Can You Name 40 of the Most Famous Cartoon Characters of All Time?

By: Lauren Lubas
Estimated Completion Time
3 min
Can You Name 40 of the Most Famous Cartoon Characters of All Time?
Image: Walt Disney Television Animation

About This Quiz

From Mickey Mouse to Bugs Bunny and all the way to Rick Sanchez, cartoon characters can be just as well-developed and hardcore as any live-action character who has been created (and sometimes even more so). While there are hundreds of cartoon characters that have been created over the years, 40 of them stand out as some of the most memorable of all time. These are characters we grew up with, and for some of us, our parents grew up with them as well). They are characters we know and love. Your favorites may have changed throughout the years, but there is a special place in your heart for those of your childhood, and if you have children, you probably enjoy seeing the new generation of cartoons coming to life on your television screens.

You'll recognize some of the famous cartoon characters in this quiz rather quickly, but others are far more difficult to place. If you're a cartoon lover, you might think this quiz will be easy. But do you think you can recognize famous cartoon characters spanning nearly 100 years? What are you waiting for? It's time to test your skills. How many of these cartoon characters do you know?

Betty Boop
CBS
She was beautiful and NSFW. Who was she?
Tweety
Jessica Rabbit
Betty Boop
Minnie Mouse
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Betty Boop was a singer and lover of all things men. She had a short skirt (too short for her time period), and she has been around since 1930. Her cartoons are mostly in black and white, but you can catch her fan art in color.

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Popeye
Warner Bros. Animation
This sailor is all about his veggies. Do you know his name?
Donald Duck
Steamboat Willie
Bluto
Popeye
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Popeye was in love with Olive Oyl, but she loved Bluto (or Brutus, depending on when you first watched the cartoon). Popeye was first seen on screen in 1929, and he is still loved today.

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Charlie Brown
CBS
Do you recognize this cartoon character that is featured in holiday specials?
Charlie Brown
Bart Simpson
Jerry Mouse
Mickey Mouse
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Peanuts characters all have such great personalities. Even Snoopy has his own thing going (the dog sleeps on his house). Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang are usually seen on television during the holidays. Their TV specials begin as early as Halloween.

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Tom
Warner Bros. Animation
Can you name the cat that was always after a mouse named Jerry?
Tom
Rob
Felix
Catman
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Tom the cat may have looked evil, but he just wanted to eat something. He always tried to be good, but Jerry constantly taunted him by messing with stuff around the house while Tom's owner tried to sleep.

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SpongeBob SquarePants
Nickelodeon
Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?
Patrick
Mr. Crabs
SpongeBob SquarePants
Squidward
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Absorbent and yellow and porous is he!" ... eh hem, sorry. SpongeBob SquarePants is one of the most popular cartoons in recent history. He is an innocent little sponge who is filled with happiness and joy.

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Mr Magoo
CBS
Do you recognize this character who had poor eyesight?
George Jetson
Mr. Magoo
The Pink Panther
Barney Rubble
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Mr. Magoo was no joke. He didn't see very well, but he always seemed to get where he was going. There were several short films with Mr. Magoo, and two of them won Oscars for Best Animated Short Film.

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Fred Flintstone
ABC
Can you name this stone age cartoon character?
George Jetson
Barney Rubble
Mr. Slate
Fred Flintstone
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"The Flintstones" is a cartoon that dates back to the 1960s. However, it is still shown on cartoon networks and during children's programming, making this barefoot family one of the most recognizable of all time.

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Bart Simpson
Fox
He graced our television sets in the 1980s, and we're still watching him today. Do you know his name?
Milhouse Vanhauten
Bobby Hill
Santa's Little Helper
Bart Simpson
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When we first met Bart Simpson, we quickly learned that he was a troublemaker, and many parents didn't like their kids watching him. These days, "The Simpsons" is one of the most beloved television shows out there.

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Woody Woodpecker
NBC
This cartoon character had a great self-defense mechanism. Who is he?
Tom Cat
Heckle
Woody Woodpecker
Jeckle
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Woody Woodpecker was kind of mean, but if anyone tried to capture him (or get him to stop pecking), he'd simply peck them on the head. His was one of the more violent cartoons that were available to children.

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The Pink Panther
ABC
This cartoon character was first spotted in the 1960s. Do you know who it is?
Mr. Magoo
Granny
Piglet
The Pink Panther
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Many love the look and style of The Pink Panther, but few members of the younger generation have seen him in action. He was usually seen in the opening or closing credits of "The Pink Panther" series.

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Pepe Le Pew
Warner Bros. Animation
He smelled bad, but he didn't know it. Do you know who he is?
Pepe Le Pew
Mr. Magoo
Yosemite Sam
Tasmanian Devil
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This skunky character always fell in love with a poor unsuspecting cat that accidentally rubbed up on some white paint. We often wonder how often a cat can rub itself in white paint, and it turns out, it's quite a lot.

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Bobby Hill
Fox
Can you name this cartoon son?
Bart Simpson
Chris Griffin
Bobby Hill
Morty Smith
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"King of the Hill" was an attempt at a more family-based cartoon by Mike Judge, the creator of "Beavis and Butthead." As a matter of fact, Hank Hill's character looks very much like Tom Anderson from "Beavis and Butthead."

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Tweety Bird
Warner Bros. Animation
What is the name of this cartoon bird that can never believe his own eyes?
Woody Woodpecker
Tweety Bird
Sylvester Bird
Daffy Duck
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Tweety Bird was everyone's favorite victim. Sylvester the cat, out for a little snack, would always try to attack Tweety, but Tweety had his defenses. He would torture that cat, but it was all in the name of self-preservation.

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Felix the Cat
NBC
Can you name this cat that didn't talk much?
Tom
Mickey
Garfield
Felix
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Felix the Cat was a troublemaker (by today's standards). He liked to do the things that adults did, and not all of them legal. He could be found drinking (when drinking wasn't legal) quite often. He made his first appearance in 1919.

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Foghorn Leghorn
Warner Bros. Animation
Can you name this Looney Toons character?
Foghorn Leghorn
Trapper
Wile E. Coyote
Spike
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Foghorn Leghorn is our favorite cartoon character who had a stutter. He liked to reprimand and correct other characters in his sets, but he was still fun to watch. While he isn't necessarily a fan favorite, he is still one of the most famous cartoon characters of all time.

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Bugs Bunny
Warner Bros. Animation
He has buck teeth and is always asking a particular question. Do you know this cartoon character?
Bugs Bunny
Peter Rabbit
Goofy
Bill Bunny
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Bugs Bunny was created in the 1930s. "What's up, Doc?" is the catchphrase with which he is most associated. He has been around for nearly 100 years, and his movies haven't stopped. Whenever you think of Looney Toons, you probably picture Bugs immediately.

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Scooby-Doo
Warner Bros. Animation
Which cartoon dog solved mysteries with his human friends?
Scooby-Doo
Inspector Gadget
Pluto
Goofy
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

While there are dozens of fan theories surrounding Scooby-Doo and his friends (a gang of teens who drive around to abandoned amusement parks solving ghost mysteries), he is still one of the most beloved cartoon characters to come out of the world of animation.

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Road Runner
Warner Bros. Animation
Do you recognize this non-verbal Looney Toons character?
Sylvester
Wile E. Coyote
Road Runner
Big Bird
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

For some reason, Road Runner doesn't speak. You might hear a "Meep Meep" out of him here and there, but he and his nemesis (Wile E. Coyote) never say a word to each other. Wile E. wants to catch Road Runner, but he never gets the chance to do so, which is pretty much the storyline of each episode of the cartoon.

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Yogi Bear
Columbia Pictures
Can you name this bear who steals from people?
Boo-Boo Bear
Shaggy Bear
Yogi Bear
Smokey the Bear
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Hanna-Barbera made some great cartoons, and Yogi Bear was one of them. Yogi Bear is a fun-loving (and picnic basket loving) bear who is always running away from the ranger. Yogi made his first appearance in 1958.

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Huckleberry Hound
Warner Bros. Animation
He's a blue dog. Do you know his name?
Huckleberry Hound
Droopy
Dino
Muttley
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Did we mention that Joseph Barbera and William Hanna were geniuses? Huckleberry Hound was a sweet little dog that loved to be around his friends. His character was around for 30 years, from 1958-1988.

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Speedy Gonzales
Warner Bros. Animation
There are many cartoon mice, but can you name this one?
Mickey Mouse
Squishy
Speedy Gonzales
Miles Mouse
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Speedy Gonzales was a mouse that lived in Mexico. He was fast and always running from something. He'd shout in Spanish before he ran away (you'd think someone could catch him based on his warning, but you'd be wrong).

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Donald Duck
Warner Bros. Animation
Who is this famous duck that gets angry?
Daffy Duck
Duck Dodger
Donald Duck
Heckle
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In his earlier skits, it seemed as though Donald Duck just couldn't catch a break. He's a little hot-headed when things go awry (and things always go awry). It's a good thing you can't understand him when he gets angry because it's almost as though he is saying bad words.

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Winnie the Pooh
Walt Disney Television Animation
Do you know this lovable bear?
Brother Bear
Winnie the Pooh
Yogi Bear
Boo-Boo
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Winnie the Pooh is a cartoon character that is all about looking at the bright side of things. He has friends with problems, and he always works toward helping them and fixing their issues over his own.

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Ariel
Walt Disney Company
Can you name this famous Disney princess?
Ariel
Elsa
Moana
Belle
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Ariel is a 16-year-old who wants to study abroad, and by that we mean she wants to study the language of love in a completely different world where her parents can't live. When her father says no, she sells her soul to do so.

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Homer Simpson
Fox
Who is this lovable buffoon?
Fry
Plucky
Hank
Homer
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

While "The Simpsons" started off highlighting Bart as a bad kid, they soon realized that focusing on Homer's antics put the show over the top. That's when the show really became for adults, and the stories seemed to never end.

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Angelica Pickles
Nickelodeon
Who is this mean girl from the 1990s?
Susie Carmichael
Lilian Deville
Angelica Pickles
Dil Pickles
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Angelica was no angel when it came to playing with the babies on the "Rugrats" series. She was mean and spoiled and screamy at all times, and she would even be a little cruel when the grownups weren't around.

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Casper
Paramount
Who is this friendly cartoon character?
Jasper
Muttley
Casper
Janie
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Casper was a ghost, but he was a friendly ghost. It's all fun and games while you're watching this cartoon, until you realize that a child had to die in order for Casper to become a ghost. Then everything is sad.

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Ed, Edd and Eddy
Cartoon Network
These three characters all had the same name, but they were spelled differently. Who are they?
The Ashleys
Ed, Edd and Eddy
Ned, Nedd and Needy
Trip, Skip and Flip
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When it comes to hilarious cartoons, "Ed, Edd N Eddy" was probably at the top of the list. These three friends hung out with each other and embodied what it was like to be a child in the early 2000s.

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Mighty Mouse
CBS
Can you name this famous mouse?
Mickey Mouse
Jerry Mouse
Speedy Gonzales
Mighty Mouse
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Mighty Mouse showed everyone that size doesn't matter. He was the strongest mouse in the world, and no one could stop him. He even flew! He was like Superman for kids ... if Superman wasn't already for kids.

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Dexter's Labratory
Cartoon Network
Do you recognize this child genius?
Mr. Peabody
Simmons
Trivers
Dexter
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Dexter's Laboratory" was a show about a young boy who was so smart, he had his own experiments going on. Oh, and he saved the world. He had an older sister named Dee Dee and a nemesis named Mandark.

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Babs Bunny
Warner Bros. Animation
"Tiny Toon Adventures" was a show about the next generation of Looney Toons. Which Tiny Toon is this?
Buster
Hampton
Babs
Plucky
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Babs Bunny was a little pink bunny who was witty and intelligent. While "Tiny Toon Adventures" only lasted two years, it was a very intelligent show that had some great characters in it (including a character that loved animals so much that she almost killed them).

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Leela Futurama
Comedy Central
Who is this cartoon character with only one eye?
Zoidberg
Amy
Leela
Bender
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Futurama" was a show that was all about what the future would be like ... when someone is accidentally frozen for 1,000 years. The show had several references to the 20th century, and it also had some pretty creative storylines.

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Hey Arnold
Nickelodeon
His uniquely shaped head gives him away. Do you know his name?
Martin
Shortie
Sqarezie
Arnold
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Hey Arnold!" was an incredibly interesting show, if you looked at it the right way. When you consider the different (and very dark) fan theories that are out there about the show, you realize that it wasn't just about problem solving and humor.

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Brian Griffin
Fox
Which member of the Griffin family isn't human?
Stewie
Brian
Peter
Chris
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Brian is an anthropomorphic dog that belongs to the Griffin family on the show, "Family Guy." He is a heavy drinker and an aspiring writer who wants to make his mark on the world. Showrunners wanted to kill him off, but that didn't last long.

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Eric Cartman
Comedy Central
Which "South Park" character is this?
Stan Marsh
Eric Cartman
Kyle Broflovski
Kenny McCormick
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Eric Catman is a character that basically embodies everything that is wrong with the world. He wholeheartedly thinks he's doing the right thing, but he seems to be way off base with how he goes about doing it.

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Daria
MTV
Do you know this monotone cartoon character's name?
Beth
Daria
Chloe
Jane
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Daria was first seen on "Beavis and Butthead," but she was given a spin-off on MTV a few years later. She was a social outcast, but she was intelligent, which spoke to a lot of young girls at the time.

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Raphael Ninja Turtle
Fox Box/4Kids TV
Which Ninja Turtle is this?
Donatello
Raphael
Michaelangelo
Leonardo
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles would be impossible to tell apart if it weren't for their different color masks and their weapons. You can always spot Raphael by his red mask.

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Summer Smith
Adult Swim
This character from "Rick and Morty" is more important than she seems. Can you name her?
Summer Smith
Beth Smith
Donna Gueterman
Gazorpian
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Summer Smith is Morty's sister on the show, "Rick and Morty." While it seems like she doesn't do much but get into trouble, there are a few key moments when she gets Rick and Morty out of mortal danger.

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Yakko Warner Brothers
Warner Bros. Animation
The Warner brothers (and the Warner sister) invaded our televisions in the 1990s. Can you name this Warner family member?
Wakko
Yakko
Dot
Professor Frink
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Yakko, Wakko and Dot were some of the craziest characters on television, but they also taught young children quite a bit (we refer you to the songs that Yakko used to sing). "Animaniacs" ran for five years, but it is one of the most memorable shows of the 1990s.

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Ren and Stimpy
Nickelodeon
Do you recognize this cartoon Chihuahua?
Chip
Stimpy
Scat
Ren
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

We still aren't sure how "The Ren & Stimpy Show" was ever on a children's network, but we are grateful nonetheless. This show was crude and filled with really intelligent humor that you had to think about to even get to a laugh. It was pure genius.

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You Got:
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Walt Disney Television Animation