10 Cartoon Characters You Didn’t Know Were Inspired By Real People
Cartoons feel surreal with their vivid colors and impossible physics, which sometimes involve characters surviving anvils dropping on their heads. But once you dig into the origins of these figures, you’ll find that some of them have shocking origins. Animators have always sketched personalities they knew and adapted mannerisms they observed from real individuals. These 10 cartoon legends and others owe their existence to actual human beings.
Ursula
Credit: IMDb
Howard Ashman had watched drag queen Divine command stages in John Waters’ films like Pink Flamingos. Years later, working on The Little Mermaid, he saw concept sketches of Ursula. While collaborating with artist Rob Minkoff, the duo infused Divine’s shock of white hair, heavy eyeshadow, and unmistakable stage presence. It explains why Ursula feels like she’s performing in a cabaret even underwater.
Popeye
Credit: IMDb
A corncob pipe, a willingness to fight anyone, and a gruff voice that few people understood–Frank Fiegel had all three that everyone in Chester, Illinois, knew by heart. Cartoonist E.C. Segar watched the renowned local before finally putting him on paper. The spinach gave Popeye superpowers, but his personality was transplanted straight from that Illinois town into Thimble Theatre and eventually into the history of animation.
Mr. Burns
Credit: IMDb
Springfield’s most evil resident required multiple sources. Simpson’s creator, Matt Groening, slapped on the cold demeanor of his high school math teacher. John D. Rockefeller provided the next layer of corporate greed. Then animator David Silverman added the body of a praying mantis and the face of Barry Diller, CEO of Fox. Three real people merged into one cartoon villain who haunted Springfield for decades.
Edna Mode
Credit: IMDb
Edith Head spent five decades dressing Hollywood’s biggest stars, racking up eight Academy Awards along the way. When Pixar needed a costume designer for The Incredibles, director Brad Bird channeled Edith’s standards and no-nonsense attitude into Edna Mode. While neither the director nor the studio has confirmed the link, fans spotted that bob haircut and oversized glasses. Brad also voiced the character.
Bugs Bunny
Credit: IMDb
That carrot-chomping swagger wasn’t a random rabbit habit. Animation lore links Bugs Bunny’s mannerisms with Clark Gable in It Happened One Night. In that film, the actor leans against a fence while chewing a carrot and talking out of the side of his mouth. Animator Friz Freleng is sometimes credited with adapting that personality. The animated character didn’t need method acting when Clark already provided the blueprint.
Betty Boop
Credit: IMDb
Betty Boop’s creation came with courtroom drama. She was closely associated with 1920s performer Helen Kane, famous for her ‘boop-boop-a-doop’ persona and baby-voiced singing style. The singer and actress sued Fleischer Studios, arguing the cartoon copied her image and act, but she lost. The resemblance became pop-culture legend, and some retellings also mention actress Clara Bow as a visual influence.
Chuckie Finster
Credit: IMDb
Those thick glasses sliding down a toddler’s nose and the wild red hair that stuck up in every direction were no coincidence. Chuckie Finster resembled Mark Mothersbaugh during his time with the band Devo. The Rugrats creators saw their composer’s distinctive appearance and built a character around it. Beyond creating the show’s memorable synth-based score, the composer gave Nickelodeon one of its most recognizable faces.
Krusty The Clown
Credit: IMDb
Krusty’s burnt-out showbiz vibe has roots in old-school local television. Matt Groening has linked the character to Portland children’s TV host James Allen, better known as Rusty Nails, who ran a Saturday morning show for years. Matt watched him growing up, then later twisted that memory into a clown who looks like he sleeps in a studio dumpster. The only difference was that Rusty was nicer.
Butters Stotch
Credit: IMDb
Childhood nicknames have a way of sticking. Eric Stough knew Trey Parker and Matt Stone at a young age before they worked on South Park. Apparently, Eric’s friends once called him different nicknames before settling for “Butters.” The character who emerged shared his agreeable nature and strict upbringing. While he admits that he’s nearly as sweet and naïve as his cartoon counterpart, he obviously hopes for better luck.
Rocko
Credit: IMDb
Joe Murray pitched Rocko’s Modern Life to Nickelodeon with a specific reference point linking the main character to a young, anthropomorphic Woody Allen. The anxious wallaby navigated absurd situations with the same confused energy Woody brought to his film roles. The key difference was that instead of offering commentary on the chaos surrounding him, Rocko just survived it, one bizarre day at a time.