Ugly Animal Cartoon Characters: Why We Love the Unconventional

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Cartoons are filled with lovable, huggable, and adorable characters, like Mickey Mouse, Hello Kitty, or Bugs Bunny. And then there are the not-so-adorable characters. The Ugly Animal Cartoon Characters tend to shine brightly with unique looks, funny personalities, and charm that is undeniable.

Some of the most unforgettable Ugly Animal Cartoon Characters are the misfits, the ones with wonky teeth, protruding eyes, or even matted hair. They might not win any beauty awards, but they do win our hearts. But do we love ugly cartoon animal characters so much? Let’s explore ugly-cute cartoon animals and find out.

Ugly Animal Cartoon Characters Collection

A cartoon of a light brown, large-nosed creature wearing an orange shirt and blue pants, standing on a white background.
First up is our first quirky character! This cartoon monster is an “ugly” animal with a big attitude.
A cartoon of a reddish-brown creature with a large snout, big eyes, and wearing a black hat and blue bow tie, on a white background.
Our second “ugly” animal character is dapper with its hat and bow tie!
A cartoon of a skinny, purple and blue creature with pink hair, large ears, and sharp green claws, standing on a white background.
Check out this colorful “ugly” animal character with wild multi-colored hair!
A Ugly Animal Cartoon Characters of a skinny, purple creature with multiple large, bloodshot eyes, big teeth, wearing blue shorts and a gold bracelet, standing on a white background.
This “ugly” animal character is weird with its many eyes and a grumpy face!
A cartoon close-up of a pink, wrinkled creature with mismatched red and blue eyes, a large nose, and many jagged teeth, on a white background.
This “ugly” animal character has a fiercely horrible look with mismatching eyes!
A cartoon bust of a grey, wrinkled creature with mismatched red and blue eyes, a large snout, jagged teeth, wearing a black police hat and a dark suit with a tie and pocket square, on a white background.
This “ugly” animal character means business, with it’s convincing suit and serious face!!
A Ugly Animal Cartoon Characters of a light brown, slightly hunched creature with large mismatched eyes, a large snout, prominent teeth, and a long tail with a spade-shaped tip, standing on a white background.
Check out this mischievous “ugly” animal character with a pair of really kooky eyes and nasty body position!
A cartoon of a sitting brown creature with a grey face, large tusks, big eyes, and spots on its body, on a white background.
Check out my tusked “ugly” animal character who looks a lot like a boar.
A Ugly Animal Cartoon Characters of a small, beige creature with large, bulging eyes, small horns, a large nose, prominent teeth, and red and yellow spots on its body, on a white background.
This “ugly” animal character is all about crazy eyes and polka dots!
A cartoon head of a light blue creature with a large pink nose, mismatched yellow and red eyes, and many jagged teeth, with gold hoop earrings, on a white background.
Get a look at this silly “ugly” animal character with its funny grin and bloodshot eyes!

Why Ugly Animal Cartoon Characters Are So Much Fun

1. They Are Relatable

It is so easy to identify with imperfect characters. Perfect characters sometimes feel detached, perfect heroes really have no flaws. When it comes to ugly cartoon animals, they are integral and sometimes messy, just like us! As an example, consider Courage the Cowardly Dog. Courage has bulging eyes and neurotic twitches and does not fit the mold as a “hero”. But Courage has made fear and determination work for him and certainly ranks as one of the favorite characters in animation history!

2. They’re Funny Without Trying

The ugliest of cartoon animals get the best laughs for existing. Ren Hoek from Ren & Stimpy is the best example. Wild and unhinged expressions are what set him apart. Then there are the characters like Stimpy, who have a goofy smile and a vacant stare, getting laughs just for being Stimpy.

3. They Break Stereotypes

In a cartoon world where most animal characters are designed to be cute, the Ugly ones are always a middle finger to conventionality. Gollum from Lord of the Rings (he’s not a cartoon character necessarily but the animated versions we see are separated from the rest valuably) is a pretty creepy character who’s fascinating. In the same sense, The Angry Beavers (Norbert and Daggett) had the same ability, as incredible cartoonists with fantastic illustrations, without being cute.

4. They have Character Complexity

There are Ugly Animal Cartoon Characters with complexity. Plank from Ed, Edd n Eddy is not even alive, but Johnny treats him like he has a personality. There is later Rocko from Rocko’s Modern Life an ugly wallaby with a weirdly shaped head and big heart trying to navigate adulthood.

The Most Iconic Ugly Animal Cartoon Characters

1. Courage the Cowardly Dog

Courage is not going to win any beauty pageants with those pink fur, mismatched teeth, and permanent look of horror. But his undying loyalty to Muriel and his innate cowardice (despite the name) turns him into legend.

2. Ren & Stimpy

Ren’s complete mania and Stimpy’s dense innocence, perfectly paired. Ren & Stimpy might have been some gross-out humor and bizarre designs, but they took kids’ cartoons a level deeper in the 90s and completely delivered on the absurd.

3. The Angry Beavers

Norbert and Daggett are buck-toothed, scraggly-furred beavers embracing kinship, but fighting like siblings. Their ugly-yet-charming designs are physically perfect for their chaotic personalities.

4. Rocko (Rocko’s Modern Life)

Rocko has a big nose, and a small body—shouldn’t work, but does work. Transitions and struggles with mundanity in his life makes him weirdly relatable.

5. CatDog

A two-headed abomination that breaks biology 101 because of its absurdity, CatDog might be the definition of ugly-cute animals. Their constant fighting and exceptionally strange existence frames them as incredibly memorable.

6. Gurgle (from Shark Tale)

Alright, not the most popular movie. But Gurgle the pufferfish (voiced by Jack Black) is hilariously ugly-as-an-animal, which is why he is great.

7. Hyenas from The Lion King

Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed are gross, cackling, and kind of scary, but they are also some of the most entertaining Disney villains.

Why Ugly Characters are Important in Animation

Ugly animal cartoon characters show that it doesn’t have to be pretty to work in design; in fact, the fact that it’s unusual makes Ugly Animal Cartoon Characters more interesting. They give the finger to the traditional idea of needing to be attractive to be a hero or even a sidekick, which can be liberating.

They also teaching children (and adults) that being different is okay. Characters like Courage and Rocko teach that bravery and kindness is more important than looks.

Wrap Up

Next time you watch a cartoon, notice the odd-looking ones with crooked teeth, bulging eyes or sparse fur, these are most likely the characters you’ll remember the most. Ugly animal cartoon characters bring humor, heart, and a little bit of chaos to the scene and that is why we love them.

Who is your favorite “Ugly Animal Cartoon Characters“? Let’s show some love to the ugly underdogs (or under-cats, under-beavers, or under… whatever CatDog is).

Also Watch:- Ugly Cartoon Characters: A Unique Collection

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