TV Guide's 50 Greatest Cartoon Characters

Well, first of all, here's the list:
1. Bugs Bunny
2. Homer Simpson
3. Rocky & Bullwinkle
4. Beavis & Butt-head
5. The Grinch
6. Fred Flintstone & Barney Rubble
7. Angelica Pickles (Rugrats)
8. Charlie Brown & Snoopy
9. Spongebob Squarepants
10. Cartman (South Park)
11. Bart & Lisa Simpson
12. Fat Albert
13. The Powerpuff Girls
14. Daffy Duck
15. Pikachu (Pokemon)
16. Gumby
17. Betty Boop
18. Top Cat
19. Mickey Mouse
20. Popeye
21. Gerald McBoing-Boing
22. Scooby-Doo
23. Underdog
24. Josie and the Pussycats
25. Heckle & Jeckle
26. Arthur
27. Winnie the Pooh
28. Felix the Cat
29. Mr. Magoo
30. George of the Jungle
31. Ren & Stimpy
32. Tom Terrific
33. Tweety & Sylvester
34. Bill (as in, "I'm just a...")(Schoolhouse Rock)
35. Space Ghost
36. Yogi Bear & Boo-Boo
37. Mighty Mouse
38. Wile E. Coyote & Road Runner
39. Superman (based of the 40's Fleischer shorts)
40. Batman
41. Daria
42. Wonder Woman
43. Donald Duck
44. Alvin (Alvin & the Chipmunks)
45. Boris & Natasha (Rocky & Bullwinkle)
46. Woody Woodpecker
47. Porky Pig
48. Bobby Hill (King of the Hill)
49. Speed Racer
50. Tom & Jerry

If that doesn't infuriate you, I dunno what will.

The undeserving

Okay, I'm fine for the top 3, but then it all goes to hell. Beavis & Butt-head at number 4? I can see them being on the list, I guess, but in the top 5? Hell no.

The Grinch should be disqualified... no matter how popular the cartoon is, the fact stands that he was only in ONE CARTOON. If a baseball player makes it to the majors, pitches a perfect game in his first appearance, then quits, you can't call him the greatest baseball player ever.

Angelica in the top 10? Do I even need to explain how wrong that is? She shouldn't even be on the list.

Spongebob at 9? As I said in the Spongebob thread, I don't dislike him, but look at the other characters on the list and tell me he should be THAT high up.

Pikachu... I like Pikachu, but once again, considering the competition, I would have bumped him at least to the 30's.

I haven't seen Top Cat in a while, but I certainly don't remember him being good enough to outrank Mickey.

The Scooby-Doo entry should have been "Scooby-Doo & Shaggy"... without Shaggy, Scoob is nothin'.

Josie and the Pussycats? Oh, HELL no. Crappy Scooby-Doo knockoffs do not on this list belong.

I obviously have a problem with who's positioned where all over this list, but Sylvester & Tweety outranking Wile E. & Road Runner AND Tom & Jerry irks me to no end. Both were much better 'chase' cartoons.

Bill from Schoolhouse Rock... MAN this gets to me. Going back to the Grinch example, this is like a pitcher pitching a perfect INNING then quitting and then winning a Cy Young. 5 minutes of airtime and you can be on this list? Hey, they coulda put Disco Stu on here.

Wonder Woman... no. Not that she's BAD, but one of the greatest?

Woody Woodpecker... I don't know ANYONE that doesn't think he's the most annoying character ever.

Bobby Hill... certainly not. MAYBE if it were listed as Hank & Bobby Hill. MAYBE.

The blatant oversights:

Ones I think everyone will agree on:
Droopy
Goofy
Spider-man
George Jetson
The Smurfs
Pink Panther

Personal preference:
The Tick
Bender (Futurama)
Dick Dastardly & Muttley
Inspector Gadget
Peter Griffin (Family Guy)
Dexter & Dee-dee (Dexter's Laboratory)
Mojo Jojo (MAKES the Powerpuff Girls)

My top 10:
1. Bugs Bunny
2. Homer Simpson
3. Rocky & Bullwinkle
4. Popeye
5. Mickey Mouse
6. Tom & Jerry
7. Charlie Brown & Snoopy
8. Powerpuff Girls
9. Fred & Barney
10. Batman

So, what are your thoughts?

Bugs Bunny?! Like Hell! I've always hated Bugs. WB should kill the bastard off. He doesn't deserve to be on the list at all, let alone number one!

No offense, but Space Ghost was and is a shitty cartoon character.

The fact that someone used his image to make a funny talk show shouldn't redeem him.

who is
21. Gerald McBoing-Boing ?

sounds dirty...

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No offense, but Space Ghost was and is a shitty cartoon character.

The fact that someone used his image to make a funny talk show shouldn't redeem him.

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Sure it should. Okay, okay, maybe I shouldn't put him in my top 10... editing...

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who is
21. Gerald McBoing-Boing ?

sounds dirty...

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He was a boy who could only talk in sound effects...

I think he may be another on the Grinch and Bill bandwagon, a good character, but not really enough screen time to even be considered. I'm not quite so familiar with him, so I'll leave validating his appearance on the list to someone else.

They forgot Thundercleese!

-Kevin

Stuff it, dolltalker!

No Hong Kong Fuey?

:(

Forgetting the Smurfs is indeed unforgivable. And someone get Angela the hell out of there. Yeah, where is Mojo Jojo anyway? :) I got no problem with Bevis and Butthead at #4 tho'. If you disagree, maybe you just haven't seen them in a while. :p


Hmmmmmm...What's the deal with listing 2 totally differnent characters in the same slot. Even if they are in the same cartoon, Bevis and Butthead are totally differnet. I'd put Bevis at #4 and Butthead somewhere in the high teens.

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I got no problem with Bevis and Butthead at #4 tho'. If you disagree, maybe you just haven't seen them in a while.

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Yeah, actually, I just saw them the other day, and I couldn't stop cringing and saying "I used to LIKE this?" As I said, they might deserve to be on the list, they did indeed have their moments and they're important from a television history standpoint, but putting them ahead of damn near everyone is definitely pushing it.

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Hmmmmmm...What's the deal with listing 2 totally differnent characters in the same slot. Even if they are in the same cartoon, Bevis and Butthead are totally differnet. I'd put Bevis at #4 and Butthead somewhere in the high teens.

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I take back what I said in the other thread about you being a secretly brilliant guy. All the paired characters on the list are logical, you can't have one without the other. Listing them seperately would take away another space from a character that deserves recognition.

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Originally posted by Bacon McShig
they're important from a television history standpoint, but putting them ahead of damn near everyone is definitely pushing it.

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Huh huh. He said "pushing it". Huh huh huh.

Ummm.. Oh yeah. Heh heh heh hmm heh heh.

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Originally posted by Bacon McShig

I take back what I said in the other thread about you being a secretly brilliant guy.

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Eh, it\'s hard to be secretly brilliant on Friday. If I\'m not on top of my game I could be overtly brilliant and ruin everything. So I just hang back untill Monday when I\'m all rested from the weekend. Then I can continue being secretly brilliant again. :p

How dare they not include the Blue Falcon and BIIIRRRRDDDMANNNNNNNNN.

As long as Bugs and Homer are high above Mickey Mouse, I'm happy.

Where the fuck are my Thundercats? Boot Angelica out of there right now and I agree with The Grinch, he only has one toon outing, it doesn't count. That Mcboing-boing is in the same boat.

Where the hell is Mr. Burns?!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!WHERE THE FUCK IS GRANDPA SIMPSON! They could have easily put the first 40 all Simpsons characters, but basically I find this list complete bullshit, I think they pulled a random order out of their ass.

I love Felix the Cat. Didnt he have a cartoon? ooh must find... thanx for the reminder.

felix the cat had a cartoon. I remember it being horrible, and maybe if this was a comic strip poll, his inclusion would make sense, but not from the cartoon. but I saw one of the "new" felix the cats or something, so it may be like assuming the "new" popeye's are representative of the old.

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about geralb-mc-boing-boing: he was a boy who could only talk in sound effects...


I think he may be another on the Grinch and Bill bandwagon, a good character, but not really enough screen time to even be considered. I'm not quite so familiar with him, so I'll leave validating his appearance on the list to someone else.

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Gerald Mc-boing-boing definitely deserves to be on the list. Only from a few cartoons with him in them, but they were all great. "he can only speak with sounds, but thanks to the innovations of long distance telophones, we can convert it to something audible", some craziness like that. my favorite cartoons of that sort. 1-shot cartoons are deserving. remember, the grinch's story ended. "the bear that wasn't a bear at all" should get a nod as well.

Josie and the Pussy-cats. . .wasn't Scooby Doo a spin off of that? as opposed to the opposite. I like the theme-song.


I agree with the omissions as well, notably: droopy and Dexter and Dee-Dee.

and which smurf would they pick? the ... one... with the glasses... who... got hurt... often? not too many memorable characters in there, or not to me anyways.

Smurfette! come on! or papa smurf! what am I talking about... I havent seen that show in forever...

man, that list is crap. here's mine:

1) Homer simpson - Self explanitory. Best cartoon caracter ever hands down.
2) Tom and Jerry - I watched alot of this as a kid. its awesome.
3) Pluto - If any of you remember the pluto cartoons when its just him (or sometimes his kid) you'll know why this is on my list.
4) Astro boy - FUCK HE IS COOL! I love everything about this cartoon.
5) He-man - Defender of the universe.
6) Rocko and Heffer - Rocko's modern life is highly underrated.
7) Bender - Bender is cool.
8) Ninja turtles - I actually hit my brothers with real nunchucks as a direct result of this cartoon.
9) The Maxx - Sheer brilliance. Dark, stylish, and very funny.
10) Millhouse - I love this little guy. "nice doggy!"

honourable mention must goto Thundercats. They should be in the top 50.

Danger Mouse?! Where in the hell is Danger Mouse?! These people are absolute shmucks.

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1. Bugs Bunny
2. Homer Simpson
3. Rocky & Bullwinkle
4. Beavis & Butt-head
5. The Grinch
6. Fred Flintstone & Barney Rubble
7. Angelica Pickles (Rugrats)
8. Charlie Brown & Snoopy
9. Spongebob Squarepants
10. Cartman (South Park)
11. Bart & Lisa Simpson
12. Fat Albert
13. The Powerpuff Girls
14. Daffy Duck
15. Pikachu (Pokemon)
16. Gumby
17. Betty Boop
18. Top Cat
19. Mickey Mouse
20. Popeye
21. Gerald McBoing-Boing
22. Scooby-Doo
23. Underdog
24. Josie and the Pussycats
25. Heckle & Jeckle
26. Arthur
27. Winnie the Pooh
28. Felix the Cat
29. Mr. Magoo
30. George of the Jungle
31. Ren & Stimpy
32. Tom Terrific
33. Tweety & Sylvester
34. Bill (as in, "I'm just a...")(Schoolhouse Rock)
35. Space Ghost
36. Yogi Bear & Boo-Boo
37. Mighty Mouse
38. Wile E. Coyote & Road Runner
39. Superman (based of the 40's Fleischer shorts)
40. Batman
41. Daria
42. Wonder Woman
43. Donald Duck
44. Alvin (Alvin & the Chipmunks)
45. Boris & Natasha (Rocky & Bullwinkle)
46. Woody Woodpecker
47. Porky Pig
48. Bobby Hill (King of the Hill)
49. Speed Racer
50. Tom & Jerry

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First of all, I would never personally attempt to make such a list because you will never please everyone. And plus, you end with a bunch of stupid listings like:

Why was Wonder Woman listed here? And if they included Batman and Superman, where the hell is Spiderman?

Alvin all by himself? They should have just listed the Chipmunks as a whole. I mean, if they're gonna include someone lame like Alvin the Chipmunk, they may as well throw in Simon and Theodore. It's like each one is only a 1/3 of a character anyway. Might as well smoosh them together and pretend they are one.

Tom & Jerry as number 50, huh? Haha, I'm not even going to touch that one. :p

Bart and Lisa Simpson listed together? If anything, after the first few seasons, Bart has meant nothing to the show. It's basically the Homer show. And Lisa's character is often times far more entertaining than Bart's. And it's better developed too.

Mickey Mouse at number 19 is so ridiculous. Sure, he's a plain character, but is there one person on this planet that does not know who Mickey Mouse is? You see Mickey; you think Disney.

I understand the need to put Angelica Pickles on this list, but she should be somewhere in the 40-50 range. The Rugrats at one time had some pretty high ratings, and other than Chuckie, she's the most entertaining one on that show.

Beavis and Butt-Head should also be on the list, but not anywhere near the top. I don't really find them entertaining, but you would have to admit that their influence on pop culture was pretty damn huge at one time. I can't even count the amount of times a show has ripped off the Beavis and Butt-Head stoner laugh.

Now a few characters I think this list should have had on it:

Ninja Turtles
The Smurfs
Spiderman
Dexter and DeeDee
I think maybe a listing of "all supporting Simpsons characters" should be listed too. There are way too many brilliant characters on that show and overlooking them is terrible.

Where art thou Thundarr?

Hanna-Barbera cartoons got the shaft.

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Originally posted by arjue
6) Rocko and Heffer - Rocko's modern life is highly underrated.

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One of my all time favorites. Chokey chicken is people! Chokey Chicken iiisss ppeeeopppllee.

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Originally posted by Braxton
Danger Mouse?! Where in the hell is Danger Mouse?! These people are absolute shmucks.

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Certainly one of the coolest cartoons ever. Along with that vegetarian vampire duck, who's name escapes me now.

Z-roe

How dare they not include Darkwing Duck!!

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Originally posted by Bacon McShig
06. Fred Flintstone & Barney Rubble
18. Top Cat
21. Gerald McBoing-Boing
22. Scooby-Doo
23. Underdog
24. Josie and the Pussycats
25. Heckle & Jeckle
29. Mr. Magoo
32. Tom Terrific
35. Space Ghost
36. Yogi Bear & Boo-Boo
50. Tom & Jerry

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Originally posted by Jay
Hanna-Barbera cartoons got the shaft.

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25% of the list does not equate to "getting the shaft" in my book.

Fuck Hannah-Barbera. Repeat: Fuck Hannah-Barbera. Post WWII the studio has put out nothing but 100% pure unadulterated SHIT up until about 3 years ago, at most. When Bill Hannah died last year the first words out of my mouth were "One down, one to go".

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Originally posted by Rumpy
Where the fuck are my Thundercats?

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Deservedly absent; the show hasn't aged well at all. I watched it all the time when I was a kid, too.

other thoughts I had:

Who's ball-blazingly brilliant idea was it to have, out of all of the characters in anime, Pikachu and Speed Racer as the only entrants to the list. They shouldn't have bothered and just kept it to a US focus.

Spongebob and Rugrats are fads to me, I don't forsee common people talking about either show 10 years from now, much less 50.

Aeon Flux should be on that list. But considering no MTV cartoon besides Beavis and Butthead was there I'm not surprised. The Maxx and The Head (or whatever that show was called with the guy with the huge head with a demon in it) should have been on it also.

Also Rocco and Heffer and Filbert from Rocco's Modern Life should have been on the list. Funny cartoon. I hope it comes out on DVD but I'm not holding my breath.

Later all...

Fuck Hannah-Barbera. Repeat: Fuck Hannah-Barbera. Post WWII the studio has put out nothing but 100% pure unadulterated SHIT up until about 3 years ago, at most. When Bill Hannah died last year the first words out of my mouth were "One down, one to go".


:(

no ninja turtles.... bastards.
and Rocco (Heffer, too) are quiet possibly the greatest thing to come out of Nickeloden EVAR.
and no Space Ghost? this list is bullshit.

I highly dispute this list! Homer Simpson beaten by bugs?!? :confused: and to add insult to injury, they put my fav cartoon Tom and Jerry at 50!!! (where the %$!# is my sledgehammer??)

and since this is biased on which characters are some of the best, where in the blue blazes is Darkwing Duck??

Powerpuff girls and spungebob in the top 50? They gotta be in the running for years before they even earn an inch among these guys, whoever wrote this really needs to be checked into the mental ward A.S.A.P. for even thinking these flukes being better then our favorite legends! :bang:

Actually, the Rugrats have been around for well over a decade now. Those characters and that show do have some staying power.

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How dare they not include Darkwing Duck!!

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!!!

damn, I feel sad for not remembering.

What about Scrooge McDuck...he was like the ultimate Disney duck. The guy swam in his own money! :D

bah, he's nothing compared to donald though. Donald was a psycho.

Oh, yeah... The Animaniacs not being on there is a pretty blatant oversight, as well.

I'm not too shook up over the absence of many 80's action cartoons, as they were all just cashing in on the most popular trend... but I'd say He-Man at least deserved a spot for sorta starting the craze.

Yes, obviously the old "you can't please everyone" falls into play here, but this list wouldn't please ANYONE. The worst part of the list is that the blurb before the list said the choices were "definitive" and "indisputable".

Shit, I just thought of Pinky and the Brain. They should have made that list. They were hilarious at times. But anyway, I'm going to stop thinking about this list because it just makes me angrier everytime I think about it.

Where is George Jetson??? Uncle Scrooge not making the list is a crime. Why did Daffy Duck get listed higher than Donald Duck? Donald Duck ownz all ducks.

Wrong, Wasabi. The Aflac duck owns all ducks, has anyone seen the most recent of Aflac commercials, with Yogi Berra? Aflac Duck is standing in front of a poster at a barber shop with a picture of an afro so it appears the Aflac Duck has an afro, pretty damn funny. This commercial also has Yogi Berra saying "cash is just as good as money"

Also, the lack of Penelope Pitstop is unforgivable.