Summary
- Cartoon Network shows have created iconic characters beloved by millions who grew up watching the network.
- The best characters on Cartoon Network are not only hilarious but also have depth and intriguing histories.
- From Courage the Cowardly Dog to Adventure Time, Cartoon Network has a strong track record of creating shows with memorable characters.
Cartoon Network shows have created dozens of iconic characters over the years, and the best ones have found their way into the hearts of a generation. Millions grew up watching shows on Cartoon Network, so their most famous characters are extremely well-known. Cartoon Network is a great repository of classic cartoons, especially those from Hanna-Barbera, but it has also created plenty of original shows that have become just as popular. Cartoon Network's best shows can be hilarious, but their great characters ensure that they are also substantial.
Cartoon Network boasts a brilliant variety of original shows, from creepy horror-infused stories to large-scale cinematic action epics. For the most part, Cartoon Network's shows have an irreverent humor, and some of the funniest cartoons can even be enjoyed by adults just the same. The best characters are as compelling as they are funny, with intriguing histories that are much more in depth than most children's shows. From Adventure Time to The Powerpuff Girls, Cartoon Network has a strong record of creating shows with memorable characters.
15 Courage
Courage the Cowardly Dog
Everyone's favorite ironically-named pooch is subjected to all sorts of supernatural horrors in Nowhere, Kansas with his owners, Eustace and Muriel Bagge. Courage is a nervous wreck most of the time, but he's always more switched on than his owners, sometimes saving them from terrifying dangers they are completely oblivious to. Courage the Cowardly Dog still gives fans nightmares, showing that it's one of the scariest children's cartoons ever made. It's hard to blame Courage for being afraid when there are so many creepy and mysterious events in his home.
14 Johnny Bravo
Johnny Bravo
Johnny Bravo is handsome, and he isn't shy about letting everyone know. Whether he's trying to impress the ladies or simply strutting his stuff, Johnny exudes unparalleled confidence. The original himbo would never be seen without his sunglasses and his absurdly tall quiff, no matter what. He faces humiliating rejections on a daily basis, but he's so sure of himself that he simply brushes it off with a smooth quip and continues flexing his muscles, aided by the sound of a bullwhip.
13 Mandy
The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy
Despite the fact that she wears a pink dress with a flower on it, Mandy is a morbid young girl with a scowl permanently painted on her face.
Despite the fact that she wears a pink dress with a flower on it, Mandy is a morbid young girl with a scowl permanently painted on her face. She's constantly irritated by Billy's stupidity, but it isn't entirely his fault. A flashback shows that Mandy was frowning while still in her mother's womb, and she didn't find anything to smile about after being born either. Mandy is utterly cruel and selfish, but she maintains an air of superiority.
12 Mojo Jojo
The Powerpuff Girls
Mojo Jojo is the most nefarious villain in all of Townsville. The hyper-intelligent chimpanzee wants to rule the world, but first he has to take care of the Powerpuff Girls, so they can't stop him. Mojo appears to be an irredeemable villain, but his tragic backstory shows that he's just bitter and neglected. He used to assist Professor Utonium in his lab, but when the Powerpuff Girls were invented he found himself being ignored. His hatred for the girls is a way for him to channel his jealousy.
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11 Raven
Teen Titans
Raven is one of the main characters in Teen Titans but she's still an enigma. She's a brooding, intelligent hero who doesn't speak when it isn't necessary. When she does speak, Raven can dispense incredible wisdom in her typical dry monotone. Raven's emotionally reserved persona is an important way she can control her powers. She's the most powerful of the Teen Titans, but she could lose control and cause unwanted destruction if she isn't careful.
10 Gumball Watterson
The Amazing World of Gumball
Gumball's optimism and positivity are infectious, even if he doesn't always have the best luck. He focuses a lot of his mental energy on coming up with elaborate schemes which he drags his siblings into, showing his wildly ambitious way of thinking. However, when trouble comes their way, as it so often does, Gumball helps get his family out of tough situations. He's intelligent and resourceful, and when he isn't goofing off, he can achieve a lot.
9 Ice King
Adventure Time
The Ice King is more of a nuisance than a full-blown villain. He keeps up with many plans to kidnap princesses, but he's pretty tame compared to some of the demons and mutants in the land of Ooo. He's key to many of Adventure Time's funniest episodes, but his dark past shows that he's a surprisingly tragic figure. The Ice King used to be a human named Simon, but the evil powers of his magical crown corrupted his mind and warped his sense of reality.
8 Bubbles
The Powerpuff Girls
Bubbles is the cheeriest of the Powerpuff Girls. She seems sweet and innocent, but she proves time and time again that she is just as capable of kicking butt as either of her sisters. She may be emotionally frail to the point that the other characters have to be careful about what they say around her, but she also has an angry side which is more terrifying than Blossom and Buttercup combined. The Powerpuff Girls' positive message shows that the trio are much better as a team than individually.
7 Grim
The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy
Grim is forced to be Billy and Mandy's best friend after losing a game of limbo. As the master of death, he should have more power of his fate, but he mostly seems annoyed by the whole ordeal. Grim despises the way that Billy and Mandy treat him, and he treasures the few moments that he gets to himself. He occassionally enjoys spa treatment even though he doesn't have any skin. Grim is irked by Billy's ignorance and Mandy's cruelty in equal measure.
6 Ed
Ed, Edd n Eddy
Ed's dim-witted nature makes him the perfect person to manipulate into any of Edd and Eddy's schemes. He often acts as the crew's wrecking ball, providing a bit of muscle to get things done, even if he doesn't fully understand what is being asked of him. His air-heaaded one-liners are consistently some of the funniest parts of the show, especially when he fails to understand the line between reality and his comic books. Ed never seems to get hurt, so he can throw his body around with reckless abandon.