Top 10 Memorable TV Cartoon Characters of the 2010s So Far

The small screen has already offered its fair share of unforgettable animated creations in this half decade! Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10 memorable TV cartoon characters of the 2010s so far. 

For this list, we’re looking at the animated small screen characters that have made a significant critical and cultural impact throughout the first half of the2010s. To be clear, we’re including both cartoons meant for children and for adults. We’re also including shows that began during the 2009-10 TVseason, as technically, this means its first season was being broadcast during 2010 as well.

The leader of the Ghost starship’s crew, Kanan is a great character addition to the “Star Wars” canon, and has provided Freddie Prinze, Jr. his best role since the ‘90s. Described as a “cowboy Jedi,” Kanan is a different sort of Jedi than what we’re used to, as he prefers not to fight and avoids it when possible. A survivor of Order 66, Kanan also has a fantastic but tragic back-story, making him a more human figure than many of the characters in theStar Wars universe.

Another character with a tragic background, Mikasa is the strong and silent type, which is unusual for a female character and makes her that much more memorable. After her parents were killed, Mikasa becomes stoic and withdrawn, but is pushed to fight back by “Attack on Titan”’s protagonist Eren, which gives her a solid back-story and motivation for her character. She’s also very protective, especially towards Eren, which makes us care for her and the heart she brings to the series. Meanwhile, the fact that she’s a tragic figure makes her a more mature and enticing character than we’ve seen in other animated series.

Another strong female character, Garnet is the toughest looking and most physically intimidating member of Crystal Gem and as such, it’s not surprising that she took over as leader from Rose. Rarely speaking more than a few words at a time, she's even more strong and silent than Mikasa Ackerman, and while Garnet comes across as serious most of the time, she actually has a playful attitude, especially towards her student Steven. She is a great role model for children, showing female empowerment and leadership abilities, all while being fun and exciting for kids and adults alike.

A genius scientist (there certainly seems to be a lot of them in cartoons, doesn’t there?), Rick is hilarious, but definitely not a character that you’d want your children watching on TV. He is a raging alcoholic to the point where his family worries about the safety of his grandson Morty, and he often displays intense bouts of sociopathic tendencies. That said, he is extremely intellectual, often taking part in space travel, which gives the show some ofits fun. “Rick and Morty” is a cartoon for adults, and the mature character of Rick is perfect if you want to laugh along at his insane behavior.

Like a smaller, more childish Sherlock Holmes, Dipper Pines is one of the protagonists of “Gravity Falls” and he helps solve the many mysteries that occur in the town. Always on the lookout for the next big riddle, Dipper is agile and attentive, often finding mundane situations lacking in stimulation. While his twin sis Mabel is also great, Dipper is brave and goal-oriented, which makes him both a good role model and entertainer for children. On topof all that, we actually don’t even know his real name, which adds a nice hint of mystery to an already fascinating character.

Too good together to separate, Mordecai and Rigby are a fantastic duo that adds both hilarity and heart to the great series known as “Regular Show.” Mordecai is an anthropomorphic blue jay, while Rigby is an anthropomorphic brown raccoon, and they both work together as groundskeepers at ThePark. Well, work isn’t quite the right word, as they often slack off, but at least their shenanigans make for some memorable hilarity. However, they’re also good friends that stick by each other despite their differences, and this makes them a great pairing, both in terms of their humor and their chemistry.

In this acclaimed American animated series, Korra acts as the modern incarnation of the Avatar. Korra rarely shows fear, as she is strong and perfectly capable of holding her own in a heated battle. She is also a great character to watch develop and change; we witness her learning to master her skills but also while she suffers from PTSD due to the events of the story. She’s not only a terrifically strong female character, but three dimensional and flawed as well, which makes her a more well-rounded individual that adults can appreciate and enjoy.

While Tina’s monotonous and extremely low voice can prove irritating to some, there’s no denying the fandom that she has amassed throughout “Bob’s Burgers”’ run. The geek of the family, Tina is an eccentric character, what with her love for writing erotic fan fiction and her “complicated relationship” with zombies. We didn’t even mention her fascination with touching people’s butts, which she writes about in her journal. However, her eccentricities are what make her who she is, and what she is one of the more unique and original characters on television.

Voice actor H. Jon Benjamin has been taking the cartoon world by storm for the last few years. This is evidenced by the fact that he also voices theterrific character of Bob from “Bob’s Burgers”, but Archer has the restaurant owner beat thanks to the titular protagonist’s crass behavior and diversion from the norm. As an intelligence agency spy, Archer is a little less professional than James Bond, and he is also extremely egotistical. He often doesn’t take his job very seriously and only takes interest in the women and the alcohol that come with it. His vulgarity and unlikable attitude may be hard to watch for some, but they make him hilarious, enjoyable, and unique to everyone else.

Before we look at our top pick for the 2010s, here are a few honorable mentions.
-    Rex Salazar
“Generator Rex” (2010-13)
-    Pinkie Pie
“My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic” (2010-)

A surprise hit that has taken the internet by storm, “Adventure Time” has gained high ratings thanks to the chemistry between a human named Finn and his dog-slash-adoptive brother Jake. The brothers from another mother are popular with children because they’re so hilarious together, but they’ve also found a surprise audience in teenagers and adults, largely due to their unique personalities and the unique style in which they are animated. While antagonist The Ice King also stands out, it’s Finn and Jake that has not only proved popular with cosplayers, but have also become a modern cultural phenomenon.

Do you agree with our list? What animated character from the first half of the 2010s is your favourite? For more entertaining top tens published every day, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.