The Best Cartoon Network Characters, Ranked

Gen Z kids will never be able to fathom the pious pedestal at which Cartoon Network was placed by the previous generation. Before there were phones, screens, and tabs, the main source of digital entertainment came via a TV set in the form of cartoon characters. Due to the lack of technological advancements and the simplicity of life in the late ’80s and ’90s, Cartoon Network single-handedly shaped, entertained and raised an entire generation of children. At the cost of sounding cliché, the kids nowadays will never know the thrill of sneaking into an empty house of a friend, eagerly staring at the clock, waiting with baited breaths for the advertisements to end and the show to begin. Here’s a look at some of the best Cartoon Network characters, ranked.

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8

Courage the Cowardly Dog

Warner Bros. Television Distribution

Courage the Cowardly Dog is a black comedy series created by John R Dilworth. Masking under elements of cowardice and meekness, the show is borderline creepy and unsettling. The plot revolves around a docile dog named Courage and his constant struggle to save his aging owners from supernatural forces. With recurring themes such as aliens, monsters and zombies, the show can be viewed by children and adults alike.

Related: Courage The Cowardly Dog, Scariest Moments That Creeped Out The Kids

7

Mojo Jojo

Hanna-Barbera Cartoons/Cartoon Network

The arch nemesis of The Powerpuff Girls, Mojo Jojo is equal parts adorable as he is infuriating. Out of his childlike desire to rule the world and crush everything in his path, comes his endearing charisma. But Mojo Jojo wasn’t always this way, before he became Mojo Jojo; he was just Jojo, a clumsy lab assistant. During the event of the creation of the Powerpuff Girls, he pushed the Professor towards a container of Chemical X, causing an explosion which then resulted in Jojo’s mutation causing his skin to turn green and boosting his intellectual abilities.

6

The Powerpuff Girls

Warner Bros. Pictures

A source of constant frustration in Mojo Jojo’s life, The Powerpuff Girls consists of three sisters; Blossom, Buttercup, and Bubbles. Armed with super-heroic powers, the three kindergarten-aged sisters are tasked with protecting the world against a plethora of evil devices like mad scientists, bank robbers, and monsters. When they are not busy saving the world, the three siblings also deal with their fare share of normal issues associated with their age, like unwillingness to go to school, sibling rivalries, and frequent run in with authority figures.

Related: The Best Episodes of The Powerpuff Girls, Ranked

5

Johnny Bravo

Cartoon Network

With age one realizes the apparent, on-the-face stupidity that Johnny Bravo exudes. Bravo starts off as a charming, self-confident individual and soon turns into a stupidly self-obsessed megalomaniac. Though, it’s this overly self-assured personality trait of Bravo that comically lends to his charm and charisma. A farcical take on masculinity, Johnny Bravo is a direct assault on what wannabe, boorish men seem like from a distance. The show was created by Van Particle and has been nominated for four Annie Awards.

4

Rick and Morty

Warner Bros. Discovery

A faraway cousin of Courage the Cowardly Dog, Rick and Morty walks on similar narrative tropes. Having said that, Rick and Morty is more dark and satirical in its approach to supernatural elements. The plot revolves around a grandparent and grandson duo as they take epic intergalactic adventures, where they encounter otherworldly beings. With universal themes of cheerful nihilism, destabilizing farce and demented noodling with the texture of space-time, Rick and Morty is more suited for adults who have a bit of a childlike streak in them.

Related: Explained: Here’s What Makes Rick and Morty So Popular

3

Samurai Jack

Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution

Uncharacteristic of normal cartoons, Samurai Jack is a stoic, samurai warrior, that has the same amount of facial expressions as a sofa chair. Created by Genndy Tartakovsky, the premise of Samurai Jack revolves around a nameless samurai who wields a mystical katana that has the ability to cut through virtually anything. Samurai Jack’s origins can be traced back to feudal Japan, where he’s in the middle of a duel with an evil, shapeshifting demon called Aku. Just as Samurai’s about to land the killing strike, Aku magically sends him to another dimension ahead of time that’s ruled by another tyrannical demon. The entire narrative structure of the show then revolves around the Samurai taking up the name “Jack” and trying to find a way back in time to stop Aku from ruling over the world.

2

Ed, Edd n Eddy

Warner Bros. Television Distribution

When adult cartoonist Danny Antonucci decided to create a children’s cartoon, Ed, Edd n Eddy was born. An homage to the classic cartoons from the ’40s to the ’70s, the show is a hilarious amalgamation of the various personalities possessed by the three friends, with Ed being strong and dimwitted, while Edd is intelligent and has a level head on his shoulders, whereas Eddy is a deviously bitter con artist. The comical synergy shared by the three friends is a joy to watch, making it one of Cartoon Networks most successful shows.

1

Dexter

Warner Bros. Television Distribution

Dexter from Dexter’s Laboratory is synonymous with the peak of prime time Cartoon Network. Another hit series created by the legendary Genndy Tartakovsky, Dexter’s Laboratory revolves around a boy genius with a hidden science laboratory and the everyday run-ins he has with his older, annoying and more extroverted sister Dee Dee.