Nickelodeon Cartoon Characters

Nickelodeon cartoon characters are highly popular, and Nickelodeon cartoons form a high percentage of today's animated cartoon shows. How many Nickelodeon cartoon characters can you name?

The Rugrats
"The Rugrats" was one of the original Nicktunes, and Rugrats cartoon characters helped catapult Nickelodeon cartoons into modern-day cartoon popularity. Tommy, Angelica, Chuckie, Phil and Lil and Susie compose the core Rugrats crew, although other characters are present throughout the series.

Doug
"Doug" was another of the original Nickelodeon cartoons, introduced at the same time as "The Rugrats" and airing every Sunday. Doug was a typical teenager dealing with typical adolescent problems, and many of the kids that formed the Nickelodeon audience found it easy to identify with him.

Ren And Stimpy
Ren and Stimpy were the main characters in the third of the original Nicktunes. Ren and Stimpy appealed to the gross nature of the pre-teen and teenage audience that typically tuned into Nickelodeon cartoons at the time, with episodes such as "Stimpy's First Fart." The inappropriate humor made Ren and Stimpy appeal to an older crowd, and ultimately sparked controversy among parents and ratings agencies.

Spongebob Squarepants
Spongebob Squarepants, who lives under the sea with his friends, is by far the most popular Nickelodeon cartoon character in the current Nick lineup. Shaped like a giant yellow sponge, Spongebob appeals to both adults and parents and has gained a wide fan base for this Nickelodeon show.

Bob The Builder
"Bob the Builder" isn't an original Nickelodeon cartoon, but it is based in the UK, and Nick Jr. rebroadcast it in North America from 2001 to 2005. "Bob the Builder" has spawned a popular series of building toys, and the character appeals to a younger audience; hence its inclusion on Nick Jr. "Bob the Builder" has since been picked up by PBS and no longer broadcasts on Nickelodeon, but its inclusion on Nickelodeon next to other popular Nick cartoons has ultimately contributed to its success in the United States.

Dora The Explorer
Another Nickelodeon cartoon that has gained worldwide notoriety, "Dora the Explorer" attracts younger audiences. The Dora franchise includes toys, books, DVDs and videos and video games. "Dora the Explorer" is also broadcast in several countries and has 22 foreign-language translations.

Arnold
Arnold, from "Hey Arnold!," is a fourth-grade boy who lives with his grandparents. Arnold is the sage among his social circle, often helping classmates or friends with problems they're having trouble solving on their own. "Hey Arnold!" ran from 1996 until 2004, and the show was moderately popular compared to Nick's other offerings.

Timmy Turner
Timmy Turner is the star of "The Fairly OddParents," in which Timmy has fairy god parents named Cosmo and Wanda who grant Timmy's wishes. "The Fairly OddParents" was close to "Spongebob Squarepants" in popularity and briefly passed it in 2003 to 2004.

The success of the Nickelodeon cartoons proves that the creative forces behind kids' cartoons are still strong. Instead of relying on the past or recycling old Disney shorts and Looney Tunes, production companies keep working on exciting shows that kids-and maybe a few adults-can't resist.