How popular cartoon characters have changed: then and now (10 photos)

These cartoon characters are already real “oldies” today, but they continue to keep up with the times. So many years have passed that it’s easy to forget what they looked like originally. Yes, it’s similar, but still different. Time and computer technology have changed them a lot.





1. The Simpsons



The Simpsons first appeared in 1978 as a short cartoon by Matt Groening on The Tracey Ullman Show, but since then the popularity of the characters has steadily grown and eventually this nice family got their own show, which has been running for more than 40 years. The animation style has changed significantly over the years: characters' features have become more rounded and everything around them has become a little easier to perceive.

2. Bugs Bunny





Bugs Bunny was created as part of a series of Looney Tunes animated shorts and appeared on screen from time to time until he made his debut in The Wild Hare in 1940. He quickly became one of the most popular characters in the series and was re-imagined many times. Regardless of any animation improvements, Bugs Bunny will always have big ears, gloves and huge paws.

3. Mickey Mouse



Arguably the most popular cartoon character in the world, Mickey Mouse has undergone major changes since his introduction in the 1920s. He was originally voiced by Walt Disney himself. His voice has become a classic among imitators. But no matter what changes happen in the world of animation, Mickey Mouse always has his red shorts, white gloves (by the way, there were no gloves initially) and a friendly smile.

4. Strawberry Shortcake



Once a greeting card character, this girl became a popular doll for little girls and even got her own TV show in the 1980s. Then she lived in a sand house, and today she lives in a giant strawberry. She seems to get older with each new series, but her character remains the same.

5. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles



The animated series about the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is based on a comic book. The humanoid turtle brothers, trained in the art of jiu-jitsu, live underground but come to the surface to fight crime. Each of the turtles has their own personality, and these traits have never changed since their first appearance on television in 1987. Their faces constantly change with each new series or movie, but the colors of their protective eye masks always remain the same.

6. Pokemon



Pokémon began life in 1996 as a video game created for Nintendo by Satoshi Tajiri and his friend and illustrator Ken Sugimori. It was originally called "Pocket Monsters" and became very popular. Already in 1997, they began filming an animated series based on it. Since then, the franchise has produced many variations of the TV show. The most recent animation style includes CGI improvements that make the Pokémon much cuter than before.

7. The Smurfs



These little blue guys also started out as comic strip characters in Belgium in 1958. Their real success came when The Smurfs was brought to America and became a television series in the 1980s. The series ran for almost a decade before becoming its own film franchise in the 2010s. The overall look of the characters has remained the same over the years, but the introduction of 3D animation has really brought these cute guys to life.

8. Alvin and the Chipmunks



Alvin and his brothers have a completely different story. They originated as cartoon characters as a result of the popularity of the 1958 Christmas carol, "The Chipmunk Song (Don't Be Tardy for Christmas)." The song's popularity led to a short television series in 1961, and the Three Chipmunks continued to release music until the death of singer Ross Bagdasarian Sr. In the 1980s, another television series was created about these characters, and then they received a makeover in the 2000s with the release of three new computer-animated films. The size and color of their sweaters remain the same, with the same iconic yellow "A" adorning Alvin's sweatshirt.

9. Winnie the Pooh



Winnie the Pooh, one of the most famous characters in children's literature, was animated in 1966's Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree. It was a 2D animation of a chubby yellow bear wearing a tight red T-shirt. Winnie the Pooh remained on television for decades, but one of his most recent transformations was the film Christopher Robin, which showed Winnie the Pooh as more of a stuffed animal than a real bear. However, the yellow fur and red blouse are still there, so it's definitely the same bear.