You might have your happy place, but do you have a happy cartoon character that you can turn to when the blues hit hard? No? Time to get one!
Since the very inception of cartoons, happy cartoon characters have been the positive and wholesome force of their shows. Amidst the chaos, these characters are the voice of reason, a soothing presence that slows things down.
Their antics and positive vibes can uplift your mood in no time.
So, read through my list, and get yourself a go-to happy character.
20 Happiest Cartoon Characters Ever
20. Pops
- Show/Movie: Regular Show
- Voice Actor(s): Sam Marin
Pops is not only the kindest character in his show, but he’s also one of the kindest cartoon characters ever. His constantly smiling face and naivety make him extremely likable.
Pops is the owner of the Park, but because of his childlike behavior, he can’t take care of it. That’s why he employed Benson as the Park Manager.
Before his death, Pops was revealed as “The Embodiment of Pure Good,” which explained his supportive behavior with Mordecai and Rigby and his lenient management style with Benson.
19. Steven Universe
- Show/Movie: Steven Universe
- Voice Actor(s): Zach Callison, Daniel DiVenere
Steven has to be one of the most positive cartoon characters in terms of behavior and impact on viewers. His optimism and ever-present smile radiate positivity which he transfers to other characters as well as the audience by singing with a ukulele.
Steven is a half-human, half-Gem hybrid with extraordinary abilities that he uses to protect those in need.
But, within this kind-hearted savior is a monster fueled by Steven’s trauma, only kept at bay by Steven’s carefree personality.
18. Uncle Grandpa
- Show/Movie: Uncle Grandpa
- Voice Actor(s): Peter Browngardt
The titular character of Uncle Grandpa is a wholesome cartoon character who is everyone’s uncle and everyone’s grandpa.
He goes around children’s houses, talks to them, and helps them solve all their problems. Uncle has different superpowers like cloning and time travel, which he uses to take children on crazy adventures that end up solving their problems.
Grandpa has a robot assistant, a flying Tiger, and a Belly Bag that has everything he needs.
17. Russell
- Show/Movie: Up
- Voice Actor(s): Jordan Nagai
This roly-poly boy scout is the kindest 8-year-old you could ever meet.
He’s actively looking for elderly people so he can help them out. Yeah, he’s after the “Assisting the Elderly” patch, but no one will do what Russell did just to get a patch.
Russell saving Kevin and befriending Dug shows that he has a kind and gentle soul who genuinely loves helping others.
Even though he annoyed the hell out of Carl, the two developed a deep bond by the end of the movie.
16. Numbah 3
- Show/Movie: Codename: Kids Next Door
- Voice Actor(s): Lauren Tom
Kuki Sanban, more commonly known as Numbah 3, is the Medical Specialist of Sector V and is also in charge of Diversionary Tactics. This 10-year-old is the youngest operative in her Sector and also the kindest.
But if you dare mock Rainbow Monkeys in front of this polite operative, you’ll get to see her aggressive streak.
This cutie also has a C.R.U.S.H. on Numbah 4 but is too gentle to do something about it.
15. Phineas Flynn
- Show/Movie: Phineas & Ferb
- Voice Actor(s): Vincent Martella, Danny Jacob
Phineas Flynn in live form is one of the scariest things I’ve ever seen. But that doesn’t cloud his positivity and optimism.
No matter how tough the situation, Phineas Flynn never loses his cheerful demeanor. Instead, he’s known to cheer up others around him in the most depressing of situations.
He does lack emotional intelligence in a way though. You could kiss him under the Eiffel Tower and it wouldn’t really matter to him. But again, that’s just the carefree attitude that makes him infectiously positive.
14. Darwin Watterson
- Show/Movie: The Amazing World of Gumball
- Voice Actor(s): Terrell Ransom, Jr.
Darwin is one of the happiest cartoon characters because he’s one of the few characters fully content with their life. He’s fully immune to jealousy and is very hard to annoy.
Most of this is because Darwin used to be a Goldfish. But, after growing legs and learning to talk, Darwin adapted to life as a human.
I wouldn’t exactly call him a gender-reversed Ariel, but he does fall in love easily and is unbearably naive at times.
13. Mable Pines
- Show/Movie: Gravity Falls
- Voice Actor(s): Kristen Schaal, Kevin Michael Richardson, Alex Hirsch
The deuteragonist of Gravity Falls is a hyperactive girl who wears light-up sweaters and thinks that boys can’t resist her charm (they can, btw).
Mable Pines is the glass-half-full type of person with a very positive outlook on life. While some of her moves backfire, she always means well, which is why her feelings get hurt very easily.
But, she picks herself up pretty quickly and is almost always on her way to new adventures with her twin brother.
12. Pinkie Pie
- Show/Movie: My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic
- Voice Actor(s): Andrea Libman
A character representing the laughter of their show is the perfect fit for this list, hence Pinkie Pie’s inclusion.
Pinkie PIe’s a singer-songwriter who loves to throw parties and she’s pretty good at both. She also loves to bake and works at a bakery where she comes up with crazy cakes and recipes.
Doing the things she loves makes her happy, and she has an obvious tell for when she’s happy. Her mane and tail poof up whenever she’s happy.
11. Bubbles
- Show/Movie: The Powerpuff Girls
- Voice Actor(s): Jennifer Fried, Kath Soucie, Tara Strong
The self-proclaimed ‘baby’ of The Powerpuff Girls, Bubbles is the most emotional and kindest Powerpuff Girl. According to the Professor, she represents the Sugar ingredient that he added while creating the girls.
Also, she’s called “the joy and the laughter” in the show’s outro, which is cute.
However, when tempted, the weakest link of the trio can be the most dangerous one. Her rage was on full show in Bubblevicious.
10. Big Bird
- Show/Movie: Sesame Street
- Voice Actor(s): Caroll Spinney, Matt Vogel
This big, yellow bird has been spreading positivity and happiness since 1969.
Big Bird has been a major character on Sesame Street ever since, entertaining children with his dancing, singing, skating, unicycle riding, and so much more.
Besides his multiple talents, Big Bird teaches an important lesson to viewers. Big Bird teaches acceptance of one’s shortcomings and teaches kids to never stop learning.
And as we all know, anyone who masters these two things can conquer the world.
9. Agnes Gru
- Show/Movie: Despicable Me
- Voice Actor(s): Elsie Fisher
The youngest adoptive daughter of Gru and Lucy, Agnes is a bundle of energy and wholesomeness.
This unicorn-loving cutie was the only one of the three sisters to instantly accept Gru as her father, mostly because she was too innocent to see Gru’s dislike of the whole adoption thing.
But, in the end, Agnes’ trust in Gru prevails as her constant love and affection change Gru’s heart.
Much like Gru, we all wish she never gets older.
8. Timon
- Show/Movie: The Lion King
- Voice Actor(s): Nathan Lane
There are not many characters who would celebrate being an outcast, but Timon (and Pumbaa) is one of them who wears it as a badge of honor.
Sick of the constant digging and messing up his duties in the meerkat colony, Timon walked away from his clan to find a new home and live a problem-free life. Soon, he met Pumbaa and they both started the Hakuna Matata life.
Now, he eats grubs and sleeps on his best/only friend’s belly all day long.
7. Pumbaa
- Show/Movie: The Lion King
- Voice Actor(s): Ernie Sabella, Seth Rogen
The second half of the Timon and Pumbaa duo is no different from his meerkat friend.
Banished by his clan due to his poisonous flatulence, Pumbaa was relieved of his duties and cast out by other warthogs of his clan. Thanks to the strong odor, no other animal would come close to Pumbaa, until he met Timon.
After meeting the meerkat, Pumbaa’s life changed. He finally had a friend and, from thereon, lived the happiest days of his life.
6. Tigger
- Show/Movie: Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day
- Voice Actor(s): Paul Winchell, Sam Edwards, Hal Smith, Will Ryan, Jim Cummings
For me, Tigger’s chaotic energy outweighs Eeyore’s gloominess, hence his inclusion on my list.
Tigger is not the smartest, but he is the life of the gang. He is the one keeping everyone on their toes, including Christopher Robin, with his constant trouble-making.
Although he comes off as egotistical at times, priding himself on his bouncy tail, Tigger is just as optimistic and fun-loving as Pooh.
Which reminds me, Pooh should have been on this list, no? Well, we’ll make do with his friend.
5. Dora
- Show/Movie: Dora the Explorer
- Voice Actor(s): Kathleen Herles
Meet one of the most annoyingly positive cartoon characters ever. She could well be drowning in a lake of lava and still be grinning, all because swimming in lava is also an adventure isn’t it?
Frankly, it’s obvious why kids of all generations love this explorer. She teaches problem-solving through crazy adventures, but they could have made him a little realistic.
No 7-year-old is this kind to anyone.
4. Baymax
- Show/Movie: Big Hero 6
- Voice Actor(s): Scott Adsit
Created by one of the kindest characters ever, Tadashi Hamada, Baymax was supposed to be a healthcare-providing robot. But, after Tadashi’s untimely and saddening death, Hero turned him into an ass-kicking superhero.
But, despite getting his programming completely altered, Baymax was unwilling to harm any human. On the contrary, he gave up his own life to save someone’s life. And all he wanted in return was to hear the words- “I am satisfied with my care.”
3. SpongeBob SquarePants
- Show/Movie: SpongeBob SquarePants
- Voice Actor(s): Tom Kenny
SpongeBob SquarePants, a yellow cartoon character, is the titular protagonist of the show, and boy his positive energy is infectious.
Watching a few episodes of him dealing with Mr. Krabbs, Patrick Star, and Squidward Tentacles with a giant grin on his face will teach you the true meaning of patience.
He accompanies Patrick on every one of his silly adventures, endures Mr. Krabbs’ constant exploitation like a champ, and tries his best to cheer up one of the angriest cartoon characters of all time, Squidward.
God bless the poor, ol’ sponge.
2. Minions
- Show/Movie: Despicable Me
- Voice Actor(s): Pierre Coffin
Wholesome, kind, stubborn, and dangerous- these 4 words perfectly describe the yellow monsters from Despicable Me.
While each of Gru’s loyal minions has a personality of their own, all of them are fun-loving, innocent, and hungry to explore with an infectious and endearing child-like innocence.
Their can-do and never-give-up attitude is heartwarming and can turn your frown upside down in no time.
1. Joy
- Show/Movie: Inside Out
- Voice Actor(s): Amy Poehler
While her voice actor might not be as kind, Joy is the most positive and happy character in all of the animation, simply because she is the very embodiment of Happiness in Riley’s mind.
Joy was the first emotion to appear in Riley’s head and she’s been in charge of Headquarters ever since.
All she wants to do is to keep Riley happy. But, as the movie shows, it doesn’t work that way at all.
That’s it!
These are some of my favorite happy cartoon characters that can always pick me up when I’m feeling low.
Each one has their own charm, spreading good vibes and smiles. When you need a boost, look to these characters for some cheer and inspiration. Enjoy their uplifting presence and let them brighten your day!
