#1 Garfield

Speaking in May 2024 to Life, Jim Davis suggests the chunky cat’s enduring appeal is due to his relatability and reliability (3). In Davis’s words, “We’re made to feel guilty for overeating, not exercising, and over-sleeping.” He suggests that Garfield helps alleviate that guilt by openly enjoying some of life’s vices. He continues, “When someone laughs at a Garfield gag, it’s because they’re thinking, ‘Isn’t that true?!’”
With iconic musings like “I hate Mondays” and his penchant for naps, it’s no wonder audiences see themselves in Garfield.
#2 Winnie The Pooh

However, despite his self-described lack of intelligence, Pooh offers plenty of wisdom that resonates with audiences of all ages, spanning multiple generations. With phrases like, “Sometimes people care too much, I think it’s called love,” it’s unsurprising that Pooh continues to warm the audience’s hearts.
Despite his worldwide popularity, Pooh Bear also draws some criticism. For instance, the 2018 film Christopher Robin was banned in China because depictions of Winnie the Pooh are often used to satirize China’s president, Xi Jinping (New Statesman, 2018) (5).
#3 Fred Flintstone

As one of the most famous cartoon characters, Fred appeals to both children and adults. He’s loud, irritable, impatient, and sometimes childish. However, he’s also loving and a good husband, father, and friend. He is best known for his trademark exclamation, “Yabba-dabba-do.”
GQ recognized Fred’s cultural impact, describing him as “one of America’s greatest cultural exports” (6). Despite his shortcomings, the prehistoric patriarch inspired European dance acts, German films, and fashion designers.
#4 Pumbaa

With his trademark phrase, “Hakuna Matata,” Pumbaa embodies its meaning as he rarely lets anything worry him. He’s friendly and kind and finishes Timon’s sentences with plenty of comic relief.
Amusingly, the weighty warthog’s gaseous qualities were not part of the original story. Nathan Lane, who voiced Timon in the first two animated films, revealed to Entertainment Weekly in May 2024 that Ernie Sabella (the original voice of Pumbaa) would employ fart noises to keep him entertained, “he would make fart sounds to make me laugh. And they eventually incorporated that into the character and the song” (7).
#5 Peter Griffin

In a 2014 conversation with Graham Norton, Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane stated that Peter’s unfiltered nature was inspired by men he knew growing up in New England (2). He said they were men “who would not think before they spoke … no self-editing mechanism, everything, it’s coming out.”
Peter Griffin resonates with audiences as a relatable, flawed father figure — an antithesis to the ideal American family model. His character highlights the humor in everyday ignorance and imperfections, making him a memorable personality.
#6 Eric Cartman

Cartman is rude, obnoxious, impulsive, intolerant, and demanding. He’s also sexist and racist. We could go on. NPR referred to Cartman as “America’s Favorite Little $@#&*%” and an “entrepreneur, conman, and … juvenile evil doer” (4).
With such unpleasant qualities, it’s a mystery why the tubby Cartman persists as a fan favorite. In his conversation with NPR, the show’s co-creator, Trey Parker, suggests that Cartman’s ability to say or do whatever he wants makes him the show’s star.
#7 Patrick Star

Like several other fat cartoon characters, Star is best known for his work-shy attitude and lack of intellect. However, he does show flickers of insight with sporadic phrases like, “Knowledge can never replace friendship. I prefer to be an idiot.”
#8 Shrek

Shrek, an irritable, green ogre, should be, by nature, the antihero. He is initially surly, ugly, and borderline mean. However, through tremendous efforts by the characters around him, especially Donkey, we see the kinder, gentler Shrek we all know and love.
With his oft-quoted phrase, “Ogres are like onions,” audiences did not expect to find the relatable hero they did in a character like Shrek. He reminds us that we shouldn't be so quick to judge others. Sometimes, a tough exterior is just a defense mechanism.
#9 Po

Po can first be described as an overweight, clumsy panda who dreams of nothing more than becoming a Kung fu master. However, his enthusiasm, determination, supportive nature, and eventual acceptance of his identity endear him to audiences. As he states, “I’m not a big fat panda; I’m THE big fat panda.”
Learning to accept yourself for who you are is a valuable lesson Po teaches that resonates with fans of all ages.
#10 Baymax

Baymax is also wise and gentle, unlike his fat character counterparts, like Homer Simpson or Peter Griffin. He offers simple, poignant advice to his friends, such as, “It is alright to cry.”
Throughout Big Hero 6, Baymax’s tender nature is highlighted through the emotional support he offers to other characters, particularly Hiro. He helps Hiro to mourn and process grief while showcasing the importance of friendship.
Baymax’s human capacity for love leaves a lasting impression on fans of all ages.
#11 Homer Simpson

In 2007, The Sunday Times hilariously described Homer as a “superficially bad but ultimately good father, a fat, cowardly but loving failure” (1). Despite his flaws, Homer’s endearing nature lies in his love for his family as he (eventually) does the right thing for his wife and children.
For decades, Homer’s dim-witted behavior has made him relatable and entertaining for audiences. He offers humorous commentary on an average life with quotes like, “Who would have guessed reading and writing would pay off?”
#12 Uncle Iroh

Often considered one of the show’s most beloved characters, the handsome, elderly Uncle Iroh is wise, wholesome, funny, and laid-back. Despite these qualities, he’s also a fierce opponent of injustice.
Uncle Iroh’s calm, gentle demeanor is evident when he offers advice to his young nephew. He wisely states, “Perfection and power are overrated. I think you are very wise to choose happiness and love.” Iroh captivates a wide range of audiences with his wisdom and tender disposition.
#13 Cow

Cow is a simple, big-hearted, big-bodied 7-year-old bovine who loves nothing more than playing with her toys. Like any 7-year-old, Cow struggles with problems at school and family life.
#14 Chief Wiggum

In a 2018 interview with Entertainment Weekly, The Simpsons creator Matt Groening confirmed Wiggum’s porcine inspiration. He said that “his voice is an homage to Edward G. Robinson. The fact that the police chief looks like a pig and talks like a gangster is our idea of deft social satire” (9).
Groening also reveals that Wiggum is “dumber and fatter” than Homer. Writers of Wiggum must be doing something right, though. Groening disclosed that police regularly (and worryingly) express how true to life Chief Wiggum is.
#15 Muriel Bagge

Throughout the show, Muriel’s kindness and empathy are emphasized. Not only does she rescue the abandoned puppy she named Courage, but she tries to see the best in everyone. However, this naivety often leaves her vulnerable to the show’s multitude of villains and always just one step away from trouble.
Muriel’s strength, gentleness, and compassion endear her to a broad fan base. Furthermore, her favorite thing is to sit in her rocking chair with Courage on her lap and watch television – the ideal activity for dog owners worldwide.
#16 Frankenstein

Frank is kind, gentle, laid-back, and friendly, unlike his namesake. However, like his namesake, he also fears fire and avoids it at all costs, with an iconic statement, “Fire bad.”
While Frank may have a big body, he has an even bigger heart, making him an audience favorite.
#17 Fat Albert

Albert deviates from the norms of a typical fat character with his athleticism and fondness for playing sports. Fat Albert was intentionally written as an alternative to the archetypal, funny fat character.
Speaking to The New York Times in 2013, Bill Cosby stated, “I changed Albert, making him the leader and giving him the intelligence” (8). Albert was the conscience of the Junkyard Gang, a far cry from being the typical comedic relief of a fat character. Known for his iconic catchphrase, “Hey, hey, hey!” Fat Albert broke both race and weight stereotypes.
#18 Penguin

Typically, Penguin wears a formal tuxedo and sports a monocle and top hat. His weapon of choice is an umbrella. Unlike many other Batman villains, Penguin is sane but still dangerous. He’s also refined, erudite, and strives to be respected by the influential elite of Gotham City.
With his bird-like appearance, Penguin uses plenty of humorous avian quips to entertain audiences. Phrases like, “I’ll clip your wings, you flying rodent!” make him a memorable mastermind.
#19 Chris Griffin

Like the rest of the Griffin family, Chris is often spiteful and self-centered. Despite these qualities, he also shows glimpses of kindness and compassion.
Audiences likely relate to Chris through some of the storylines provided to him. For example, throughout the series, Chris deals with insecurities about his weight, a common issue for many people. He also struggles to cope with the changes that his teenage body goes through, and he endures many stereotypical adolescent problems, such as living up to his father’s expectations and dating.
#20 The Blob

The Blob features an immense frame; he’s tall and wide and uses this to his advantage. In one episode, he declares, “I’m gonna flatten these X-Clowns by sitting on ’em.”
His grotesquely large figure makes him the physically strongest cartoon character. It also allows him to deflect the X-Men easily; they often get their fists stuck in his massive gut.
Throughout the show, The Blob frequently burps between battles with the X-Men and indulges in copious food, like ice cream and burgers.
The Evolution of Fat Cartoon Characters
Fat characters have been a core element of animated cartoons for decades. Indeed, Fred Flintstone has been around since 1960, and an animated Winnie the Pooh debuted in 1966.
In the beginning, fat characters emphasized existing stereotypes associated with being overweight, such as lethargy, carelessness, and a lack of self-discipline (National Library of Medicine, 2023) (10). These early characters also typically reinforced stigmas that people struggling with obesity are either social failures, nurturing figures, sidekicks to their thinner counterparts, or just there for comic relief.
However, some historical characters, like Fat Albert, actively tried to break down these typecasts by giving the fat characters positive attributes. More recently, many heavy-set main cartoon characters, like Po and Shrek, ensure their body types don’t stop them.
Why Fat Cartoon Characters Resonate with Audiences
Typically, television and films, both live-action and animated, don't proportionally represent all body types. For this reason, fat cartoon characters often click with audiences because they are relatable.
Positively portraying heavier body types in media is crucial because such a high proportion of the population is overweight. According to The Representation Project, children begin having opinions about their bodies by age three (11). The Project emphasizes that characters with big body types must be positively depicted to combat negative body image.
Fortunately, cartoon creators seem to be embracing this and are introducing characters with more shapely bodies that don’t adhere to traditional fat stereotypes. Recent characters like Uncle Iroh, Shrek, Po, and Frankenstein are helping to break the mold of the typical fat cartoon characters.
FAQ
Who are some famous fat cartoon characters?
Homer Simpson, Peter Griffin, Fat Albert, Patrick Star, and a rotating cast of animated icons whose larger physiques are as much a part of their identity as their voices.
These characters have been beloved for decades, and their designs are inseparable from what makes them work on screen.
Why are overweight characters used in cartoons?
A few reasons, some more flattering than others. Physically larger characters are visually distinctive and easy to animate expressively. Historically, they've been used for broad physical comedy.
But the best examples, Homer, Patrick, Fat Albert, use the character's size as one trait among many rather than the whole personality. The ones that work are the ones with actual depth.
Which Disney characters are depicted as overweight?
King Louie from The Jungle Book, Prince John from Robin Hood, and several of the supporting characters in films like Snow White and Aladdin.
Disney's design choices have evolved significantly over the decades, which the article explores in more detail.
What are some chubby cartoon characters from non-Disney series?
Patrick Star is the obvious answer and possibly the most beloved of the group.
Beyond him: Garfield, Baymax (technically, though that's inflatable, not fat), and several Looney Tunes characters have larger builds that are central to their visual identity. Our full list goes deeper into the canon.
References
- “There’s nobody like him...except you, me, everyone.” The Sunday Times, July 8, 2007 | https://web.archive.org/web/20080515211629/http:/entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article2042236.ece
- @BBC. “Seth MacFarlane performs his Family Guy voices | The Graham Norton Show.” YouTube, May 30, 2014 | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6vmGabgzH4
- McIntyre, Gina. “Garfield: The Story Behind the Coolest of the Cats.” Life, May 3, 2024 | https://www.life.com/arts-entertainment/garfield-the-story-behind-the-coolest-cat/
- Rovner, Julie. “Eric Cartman: America’s Favorite Little $@#&*%.” NPR, April 5, 2008 | https://www.npr.org/2008/04/05/89375695/eric-cartman-americas-favorite-little
- “Leader: The enduring cultural influence of Winnie the Pooh.” The New Statesman, August 22, 2018 | https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2018/08/leader-enduring-cultural-influence-winnie-pooh
- Bilandic, Michael M. “How Fred Flintstone Became one of America’s Greatest Cultural Exports.” GQ, September 25, 2024 | https://www.gq.com/story/fred-flintstone-respecters
- Lenker, Maureen Lee. “Nathan Lane and Ernie Sabella reveal the origin of Pumbaa’s farts in The Lion King.” Entertainment Weekly, May 22, 2024 | https://ew.com/nathan-lane-ernie-sabella-reveals-origin-pumbaa-flatulence-the-lion-king-8652054
- Itzkoff, David. “Hey, Hey, Hey: Bill Cosby on ‘Fat Albert,’ Yesterday and Today.” The New York Times, June 12, 2013 | https://archive.nytimes.com/artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/06/12/hey-hey-hey-bill-cosby-on-fat-albert-yesterday-and-today/
- Canfield, David. “The Simpsons exclusive: How 10 Iconic characters got their names.” Entertainment Weekly, June 12, 2018 | https://ew.com/books/the-simpsons-springfield-confidential-excerpt/#5948017%EF%BB%BF
- Fulton, Melody, et al. “Obesity, Stigma, and Discrimination.” National Library of Medicine. October 26, 2023 | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554571/
- “The Importance of Fat Representation.” The Representation Project, January 9, 2023 | https://therepproject.org/we-need-better-fat-representation/#:~:text=Children+begin+to+have+opinions,body+image+and+diet+culture

