A cartoon is a 'simple drawing showing the A cartoon is a 'simple drawing showing the features of its subjects in a humorously features of its subjects in a humorously exaggerated way'. Cartoons have evolved exaggerated way'. Cartoons have evolved from their origins as drawings to satirical from their origins as drawings to satirical sketches in newspapers in the 1800s, and sketches in newspapers in the 1800s, and more recently to an exaggerated more recently to an exaggerated representation of human life as shown by representation of human life as shown by modern examples such as The Simpsons.modern examples such as The Simpsons.

Cartoons, as humorous drawings, Cartoons, as humorous drawings, originated in 1843 when satirist magazine, originated in 1843 when satirist magazine, Punch, used the term to describe the Punch, used the term to describe the sketches by artist John Leech.sketches by artist John Leech.

Comic Strips originated in the late 19th Comic Strips originated in the late 19th century in American newspapers. The century in American newspapers. The difference between comic strips and the difference between comic strips and the gag cartoons of the same era, is primarily gag cartoons of the same era, is primarily that of length. The comic strip will tell a that of length. The comic strip will tell a story in a series of images with text story in a series of images with text attached in speech-bubbles or captions.attached in speech-bubbles or captions.

The motion picture would be the biggest The motion picture would be the biggest step in the evolution of the cartoon, most step in the evolution of the cartoon, most famously made by the films of cartoon famously made by the films of cartoon legend Walt Disney. legend Walt Disney.

Disney's first venture into animated film is Disney's first venture into animated film is shown in the Alice Comedies, a series of shown in the Alice Comedies, a series of short films that combine a real girl with an short films that combine a real girl with an animated cat, all set in front of an animated cat, all set in front of an animated landscape.animated landscape.

Disney would go on to create some of the Disney would go on to create some of the most influential cartoons in history, most influential cartoons in history, including the most recognisable cartoon including the most recognisable cartoon character of all - Mickey Mouse.character of all - Mickey Mouse.

Disney would go on to create some of the Disney would go on to create some of the most influential cartoons in history, most influential cartoons in history, including the most recognisable cartoon including the most recognisable cartoon character of all - Mickey Mouse.character of all - Mickey Mouse.

Warner Bros. cartoons began soon after Warner Bros. cartoons began soon after Disney and would introduce the world to a Disney and would introduce the world to a number of amazing characters that remain number of amazing characters that remain popular to this day.popular to this day.

Bugs Bunny appeared for the first time on Bugs Bunny appeared for the first time on screen in the 1940 animation A Wild Hare. screen in the 1940 animation A Wild Hare. In 2002, Bugs Bunny was named by a In 2002, Bugs Bunny was named by a popular television magazine as the popular television magazine as the greatest cartoon character of all time. greatest cartoon character of all time. Other popular Warner Bros. characters Other popular Warner Bros. characters include Speedy Gonzales, Daffy Duck and include Speedy Gonzales, Daffy Duck and Porky Pig Porky Pig

Another popular company to produce Another popular company to produce animated cartoons was the American animated cartoons was the American company, Hanna-Barbera. Hanna-Barbera company, Hanna-Barbera. Hanna-Barbera produces classics including Tom and produces classics including Tom and Jerry, Scooby-Doo and The Flintstones. Jerry, Scooby-Doo and The Flintstones. These animations would influence some of These animations would influence some of the biggest hits of the century, as cartoons the biggest hits of the century, as cartoons began to mimic real-life and have more began to mimic real-life and have more realistic characters instead of the animals realistic characters instead of the animals or fantasy stories of Disney and Warner or fantasy stories of Disney and Warner Bros. Bros.

As style of cartoons changed, the most popular As style of cartoons changed, the most popular animated series of all time was born, as the animated series of all time was born, as the world was introduced to The Simpsons. The world was introduced to The Simpsons. The Simpsons were different from the fantasy and Simpsons were different from the fantasy and fairy tale style.fairy tale style.

However, Disney has been opting for computer However, Disney has been opting for computer animations with its most recent films including animations with its most recent films including Ratatouille, Finding Nemo and WALL-E. Ratatouille, Finding Nemo and WALL-E.

With new film-makers, animators and artists With new film-makers, animators and artists always looking for the next-big-thing, cartoons always looking for the next-big-thing, cartoons will always be popular for creators and the will always be popular for creators and the viewers, so the cartoon will continue to go from viewers, so the cartoon will continue to go from strength to strength.strength to strength.

50. BOBBY HILL50. BOBBY HILL

49. WONDER WOMAN49. WONDER WOMAN

48. DARIA48. DARIA

47. BATMAN47. BATMAN

46. SUPERMAN46. SUPERMAN

45. GEORGE OF THE JUNGLE45. GEORGE OF THE JUNGLE

44. SPIDER MAN44. SPIDER MAN

43. THE POWERPUFF GIRLS43. THE POWERPUFF GIRLS

TOP 50 CARTOON CHARACTERSTOP 50 CARTOON CHARACTERS

42. ANGELICA PICKLES42. ANGELICA PICKLES

41. FELIX THE CAT41. FELIX THE CAT

40. BORIS BADENOV AND 40. BORIS BADENOV AND NATASHA FATALENATASHA FATALE

39. TOM AND JERRY39. TOM AND JERRY

38. WOODY WOODPECKER38. WOODY WOODPECKER

37. ALVIN (THE CHIPMUNK)37. ALVIN (THE CHIPMUNK)

36. DONALD DUCK36. DONALD DUCK

35. MIGHTY MOUSE35. MIGHTY MOUSE

34. YOGI BEAR AND BOO BOO34. YOGI BEAR AND BOO BOO

33. SPACE GHOST 33. SPACE GHOST

32. BILL FROM ‘SCHOOLHOUSE 32. BILL FROM ‘SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK’ROCK’

31. ARTHUR31. ARTHUR

30. WINNIE THE POOH30. WINNIE THE POOH

29. REN AND STIMPY29. REN AND STIMPY

28. TOP CAT28. TOP CAT

27. HECKLE AND JECKLE27. HECKLE AND JECKLE

26. JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS26. JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS

25. SPEED RACER25. SPEED RACER

24. TWEETY BIRD AND SYLVESTER24. TWEETY BIRD AND SYLVESTER

23. UNDERDOG23. UNDERDOG

22. GUMPY22. GUMPY

21. PINK PANTHER21. PINK PANTHER

20. GEORGE JETSON20. GEORGE JETSON

19. BETTY BOOP19. BETTY BOOP

18. FAT ALBERT18. FAT ALBERT

17. BEAVIS AND BUTT-HEAD17. BEAVIS AND BUTT-HEAD

16. MR. MAGOO16. MR. MAGOO

15. SCOOBY DOO AND SHAGGY15. SCOOBY DOO AND SHAGGY

14. PORKY PIG14. PORKY PIG

13. DAFFY DUCK13. DAFFY DUCK

12. ERIC CARTMAN12. ERIC CARTMAN

11. SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS11. SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS

10. ROCKY AND BULLWINKLE10. ROCKY AND BULLWINKLE

09. WILE E. COYOTE09. WILE E. COYOTE

08. POPEYE08. POPEYE

07. THE GRINCH07. THE GRINCH

06. FRED FLINTSTONE06. FRED FLINTSTONE

…….. and now .. and now to the top 5to the top 5

5. CHARLIE BROWN5. CHARLIE BROWN

4. BART SIMPSON4. BART SIMPSON

3. MICKEY MOUSE3. MICKEY MOUSE

2. HOMER SIMPSON2. HOMER SIMPSON

1. BUGS BUNNY1. BUGS BUNNY