5 Animated Characters Over 25+ That Are Still Impacting The Youth!

"What do you know about this?" That’s the phrase we will be saying to our children as we walk past the television and notice that one cartoon that was a part of our peak childhood. Perhaps even our parents may have said that phrase to us, shocked at how well we knew something that was a part of their upbringing. While some cartoons and animated characters get old and forgotten about, others are drinking from the Fountain of Youth and remaining legendary. 

1. Mickey Mouse

From black and white to Disney+, Mickey Mouse has been around for nearly 100 years. Can you believe it? Mickey Mouse is 97 years old and is still a household staple for many generations and even generations to come. Originally making his debut as a cartoon character in the short film titled "Steamboat Willie", Mickey Mouse has been loved ever since. From Disney theme parks and new shows such as "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse" to loads of merchandise with Mickey on it, Mickey Mouse has always found his way to get better with time and has a remained a staple for multiple generations of kids all over the world.

2. Care Bears

The Care Bears are a classic. Their vibrant colors, cute personalities, and playful energy reel viewers in. Truthfully, how can you say anything bad about those bears? They are so adorable, and they’ve been around for 44 years. Created in 1981 by Elena Kucharik initially as characters that appeared on greeting cards, the Care Bears then evolved into plush teddy bears, which I would still love to have to this day. Following the success of the plush bears, the Care Bears became an animated television show that many of us know of. Fast forward to today, the Care Bears are on merchandise all around the country, and kids of the newer generations can’t help but beg their parents for the shirt, bookbag, or pajama set with the Care Bears on it. Newer versions of Care Bears are also on Netflix to watch!

3. Woody and Buzz Lightyear

After almost 30 years, Toy Story characters Woody and Buzz Lightyear are still letting the youth know, "You’ve got a friend in me." Toy Story is a movie that we simply cannot forget. Although the first Toy Story movie was released in theaters in November 1995, the continuous release of new Toy Story movies, spinoffs, merchandise, games, and more has made it easy for kids to enjoy the characters that will shape their childhood, similar to how it did ours. The latest Toy Story movie (Toy Story 4) dropped in 2019, and Toy Story 5 will be released in June 2026. Even more goodness for the children to love. We will be taking part in that as well!

4. Dora the Explorer

Dora celebrated her first episode ever release date on August 14, 2000, which officially marks the original "Dora the Explorer" being around for 25 years. Although the original show stopped airing in 2019, "Dora the Explorer" has rebooted the show to simply just her name (Dora) and is still teaching the youth today. Don’t worry, Dora still has her backpack, her map, Swiper, and her friend Boots. A lot of the original Dora concepts are still around, just more modernized for the newer generation of children. Dora has had a long run on Nickelodeon, and it doesn’t seem like she will be stopping anytime soon. Dora is loved by the kids. 

5. Cinderella

When you think of Disney Princesses, there is one character that should automatically come to your mind without too much thought. For us, that character is Cinderella. Cinderella has been on a generational run for 75 years and still plays an incredible part in the childhoods of today’s children. Every Halloween, there are children inspired by Cinderella. Every school year, little girls have Cinderella bookbags. Her iconic look and fairy tale story are one-of-a-kind. Since the original story of Cinderella was released in 1950, there have been plays, television shows, and merchandise that keep her relevant and loved by children. Cinderella may not be the first but she is one of the greatest Disney Princesses!