21st-century cartoon characters that are already iconic

Disney had a tight grip on animated movies for a long time, but Dreamworks came in the late ‘90s with The Prince of Egypt. It fared well enough, but it wasn’t until 2000 and the release of Shrek that the company soared to new heights. Shrek was an instant favorite and has gone on to be one of the most notable characters and one of the most lucrative, with a handful of sequels, a stage play, and even an attraction at Universal Studios.

Being an adorable penguin that dances will never hurt one’s appeal to the masses.

Toy Story 3 was the perfect ending, so it was odd that Pixar decided to come back with another, but many are grateful they did because, without Toy Story 4, there would be no Forky, a.k.a. one of the most relatable characters to ever appear on the big screen. “I’m trash.” Same, Forky, same.

Jerry Seinfeld didn’t have to do anything after his sitcom left the air in 1998, but he managed to deliver another notable character with Barry B. Benson in Bee Movie, all while teaching the importance and impact of bees on the world.

In some ways, one could argue that Scrat is the Flavor Flav of the Ice Age franchise — a sort of comedic hype man who also has an undeniable and unexplainable charm.  

Aside from a stellar theme song, Kim Possible also packed a punch by being a strong lead female character who held her own.

Pandas are one of the few animals almost everyone can agree are one of the most precious on Earth. Pair that with a kick-butt tale of an underdog becoming the best, and you have gold.

The Flintstones proved that animated families deserved a place in primetime, but it took a long time for another to do the same. Then came The Simpsons, and since then, a bevy of families have joined them, mostly from the mind of Seth MacFarlane, but it wasn’t until 2011 that Fox welcomed another to the mix with the debut of Bob’s Burgers.

Disney went through a bit of a lull after their Renaissance Era, but one movie that stood out during that time was Lilo & Stitch, and a big reason for it being such a hit was the chaotic blue alien who became family.

If there is one trope that never fails to make a character a fan favorite, it’s the anti-hero, and Rick Sanchez is just that.

Angry Birds was a sensation when it came to mobile games, but could it translate into a movie? Let alone two movies? Yes, and yes. It proved that video game characters were a great concept for a kid's movie, and leading the helm of that ship was a truly, well, angry bird named Red.

There was a lot of darkness at the start of the 2000s, but a forgetful fish named Dory helped everyone to remember to just keep swimming. That genuine positivity made her a standout from the start.

Vampires have a grasp on people like no other mythical creature, so it’s no wonder Mavis Dracula found herself a fan-favorite soon after the release of Hotel Transylvania.

Fast & Furious showcased a need for speed in cinema in 2001, and a handful of years later, Disney decided to take that idea and spin it into the world of Cars, led by none other than Lightning McQueen.

The dragons in Game of Thrones could never.

The Princess and the Frog was the first time Disney had a Black princess. It was also a throwback to their classic 2D animation style, and audiences adored it. Perhaps more 2D tales instead of those live-action remakes in the future?

The name Ted Templeton Jr. probably isn’t as recognizable as the name many around the world refer to him as Boss Baby. The business aficionado in a suit was so big that he got multiple movies and a Netflix series.

The penguins in Madagascar weren’t even the stars, but by being adorable, silly penguins, they managed to gain momentum that has taken them from side characters in a movie franchise to being the stars of their own series.

Almost every character in 2013’s Frozen is beloved, but Elsa does have that extra something special about her that makes her a true queen.

Where would the world be without Minion memes that everyone’s least favorite aunt likes to share on Facebook?