Television has provided education and entertainment to children for nearly a century, creating many lovable and iconic characters along the way. This list of the 20 best children’s television characters of all time consists only of the most recognizable, inspiring, and fun-to-watch characters from kids’ TV. Only one character per show is included on the list. Characters are listed chronologically. The year included is the year the television show was released – not necessarily the year the character was introduced.
1Bugs Bunny: Looney Tunes, April 1930
Bugs Bunny is the quintessential classic cartoon character, one of the earliest examples of children’s television done right. While he may not be the greatest role model for youngsters (he’s a bit of a trickster), Bugs Bunny gifted legions of children for many years with animated television comedy – usually of the slapstick variety. There is no understating his influence on subsequent children’s shows, either, or on television as a whole.