Top 100 Classic Cartoon Character Trivia

Looney Tunes Character Trivia

1. Bugs Bunny’s catchphrase “What’s up, Doc?” was inspired by a Texas expression.
2. Daffy Duck debuted in 1937 in a cartoon titled “Porky’s Duck Hunt.”
3. Porky Pig was Warner Bros.’ first cartoon star before Bugs.
4. Elmer Fudd’s original name was Egghead.
5. Tweety was originally pink and had no feathers.
6. Sylvester the Cat has won three Academy Awards for animated shorts.
7. Yosemite Sam was created as a tougher adversary than Elmer Fudd.
8. Foghorn Leghorn was based on a Southern radio character.
9. Marvin the Martian’s helmet is modeled after a Roman soldier’s.
10. The Road Runner’s Latin name in cartoons is “Accelerati Incredibilus.”

Hanna-Barbera Classics Trivia

1. Fred Flintstone was the first animated character to appear in a cigarette commercial.
2. The Jetsons was the first color TV show broadcast on ABC.
3. Yogi Bear was a spinoff from The Huckleberry Hound Show.
4. Boo-Boo is often the voice of reason compared to Yogi’s schemes.
5. Scooby-Doo was originally going to be named “Too Much.”
6. Shaggy’s real name is Norville Rogers.
7. Velma was based on the “brainy girl” stereotype of 1960s sitcoms.
8. George Jetson’s age is supposedly 40, and he works for Spacely Sprockets.
9. Huckleberry Hound was the first animated TV character to win an Emmy.
10. Top Cat was inspired by Phil Silvers’ character in The Phil Silvers Show.

Disney Classic Shorts Trivia

1. Mickey Mouse debuted in Steamboat Willie in 1928.
2. Donald Duck’s first appearance was in The Wise Little Hen (1934).
3. Goofy was originally introduced as “Dippy Dawg.”
4. Pluto is unique for being a non-anthropomorphic animal in the Disney cast.
5. Clarabelle Cow and Horace Horsecollar were once Mickey’s main co-stars.
6. The Sorcerer in Fantasia is named Yen Sid—Disney spelled backward.
7. Chip and Dale are distinguishable by their nose colors—Chip has a black nose.
8. Huey, Dewey, and Louie were first introduced in Donald Duck Sunday comics.
9. Mickey’s design evolved from long noses and pointy faces to rounder, friendlier looks.
10. Donald Duck has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Popeye the Sailor Trivia

1. Popeye first appeared in the Thimble Theatre comic strip in 1929.
2. His spinach obsession started in 1932 and boosted real-world sales.
3. Olive Oyl predates Popeye in the original comics.
4. Bluto was created specifically for the animated series.
5. Wimpy’s famous line is “I’ll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today.”
6. Popeye’s squinting eye was explained as being lost in a boxing match in early lore.
7. Swee’Pea is Popeye’s adopted child, not his biological son.
8. Popeye once gained powers from rubbing the head of a Whiffle Hen.
9. The original voice of Popeye used a technique called “throat warbling.”
10. Popeye had a theatrical movie in 1980 starring Robin Williams.

Tom and Jerry Trivia

1. Tom was originally named Jasper, and Jerry was unnamed in the first short.
2. The duo won seven Academy Awards for Best Animated Short.
3. They rarely speak but have expressive physical comedy.
4. Mammy Two Shoes, their early owner, was later removed for cultural sensitivity.
5. Tom’s full name is Thomas Cat.
6. In some shorts, Jerry actually lives in a hole behind the stove.
7. Spike the bulldog and his son Tyke are recurring characters.
8. The animation technique often used exaggerated realism, especially in chases.
9. Chuck Jones directed several Tom and Jerry shorts after working on Looney Tunes.
10. The show inspired countless chase-style cartoons in animation history.

Felix the Cat and Early Toons Trivia

1. Felix the Cat debuted in silent films in 1919, predating Mickey Mouse.
2. He was the first animated character to become a pop culture icon.
3. Felix’s magic bag of tricks could transform into anything.
4. In early cartoons, Felix was entirely silent and communicated through signs.
5. Felix was the first image broadcast on experimental TV.
6. Oswald the Lucky Rabbit was Walt Disney’s first hit character before Mickey.
7. Betty Boop was inspired by 1920s flapper girls and became a feminist icon.
8. Bosko was Warner Bros.’ first recurring animated character.
9. Gertie the Dinosaur (1914) was the first cartoon with a character showing personality.
10. Felix lost popularity when sound cartoons became dominant but made comebacks later.

Classic Superhero Cartoon Trivia

1. Superman’s 1940s animated shorts were produced by Fleischer Studios.
2. Batman: The Animated Series is often credited with maturing superhero cartoons.
3. Wonder Woman appeared in several 1970s animated shows like Super Friends.
4. Aquaman’s 1967 show featured his telepathic seahorse, Storm.
5. Spider-Man’s 1967 theme song became one of the most recognizable ever.
6. The 1960s Iron Man cartoon reused frames to cut costs.
7. The X-Men pilot in 1989 was titled Pryde of the X-Men.
8. The Hulk’s 1982 animated series featured narration by Stan Lee.
9. The 1970s Super Friends featured DC heroes in child-friendly format.
10. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987) was originally much darker in the comics.

Animaniacs and Warner Bros. 90s Trivia

1. Yakko, Wakko, and Dot live in the Warner Bros. water tower.
2. The characters were inspired by vintage animation mixed with 90s irreverence.
3. Pinky and the Brain began as a segment within Animaniacs.
4. The show’s “Nations of the World” song became an internet sensation.
5. The Animaniacs frequently broke the fourth wall.
6. Rita and Runt were modeled after Broadway stars and used real musical numbers.
7. Goodfeathers were pigeon versions of characters from Goodfellas.
8. Slappy Squirrel was a retired cartoon star with a sarcastic edge.
9. The reboot premiered in 2020 with updated animation and satire.
10. Rob Paulsen voiced both Yakko and Pinky.

Garfield and Sunday Strip Icons Trivia

1. Garfield was created by Jim Davis in 1978.
2. Garfield hates Mondays and loves lasagna—a core part of his character.
3. Odie was inspired by a dog from a car dealership commercial.
4. Jon Arbuckle was originally a cartoonist in the early strips.
5. Garfield’s popularity led to holiday TV specials throughout the ’80s and ’90s.
6. The voice of Garfield in the cartoons, Lorenzo Music, also voiced Peter Venkman in The Real Ghostbusters.
7. Heathcliff debuted five years before Garfield but never gained the same popularity.
8. Snoopy from Peanuts has an alter ego: the World War I Flying Ace.
9. Charlie Brown’s iconic shirt was inspired by baseball uniforms.
10. Calvin from Calvin and Hobbes never appeared in animation by Bill Watterson’s choice.

Classic TV Cartoon Ensemble Trivia

1. The Smurfs were originally a Belgian comic called Les Schtroumpfs.
2. Alvin and the Chipmunks were created in 1958 by Ross Bagdasarian.
3. Inspector Gadget’s voice was provided by Don Adams from Get Smart.
4. The Jetsons’ dog Astro originally said “Ruh-roh,” popular before Scooby-Doo.
5. The Snorks were created as underwater counterparts to The Smurfs.
6. The Real Ghostbusters animated show ran longer than the movie franchise at the time.
7. Rocky and Bullwinkle were known for their political satire.
8. George of the Jungle was created by Jay Ward, who also made Dudley Do-Right.
9. Speed Racer was one of the first anime dubbed into English for American TV.
10. Voltron was adapted from two different Japanese series merged into one.