The Oldest Cartoon Characters in History

Millions of kids around the United States grew up with Saturday morning cartoons. Some of the most iconic characters in television history come from cartoons. One of the first people to come up with animated characters was Walt Disney. He used his creativity and changed the world. These days, there are countless amusement parks around the world named after him. The characters and shows he came up with are focal points with different attractions.

One of the characters Disney created was Mickey Mouse. Mickey first appeared in “Plane Crazy” but gained mainstream fame with the release of “Steamboat Willie.” His iconic ears have become a must-have for anyone who visits a Disney amusement park. As time has gone on, the story of Mickey Mouse has expanded to include Minnie Mouse. Tons of young girls look up to Minnie and love emulating her lifestyle. It wouldn’t have been possible without the success of “Steamboat Willie.”

Popeye is another cartoon character who’s become instantly recognizable. His large forearms and love of spinach changed the world around him. It’s no secret that most kids don’t enjoy eating their vegetables. However, Popeye made it cool to eat healthy and showed all of the benefits that come with it. Folks with large forearms get called Popeye today by other folks in society. ( For more television content, click here to read about 16 actors who were completely unrecognizable in their roles. )

To compile this list of the oldest cartoon characters in history, 24/7 Tempo consulted entertainment-related sources. These include Oldest.org, Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb.

Bugs Bunny (1938)

Few characters are as easily identifiable as Bugs Bunny. The cartoon icon first made his appearance in the film “A Wild Hare.” It was there that Bugs Bunny first introduced the world to his catchphrase “What’s up Doc?” As time has gone on, Bugs Bunny has become synonymous with eating carrots, as any other bunny around the world would. He’s gotten his own shows and is closely associated with the Six Flags Great Adventure amusement parks around the world.

Bugs Bunny has been integral to the success of tons of shows and movies. Yet, if you had told the creators of Bugs Bunny that he’d be next to the best basketball players in history for multiple movies, they’d likely laugh in your face. Both films in the Space Jam series featured Bugs Bunny and the entire Looney Tunes cast. Plenty of Millennials and Gen-Zers watched the first “Space Jam” with Michael Jordan and Bugs Bunny. He’s on plenty of clothing and is still wildly popular among the younger generations. Bugs Bunny’s look has continued to evolve as the years have gone on.

Donald Duck (1934)

Donald Duck was one of the first characters Walt Disney created during his legendary run in the entertainment industry. Young kids love the way Donald talks since he sounds like he has a heavy lisp. Donald has somewhat of an attitude whenever things don’t go his way, which is something else plenty of folks relate to. His first appearance in entertainment came in “The Wise Little Hen.” Donald’s popularity exploded enough to give him his own sort of universe within the Disney media brand.

His sailor hat and blue shirt are instantly identifiable by everyone who’s seen him on a show or movie. Donald became so popular that his story grew to include a partner, Daisy Duck. She’s also become so legendary among Disney fans that she’s gotten her own shows and productions over the years. Donald’s popularity won’t be going anywhere in the future. Fans still flock to Disney amusement parks and wait in line for a while to get a picture with the real-life character of Donald. Even though his appearance has somewhat changed over the years, Donald will likely always be notable.

Popeye (1929)

It’s uncommon to find a child who’s excited and ready to enjoy their vegetables. Tons of parents around the world have turned to cartoon characters over the years to assist with getting their younger kids to eat healthy food. Popeye has become tied together with indulging in spinach and having large forearm muscles. Kids have the desire to grow up and have the biggest muscles in the world. It makes complete sense that Popeye has been so popular and around for almost 100 years.

His first appearance in mainstream media came in a comic strip called “Thimble Theater.” Popeye was a “guys guy” since he was a sailor and always had a pipe in his mouth. He was willing to fight anyone who came his way and knocked his opponent far away. Popeye used his large muscles to lift and carry things around. His anchor tattoos that grace his bulging forearms are part of Hollywood history. Even in 2024, anyone with large muscles is called Popeye by those around them. The love folks have for Popeye isn’t leaving at all, so be ready to see him for a long time.

Mickey Mouse (1928)

Is there a more recognizable cartoon character in the world than Mickey Mouse? His mouse ears are essential to wear whenever one takes a trip to a Disney theme park around the world. Plenty of movie and television historians credit Mickey Mouse with the explosion of Disney and its popularity. His first appearance in mainstream media was in “Steamboat Willie.” The cartoon was released in 1928 and became an instant hit among older and younger viewers. Mickey’s design has slightly changed over the years, but folks still can’t get over the mouse.

Not even Walt Disney himself could have likely guessed how popular Mickey Mouse would be in the years coming. He became so beloved that a partner needed to be created for him. These days, it’s common for couples in real life to dress as Mickey and Minnie Mouse for Halloween. Tons of young girls around the world look up to Minnie and see themselves in her. Without the success of Mickey Mouse, who knows where society would be? There likely wouldn’t be the same love and admiration for Disney that exists in the modern era.

Bonzo the Dog (1922)

The United States isn’t the only place where iconic cartoon characters come from. Bonzo the Dog was first developed in 1920 by a British man named George Studdy. He first created Bonzo the Dog after he was hired by a journal who wanted him to create a weekly comic strip. While the dog typically wasn’t the focal point of the comics at first, he made regular enough appearances that fans craved more. The love was so strong that a film company approached Studdy and asked him to make short films during World War I. People turned to entertainment like never before, as there had never been a war like this in history.

As time went on, Bonzo the Dog continued to stay in the hearts and minds of animal lovers all around the world. The fact that he made his way to people from around the world in an era without technology goes to show how popular he truly was. The dog had a recognizable face and always wanted to eat delicious food. These days, fans can find Bonzo the Dog on tons of memorabilia. Some of the original Bonzo the Dog merchandise can fetch a pretty penny, as he was one of the first to be sold to the masses.

Felix the Cat (1919)

It’s challenging to imagine a world where silent films once dominated the movie scene. However, in the early 1900s, silent films were how plenty of folks got their entertainment. Technology wasn’t at a place where movies could easily be made with sound. This allowed for some of the most hit characters in history to be created. One of those icons was Felix the Cat, who made his first appearance in the instant classic “Feline Follies.” Ever since then, Felix has been causing chaos and creating laughs.

Felix is known for being the first animal to make consistent appearances in the American entertainment industry. If it weren’t for Felix the Cat, who knows if characters like Mickey Mouse and Bugs Bunny would have been developed. Felix has always had a black body and a huge grin across his face. He’s been in various comic strips and movies, in addition to starring in countless shows. Felix was given a partner named Kitty to keep his storyline going. Plenty of kids have asked for Felix the Cat toys and other forms of merchandise over the years.

Fantasmagorie (1908)

There’s no understating how far cartoon characters have come since Fantasmagorie was first introduced in 1908. An old-school projector was used for this particular cartoon. The character was created by French illustrator Emile Cohl. The first appearance of Fantasmagorie was in the film of the same title. The character is a stick man who goes on adventures and lives his daily life. The run time of the first movie was slightly less than two minutes, but it changed the course of history. This was one of the first times a movie was distributed to the masses to consume.

Technology wasn’t able to do the same things it is today, so the movie was completed fully with hand-drawn pictures. Fantasmagorie allowed plenty of folks to dream of what was coming next in the world of entertainment. At one point, he comes across a flower that somehow becomes an elephant. While this clearly wasn’t possible, tons of fans during the time thought it was hilarious and great entertainment. There’s no doubt that Cohl would be proud of where cartoons and entertainment have gotten to since he first created Fantasmagorie.

The Katzenjammer Kids (1897)

One of the first comic strips to be introduced to the public was The Katzenjammer Kids in 1897. It doesn’t come as a shock that the strip was first introduced in the New York Journal, which was one of the biggest newspaper outlets at the time. The story followed two siblings as they continually went against what their parents told them. Nearly every group of siblings could relate to them as they went about their adventures. The comic strip became so popular that real-life performances of the stories became common.

The story went on for more than 100 years before the duo had their ending in 2006. Comic strips don’t have the same draw today that they once did. If the story were to be added to television, there’s a high likelihood they’d still be popular. There will always be an appetite for younger people to see stories of other kids going against their parents. There are also more than 100 years of stories to turn into television content, which means the material is there for a show down the line. (For more entertainment content, click here to read about 1980s teen heartthrobs and what they look like today.)

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