Buzz
For animal enthusiasts, fans of furry creatures, and creative souls alike, the timeless appeal of cartoons often lies in the irresistibly charming designs of their animal characters. As we grow older, these adorable figures keep us coming back for more. While everyone has their personal favorites, my list might stir some debate. Feel free to share your top picks in the comments (including photos or video links for extra fun!).
10. Scrat Ice Age series
Scrat, the saber-toothed squirrel, is obsessed with acorns, and his relentless pursuit of them is both hilarious and endearing. While the Ice Age films have their highlights, Scrat’s increasingly absurd antics to secure his beloved acorn steal the show. His efforts often lead to chaos, like triggering massive avalanches. He even forms a bond with Scratte, a female flying squirrel, only to choose his acorn over her—and still lose it. In the second film, after a biblical-style flood, Scrat briefly finds himself in Heaven, serenaded by Dodo birds. As he approaches a colossal acorn, accompanied by Khachaturian’s Spartacus Adagio, he’s abruptly pulled back to life by Sid the Sloth, much to his frustration.
What makes him so lovable? His oversized eyes are the key, giving him a constant look of curiosity and excitement, which are among his most charming qualities. Scrat’s self-deprecating nature, where he can’t seem to catch a break, is a surefire way to evoke genuine laughter. His long, fluffy tail and wide, wolf-like cheeks add a slightly canine charm, while his voice—provided by Chris Wedge, the director of the first film—is a delightful mix of squeaks, growls, and screams. Wedge drew inspiration from Eli Wallach’s portrayal of Tuco in “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly,” particularly during the grave-digging scene. Listen closely, and you’ll notice the resemblance to Scrat’s frantic acorn hunts.
9. Robin Hood Robin Hood
The concept of a fox as Robin Hood dates back to the Reynard cycle, a series of fables from Germany, France, the Netherlands, and England, featuring a clever red fox named Reynard. Walt Disney felt Reynard wasn’t suitable as a hero, so Ken Anderson reimagined the Robin Hood tales with animal characters. Brian Bedford, a relatively unknown Shakespearean actor, lends his voice to the character, delivering a stellar performance. Despite being criticized for reusing elements from Snow White, Aristocats, and The Jungle Book, the film faced unfair judgment. After Disney’s passing in 1966, the studio struggled, and Robin Hood was produced on a tight budget, forcing the team to cut corners wherever possible—a practical decision under the circumstances.
What makes a fox so endearing? Nature itself deserves credit, as foxes are naturally charming, blending traits of cats, dogs, wolves, and even squirrels with their bushy tails. Their barks and yips are delightful, and they can be tamed into wonderful pets. Foxes are also the most popular animal in the “furry” community, though we’ll leave that topic aside. The animators gave Robin Hood a perpetual mischievous grin, perfectly capturing his bandit persona.
8. Mickey Mouse
As the most iconic character on this list, Mickey Mouse stands out even though most others are film-based. Originally a short-film character, Mickey was born from Walt Disney’s insight that children are naturally drawn to animals. Disney envisioned a lovable, anthropomorphic figure that kids could adore and dream of hugging. This idea not only captured hearts but also became a massive financial success. Walt Disney himself was the first to voice Mickey, and his cheerful, high-pitched tenor remains the blueprint for all subsequent voice actors.
Mickey’s charm lies in his design: oversized ears resembling frying pans, large expressive eyes, a wide smile, and big gloved hands and feet paired with red shorts. He embodies the perfect imaginary friend for any child. His laughter, soft and joyful, is as memorable as his speech, adding to his polite and endearing personality.
7. Spirit Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron
Horses possess the largest eyes among all land animals, even surpassing those of the next entry on this list. It’s no wonder they are popular cartoon characters. Eyes are the primary source of emotional expression in a face, making animals appear more relatable and human-like. Even without dialogue, as with Spirit the Mustang, the eyes convey everything. A gentle smile further enhances their appeal. Combined with their natural photogenic quality, horses are a favorite subject, requiring only skillful artistry to bring them to life.
Spirit, a wild mustang, grows up untouched by human influence until he is captured by ruthless post-Civil War soldiers. Torn from his mother (echoing themes of #3), he is taken to a frontier fort. Despite their efforts to tame him, Spirit remains unbroken and escapes with a Native American who values his spirit. He bonds with the Native American’s horse, who is tragically shot during a raid. Spirit and his companion escape again, earning the respect of the soldiers’ colonel, who allows them to leave. Eventually, Spirit reunites with his mother’s herd after his mare friend recovers and rejoins him.
6. Dumbo Dumbo
As a child, this lister watched this film around 200 times, often after school, providing my parents with an hour of peace. Dumbo, the son of Mrs. Jumbo Elephant, is ridiculed for his enormous ears, drawing parallels to Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. He becomes the target of mockery in circus clown acts, leaving him disheartened. However, a mouse named Timothy, playing on the classic elephant-mouse dynamic, befriends him and takes him to visit his mother, who is imprisoned in a train car. Humans are portrayed as villains in this tale.
After accidentally drinking champagne-laced water, Dumbo and Timothy get drunk and experience the iconic pink elephants hallucination. They wake up in a tree, confused, only to encounter a group of sarcastic crows. With their help and Timothy’s encouragement, Dumbo discovers he can fly, ultimately triumphing over his tormentors and reuniting with his mother. Making Dumbo adorable was challenging due to his lack of fur, which typically adds cuddliness. However, his large eyes and sweet smile won hearts, proving that these features can make any character endearing.
5. Donkey Shrek
Donkey may not be the brightest, but his humor, kindness, and loyalty make him irresistible. His small stature adds to his cuteness, as smaller animals tend to be more endearing—except for insects, though even they have their cartoon counterparts. Donkey’s eyes, while not overly large, are incredibly expressive, making him lovable. His oversized ears and buckteeth enhance his charm, allowing for a range of emotions, from sadness to excitement. Combined with Eddie Murphy’s brilliant voice acting, Donkey becomes an unforgettable character.
Donkey encounters Shrek the Ogre in the forest, and their shared status as outcasts forms the foundation of their friendship. Donkey’s indifference to Shrek’s appearance endears him to us, as does Shrek’s decision to keep him around. Donkey’s small size gives him a bouncy, quick-paced walk, perfectly matching his ever-optimistic personality.
4. The Lions Lion King
It’s difficult to choose the most adorable lion, so why not include them all? Even Scar has his charm. Lions are majestic, occasionally intimidating, but always stunningly beautiful. Simba, with his perpetually perfect mane as an adult, embodies this allure. The males are powerfully built, while the females are elegant and graceful. This film captivated this lister at 13, sparking a lifelong love for cartoons. Lions remain one of his top two favorite animals, alongside horses.
James Earl Jones was practically destined to lend his voice to this film. After reading the script, he expressed a desire to voice Timon the Meerkat, finding him the funniest character. The producers laughed, thinking he was joking. Reluctantly, he accepted the role of Mufasa, lamenting, “Having a voice like mine isn’t fun. I can’t tell jokes because Darth Vader has no sense of humor. I’m always cast as the villain or a king.” Many were surprised he wasn’t chosen to voice Aslan the Lion in the live-action Narnia films. Aslan, though an animated character, is a notable absence from this list. But would anyone describe Jesus Christ as adorable?
Jeremy Irons shines as Scar, one of Disney’s most menacing villains. He positions himself as a lion-hyena dictator, murders his brother Mufasa, devastates the Serengeti, and attempts to kill Simba. Despite his cruelty, the animators crafted Scar to be just as charming as the other lions. Cats, with their big eyes and dexterous paws, are universally adored, making Scar an instant success.
3. Hobbes Calvin and Hobbes
While comic strips feature many animal characters, none are as deeply humanized as Hobbes, Calvin’s talking tiger. Named after the philosopher Thomas Hobbes, who shared a cynical view of humanity, Hobbes mirrors this outlook. Calvin, named after John Calvin, often clashes with Hobbes in the strip, yet their bond remains unbreakable. Who wouldn’t want a purring, cuddly tiger as a best friend, especially one who could maul you but usually chooses not to?
Hobbes also serves as Calvin’s moral compass. Calvin’s mischievous antics, like dropping snowballs on Susie Derkins or locking his babysitter out, are tempered by Hobbes’s presence. Few literary moments are as heartwarming as being comforted by a tiger’s hug when you’re feeling down.
2. Toothless the Night Fury How To Train Your Dragon
Toothless inspired this list, and while the lister wanted to place him at #1, it just didn’t feel right. That doesn’t diminish Toothless’s charm—he’s an extraordinary companion and the only non-furry creature here. Initially, we see him trapped in a bola fired by Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III. Hiccup intends to kill him to impress his father, the Viking chief, but can’t go through with it when he sees Toothless’s terrified, helpless expression.
Hiccup frees Toothless, who pins him down, roars, then releases him—a gesture of gratitude. This marks the start of an unlikely bond that transforms every character in the story, except the final dragon antagonist. Vikings and dragons learn to coexist and care for one another. Toothless is a masterpiece of design, blending traits of a snake, cat, horse, owl, and bat. His scaly head flaps, resembling a Great Horned Owl’s ears, change position to reflect his mood. His actual ears, cat-like and expressive, add to his charm.
Toothless learns to smile by mimicking Hiccup, and his enormous amber eyes compensate for his reptilian nature. To make him more endearing, he’s given a cat-like nose and the deep breathing sounds of a horse. The scene where Hiccup offers him a fish to build trust is one of the most poignant dialogue-free moments in cinematic history.
1. Bambi Bambi
Gary Larson’s Far Side cartoon depicts woodland animals reminiscing by a stream, captioned, “Every woodland creature on Earth remembers where they were and what they were doing when Bambi’s mother was shot.” This film has marked the loss of innocence for countless children across generations. For the lister, a similar moment came when Artax perished in the Swamp of Sadness in The Neverending Story. The scene of Man, the ultimate villain in the world of anthropomorphic animals, hunting and killing Bambi’s mother evokes the same heart-wrenching screams from children.
On a brighter note, Bambi’s mother ascends to Heaven, and Bambi will too. As a fawn, his cuteness is almost criminal—brandy-colored eyes nearly as large as his face, adorned with long lashes, a delicate, ever-smiling mouth, and oversized, expressive ears. He’s practically the poster child for anti-hunting campaigns. A nod also goes to his loyal friends, Thumper the rabbit and Flower the skunk. Few animated films can rival the sheer adorableness of this classic.
