Top 10 Quirkiest Animated Characters
#10: Lilo Pelekai “Lilo & Stitch” (2002)
On a typical Thursday, you might find this young girl juggling her hula dancing lessons with her obligation to give a weather manipulating fish a peanut butter sandwich. She’ll likely unwind by listening to one of the Elvis songs she’s memorized by heart. Oh, and did we mention Lilo adopted a pet alien named Stitch? What makes this offbeat protagonist so endearing is the fact that she never apologizes or makes excuses for doing things that other people consider strange. Lilo goes through life boldly marching to the beat of her own drum…or a tune from the King himself. Whenever we think of this protagonist, we’re reminded of someone who will always feel comfortable living outside of the box.
#9: Joy “Inside Out” (2015)
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Since Joy is a literal representation of the concept of happiness, she spends most of her early years projecting a peppy aura. Every ounce of her limitless amount of energy is directed at keeping a girl named Riley content with life. Initially, Joy’s intense focus on happiness made her overly controlling of her fellow emotions and a little too obsessed with keeping things joyful. But after spending a little more time with her colleague sadness, she learns how to mellow out a bit and let go of her need to keep everything light and fun all the time. Joy’s great character development doesn’t stop her from being an eccentric emotion. By the end, she learns how to keep her quirks without discounting anyone else’s.
#8: The Entire Robinson Family “Meet the Robinsons” (2007)
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It was impossible to single out just one branch of this quirky family tree. Within the Robinsons, there are twins that hang out in planters, an extreme painter, a frog chorus leader and more. One of the members of the family is even a hand puppet! While their eccentric habits and personalities occasionally clash, they all clearly have plenty of love for each other. The Robinsons accept each other without reservations or concessions. And there are moments where the beauty of their bond shines through the chaotic nature of their home. No matter whether you search the future, past or present, you’ll never find a family quite like the Robinsons.
#7: Abby Park “Turning Red” (2022)
If you look up the word energetic in the dictionary, you’d find a picture of this eighth grader’s smiling face ready to burst out of the page. Abby gives 100 percent effort to everything she does. Even when she’s not enjoying something, she’s still incredibly expressive and passionate. Abby’s enthusiasm for the world allows her to instantly embrace new situations like the discovery that her friend can shapeshift into a big red panda. Although this eighth grader can get a little intense at times, she’s one of the best people to have in your corner. Abby will never be shy about how excited she is for her friends and their accomplishments. And it doesn’t seem like she’ll change who she is anytime soon.
#6: Rapunzel “Tangled” (2010)
A few Disney royals have stood out as being more eccentric than many of their regal counterparts. The thrill seeking Vanellope von Schweetz is definitely not your average ruler. However, Rapunzel makes a strong case for being the quirkiest Disney princess of them all. After spending a majority of her life in a tower, she’s given the opportunity to journey to the outside world for a day. Rapunzel’s excitement and sense of wonder about normal places is absolutely infectious. And while others might avoid conflicts, she solves problems by running headlong into them with her magical hair, trusty frying pan, and animal companions. Despite Rapunzel’s dark origins, she’s always able to find light in places that others might overlook.
#5: Olaf The “Frozen” franchise (2013-)
The fact that this loveable character is a sentient snowman automatically sets him apart as a unique snowflake in the ranks of Disney sidekicks. But it's his whimsical approach to life that really makes him one of a kind. Whether Olaf is being lightly impaled or in danger of melting, he’s almost guaranteed to have a smile on his face. The curious snowman is also constantly questioning his surroundings and philosophical concepts. Although Olaf’s observations may sound strange, his statements often encourage his companions to see things in a new light. While the sunny snowman may be made out of ice, he radiates nothing but warmth 24/7.
#4: Nimona “Nimona” (2023)
As soon as this shapeshifter appeared on screen, she completely changed the energy of the story. A serious narrative about a knight framed for a crime he didn’t commit became a showcase for Nimona’s bubbly personality. We quickly learn that the shapeshifter is a little too happy about the idea of spreading misery. Additionally, Nimona absolutely loves shapeshifting into everything from unsettling children to sharks. And unless she’s legitimately pretending to be someone else, her bubbly personality carries over into each of her forms. Nimona’s strong sense of self in the face of a society that rejected her is inspiring. And since she’s a shapeshifter who aims to stay true to her morals and ideals, she’d get along with the driven and eccentric Sisu.
#3: Donkey The “Shrek” franchise (2001-)
What could’ve been an annoying animal sidekick became one of the most iconic characters in the ogre franchise. Donkey is an incredibly funny animal that doesn’t hesitate to use his unique gift of gab. During adventures, you can expect him to speak his mind with no filter. His brutal honesty can either get him into deeper trouble or get one of his allies to reevaluate their actions. When Donkey isn’t busy chatting, he’s likely spending time with his dragon soulmate. He might also be working on new ways to annoy his old buddy Shrek. Although Donkey is far from the only talking animal in his universe, there’s no one else quite like him. Like an onion, he has a few unconventional layers.
#2: Dory The “Finding Nemo” franchise
Shortly after this Blue regal Tang fish swam into the narrative, it was revealed that she had short term memory loss. Dory’s difficulty with retaining information made her very enthusiastic about any details or fellow fish that she could remember. Even when she struggled, she always tried her best to have an optimistic outlook on life. It also helped that Dory had an interesting assortment of random skills and traits. She could make friends easily, was willing to try new experiences and could even speak whale if the occasion called for it. As Dory got better at remembering things, she never forgot to express the personality that made her so unique. Her eccentricity was so beloved that she headlined a full movie. Before we highlight our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Kronk, “Emperor's New Groove” (2000) This Loveable Henchman Is Fluent In Squirrel Language & Ridiculously Fun to Watch Agnes, “Despicable Me” franchise The Unicorn Obsessed Girl Is Quirky Enough to Melt the Hearts of the Coldest Villains Russell, “Up” (2009) A Very, Very, Dedicated Wilderness Explorer That Embraces Weird Adventures Honey Lemon, “Big Hero 6” (2014) A One-of-a-Kind Inventor Who Lets Her Imaginative Ideas Guide the Way Perrito, “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” (2022) This Offbeat Therapy Dog Provides Lots of Warmth & Laughs
#1: Genie “Aladdin” (1992)
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This magical blue being taught us that spending ten thousand years in a lamp tends to give you one bad crick in the neck and a ton of quirks. When Genie met Aladdin, the loud magical being had fun showing off his considerable abilities. The blue powerhouse’s fast paced sense of humor made it feel like his mind was moving a million miles a minute. Whether Genie cracked a joke or gave advice, there was a chance he’d impersonate someone or something. But he still clearly cared about his loved ones no matter what form he was in. Despite being an out of the world being, there’s always something about Genie’s personality that feels relatable. We wish we had a quirky friend like him around.
