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.
9Thomas the Tank Engine: Thomas and Friends, October 1984
Jumping ahead 15 years, we arrive at Thomas the Tank Engine. He may not have been as inspirational as Mr. Rogers or as influential as Bugs Bunny, but I challenge you to find one person who wouldn’t recognize this little blue train. Thomas has been a prominent character on television and on the toy market for over 30 years. In fact, today’s little ones still enjoy the original series’ spinoffs.