Top 10 Animated Characters Inspired by Real People

Some of the most famous animated characters of all time have been based on real people. For this list, we’ll be looking at characters from animated movies and TV shows whose creators looked to real people for inspiration. We won’t be including characters who originated in comic strips or those whose inspiration was the person who voiced them. Our countdown includes Edna Mode from "The Incredibles" (2004), Butters Stotch from "South Park" (1997-), Betty Boop, Ariel from "The Little Mermaid" (1989), and more! Did you know about these inspiration instances? Which one is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below.

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[WatchMojo]

Did you know about these inspiration instances? Which one is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below.

[wilkersonarielle]

Leopold "Butters" Stotch is my favorite and the best, hands down.

[mr.decencykeepinitreal]

‘The Incredibles’ creator Brad Bird did a great job voicing Edna Mode.

[sithlorddevin]

Fun fact: Kenny from South Park is based on a real person named Kenny that Trey Parker knew back then. He had an orange hoodie, was poor, and everyone always forgets that he’s around because he muffled. And Trey will always say “where’s Kenny is he dead?”

[syria]

You could honestly put the entire main kids and their families from South Park. Stan and Kyle specifically are based off Trey Parker and Matt Stone.

[AudreyC]

"Well CERTAINLY I can read the sign." *A few moments later after trying to read it. "What does it say?" 😂

[joermnyc]

Betty Boop started out as some kind of hybrid dog-woman, her floppy ears evolved into her earrings.

[kay-dc]

Another reason why South Park is one of the best shows im modern existence

[nicksullivan]

@7:27, Wait, What? No Way! I didn’t know “Who’s The Boss?” was on Nick at Nite!😱🤯😂🤣❤️📺🎶👍🏻

[KingdomofEvania]

DW from Arthur was apparently based on Marc Brown’s sisters!!

[AccuracyBeast]

3:14 - love the fact they actually used the word 'Worstest'

[xplosiv]

Mr Mackey was based on Matt stones guidance counselor

[sharkyreynolds]

Optimus Prime was modeled after the voice actor's brother who told him to portray the character as someone strong enough to be gentle.

[sailorjupoak]

No Gravity Falls character? There's so many! Soos is my fave, as he's based off of a college friend of Alex Hirsch''s that would always try to fix things, but fail, Mabel is based on his sister, and Grunkle Stan after his grandpa!

How about a list of characters based off of real people that the production team knew in real life, like Butters?

[mathieuleader]

Never knew about Aladdin having been designed on Michael J Fox orignally nor presently as Tom Cruise

[cecestartedthefire]

If it’s a known fact that Kane ‘s persona couldn’t take sole credit for inspiring Betty Boop because it is a rip off African American actress Ester Jones then how is it ok to not include Ester Jones in the video at all? No clips or images including her. Just the single sentence saying she is the originator. She’s still slighted.

[bighungryjoe]

Fred and Barney/Jackie Gleason &Art Carney
Yogi Bear/Art Carney

[cherryblossoms]

Bart and Lisa are based on Matt Groenings siblings and Homer is his dad.

[dylansearcy]

2:10 Hey SpongeBob. what are you gonna do today? I dunno Patrick what are you gonna do today?

[tgoly]

I love Butters. One of my favorite characters!