legend was born.” That legend has continued through
the villainess’ own adult-oriented series, starting in 2019. — Joseph Stanichar

24. Wile E. Coyote (Looney Tunes)

Created: 1949
Creators: Chuck Jones, Michael Maltese
Voices: Mel Blanc, Seth MacFarlane, various others

Charlie Brown will never kick his football, and Wile E. will never catch the
Roadrunner. These are among the first truths learned by any kid in America, even as
they’re exposed to the beauties of the Western desert. His clever plans and box of oft-
malfunctioning ACME tricks resulted in our favorite coyote falling off cliffs, getting
crushed by stones, and at the center of crater-inducing explosions; no cartoon
character suffered more for our entertainment. —Josh Jackson
23. Mordecai and Rigby (Regular Show)

Created: 2010
Creator: J.G. Quintel
Voices: J.G. Quintel, William Salyers

“Don’t look at our crotches while we synchronize our watches!” That’s one of many
lines from this duo that doesn’t make much more sense within context but is just as
enjoyable. The 23-year-old blue jay and racoon have too much time on their hands
and fill it by doing increasingly ridiculous and fantastical stunts, often going from
mundane hijinks to galaxy-bending sci-fi within each episode. —Joseph Stanichar
22. Scrooge McDuck (DuckTales)

Created: 1947
Creator: Carl Barks
Voices: Dallas McKennon, Bill Thompson, Alan Young, David Tennant, various
others

Scrooge McDuck has appeared in a dizzying number of Disney stories over the years,
cementing his icon status as he stole the spotlight from nephew Donald and
grandnephews Huey, Dewey, and Louie. Virulently anti-scallywag, hopelessly
misanthropic, often seen diving into his pool of gold, Scrooge is laughing all the way
to the bank. —Allison Keene
21. Rick and Morty

Created: 2013
Creators: Justin Roiland, Dan Harmon
Voice: Justin Roiland

Based on a crude animation of Back to the Future’s Marty and Doc, Kayla Cobb
described Rick and Morty best when she called it a “never-ending fart joke wrapped
around a studied look into nihilism.” The pubescent Morty goes on trips throughout
dimensions with his alcoholic, jaded grandfather Rick, who sees himself as an
unstoppable force despite his underlying insecurities. Sadly, too many fans get the
wrong lessons from Rick, unironically idolizing his toxic behavior. — Joseph Stanichar
20. Tina Belcher (Bob’s Burgers)

Created: 2011
Creator: Loren Bouchard
Voice: Dan Mintz

With her anxious groans and her freaky friend fiction, Tina Belcher encapsulates the
confused horny sadness of being a teen. That, plus her compassion and active
imagination, often makes her the very heart of the excellent Bob’s Burgers. —Rae
Nudson

19. Fred Flintstone (The Flintstones)

Created: 1960
Creators: William Hanna, Joseph Barbera
Voices: Alan Reed, Jeff Bergman, various others

The patriarch of his modern stone-age family, Fred proved that cartoons weren’t just
for kids. Although the original series may seem tame by modern standards (and the
Flintstones today are more known for promoting cereal and vitamins) it was among
the most risque shows on TV in the ’60s. —Josh Jackson

18. Dr. Doofenshmirtz (Phineas and Ferb)

Created: 2007
Creators: Dan Povenmire, Jeff “Swampy” Marsh
Voice: Dan Povenmire

He may act like an evil scientist, but the truth is that Dr. Doofenshmirtz isn’t actually
that bad — or smart. We love his back-story monologues about his childhood in
Gimelschtump, Druselstien. We love his ridiculously named devices (the Ugly-Inator,
the Age-Acclerator-Inator) and that his nemesis is a platypus. The subtleties of the
relationship are pitch-perfect. When Perry busts in on Doofenshmirtz when his blind
date is about to arrive, Perry accommodates his rival by pretending to be his pet (“She
doesn’t know I have a nemesis”). And most of all, we love his songs. —Josh Jackson
17. Eric Cartman (South Park)

Created: 1997
Creators: Trey Parker, Matt Stone
Voice: Trey Parker

Who else but Eric Cartman could inspire 10 parallels with Ambrose Bierce’s The
Devil’s Dictionary? This selfish, foul-mouthed, hippie-hating, cartoon brat is the
antithesis of political correctness; an Archie Bunker for a new generation. Over the
last two-and-a-half decades, he’s been the perfect vehicle for broaching taboos
Americans are too terrified to engage in polite conversation. —Josh Jackson

16. Rocky and Bullwinkle (The Adventures of Rocky and

Bullwinkle)
Created: 1959
Creators: Jay Ward, Alex Anderson, Bill Scott
Voice: June Foray, Bill Scott

The animation might not have been fancy, but the scripts were funny as Rocky and
Bullwinkle fended off threats from the very Eastern European-sounding Pottsylvania.
—Josh Jackson

15. Sterling Archer (Archer)

Created: 2009
Creator: Adam Reed
Voice: H. Jon Benjamin
James Bond with Mommy issues, Sterling Archer’s crass debauchery made for some
of the best transgressive and subversive antics on TV, but only because a surprising
compassion would occasionally pop through his narcissistic playboy exterior. And as
he’s done in Home Movies, Bob’s Burger’s, Family Guy and so many other animated
comedies, H. Jon Benjamin’s performance will constantly have you laughing as
Archer casually drinks his way through another misguided spy mission. —Josh
Jackson

14. Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup (The Powerpuff

Girls)

Created: 1998
Creator: Craig McCracken
Voices: Cathay Cavadini, Tara Strong, E. G. Daily, various others

The ultimate vanguard of “you can be cute and still kick ass,” the funny and fierce
Powerpuff Girls arrived on the 90s cartoon scene ready to inspire and delight a
generation. No matter who you individually identified with the most, the ultimate
lesson was that working together is the strongest play. —Allison Keene
13. Winnie the Pooh

Created: 1926
Creators: A. A. Milne, E. H. Shepard
Voice: Sterling Holloway, Hal Smith, Jim Cummings

Beloved as he was in book form, for many, Winnie-the-Pooh’s Disney adventures are
the best remembered iterations of this Silly Ol’ Bear. Beyond his big heart and
inherent sweetness, Winnie the Pooh also normalized having an insatiable sweet tooth.
— Allison Keene

12. Finn the Human and Jake the Dog (Adventure Time)
Created: 2010
Creator: Pendleton Ward
Voices: Jeremy Shada, John DiMaggio

You just can’t separate this dynamic duo, our two plucky heroes from the Land of
Ooo whose humor, pathos, loyalty, and bravery elevated this wonderful, surreal,
emotionally-deep series into must-see status for all ages. —Allison Keene

11. BoJack Horseman

Created: 2014
Creator: Raphael Bob-Waksberg
Voice: Will Arnett

Will Arnett’s anthropomorphized, misanthropic horse has one of the most

complicated, profound and deeply felt redemption arcs of any TV character in history.
He was damaged and caused damage wherever he went, but we could love him even
when he didn’t love himself. Never has a cartoon tackled such deep and difficult
topics with such a deft hand. That it was also consistently hilarious was a bonus, and
at the heart of it all was a washed-up ’90s sitcom actor struggling in the wake of his
fame. —Josh Jackson
10. Steven Universe

Created: 2013
Creator: Rebecca Sugar
Voice: Zach Callison

Most cartoon characters never grow up, staying the same youthful age no matter how
many seasons their show gets. Not so with Steven Universe. Rebecca Sugar’s titular
character grows up almost in real time, acquiring new powers and learning more about
himself as the son of a human and magical gem from an alien planet. This is
heightened in the sequel series Steven Universe Future, in which the now 16-year-old
Steven struggles with mental health issues rarely discussed in cartoons for any age. In
a show all about loving yourself for who you are, Steven demonstrates how difficult
that can actually be. —Joseph Stanichar
9. Zuko (Avatar: The Last Airbender)

Created: 2005
Creators: Michael Dante DiMartino, Bryan Konietzko
Voice: Dante Basco

That’s right: Not Aang, but Zuko! Watching Zuko’s first and last episodes, they don’t
even seem to be the same character. The former is a stuck-up prince in a ponytail,
unable to contain his rage and angst. The latter is a more emotionally intelligent
character, embracing his uncle in a teary plea for forgiveness. Yet when watched
chronologically, the transformation between the two is seamless. Shaped by both hate
and love, Zuko’s story is tragic yet uplifting, creating not only one of the best
characters not just in animation, but television as a whole. — Joseph Stanichar

8. Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Donatello

(Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)
Created: 1984
Creators: Kevin Eastman, Peter Laird
Voices: Cam Clarke, Barry Gordon, Rob Paulsen, Townsend Coleman, various
others

For the purposes of this list, we’re focusing on the OG crew who became iconic for
90s kids, these radical pizza-eating ninja-style fighters with a rat for a sensei, yet
elegantly named after some of history’s greatest artists. It’s impossible to pick a “best”
turtle for the list, because it’s all down to individual personality. Together, though,
they are essential to pop culture history in all of their forms (including as one of the
pinnacles of “the show is for the toy”). — Allison Keene

7. Scooby-Doo and Shaggy Rogers

Created: 1969
Creators: Joe Ruby, Ken Spears
Voices: Casey Kasem, Don Messick, various others

They never outright state it, but we’re pretty sure there’s something… hallucinogenic
in those “Scooby Snacks.” Juxtaposed with the rest of the Scooby Gang, Shaggy and
Scoob seem to be pretty useless, eating and lazing about most of the time and
screaming in terror when confronted with anything spooky. And yet they’re the easiest
to love. Throughout all of Scooby-Doo’s many adaptations, this duo of man and dog
remains timeless. —Joseph Stanichar

6. Mickey Mouse

Created: 1928
Creators: Walt Disney, Ub Iwerks
Voices: Walt Disney, Bret Iwan, various others

It’s easy to lose sight of the cartoon character Mickey in the shadow of the mascot for
the Disney empire. But there might not be a Disney empire but for the charms of an
enthusiastic, adventurous mouse. Nearly a century after Disney’s iconic “Steamboat
Willie” short, the mouse will likely enter the public domain in 2024. But after
kickstarting an unfathomably rich $173 billion empire, that seems more than fair. —
Josh Jackson
5. SpongeBob Squarepants

Created: 1999
Creator: Stephen Hillenburg
Voice: Tom Kenny

This titular sponge’s nautical nonsense may not be what many kids’ parents wished
for, but two decades of being on the air have cemented Tom Kenny’s iconic laugh into
the minds of audiences across the globe. Nothing proved this more than when creator
Stephen Hillenburg passed away in 2018, igniting a movement to memorialize him at
the Super Bowl with the song “Sweet Victory” from one of its best episodes, “Band
Geeks.” Fans may have been snubbed there, but Hillenburg’s legacy continues to live
on through the naive sponge’s everlasting popularity. —Joseph Stanichar
4. Tom and Jerry

Created: 1941
Creators: William Hanna, Joseph Barbera
Voices: William Hanna, various others

Silent film mostly went away with the advent of the talkies, but Hanna and Barbera’s
Tom and Jerry didn’t need dialogue to enrapture generations of children. The 114
shorts were created between 1940 and 1958, but they feel like they belonged to my
childhood in the late ’70s, just like they’ll feel like a part of my kids’ childhoods when
they grow up alongside the 2014 adaptation of the classic cat-and-mouse hijinks. —
Josh Jackson
3. Charlie Brown and Snoopy (Peanuts)

Created: 1950
Creator: Charles M. Schulz
Voice: Peter Robbins, Bill Melendez, various others

Not every character survived the move from print to the TV screen, but Charlie Brown
and his dog Snoopy absolutely came to life through a handful of TV specials and
subsequent series. Snoopy’s Red Baron dreams, friendship with Woodstock and crush
on Lucy won the hearts of kids, whereas older audiences connected with Charlie.
Hapless Charlie Brown is as sympathetic a character as we’ve ever had, real or
animated. Unlucky in love, untalented and trusting to a fault—we pull for him,
knowing it’s all for naught. —Josh Jackson
2. Homer J. Simpson (The Simpsons)

Created: 1987
Creator: Matt Groening
Voice: Dan Castellaneta

The first two seasons of The Simpsons were focused on Bart, but as it became Homer-
centric, the show became something truly special. He’s the everyman at our laziest,
hungriest, dumbest, and drunkest. Yet thanks to good heart buried under all those
doughnuts, he’s also the hero that repeatedly saves the day—or at least restores
everything to a status quo which has endured for three-and-a-half decades and over
thirty Halloween “Treehouse of Horror” specials, the 30th of which aired as the series’
666th episode. —Josh Jackson
1. Bugs Bunny (Looney Tunes)

Created: 1940
Creators: Ben Hardaway, Tex Avery
Voices: Mel Blanc, Jeff Bergman, various others

The coolest cat in cartoon history is a rabbit. Or a hare. That slight taxonomic
difference was never addressed during his many antics, but he held an enviable
insouciance through them all, whether being hunted with Elmer Fudd’s shotgun,
Yosemite Sam’s pistols or Marvin Martian’s ACME Disintegration Pistol. The
familiar face of Warner Bros. only had one flaw: a poor sense of direction (especially
when tunneling through New Mexico). — Josh Jackson

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