Who Are Your Favorite Animated Characters And Why?

[Michael]

Just like the thread title says: Who are your favorite animated characters and why? It's because I have the thesis that the animated characters (or fictional characters in general) we like the most pretty much mirror our personality. And I'd like to know who you are.

BTW, I included only original animated characters who don't originate in another medium (like Peter Parker for example). But you're not forced to do the same. However, here are mine:

First there's Lisa Simpson, who – although she is a girl – I can relate to a great deal. I share many of her ideals (political and philosophical) and insecurities (I am just as shy towards the opposite sex as her). I'm also a vegetarian.

Then there's Shaggy (Scooby-Doo – Where Are You?). I love his humor and friendship with Scooby. I also like how he doesn't really seem to care how he looks.

Kyle Broflovski (South Park) is another favorite. Much like Lisa and Shaggy he more or less seems to be an outsider. I often feel like that, too. I also love how he and Stan often have philosophical discussions and are on the right track about something while the adults don't have a clue.

You?

 

[Kegek]

BTW, I included only original animated characters who don't originate in another medium (like Peter Parker for example).

Aw, shucks. And I was going to nominate Barris from A Scanner Darkly! And considering the topic for a moment, I was surprised to note just how many iconic animated characters have their origins in non-animated mediums (pretty much most of the Disney films, for instance).

Ahem. Certainly Zoidberg from Futurama is one for me. There's something so lovably pathetic about him I easily identify with. And then there's Jay Sherman from The Critic. Something about that character really speaks to me. Maybe it's lines like these: 'I love boring pretentious French films, I love boring pretentious French films.'

And speaking of boring pretentious French films, I'll also go with Kirikou from Kirikou and the Soceress as my third pick. His eager inquisitiveness and desire to learn are very endearing.

 

[Michael]

Aw, shucks. And I was going to nominate Barris from A Scanner Darkly! And considering the topic for a moment, I was surprised to note just how many iconic animated characters have their origins in non-animated mediums (pretty much most of the Disney films, for instance).

I hope you didn't miss the "But you're not forced to do the same" part.

Jay Sherman from The Critic.

They never broadcast that show in Germany. But I know the character from his Simpsons appearance. And that's actually how I envisioned you all along.

 

[Kegek]

I hope you didn't miss the "But you're not forced to do the same" part.

I didn't. I just decided to put the imposition upon myself anyway.

They never broadcast that show in Germany. But I know the character from his Simpsons appearance. And that's actually how I envisioned you all along.

A shame, it's a very funny show. It's worth checking out on DVD, IMHO. And, yeah... I do bear more than a passing resemblance to Sherman in some respects.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Eric Cartman
Lisa Simpson
Philip J. Fry
Turanga Leela
Kif Kroker
...and the one and only Bender B. Rodriguez

Special mention to the little coal-carrying puff critters from Spirited Away. I dunno what they were supposed to be exactly, but they were very charming eating their sweet tarts snacks.

 

[DanCPA]

Bender... I support my fellow Mexican!

 

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

 

[Luckyflux]

OK, I like Vegeta (DBZ)

Then Treize Khushrenada (from Gundam Wing)

And then maybe Panthro (Thundercats)

It is like a revolving door though, sometimes I forget about certain ones that I really like and they get skipped.

 

[Defcon]

Eric Cartman (South Park): While I don't agree with everything he says, I just like his "I don't give a damn" attitude of saying whatever is on his mind.

Velma Dace Dinkley (in particular the incarnation in A Pup Named Scooby-Doo): Didn't talk much, but when she says someting it's important.

Ralph Wiggum: I like his innocence, he takes anything at face value.


ETA: It's really just a strange coincidence that my three choices come from the exact same shows NCC-1701's came from.

 

[Michael]

^ Somehow I can imagine you particularly good as a Velma/Ralph lovechild.

ETA:

ETA: It's really just a strange coincidence that my three choices come from the exact same shows NCC-1701's came from.

I find it even stranger that I thought about Velma as my favorite character, too. I like her nerdy and smart character.

 

[Defcon]

^ Somehow I can imagine you particularly good as a Velma/Ralph lovechild.

And the sad part would be that I have the brains of Ralph and the social skills of Velma.

 

[OmahaStar]

Wow, um ... Ok, let's see.

Stitch, from Lilo and Stitch ... He appeals to me in a way few characters have or could. I think he's hilarious and the fact that he has the mind of a supercomputer and can destroy cities without breaking a sweat is pretty sweet.

Ling-Ling from Drawn Together - He's the oddball who nobody ever understands, unless he decides to let them.

Bengali from the ThunderCats ... I don't know what it was about the character, but I think seeing his character was the first time I went "yum" ... I think I was about 8 or 9 when I saw him. lol

T'Nuk from Tripping the Rift - She's a total bitch and gets all the best lines.

Mom from Futurama - Didn't really care for her until she got that classic line "Everybody help Mom find her bra" ... have thoroughly enjoyed her character ever since.

Jessie in Toy Story 2 ... How could she not tug at the heartstrings of every audience member?

Pumba - How can you not love him and Timon and the farts?

 

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

Gromit, he has no mouth, but he is smart as they come, he thinks on his feet, and he has the full range of emotions without any of them being over-exaggerated

 

[HIj'Qa]

Marvin the Martian. His attitude to life I try to emmulate.

Jonny Quest. Oh, the politically incorrectness of it all. It appealed to me even as a child.

Ever cheerful, and has a relative who's good with cars.

Sucker for advertising, what can I say? Elven magic and always a positive attitude!

 

[The Nth Doctor]

There are so many great characters out there...

The entire cast of Futurama, but especially Zoidberg.

Marvin the Martian, Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck (as long as he wasn't fighting with Bugs...except for that one infamous time).

Jay Sherman.

Gromit.

Esteban, Zia, and Tao from The Mysterious Cities of Gold.

Rocky, Bullwinkle, Sherman, Mr. Peabody.


I know I'm forgetting a bunch. I'll be reediting this list and posting again, no doubt.

 

[zakkrusz]

My Favorites include:

Kyon (The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzimiya): He's a nice guy but quite sarcastic and satirical offen thinking things that luckily are best left unsaid for the purpose of tact. Basically...he's me only animated, the things he thinks, says, and does in the show are spot on what I would have done. Actually, the only one on this list that is me the rest most decidedly are not.

Rebecca aka Revy (Black Lagoon): Badass, psychotic, woman with a bad temper and prone to extreme fits of violence and cursing. Skilled at wielding her set of customized pistols and most other firearms known to man, she has little morals and enjoys her work as criminal/pirate.

Mr. Chang (Black Lagoon): Head of the Chinese Triad, he's easygoing, wisecracking, and quite personable but also death incarnate with a pair of customized pistols. He's kind of side character but no less awesome.

Clare (Claymore): The series' main character, a half demon/human hybrid who exterminates demons with a massive heavy broadsword which is where the nickname for her kind come from, Claymores. She's considered to be fairly weak until events push her to use more of her power than she should and soon becomes a liabillity to her organization and sent of increasingly dangerous mission meant to kill her off.

Kirika Yumera (Noir): Skilled amnesiac assassin who can kill somebody with just about any object on the face of Earth. She and her new partner are both being targeted by a shady secret organization. She's kind hearted and doesn't really like to kill people, however, it disturbs her deeply that she doesn't feel any remorse or know where or how she learned her trade. However, she is forced to use them in order to survive and solve the mystery.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Stitch, from Lilo and Stitch ... He appeals to me in a way few characters have or could. I think he's hilarious and the fact that he has the mind of a supercomputer and can destroy cities without breaking a sweat is pretty sweet.

Ling-Ling from Drawn Together - He's the oddball who nobody ever understands, unless he decides to let them.

I like both of those, too. Imagine if someone put them together in the same room.

 

[CorporalClegg]

One of the most deeply complex protagonists ever ... animated or otherwise.

 

[zakkrusz]

Ah yes, good old Batosai: The Manslayer, aka Kenshin Himura. Oddly enough I was just rewatching random bits of the Kyoto Arc of Rurouni Kenshin yesterday.

 

[Kegek]

Hm. I'm surprised nobody's mentioned him, and I'm also surprised at myself for not mentioning him:

Zapp Brannigan, from Futurama. Absolutely hilarious and thinly veiled parody of Captain Kirk and William Shatner.

Also, the Comic Book Guy from The Simpsons. One of the funniest skewerings of geekdom around. As he famously observed: "Last night's Itchy & Scratchy was, without a doubt, the worst episode ever. Rest assured that I was on the Internet within minutes, registering my disgust throughout the world." Sound familiar?

Continuing on this line of thought... Syndrome from The Incredibles. Fantastic villain (giving a nod in passing to Edna Mode, who would deserve it alone for her 'No capes' diatribe, but she's just so deliriously funny in general. 'Milan, darling, Milan.'). Also, albeit for very different reasons, Anton Ego from Ratatouille. Such a deliciously dark critic, with a superb vocal performance by Peter O'Toole.

And, to note some great characters in animation who originated outside the field (in books, comics, videogames - or even real life), I'll just pick out these:

*Marjane Satrapi, in her stunning autobiographical film Persepolis. Perhaps the most nuanced character I've seen in animation; certainly it's up there.
* Barris from A Scanner Darkly. Yeah, I said it before but I'll say it again. Superb performance by Downey Jr.
*Earthworm Jim... just... just because. He's such a groovy guy, you know. One of my favourite cartoons as a kid, I never missed a show.
*Obelix. Do I need to explain this one?