There, Disney’s father purchased a newspaper route and for the next six years Walt helped with the deliveries, working before and after school and on weekends.
However, Disney’s father had difficulty making a living in Marceline and sold the farm in 1910 the following year, the family relocated to Kansas City. It was in Marceline-a small-town community Disney remembered as an adult as having been idylli-that he first received encouragement for his burgeoning interest in drawing, from both an aunt as well as a neighbor who was a retired doctor. (Credit: Apic/Getty Images)īorn in Chicago on December 5, 1901, Walt Disney, the fourth of five children, moved with his family to a farm in Marceline, Missouri, when he was four. Without Mickey Mouse and other characters from the classic Disney era, cartoons might’ve never become as big as they are today.Walt Disney at the age of 1, in 1902. No one else deserves the top spot as much as this guy. Mickey Mouseįrom: Steamboat Willie and other Disney cartoons This wisecracking rabbit probably gave a ton of parents migraines after introducing a whole generation of kids to sarcasm. Wonder WomanĪs one of the first female superheroes, Wonder Woman showed the world that cartoon girls could be heroes too. With her beautiful red hair and her even more beautiful voice, Ariel didn’t just help start the Disney Renaissance but she seemed to usher in a new golden age for the cartoon medium as a whole. The Simpsons would never have been as culturally significant as it is without the dopey but endearing Homer Simpson. With his spiky hair and strong will, he embodies what a lot of people love about anime. If you asked someone who their favourite anime characters are, chances are they’ll name characters inspired by Goku. Who would’ve thought this cartoon dog would still be as popular as he was when his show debuted 50 years ago? Scooby may not be the bravest dog, but he’s definitely one of the most lovable dogs of all time. Plus, you know a character is popular with an entire generation when international news covers his first major tournament win like a real event. Ash Ketchumįor the last 20 years, Ash and his Pokémon inspired kids to push themselves to be the very best, like no one ever was. In a show as quotable as Futurama, Bender still stands out as the show’s most quotable character. Like Finn from Adventure Time, he’s a part of a new generation of progressive cartoons that help kids learn about mature themes from a safe space.Īs the main character of the first major family cartoon, Fred Flintstone has definitely earned his spot as one of the most famous cartoon characters of all time.
Finn The HumanĪs a flawed character that goes through real growth over the course of the show, Finn helped usher in a new era for Western cartoons. Tommy fueled the imaginations of ‘90s kids all over the world with his can-do attitude and all of his crazy ‘adventures’. Penelope Pitstopĭespite being designed as an afterthought, Penelope Pitstop became one of Hanna-Barbera’s most famous female characters. VoltronĬartoons are known for having cool giant robots, and Voltron is one of the GOATS. This pretty little lady continues to be a favourite for a lot of little girls for her cute design and her relentless optimism. And, yes, that actually is his last name! 16. Arnold ShortmanĪrnold stood out among other cartoon boys for being a lot more cool, calm, and collected. In a show with a cast as large as Total Drama ’s, it takes a special character like Gwen to stand out above the rest. Who doesn’t love Porky Pig? With his endearing stutter and his signature catchphrase, he remains one of Looney Tunes’ most popular characters.