The Most Famous Cartoon Characters Teens and Parents Love

Cartoons are a multi-generational form of entertainment. Many parents remember waking up early and watching Saturday morning cartoons, and growing attached to certain cartoon characters. Now parents and teens can bond over watching cartoons. Previously, you had to wait until cartoons came on the TV, but now you can simply stream them and watch anything on demand. This list highlights the most iconic, famous, and funny cartoon characters from the decades.

Here are some of the best famous cartoon characters to bond over.

Cartoon Characters

Cartoons are like a shared language between generations since kids of all ages love them, and parents grew up watching and appreciating the characters. These ones are iconic, relatable, and fun for bonding time between parents and children.

SpongeBob SquarePants

SpongeBob is an iconic character that is nostalgic to parents and still relevant to teens because of the goofy humor. The show went on for several decades with Spongebob SquarePants as the main star, making him one of the most famous cartoon characters of all time.

Patrick Star

From SpongeBob SquarePants, Patrick Star is a fan favorite who is famous for hilarious misunderstandings.

Squidward Tentacles

Another fan favorite from SpongeBob SquarePants is Squidward Tentacles. His dry humor and sarcasm are relatable to teens and adults.

Kim Possible

From the show by the same name, this teen heroine balances school and friendships while saving the world whenever she’s needed. The 2000s nostalgia is relatable for parents, and she inspires confidence and responsibility in teens.

Phineas & Ferb

These brothers are creative and imaginative, making them a family favorite. Their “endless summer” theme is fun for all ages, and their inventive plots keep you drawn in.

Scooby-Doo

You can’t have a list of cartoon characters without including Scooby-Doo, a silly favorite who is brave and loves snacks.

Shaggy Rogers

Shaggy Rogers is Scooby-Doo’s owner, and he has a laid-back personality and iconic catchphrases that are funny and nostalgic. Some of Shaggy’s catchprhases include, “Zoinks!”, starting a nervous sentence with “Like, Scoob…,” or always talking about his desire for a ham sandwich.

Velma Dinkley

Velma is from Scooby-Doo and is known and admired for being smart, resourceful, and for her calm problem-solving abilities.

Danny Phantom

A teen superhero dealing with high school life and ghost powers is the perfect character for parents and teens to bond over. He struggles with identity and fitting in, and the stress he experiences is relatable for teens.

Jimmy Neutron

As a child genius, Jimmy Neutron inspires creativity and curiosity. During the episodes, you’ll see plenty of problem-solving and STEM fun.

Timmy Turner

Star of Fairly OddParents, Timmy Turner, brings chaos to each episode. Despite the chaos, he shows confidence, resilience, and positivity – something teens and families need plenty of.

Cosmo & Wanda

These might be two characters, but you can’t have one without the other when it comes to Timmy Turner’s fairy godparents, who bring magic and laughter to the show.

Ginger Foutley

2000s kids will remember Ginger from As Told By Ginger, and today’s teens will immediately relate to her as she experiences realistic middle school problems. There’s lots of emotional depth, which older teens and adults will appreciate.

Daria Morgendorffer

Daria is known for dry humor, sarcasm, and brutal honesty about high school life. She’s independent, so teens will love her, and she’s nostalgic for parents.

CatDog

Dog on one side, cat on the other, CatDog is a source of humor for the whole family. It’s an absurd concept that gives sibling vibes, although in this case, they’re physically connected to one another.

Courage the Cowardly Dog

Courage the Cowardly Dog is unique and a little spooky, but definitely hilarious. Teens love it because it’s weird and has cult classic status online, and adults love the nostalgia.

Angelica Pickles

Angelica Pickles from Rugrats has an unforgettable, dramatic personality that is relatable to many teens.

Anime Cartoon Characters

Anime is popular with many teens today, and lots of parents grew up watching it, too, offering an easy way to connect. These characters show emotional depth through high-energy storytelling about themes that teens and parents can relate to.

Goku

From Dragon Ball, Goku uses his strength and determination to inspire families.

Naruto Uzumaki

Natuto’s known for his perseverance and emotional depth, making him a favorite for parents and teens.

Kakashi Hatake

From Naruto, Kakashi Hatake is loved for staying calm and cool in tough situations.

Sailor Moon (Usagi Tsukino)

If you want an empowering cartoon character to bond over, Sailor Moon is the one. Also known as Usagi Tsukino, she is a timeless icon because fans love her humor, heroism, and big heart.

Vegeta

Vegeta has an intense personality, and teens will enjoy watching the character’s growth.

Luffy

Luffy has an adventurous spirit and is known for being loyal.

Pikachu

The Pokémon Pikachu is cute and iconic, making it a fan favorite and bringing nostalgia for parents. Although it has been around for 30 years, Pokemon is as popular as ever, with Pikachu as one of the most iconic cartoon characters in it.

Ash Ketchum

Families love watching Ash Ketchum’s journey to become a Pokémon Master.

Deku

From My Hero Academia, Deku is a strong role model for teens because of his determination and kindness.

Tanjiro Kamado

Tanjiro Kamado is from Demon Slayer and is a teen favorite.

Animated Movie Characters

Animated movies are one of the easiest things for parents and teens to bond over. A parent may remember seeing the movie in theaters or grew up watching it on repeat, and teens enjoy the feel-good vibes. Here are some of the best animated characters.

Shrek

Shrek is funny and surprisingly heroic, making him a family favorite that teens and parents will instantly recognize.

Donkey

Donkey from Shrek is a popular cartoon character that adds fun and excitement to the series. He’s full of jokes, so teens love him, and parents will recognize Eddie Murphy’s voice.

Woody

Woody from Toy Story is a nostalgic character who always saves the day. He sets leadership and loyalty examples while going through changes that he’s not always excited about – something teens may feel right now.

Buzz Lightyear

Buzz Lightyear from ToyStory is an iconic cartoon character known for being adventurous. He makes personal growth fun with his space theme and never-ending humor.

Simba

Simba’s journey in The Lion King is bittersweet and cherished by parents, and teens will be pulled right in.

Timon & Pumbaa

This duo always goes together, singing their way through The Lion King while offering fun and wisdom as they support Simba.

Nemo

Teens and parents can bond over Nemo from Finding Nemo, thanks to the coming-of-age experiences of wanting to be independent and experiencing the overprotective parent, but also needing guidance from their parents.

Elsa

Elsa from Frozen inspires self-acceptance, a powerful character that teens and adults love.

Mike Wazowski

Monsters, Inc. character Mike Wazowski is known for being funny and energetic.

Po

From Kung Fu Panda, Po teaches all ages to embrace who they are.

Classic Cartoon Characters

With streaming services and memes making classic characters relevant again, families can bond over cartoons from their parents’ childhood.

Fred Flintstone

From the classic The Flintstones, a cartoon about a prehistoric family, Fred is always up to some crazy antics that’ll have the whole family laughing.

George Jetson

George Jetson is a futuristic dad, and his world will captivate teens with retro-futuristic vibes while being nostalgic for adults.

Yogi Bear

Yogi is a timeless cartoon character known for being silly but charming. He’s always scheming with his friend Boo Boo, but learning life lessons along the way.

Tom & Jerry

Tom hilariously chases Jerry, with Jerry coming up with clever but mischievous ways to outwit Tom, making one of the most popular cartoon duos of all time. The show first came out in 1940, so they’re one of the most long-lasting recognizable and famous cartoons.

Garfield

From the cartoon of the same name, Garfield is a sarcastic cat who loves all kinds of food, especially lasagna. He’s a family favorite that teens and adults will both enjoy.

Wile E. Coyote

Wile E. Coyote is hilarious as he chases the Road Runner, never seeming to catch him but getting caught in outlandish scenarios instead.

Road Runner

As Road Runner runs from Wile E. Coyote, you’ll hear the classic “Beep beep!” It’s a sound that’ll be stuck in your head after bonding with your teen.

Donatello

Donatello is known as the smart Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle – he’s tech savvy, curious, and inventive, making him a favorite cartoon character.

Goofy

Teens may recognize Goofy from memes, while parents know him from older cartoons and movies, bringing plenty of bonding potential.

Bugs Bunny

Bugs Bunny may just be the biggest Looney Tunes icon and is featured in popular memes. Teens love his quick, funny comments and his confident personality.

Lola Bunny

Best known from Space Jam, TikTok memes, and the Space Jam reboot, Lola Bunny helps connect the generations. She’s also known for her athleticism and confidence, furthering her appeal.

Tasmanian Devil (Taz)

The Tasmanian Devil, or Taz, is a literal whirlwind of chaos known for wild energy and humor, a fun character for teens and parents. He’s popular in memes, so he’s already relevant with today’s teens.

Recap: Favorite Cartoon Characters

Cartoon characters are a fun way to bring generations together for bonding moments. You can introduce your teen to movies you loved, or discover new characters that your child introduces you to. Either way, you’ll have an opportunity to laugh, connect, and create memories to cherish forever.