A cartoon character should be as close to reality as it should be away from it. It should be living yet it should be artificial. It is not important that a cartoon character should portray something that has living characteristics. Anything derived from the artistic imagination of man can be called a cartoon if it is animated, does stuff that is only done with the help of computer and cannot be done normally by humans.

If the cartoon is any non living object its personification is very important. It should possess super natural talents one way or the other. They all are created or animated and also they should include use of graphics. Cartoons should have a hilarious element and should have a new world created.

A list of a few famous cartoon characters are as follows:

Alvin
Angelica Pickles
Archie
Arthur
Astro
Atom Ant
Bamm-Bamm
Barney Rubble
Bart Simpson
Batman
Beetle Baily
Betty Boop
Blondie
Boo Boo
Boris Badenov
Bugs Bunny
Bullwinkle
Calvin
Captain America
Cap'n Crunch
Cartman
Casper the Friendly Ghost
Cat in the Hat
Charlie Brown
Charlie Tuna
Chester Cheetah
Chip and Dale
Clifford the Big Red Dog
Curious George
Dagwood
Daffy Duck
Dennis the Menace
Dick Tracy
Dilbert
Dino
Donald Duck
Dora the Explorer
Droopy
Dudley Dooright
Eeyore
Elmer Fudd
Elroy Jetson
Fat Albert
Felix the Cat
Flash
Foghorn Leghorn
Fred Flintstone
Frosty
Garfield
George of the Jungle
Goofy
Grape Ape
Green Giant
Grimm
Grinch
Hagar the Horrible
Heckle and Jeckle
Hello Kitty
Hobbes
Homer Simpson
Huckleberry Hound
Joe Camel
Johnny Quest
Josie and the Pussycats
Jughead
Lil' Abner
Linus
Lucy
Magilla Gorilla
Marmaduke
Mickey Mouse
Mighty Mouse
Minnie Mouse
Mr. Kool-Aid
Mr. Magoo
Muttley
Nancy
Natasha Fatale
Olive Oyl
Pebbles
Pepe Le Pew
Peter Pan
Piglet
Pink Panther
Pluto
Popeye
Porky Pig
Red Hot
Ren and Stimpy
Richie Rich
Road Runner
Rocky
Roger Rabbit
Sad Sack
Scobby Doo
Shaggy
Sherman
Smurfs
Snap, Crackle and Pop
Snidely Whiplash
Snoopy
Speed Buggy
Speed Racer
Spiderman
SpongeBob SquarePants
Squiddly Diddly
Superman
Sylvester
The Professor
Tigger
Tom and Jerry
Tom Terrific
Tony Tiger
Toucan Sam
Tweety Bird
Underdog
Wile E. Coyote
Winnie the Pooh
Wonder Woman
Woodstock
Woody Woodpecker
Yogi Bear