Top 10 Smartest Characters in Cartoons

Creator and father figure of the superpowered Powerpuff Girls, Professor Utonium is a scientist specializing in physics and nuclear fusion, though he also branches out into other disciplines with his many inventions. These include everything from giant mech robots for the girls to pilot, to a time portal, to a body swapping device. However, most of Utonium’s inventions tend to have some kind of flaw, unless he comes up with them on accident. He’s also not lacking in common sense and is a generally great dad to his daughters, even if he has his more immature moments.

The twin sisters of the show’s eponymous character, Susan and Mary are both genius scientists at the young age of 13 and all too aware of how clever they are. Nearly every episode sees them create some kind of device to assist their brother and his talking dog, whom they created, in their many schemes, despite a proven track record of causing chaos with their inventions. Of course, they also treat him as their guinea pig, so we can see why they try to make it up to him by doing him favors.

In nearly every version of the “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” Donatello is not only the smartest and most scientific of the group, but he’s also practically a self-taught genius in science and mechanical engineering. The purple-headband-sporting turtle is able to craft complex devices and high-tech vehicles, despite often lacking access to high-quality materials, tools, or even real income to purchase them with. But Donatello is a real DIY scientist whose ingenuity and intelligence shines through because of those handicaps, not in spite of them. Plus, he’s handy with a bo staff and most of our other entries are not really athletically inclined.

Most lab mice are the subject of experiments, but after Acme Labs made this one super intelligent, he’s the one doing the experiments. Brain puts his enlarged brain to use through nightly plots to take over the world, using everything from advanced devices to psychology or politics to conquer the world. Still, the fact that he continually uses the dim-witted Pinky as his lackey does make us question how smart he really is, since the dopey mouse usually throws a wrench in Brain’s plans, whenever his own pride doesn’t get in the way, that is.

Even smarter than he is old, and he is positively ancient, Professor Hubert Farnsworth is the owner of Planet Express, the delivery company most of the main characters work for in 31st century New York. Although he’s a brilliant scientist, capable of astounding feats of genius and invention, the professor is also incredibly senile which somewhat hampers his overall ability. However, his cantankerous and eccentric attitude more than makes up for a little forgetfulness and helps make Professor Farnsworth a thoroughly entertaining character whose presence is “good news” for everyone.

One of the universe’s best minds belongs to man’s best friend. A talking, highly sophisticated, bespectacled dog, Mr. Peabody is an unqualified genius in various fields and can speak many languages. The fact that he’s also netted a penthouse suite and his own talk show are also pretty clear signs of this canine’s intelligence. However, he’s most famous for his invention of the WABAC Machine, which allows him, and his adopted boy Sherman, to travel through time to visit and sometimes interfere with historical locations and the people that inhabit them.

As a mere one-year-old, Stewie Griffin is smarter than most of us will ever be. This diabolical infant has been building advanced technology almost literally since his birth. Although initially devoted to using them to attempt to commit matricide or domination, Stewie has diversified his creations to include devices that allow him to travel in time, as well as to parallel realities. In addition to science and engineering, Stewie is also a skilled actor and has decent business acumen, though he still has moments that remind us of his actual age.

Another young, brilliant mind, Jimmy Neutron is an adventurous boy whose fondness for sci-fi inventions often gets him and his friends into, and out of, trouble. While Jimmy is capable of constructing advanced artificial intelligences, several time machines, and a hover car, among many other things, most of his inventions often have some kind of critical defect that leads to problems for him. Also, for all his intellectual intelligence, Jimmy has a lot to learn about dealing with people, as he can be a bit of a know-it-all, though many of our entries are just as guilty of that.

The eponymous star of “Dexter’s Laboratory” is a child genius of the highest order who has constructed the titular scientific workshop without his parents’ knowledge. Within it, Dexter has created nearly every advanced or sci-fi creation technology ever conceived. Despite how smart he is and how well-designed his inventions are, Dexter’s arrogance, as well as his naiveté and the interference of his meddling older sister, Dee Dee, tend to get in the way of his successes; frequently leading to the destruction of his inventions or the failure of his efforts.

Before we get to our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:

Edd (Double D)
“Ed, Edd n Eddy” (1999-2009)

Lisa Simpson
“The Simpsons” (1989-)

Dr. Jonas Venture Sr. & Jr.
“The Venture Bros.” (2004-)

One half of the show’s title duo, Rick Sanchez is astronomically smart – he’s more intelligent than he is a jerk, and he’s pretty much the biggest asshole in the multiverse. Besides his portal gun that lets him travel to every conceivable reality, Rick builds robots just to pass him the butter, turned himself into a pickle to get out of an obligation, and created a miniature universe and enslaved its inhabitants just to power his interstellar car. His rampant brilliance has made him bitter, amoral, and isolated though, so if Rick’s the peak of animated intelligence, we’re happy to watch him from afar rather than try to become like him.