Felix the Cat
Undeniably the star of the early silent-era of animated films, Felix the Cat was the precursor of nearly all cartoon characters. Felix the Cat walked on his hind legs, exploring the world with childlike wonder, leading him to the inevitable comparison with another cinematic figure of the era, Charlie Chaplin. Like Chaplin, Felix the Cat basked in surreal occurrences, following his instincts to their natural conclusion. Although the character would suffer setbacks with the advent of sound and voices in animation, he would eventually make a small comeback, further cementing his place in cartoon history 툰코.
Mickey Mouse
Easily one of the most recognizable characters in the world, Mickey Mouse has led a long career, stretching from the earliest days of animation to today. Perhaps more than any other cartoon character, Mickey Mouse has transcended the cartoon format, eventually becoming more well known as the flagship character of Disney theme parks. While the characterization of Mickey changed over the years, he was largely seen as genial and upbeat, with a streak of adventurism. The character of Mickey was featured in over a hundred films, comics, and short TV cartoons.
Bugs Bunny
The early years of animation were silent films in which characterization relied entirely on action, but with the advent of sound and dialogue, no character would become as recognizable by voice as Bugs Bunny. Debuting in 1940, Bugs Bunny, a clever rabbit who stood tall on his hind legs, led the trend of the infallible cartoon character. He was a brilliant, mocking trickster, always able to outsmart any other character he crossed paths with. Voiced by the legendary Mel Blanc, Bugs Bunny starred in more films than any other cartoon character in history, and contributed directly to the spawning of the larger Looney Tunes universe, including Elmer Fudd, Yosemite Sam, and more.
Fred Flintstone
While the early years of animated cartoons were filled with zany off-the-wall characters, it wasn’t until The Flintstones debuted in 1960, that cartoons would be relatable. The star of the show was Fred Flintstone, a hardworking every-man, along with his family and friends. Although the story was set implausibly in the stone age, it dealt with common modern themes such as family and work. Fred was a fully relatable character who worked in construction–operating a brontosaurus crane–and enjoyed a primitive form of bowling. These themes of modern life, rendered with the physical freedom of animation, would influence cartoons for years to come.
Homer Simpson
Originally debuted in 1987, and still running at the publication of this article, the Simpsons is by far the longest running American animated program in history, as well as the longest running American sitcom. The patriarchal figure and overall star of the show is Homer Simpson: father, husband, and safety inspector at the local nuclear power plant. Homer Simpson is in many ways a continuation of Fred Flintstone, but one who is allowed to stretch out beyond the restrictions of children’s programming. Homer is buffoonish and dopey, but also very complex. By virtue of the show’s prolific run, Homer has been fleshed out more than any other cartoon character in history.
