The Top 25 Most Iconic Cartoon Network Characters- Ranked.

Shola Osiyemi
10 min readJun 22, 2023

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Cartoon Network made an impact on people’s childhoods.

Whether you watched Cartoon Network in the late 1990’s, or the early 2000’s.

There was an abundance of entertaining characters, that still have a special place in many adults’ hearts till this day.

Let’s take a trip down memory lane and explore the top 10 most unique and iconic Cartoon Network characters.

25. Aku (Samurai Jack)

Serving as one of the very few villains on this list, Aku certainly deserves a spot on this list.

An ancient and maniacal, shapeshifting demon who became a tyrannical ruler of Earth in the future. And became Jack’s greatest enemy.

He’s a sinister individual, but he’s also hilarious. He’s definitely an iconic Cartoon Network Character.

24. Buttercup ( The Powerpuff Girls)

An often-underrated member of the Powerpuff Girls.

Buttercup was the toughest out of her sisters, Buttercup is a brave and fearless member of The Powerpuff Girls.

She was the strongest and fastest out her sisters, and had a tomboy — like personality, which really made her standout from the rest of her sisters.

She fought valiantly alongside her sisters, to defeat the villainy that resided in Townsville.

23. Johnny Test (Johnny Test)

Johnny Test was a comical show that followed the adventures of a mischievous 11-year-old kid, who is used as a lab rat by his scientific twin sisters.

Johnny’s story follows the wild shenanigans that Johnny embarks on, as he uses the scientific gadgets developed by his sisters.

Johnny has an untamed personality, and his venturesome nature leads to many crazy and fun experiences.

22. Gumball ( The Amazing World Of Gumball)

The Amazing World of Gumball, came out considerably later compared to many other Cartoon Network shows. Yet it’s fondly remembered by many viewers.

A 12-year-old blue cat, who resides in the strange American suburb of Elmore.

Gumball is a mischievous cat, who frequently finds himself involved in a variety of shenanigans around the city, with his adopted brother Darwin.

21. Mandy ( The Grim Adventures Of Billy and Mandy).

The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy was a spooky show that was simultaneously hilarious.

While Mandy is a cruel and heartless individual, she was also very logical and intelligent.

Consistently getting her associates (Billy and Grim) out of trouble on several occasions. These traits have made her a fan favourite among fans of the show.

20. Eustace Bragge ( Courage The Cowardly Dog)

Courage the Cowardly Dog is arguably the scariest Cartoon Network show in history. And the character who made it all the more scarier, was Eustace Bragge.

An ill-tempered, cranky husband who was Courage’s dog owner.

This man-made Courage’s life a living hell, as Eustace was jealous of the attention Courage received from (Eustace’s wife) Muriel.

Although Eustace and Courage had bad blood between each other, they would partner up occasionally which made for many funny experiences.

19. Grim (The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy)

This guy had to of been to be mentioned right?

The most memorable character from The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy.

Grim is a Jamaican accented Grim Reaper who travels on crazy adventures with his two companions Billy and Mandy.

Billy and Mandy, his two “Best friends” annoy him along their adventures, but over time they form a strong bond with each other.

18. Steven ( Steven Universe)

A newcomer to the Cartoon Network Franchise, but undoubtedly an iconic character.

Steven is an enthusiastic, carefree, and magical young boy, who resides in Beach City.

Steven’s life gets crazier, after he allies himself with a superhero group of magical women, known as, the Crystal Gems.

Despite Steven Universe being a relatively recent show. Fans have all ages, have come to love Steven as character.

Making him a very iconic character in the Cartoon Network Franchise.

17. Mojo Jojo ( The Powerpuff Girls)

It’s hard to forget the appearance of this green-faced sinister Chimpanzee.

Serving as the most prominent antagonist in the Powerpuff girls’ series. Mojo Jojo was a malevolent villain who wanted to defeat the Powerpuff girls and rule the world.

Unfortunately for Mojo Jojo, his plans didn’t go the way he wanted. On the bright side, he is remembered as a funny and intriguing villain. One that many fans still remember to this day.

16. Bloo ( Fosters Home for Imaginary Friends)

The imaginary blue coloured troublemaker, Bloo is a main character in the Fosters Home for Imaginary Friends series.

An immature and self-centered individual, Bloo was the imaginary friend created by his partner in crime Mac.

Bloo served as the wild and erratic one, while Mac was the rational, the only guy who could persuade Bloo against indulging in mischievous activities.

15. Flapjack ( The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack)

The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack, followed the piratey adventures of a young and naive boy named Flapjack, and a swindling pirate named Knuckles.

Flapjack embarks on a quest to find Candy Island. A fabled island, that’s entirely made from candy.

Flapjack is a wacky, exuberant, and cheerful young boy. And his misadventures will never be forgotten.

14. Rigby (Regular Show)

A 2010’s Cartoon Network classic. Regular Show stands as one the most memorable shows of its era.

And the character who brought the show to life was Rigby. An irresponsible 23-year-old Racoon fools around with his best friend Mordecai, at the park they both work at.

The wild shenanigans Rigby engaged in are what make Regular Show an impressively entertaining show.

13. Mordecai

I couldn’t mention Rigby, without featuring his partner in crime Mordecai.

A 23-year-old blue jay, who slacks off from work with his colleague Rigby, at every chance he gets.

Mordecai was a more fleshed out character in comparison to Rigby. Mordecai endured several turbulent relationships during the show, which did add more depth to his character.

12. Chowder (Chowder)

Chowder was a show that food lovers enjoyed.

The story of a young apprentice chef, who dreams of becoming a great chef. Continuing the legacy of his teacher, Mang Daal, by becoming the next head chef of the business.

Chowder ventures the streets of Marzipan city, discovering wacky and weird foods. Chowder also tries to educate himself on the recipes, but things usually got out of control.

11. Eddy ( Ed, Edd n Eddy)

We all remember this reckless trio.

A troublesome crew consisting of three boys, Ed, Edd, and Eddy.

The leader of the gang?… Eddy.

A loudmouthed, rebellious, and yellow-shirted young boy, who caused the most trouble in his neighborhood.

Eddy really brought the show to life, through his get rich quick money schemes. These usually involved scamming people, which always led to chaotic showdowns.

10. Courage (Courage The Cowardly Dog)

Probably the most horrifying Cartoon Network show. Courage The Cowardly Dog was a thrilling cartoon.

A scared puppy who deals with the evils that plague his farmhouse.

The show had a macabre nature, introducing several frightening monsters and evils. But it was balanced by the funny and humorous elements of the show.

Courage was at the heart of these funny moments, and that’s the reason why many fans came to love him.

9. Jake (Adventure Time)

Adventure Time features a colorful and eccentric cast of characters.

One of the most iconic, being Jake, commonly referred to as Jake the Dog. A shapeshifting and talking dog, who is incredibly funny. And is the ultimate companion for his best friend Finn.

Jake added a vibrancy to Adventure Time, through his humor and funny actions. This is why he is a fan favourite.

8. Ben (Ben 10)

“It started when an alien device did what it did.”

It would have been criminal to have included this Cartoon Network legend.

The story of a ten-year-old boy, who discovers a mysterious device in the shape of a watch, called the Omnitrix. This device allows Ben to morph into a multitude of Aliens.

The Ben 10 franchise has grown astronomically over the last 2 decades. What simply started out as just Ben 10, grew into an entire franchise with sequels like: Ben 10 Alien Force, Ben 10 Ultimate Alien, and Ben 10 Omniverse.

It’s one of the very few Cartoon Network shows that has expanded into a large franchise, admit deserves it respect for doing so.

7.Blossom (Powerpuff Girls)

Serving as the leader of the Powerpuff Girls, Blossom was the star of the show.

An intelligent, quick-thinking, and brave young girl, Blossom leads the attacks against the villains of Townsville.

In my opinion, she’s the most memorable Powerpuff Girl out of the 3, which is why she’s ranks high on the list.

6. Johnny (Johnny Bravo)

Johnny Bravo was a show that helped build the foundation of Cartoon Network.

A late 90’s classic, that followed the life of a charming, American casanova named Johnny Bravo.

Despite Johnny Bravo’s attempts at seducing the ladies, things never seem to go his way.

The show was entertaining and funny, Johnny single handedly brought the show to life, and created some of the most memorable moments in Cartoon Network history.

5. Finn (Adventure Time)

Finn, also known as Finn the Human. Was the main character in Adventure Time, and undoubtedly one of the most liked characters in the show.

Finn starts off as an innocent and adventurous young boy, who embarks on random adventures with companion Jake, across the Land of Woo.

However, as the story progressed, Finn matured, as he slowly began to learn about the dark history of his land. And learn shocking truths, regarding his origin.

By the end of the show, Finn was an emotionally matured young man. One who was deeply respected by fans.

4. Mac ( Fosters Home for Imaginary Friends)

Functioning as the protagonist of Foster Home for Imaginary Friends, Mac is an imaginative eight-year-old boy who creates an imaginary friend called Bloo.

Mac integrates himself into this fantastical world. A bizarre universe, where one’s imagination can become a reality.

Mac was a polite and sensible young boy, which neatly complemented his brash and brazen companion, Bloo.

He was a loved character by fans, and he’s deeply missed.

3. Dexter (Dexter’s Laboratory)

One of the earliest Cartoon Network shows, Dexter’s Laboratory remains as one of Cartoon Networks most popular shows, decades after its end.

The story of a Russian accented child genius, who diligently spends his days creating wild inventions, through his strong understanding of science.

Dexter has a problematic relationship with his older sister Dee Dee, a sibling that’s extremely curious about Dexter’s inventions, which leads to her frequently wrecking his experiments.

This show was comedic and entertaining, and Dexter’s idiosyncratic character made the show unique and memorable for decades.

2. Numbah 1 (Code Name Kids Next Door)

A creatively chaotic Cartoon Network show. Codename: Kids Next Door (KND) follows the lives of 5 10-year-old children known as Sector V. Sector V battle against the tyranny of evil teenagers and adults, that plague their neighborhood.

The leader of Sector V is Nigel Uno, also known as Numbah 1. A bald and British tactical genius, who leads the KND into battle.

KND is a show that was made in Cartoon Network’s prime years. Although every KND operative was important, many would agree that Numbah 1 was a distinct character who set himself apart from his cohort.

  1. (Samurai Jack)

A classic character for the network.

A nameless, stoic, and deadly samurai who craves retribution against the villainous demon, Aku.

The show is simplistic, minimal dialogue partnered with an abundance of action. A show where the protagonist says less and does more. Perfectly executing the concept of minimalism.

The show is a masterpiece, that will never be forgotten.

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