With modern cartoon series such as Harley Quinn blazing their own trails, animation fans can't help but look back fondly on classic series and the one thing they all have in common: catchphrases. A good quote can go a long way, and some of the most beloved animated characters have a signature phrase.
Whether it is kid-friendly franchises such as South Park, a show's catchphrases can sometimes be the most memorable part about it. Though plenty of cartoon catchphrases exist in the popular lexicon, only the best have become true staples of pop culture.
"Jinkies!"
— Velma Dinkley from Scooby-Doo cartoons.
Though she is most known as the brains of the operation, Velma Dinkley also produced one of the Scooby-Doo franchise's most famous quotations. The nonsense word "jinkies" is often thrown around by Velma whenever she makes a discovery that is an important clue in the mystery that the gang is investigating.
While the phrase existed before Velma first used it, the word has become so synonymous with Scooby-Doo that most viewers forget its previous history. Along with other silly words like "zoinks", the original Scooby-Doo cartoon was not only groundbreaking for its content, but its clever use of language as well.
"Oh, My God, They Killed Kenny!"
— Kyle Broflovski from South Park.
If Kenny would steal the show, and it was often his spectacular deaths that gained him his popularity.
Because of the repeat nature of Kenny's death gag, Kyle's shocked exclamation that someone killed Kenny instantly became a part of South Park lore. Though the show has since moved on to other running gags, the first handful of seasons were elevated by Kenny's death and Stan's hilarious catchphrase.
"Here I Come To Save The Day!"
— Mighty Mouse.
Superheroes have their cool catchphrases, and it was only natural that a clever spoof of comic book icons would also have his own notable quote. Mighty Mouse, the titular character of his own animated shorts, was every sort of superhero rolled into one, and his rather generic tagline was another part of the gag.
Declaring loudly that he had arrived to save everyone in his trademarked bravado, Mighty Mouse's quote is perhaps the thing most ed about him today. Further popularized by Andy Kaufman's iconic pantomime in the first episode of Saturday Night Live, fans of any generation are likely to always the rodent hero.
"D'oh!"
—Homer Simpson from The Simpsons.
One of the recurring meta gags of The Simpsons is that the show has been marketed to death, and Homer's iconic exclamation of pain has certainly found its way on t-shirts and other merch. His son is usually the one getting all the attention with his host of quotes, but Homer's relatable simplicity can't be ignored.
Most catchphrases express a thought, or use words in a clever way to depict meaning. Homer on the other hand relies on his own visceral reaction which makes his repeated shouting of "d'oh" funny every time it happens.
"Yabba Dabba Doo!"
— Fred Flintstone from The Flintstones.
Even though they lived in the Stone Age, the titular family on The Flintstones had trials and tribulations that mirrored modern day life. Fred Flintstone was a regular working man, and his most famous quote comes from a declaration of pure joy.
Usually reserved for quitting time at work, Fred's iconic "yabba dabba doo" harkens back to his primitive roots. The thing that makes Fred Flintstone one of Hanna-Barbara's most iconic characters is that he manages to say what the audiences is feeling through his often repeated catchphrase.
"I Tawt I Taw A Puddy Tat."
— Tweety from Warner Bros. cartoons.
Of all the cartoon franchise to produce famous catchphrases, the heroes and villains of the Looney Tunes seemed to produce the most. Tweety Bird was an instant hit when he debuted, and his humorously misspoken catchphrase is a piece of cartoon comedy gold.
As known for its content as the silly way that it is delivered, Tweety's fearful cry has grown to have a life of its own. Because the premise of the Tweety Bird cartoons was always so simple, it only made sense for his catchphrase to be just as succinct and effective.
"I Would Have Gotten Away With It Too, If It Weren't For You Meddling Kids."
— Various villains from Scooby-Doo cartoons.
Most catchphrases are closely associated with one character in particular, but the famous closing line on Scooby-Doo was uttered by a host of different villains. Always coming after the gang had foiled the criminal's plot, the captured baddy couldn't help but decry their bad fortune because of the meddling teens.
Though the reveals were always silly and cheesy, it wouldn't be a properly solved mystery if the villain didn't say the signature phrase. The characters of Scooby-Doo have all produced amazing catchphrases, and most have stood the test of time.
"Good Grief."
— Charlie Brown from Peanuts.
Originally debuting as a comic strip, the characters from Charlie Brown is essentially the main character of the series, and his exasperated cries of "good grief" perfectly symbolize his plight.
Known for being the only calm character in a sea of hyperactive children, poor Charlie is often weighed down by the burden of being the normal one of the bunch. When not sorting through other people's problems, Charlie usually has to deal with his own, and his catchphrase is his only way to express himself.
"Eat My Shorts."
— Bart Simpsons from The Simpsons.
Bart Simpson has a host of great catchphrases, but only a select few perfectly capture his rebellious nature. Bart's repeated demands that people eat his shorts was such a silly and unique insult that fans instantly latched onto it.
Though the show has moved away from the hyper-commercialization that came in the '90s, Bart's lewd catchphrase is almost inescapable in the realm of Simpsons fandom. While he is nowhere near as controversial as he was back in the day, Bart's iconic line will always represent the best of what the middle Simpson child could be.
"What's Up, Doc?"
— Bugs Bunny from Warner Bros. cartoons.
What started as a parody of the film It Happened One Night soon became the most famous cartoon catchphrase of all time. The always sassy Bugs Bunny made his debut in the 1940s, and his catchphrase was soon closely associated with the character.
Always delivered with a heaping helping of Bugs' signature sarcasm, the phrase has become so closely associated with the cartoon rabbit that most forget its origin completely. The phrase is seemingly innocuous, but when delivered by Bugs Bunny it becomes a quote for all occasions.