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.
13Arnold Shortman: Hey Arnold!, October 1996
Arnold Shortman is sweet, quiet, introverted, and bookish. For many children who grew up in the late-1990s, he represented a welcome change from the typical loud and fearless TV main characters of the time. Football-headed Arnold is often hesitant and nervous, yet he is still liked and admired by his peers – something many shyer kids needed to see. He is also remarkably well-developed for a children’s show character, with a rich past and clear motivations for his actions.