Johnny Unusual
(He/Him)
Probably something like trans rights or sphere grids but in the meantime, we like to entertain ourselves with cartoons as we weight to be flung through time off of our mortal coils. And who makes up these time killers? Characters! Unless the cartoon is rather abstract or is about a tree growing or some shit.
But let’s face it, the outsized characters are often what keeps us coming back for more. After all, even the biggest scenery chewing ham can’t beat what a cartoon can do: bring to life an special kind of logic. Cartoons have a special power all of their own and though to an extent a lot can be replicated in non-moving art, the combination of motion and being beyond the real can bring a different sort of power and a special kind of character. Even cartoon characters who don’t follow splat and squish animation logic have something that can’t be replicated in real life, even if it is more subtle. Technically, you could have a live action Hank Hill or Bob Belcher or god forbid Fred Flinstone (again) but animation feels better for them, in that the simplicity of design can convey things more directly to the viewer. And maybe more personally. Its in human nature.
Pictured:
Yourself!
Of course, McCloud was talking about the non-moving kind of cartoons but it certainly still applies, doesn’t it? So I feel confident in saying we love cartoon characters. I know I do. Let’s see which characters speak to us the most. Together. In front of the warming glow of our televisi— er, computers.
How to Draw up a Cartoon Character list!
1. Choose your top 25 cartoon characters in order from favourite downwards.
2. PM them to me
3. Each placement on your list will be represented by points. #1 is 35, #2 is 34 and so on until the end.
4. I will tabulate the scores and then draw up a list based on everyone’s collective points.
So, what counts as a cartoon character?
Sure this might sound inherently obvious but there’s definitely a lot that is open to interpretation so allow me to clear things up.
- The character must be animated. I know cartoon is a term that can be used for illustration rather than simply animation and even that this what it initially referred to but I want this to be clear that I am looking specifically at animated ones. This time. I hope I didn’t mislead anyone with the title.
- The way the character is animated can be in any number of varieties. Pen and paper, stop motion, CG. However, this must be a character who intended to exist in an animated world. I’ll definitely make exceptions (say, where they represent animation) but mostly what I am trying to say is I won’t include, say, King Kong, who was often depicted in stop motion and CG forms.
- If you are like “Hey, technically aren’t ALL video game characters animated?” And I’ll be like “Don’t do this to me.” But I will allow video game characters who exist within traditional animation (like a Don Bluth game).
- I won’t completely exclude characters that didn’t originate in animation but I’ll mostly discourage them. Like, animated versions of Tintin are basically different Tintins. But Popeye definitely evolved in his animated forms and Roger Rabbit of the novel doesn’t really represent the character on screen. Use your best judgement.
- This is for individuals. But what about duos and trios and etc.? It depends. Though Pinky and the Brain are a duo, both are different characters with their own unique personalities and sometimes do their own things. So, if the characters are kind of super inseparable, then I’m fine with it.
