Red is often linked to boldness, passion, and even anger. What about cartoon characters that are red? Some stay true to their color, while others might surprise you with their sense of humor or down-to-earth nature. Let’s take a look at some famous ones to see what makes them popular!
25 Iconic Cartoon Characters In Red
1. Mario
Mario has been a beloved childhood video game character for many generations. Following its worldwide success, a television series called The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! was released in 1989. The show centers around the thrilling adventure of the brothers Mario and Luigi as they explore different lands and terrains, facing dreadful enemies.
By solving puzzles and collecting coins along the way, the duo powers up to fight off their fearsome foes. Though Mario—the title character—only appeared briefly in cartoons, his lasting impact is undeniable.
2. Clifford the Big Red Dog
Since his debut in the children’s book series by Norman Bridwell, Clifford has won the hearts of young audiences. No wonder this fictional character became more popular when the Clifford the Big Red Dog cartoon premiered.
His tremendous height, along with his vibrant red fur, makes him stand out in every scene. In contrast to his giant figure, Clifford is a friendly, loving Labrador Retriever who eagerly helps his friend Emily Elizabeth.
3. Elmo
The success of the Sesame Street show is pretty much credited to Elmo, a funny and cuddly Muppet. This three-and-a-half-year-old monster stands out with his vibrant red furry coat and a high-pitched voice.
Another interesting aspect of this Muppet is that he narrates his stories in the third person, always referring to himself as “Elmo.” He primarily hosted the last segment of the show, but it’s his witty, loveable nature that keeps young audiences coming back for more.
4. Deadpool
Unlike other characters that wear red, Deadpool first debuted as a supervillain in the New Mutants comic book by Marvel Comics. He wears a black-and-red bodysuit and a full-face mask to cover up his cancer scars.
Marvel fans around the world love him for his incredible strength, speed, and skillful use of both guns and swords. Now, he has evolved into an anti-hero rather than a baddie in his own comic book series.
5. Gossamer from Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies
What could be more adorable than Gossamer as a wicked villain? He is a giant monster with a heart-shaped face, tangled red hair, and dirty claws, yet he wears spotless white shoes.
What is even more ironic is his name. Gossamer refers to something transparent and fragile, which is a stark contrast to his large size and menacing, destructive quality. Still, this doesn’t stop children from loving him.
6. Scarlet Witch
True to her name, Scarlet Witch entered the scene with a fiery costume that featured a sleeveless leotard, boots, opera gloves, and a headpiece, all in different shades of red. Even her hair is dark auburn, accented with vibrant red highlights.
Although she was initially a member of the supervillain crew in the Marvel universe, she later joined the superhero team, the Avengers. Like other X-Men members, her superhuman genes granted her extraordinary abilities, allowing her to manipulate reality and energy.
7. Mr. Strong
Is Mr. Strong a square or a triangle? Both! In the Mr. Men comic book series by Roger Hargreaves, he was depicted as a red square wearing a green hat. However, in the cartoon adaptation, Mr. Strong transformed into a rounded red triangle with muscular arms and a brown waistband, replacing the hat.
No matter his appearance, his strength always shines through. He broke so many things by accident that “Aw, pickle! I hardly touched it!” became his catchphrase in the show.
8. Iron Man
Iron Man is no stranger to Marvel and Avengers fans. Known as Tony Stark in his civilian life, he becomes a powerful superhero when he dons his red-and-gold suit of armor.
With a genius intellect and exceptional engineering skills, he built his costume, armed with an array of weapons. These admirable qualities empower him to lead his own superhero crew, including the red cartoon character Scarlet Witch, in the fight against crime.
9. Mr. Incredible
Mr. Incredible, the title character of Pixar’s animated series The Incredibles, is the epitome of a classic hero—strong, brave, kind, and friendly. He has near-invulnerability, extraordinary agility, and enhanced speed.
Besides his heroic life, he is also a husband and a father of three. Each member of the Incredible family possesses a unique superpower. They all dress in red-and-black suits with a big letter “i” on the chest, representing their family name.
10. Anger (Inside Out)
The color red is often associated with fury. This is reflected in Anger from Inside Out, who is portrayed in fiery red with a square jaw that perfectly expresses his emotions. Dressed in office attire with a shirt, trousers, and a tie, he seems even stiffer and more aloof.
When Anger gets furious, his head bursts into flames to vent his fury. However, his fiery temper is only intended to protect Riley, the girl whose mind he inhabits, from unfairness.
11. Optimus Prime
Optimus Prime, from the Transformers franchise, is the talented leader of the Autobots squad, who combat the evil Decepticons. He is colored red, dark blue, and chrome and can transform into a truck trailer.
With his impressive powers and abilities, he leads his team to safeguard Earth and its inhabitants from the threats of Decepticons. This has made him a legendary robotic hero in pop culture until now.
12. Lightning McQueen
The premiere of Cars in 2006 generated a buzz in the world of animation, introducing a new iconic red-faced cartoon character—Lightning McQueen. He stands out among the other contenders in the Piston Cup Racing Series, thanks to his striking red paint with yellow accents.
Initially portrayed as a talented yet arrogant rookie, McQueen has learned many valuable life lessons through thick and thin. In the end, he still managed to win the championship thanks to his incredible speed.
13. Iago from Aladdin
If you’ve ever watched Aladdin, chances are you might be impressed by Iago—the companion of the main villain, Jafar. He is an arrogant, talkative parrot with red feathers, a blue tail, and blue-tipped wings.
This famous cartoon character is notoriously greedy for gold and treasure. He is also a whiz at mimicking others’ voices, often adding a layer of humor to the film. However, his selfish nature further plagues his reputation, making him a pet peeve for many viewers.
14. Minnie Mouse
Along with the legendary Mickey Mouse, Walt Disney also created a lovable character called Minnie Mouse—Mickey’s girlfriend. Since her debut in the 1928 short film Steamboat Willie, Minnie has won the hearts of audiences due to her cute, playful, and flirtatious personality.
Donning a polka-dotted red dress and a large red bow, she embodies a musical spirit as a musician. Her first saying, “Yoo-hoo!” also becomes her catchphrase in the series.
15. Harley Quinn
Welcome to the DC universe! Harley Quinn stands out among female characters who tirelessly pursued Joker—a formidable enemy of Batman. She started out as a villain with a cool, bold appearance in a red-and-black clown-themed suit.
However, when she decided to part ways with Joker, she underwent an amazing glow-up, becoming a sporty and sexy icon. She traded her full-body suit for a red-and-black crop top and shorts, dyeing her ponytails pink and blue on each side.
16. Sebastian
In addition to Ariel’s long red hair, Sebastian is another beloved red character in The Little Mermaid. This red crab serves as the advisor to King Triton and court composer. However, we often see him doing mundane tasks like watching over Princess Ariel.
Leading a carefree life, Sebastian has a soft spot for music and often sings funny, cheerful songs. Little did you know that he even has his own Spotify playlist.
17. Carmen Sandiego
On her journey to become the world’s greatest thief, Carmen Sandiego endured a harsh childhood and underwent rigorous training. She first appeared as an orphan girl known by the codename Black Sheep.
She was then raised and trained in the V.I.L.E Academy—a secret criminal organization. After realizing the cruel nature of the faculty, she escaped it and took on a new identity as Carmen Sandiego. Her goal was to destroy V.I.L.E by stealing and returning items that the organization had taken.
18. Hellboy
Hellboy was born a Cambion, characterized by his red skin and a bulky, muscular physique. As a half-demon, he possesses a tail and horns that are somewhat reminiscent of a monkey. His name is self-explanatory; his massive, red figure feels like an internal inferno from hell, ready to engulf anything in its path.
Despite his fearsome appearance, he is a true superhero who fights monsters, demons, and other supernatural creatures that threaten humanity.
19. Knuckles the Echidna
In contrast to the blue Sonic, Knuckles is a red echidna, described as cool yet sometimes gullible. Though he was initially Sonic’s enemy, the two eventually became best friends.
Most of the time, you will see Knuckles on the Angel floating island, trying to keep the Master Emerald intact. Though slower than Sonic, he can lift objects many times larger than himself. In modern versions, his fists are equipped with pointed knuckles, enhancing his strength.
20. Crimson Chin
Crimson Chin is a beloved fictional character from the The Fairly OddParents series. His name is quite fitting! He wears a crimson skintight bodysuit, flattering his sculpted 8-pack abs and muscles. His incredibly big, protruding chin also sets him apart from other characters.
Crimson Chin is praised for his superhuman strength and stamina, enabling him to effortlessly take down a giant robot. A fun fact about this superhero is he loves using awkward metaphors in his speech.
21. Flash
Another superhero from DC Comics who dresses in red is the Flash. As his name suggests, he possesses super speed, allowing him to move, run, and even think in the blink of an eye. His red suit is highlighted with lighting symbols on his chest and ears, signifying his lightning speed.
This superpower empowers him to create whirlwinds simply by spinning his arms, which can blow opponents away or cushion the impact of attacks.
22. Spider Man
Spider Man is one of the most famous superheroes of all time, featured in many TV shows, comic books, novels, video games, films, and plays. His tight-fitting red-and-blue outfit is accented with a web pattern and a large spider on his chest.
He can cling to walls and other solid surfaces and shoot webs like a real spider. With his exceptional abilities, he fights crime in New York City for the sake of its citizens.
23. Mushu from Mulan
What is the tiniest dragon in the animated world? It has to be Mushu from Mulan! This little red dragon is the former guardian spirit of Mulan’s family. He appears as an impulsive, overconfident character who tries to persuade Mulan to join the army.
Unlike other fiery dragons, Mushu has limited fire-breathing capabilities, similar to a lighter. He is also quite insecure about his lizard-size body. Despite this, he manages to survive even when stomped on or blown up.
24. Red from Angry Birds
Red, a favorite character in the Angry Birds series, is a small red bird with distinctive bushy eyebrows and a determined expression. His personality is characterized by leadership and bravery, often taking charge in protecting his friends and their eggs from the Bad Piggies.
Red is known for his short temper but is also loyal and protective. Despite his frustration, he remains a courageous hero on the island.
25. Mr. Krabs
Mr. Krabs, whose full name is Eugene Harold Krabs, debuted in the SpongeBob SquarePants animated series. He is distinguished by his red, chubby body and two giant green eyes that resemble cacti.
Krabs was depicted as a stingy crab obsessed with money, running a submarine fast food restaurant called the Krusty Krab.
However, as a father, he is willing to spend a fortune as long as his daughter Pearl, a sperm whale, is happy.
Conclusion
Whether evil villains, brave heroes, or funny animals, these famous red characters steal the spotlight and attract millions of hard-core fans worldwide. Infusing energy, passion, excitement, and even anger into the narrative, they are a dynamic and lively addition to any cartoon series. Which one is your pick? Let us know in the comments!
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