Introduction
We’ve all been there. You see a cartoon character, and you think to yourself, “Wait a minute! That’s red!” Whether it’s the color of their hair, skin or clothes, there are plenty of cartoon characters who live in the world of technicolor—and what better way to celebrate them than with this list? Here is a compilation of some of our favorite red-themed animated characters. From Scarlet Witch to Hello Kitty (yes), we’re celebrating them all!
Mario
Mario is a fictional character from the Mario video game franchise by Nintendo. He serves as the protagonist of most games in the series and has been since his creation. In most of his appearances, he is depicted as a short and pudgy plumber who lives in the Mushroom Kingdom, an alternate world where mushroom-like people live.
Scarlet Witch
Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in The Avengers #4 (1964). Wanda Maximoff, also known as the Scarlet Witch, is a mutant possessing telepathic and telekinetic powers. A member of the Avengers, she also has been a long-time member of the X-Men.
Deadpool
Deadpool is a Marvel Comics character who first appeared in The New Mutants #98 (Vol.2, February 1991). Deadpool was created by Rob Liefeld and Fabian Nicieza, but the idea for the character came from a sketch published in Wizard magazine. In this sketch, Liefeld drew a character that looked like Wolverine with a gun and sunglasses on his head; the name of this mutant was “The Kid With The Golden Arm”.
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Carnage
Carnage is a fictional supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #361 (October 1992), and was created by writer David Michelinie, artist Mark Bagley, and editor Bob Budiansky. Carnage’s exact origins are unknown. He is the offspring of the symbiotic alien race known as the Klyntar, which takes over the body of its host and transforms it into a monstrous, cannibalistic being.
Red Ranger
Red Ranger is the leader of the Power Rangers. He has a red suit, helmet and mask. Red Ranger’s weapons include a sword and shield. The Red Ranger is usually portrayed as being very serious in nature, but he can also be hot-headed at times because he hates to lose. He typically possesses great leadership skills and can keep his cool under pressure while still being assertive enough to get things done quickly when needed.
Optimus Prime
He is the leader of the Autobots, a faction of sentient self-configuring modular extraterrestrial robotic lifeforms. In 2007, IGN ranked Optimus Prime as 14th in their list of top 100 comic book heroes. He was also ranked 35th on Wizard magazine’s list of most powerful wizards in 2012.
Harley Quinn
Harley Quinn is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, commonly in association with the Joker. Harley Quinn was created by Paul Dini and Bruce Timm for Batman: The Animated Series, leading to her first comic book appearance in Legends of the Dark Knight #12 (November 1994). The character has since become one of the best-known villains of Batman’s rogues gallery as well as one of DC Comics’ most popular characters.
Flash
Real name: Barry Allen. Flash is the fastest man alive, and he has a sidekick called Kid Flash. He also has a love interest named Iris West, who is from an alternate universe where she’s married to Wally West (AKA The Flash). His nemesis is Professor Zoom. Flash is a member of the Justice League.
Hellboy
Hellboy is a fictional superhero created by writer-artist Mike Mignola, who appears in comic books published by Dark Horse Comics. The character first appeared in San Diego Comic Con Comics #2 (Aug. 1993), and has since been featured in several miniseries, one-shots and intercompany crossovers. A film adaptation directed by Guillermo del Toro was released in 2004 and two direct sequels followed.
Darth Maul
He appears in The Phantom Menace, and is a Sith Lord and apprentice to Darth Sidious. Darth Maul’s full name is “Darth Plagueis,” but it was later revealed that this was just a ruse by Palpatine to hide his true identity. In fact, his real name is “Naboo.”
Shazam
Shazam is a DC Comics superhero from the 1940s who has been around for over 80 years. He’s also known as Captain Marvel, but that name was taken by Marvel Comics and it’s now considered an entirely separate character.
Hello Kitty
Hello Kitty is a fictional character produced by the Japanese company Sanrio, created by Yuko Shimizu and currently designed by Yuki Onishi. She is depicted as a female Gijinka (anthropomorphized characters) cat with a red bow, no mouth and no visible ears.
Red M&M
M&M is not a real person. He’s actually the fictional mascot for the Mars company and was first introduced in 1979. Red M&M is the only one of his kind, with a red shell instead of a yellow one like all other M&Ms.
Superman
Created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective Comics (later DC Comics), the character first appeared in Action Comics #1 (June 1938). In his signature costume, he has blue eyes that are sensitive to light when wearing his glasses or as Clark Kent. In his civilian identity he has brown hair with distinct sideburns.
Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman is a superhero who wears a red costume. She has super strength and the ability to fly. Her real name is Diana, which makes sense because she’s an Amazon and they’re named after the Greek goddess of the same name. She also carries a lasso that makes people tell the truth when they are held within it – as well as being able to deflect bullets with her bracelets.
Mr. Krabs
Mr. Krabs is a red crab and the owner of the Krusty Krab restaurant. He’s also a greedy, money-grubbing crab. Mr. Krabs is married to Pearl; they have several children together—at least one of whom they adopted from an orphanage. The family lives near Bikini Bottom’s downtown area, where Mr. Krabs lives in his mansion that looks like a pile of cash with eyes.
Elena of Avalor
Elena of Avalor is the first Latina princess in Disney history. Her name means “the chosen one,” and she’s certainly lived up to that name since her debut in 2016. Elena is a princess from the magical kingdom of Avalor, which was hidden by magic until Elena’s 16th birthday when it was restored to its rightful place.
Lightning McQueen (Cars)
Lightning McQueen is a character in the Cars franchise. He is one of its three main protagonists, along with Mater and Sally Carrera. He is a hotshot rookie race car who hails from Clearwater, Florida; he has won Piston Cup races in his hometown and was touted as the “greatest race car ever” by the sportscasters.
Red (Angry Birds)
You might have noticed a trend in this list: angry birds tend to be red. In the Angry Birds universe, Red (or Red Bird) is one of the original birds that players get to choose from when they start playing. His name and appearance are inspired by the color red, which is commonly associated with anger or passion.
Minnie Mouse
Minnie Mouse is a cartoon character created by Ub Iwerks and Walt Disney in 1928. She is Mickey Mouse’s girlfriend, and has been part of the Disney franchise since her introduction. Minnie Mouse was created as a female counterpart to Mickey, who was previously known as Mortimer while in development. Minnie made her first appearance in Plane Crazy (1928), which starred both Mickey and Minnie together for the first time.
Red Hulk
Red Hulk is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Red Hulk was created by Jeff Parker and Carlo Pagulayan. Red Hulk’s first appearance was in The Incredible Hulk #19 (2010).
Clifford (Clifford the Big Red Dog)
Clifford is a big red dog who likes to play with his friends. The television series and movies feature his adventures in the fictional town of Birdwell Island, Massachusetts. Clifford was originally a book series written by Norman Bridwell, based on Clifford Brown’s life as a large-breed dog living with Emily Elizabeth and her family.
Po (Teletubbies)
Po is the baby of the group. She is also the only female in this group of four, and she’s a vegetarian. Po has a pet called Noo-Noo who helps her clean up after they play. Although there has been some controversy over whether or not Teletubbies promotes homosexuality due to their close relationship (and the fact that Po is portrayed as “naughty”), it doesn’t appear that way from an outsider’s perspective since these characters only exist within their own world where everything is alright!
Iron Man
Iron Man is a Marvel Comics superhero and the alter ego of billionaire playboy Tony Stark, who builds a powered armor suit after being kidnapped by terrorists. He uses his armor as Iron Man when he fights crime, protects the world from other villains, and helps other superheroes with their missions.
Elmo (Sesame Street)
Elmo is a furry red monster and one of the most popular characters on Sesame Street. Elmo was originally performed by Kevin Clash, who left the show in 2012 following allegations that he had underage sexual relationships with young fans. Since then, Billy Barkhurst has been performing as Elmo on Sesame Street.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who is the most famous red cartoon character?
While it depends on the generation, characters like Mario, Superman, and Elmo are some of the most universally recognized red cartoon characters. Their iconic red designs have made them pop culture staples for decades.
What does the color red symbolize in cartoons?
In cartoons, the color red is often used to symbolize strong emotions like passion, anger, or heroism. It’s frequently used for main characters, leaders, or villains to make them stand out and convey their powerful or dynamic nature.
Which red cartoon character is known for their anger?
Red from the Angry Birds franchise is the most obvious example. His design, name, and character are directly tied to anger. Other characters like Red Hulk also embody rage and fury.
