One of the most iconic acts in comedy is the comedy duo. It’s a simple act involving two characters with polarizing personalities playing off one another with comedic timing. The most common of these is to have one character be wacky and bombastic, and another be more reserved to contrast them.
The world of animation has produced some of the most iconic duos in entertainment. Some date back to its Golden Age, while others are more recent creations, but all of them are united in their ability to make audiences laugh, cry, and come back for more.
Updated on March 30, 2023, by Hannah Saab:
SpongeBob SquarePants‘ 13th season is currently airing and is already becoming a fan-favorite thanks to hilarious episodes like “Squidferatu” and “Slappy Daze.” The long-running show’s two main characters are among the most beloved cartoon duos, but they’re not the only ones who have left their mark on animation.
20 Gumby and Pokey
From the mind of stop-motion genius Art Clokey came a series about a Gumby, a green boy made out of clay. With his best friend, an orange pony named Pokey, he travels inside various books to interact with the characters and stories within. Sometimes their adventures lead to them thwarting the evil plans of the Blockheads.
While Gumby had a few friends, his relationship with Pokey was the strongest in the series. His nervous tendencies and occasional bouts of cynicism balanced out Gumby’s more energetic and curious traits. Despite his fears, Pokey never abandons Gumby, showcasing their friendship’s depths.
19 Rocky and Bullwinkle
Airing during the height of the Cold War, The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends introduced the world to Rocket J. Squirrel and his friend Bullwinkle the moose. They go on several adventures while thwarting the plans of Russian spies Boris Badenov and Natasha Fatale. In between, the show included several fun segments, including Peabody’s Improbable History and Dudley Do-Right.
Despite coming out during the Cold War, Rocky and Bullwinkle’s style of humor has allowed them to last into the modern day, with the most recent nostalgic cartoon reboot in 2018. This is thanks to the duo’s dynamic. Rocky has a wide-eyed and energetic look at the world, while Bullwinkle is dim-witted but surprisingly witty when it comes to his humor.
18 Chip and Dale
Disney’s Chip and Dale are lovable chipmunks first introduced in the short film Private Pluto in 1943. After viewers fell in love with their adorable appearance, funny antics, and penchant for adventure, there was no stopping the franchise that would be centered on these characters.
Known today for their appearances in numerous films, shows, and even video games, the duo has become one of Disney’s most recognizable pairs. Their most recent movie, Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers, received praise from critics and audiences alike, highlighting their enduring popularity today as one of the best cartoon duos.
17 Pinky and The Brain
When the staff of Acme labs goes home for the evening, two genetically altered mice named Pinky and Brain begin their latest plan to take over the world. This lofty ambition is Brain’s desire: Pinky is just happy to spend time with his friend and spout random trivia. Though their plans never work, the duo’s determination is never shaken, and they’re always back the next night with something new.
The iconic mouse duo got their start as one of the many skits on Animaniacs before gaining their own show in 1995. There was talk at the time of adding a third character to Pink and the Brain, which prompted the writers to create the episode “Pinky and the Brain and Larry,” to show how superfluous a third character would be. Ultimately, a crossover show was made with Elmira from Tiny Toons Adventures, but it didn’t last and Pinky and the Brain are a duo again in the Animaniacs reboot.
16 Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble
Until the rise of Scooby-Doo in 1969, The Flintstones was the most successful cartoon produced by Hannah-Barbera. This prehistoric version of The Honeymooners follows Fred Flintstone and his day-to-day life in the town of Bedrock. When not working at the quarry, he and his neighbor and best friend, Barney Rubble, get into trouble ranging from trying to set up a pool to falling for get-rich-quick schemes.
Fred and Barney work so well thanks to their opposing personalities. Fred is stubborn and quick to anger, especially when he doesn’t get his way, while Barney is more soft-spoken and jolly. Of course, he still has his limits, and heaven help the person (usually Fred) that makes him mad.
15 Wallace and Gromit
Brought to life by British stop-motion company Aardman Entertainment, Wallace is an eccentric inventor who makes inventions to help in his day-to-day life. At his side is Gromit, his loyal dog and trusted friend. Together they travel to the moon to sample its cheese, stop all manner of villains, and maintain a proper amount of British class.
The beauty of Wallace and Gromit is the honesty in their presentation. They are a classic eccentric and straight-man act brought to life with on-point stop-motion animation. Gromit stands out in particular: though he never says a word, the animation on his eyes conveys every emotion perfectly.
14 Shrek and Donkey
Where would Shrek be without Donkey? The duo captivated viewers from around the globe in the movie that spawned a massively successful franchise, 2001’s Shrek. The two characters’ dynamic stole the show and was unbelievably hilarious thanks to Shrek’s clear despise for Donkey, and Donkey’s insistent and chatty personality only making things more difficult.
Over the course of the numerous popular Shrek movies, Shrek and Donkey have each grown as characters and embarked on their own adventures (with Donkey even becoming a father). However, something that has stayed consistent is the improvement of their bond, which is now an irreplaceable highlight of every new entry in the franchise.
13 Phineas and Ferb
There are only so many days of summer vacation, and step-brothers Phineas and Ferb intend to make the most of theirs. Every day, with the help of their friends, they create new and exciting projects ranging from giant roller coasters to portals leading to Mars. Meanwhile, their older sister Candace tries to bust them to their mom.
Phineas and Ferb definitely feel like a pair of brothers. Phineas is the more talkative of the two and comes up with the plans, while Ferb silently follows his lead and usually only gives one line per episode. The enthusiasm they share over their sibling projects is infectious and helped elevate Phineas and Ferb to one of Disney’s best animated shows.
12 Lilo and Stitch
The 2002 animated Disney classic, Lilo & Stitch, gave fans the chaotic yet lovable duo they didn’t know they needed. When the mischievous Stitch crash lands on the earth, he soon encounters the misunderstood outcast, Lilo. Since then, their unbreakable bond has gotten them through several sequels and series full of aliens, school bullies, and massive waves by the beach.
What makes the duo’s story so heartwarming and unforgettable is the way Lilo teaches Stitch kindness and compassion, while Stitch helps Lilo embrace herself and become more bold and daring. For fans wanting to rediscover the iconic duos’ wild adventures throughout the years, they have plenty of options to choose from, starting with Stitch! The Movie, the sequel series Lilo & Stitch: The Series, the spin-off Stitch!, and so much more.
11 Beavis and Butt-Head
Who says famous cartoon duos have to be well-behaved? Beavis and Butt-Head certainly aren’t. The two characters are beloved for their crass humor, obsession with heavy metal, and tendency to embrace the art of doing nothing all day. The legendary show they starred in, Beavis and Butt-Head, captured the peak of slacker culture in the ‘90s, and didn’t pull any punches with its offensive comedy.
The teenage slackers have gone on to inspire a generation of cynical and sarcastic youth, who have likely already seen the series’ revival on Paramount+ and the latest movie featuring the duo, 2022’s remarkably smart comedy Beavis and Butt-Head Do the Universe.
10 Batman and Robin
A crime-fighting tandem that needs no introduction, Batman and Robin’s partnership is among the most well-known in the world of comics and superheroes. Whether fans know them as the Caped Crusaders or the Dynamic Duo, one thing’s for sure, they have been unstoppable since their team-up’s debut in Detective Comics #38 in 1940.
The unbeatable team has been seen across a variety of media, most prominently in comics, but also in movies, shows, and video games. That said, it’s worth noting that despite their undeniable popularity, when considering only animation on the small and big screens, Batman and Robin don’t have many on-screen pairings in cartoons, often appearing separately. One of the more memorable titles where the duo shines is the Batman TV show from the 1960s.
9 Ash Ketchum and Pikachu
Originating from the Pokémon games, Ash and Pikachu make up one of the most legendary cartoon pairs in cinematic history. From the original series to the several movies, the world of Pokémon is an overwhelming one full of fascinating, terrifying, and sometimes charming creatures. One thing remains the same for fans, though, and that’s the way they can count on Ash and Pikachu to take them on exhilarating adventures through that world.
Ash is the determined Pokémon trainer who embarks on a thrilling yet grueling journey to become a Pokémon Master. When he befriends Pikachu, the duo becomes a powerful pairing that only gets better with each new challenge. Although they can sometimes both go on their own arcs (with Pikachu even starring in 2019’s Detective Pikachu), the two pals will always find their way back to each other.
8 Buzz Lightyear and Woody
Friends for infinity and beyond, Buzz and Woody are the stars of the Toy Story franchise. When they met for the first time in the 1995 film, Buzz was a space ranger who didn’t know that he was a toy. It would take some insistence and a fierce rivalry with Andy’s favorite toy, Woody, for that to change.
Although the Toy Story movies are full of well-designed characters like Mr. Potato Head, Slinky Dog, Bo Peep, and more, Buzz and Woody undoubtedly still have a special place in fans’ hearts. It’s their love-hate relationship that kickstarted the franchise, and it’s also their strong bond that has kept each new movie interesting. With the way things turned out in Toy Story 4, though, it would be interesting to see where the duo cartoon characters go next.
7 Cosmo and Wanda
Nickelodeon’s The Fairly OddParents depicts the experiences of 10-year-old Timmy Turner, who is neglected by his parents and abused by Vicky, his babysitter. His life changes – for better or worse – when two fairy godparents, Cosmo and Wanda, enter his life and make all his dreams come true.
Cosmo and Wanda are the chaotic yet endearing duo that serves as the true stars of the show, with their antics usually underscoring the worst parts of parenting in the show. They’re well-intentioned yet constantly make mistakes, which often lead to comedic scenarios with a dash of magic. Just as they were for Timmy, the legendary animated characters likely served as fans’ second parents during their childhoods. And although the recent continuation of the series on Paramount+, The Fairly OddParents: Fairly Odder, didn’t quite stick the landing, the revival is a testament to just how popular Cosmo and Wanda still are.
6 Finn and Jake
Finn the human and Jake the dog live together in the mystical land of Ooo. Together they fight evil to protect the various princesses, look for treasure, or just because they’re bored. With Finn’s skill with the sword and Jake’s shape-shifting, there’s no problem they can’t overcome except their immaturity.
Adventure Time kick-started a new golden era for Cartoon Network in the 2010s, and Finn and Jake were a big part of that success. While both have a love for adventure, Jake tries to act as the voice of reason, though his wisdom is often flawed. Finn meanwhile has a lot to learn about growing up and forming relationships, which offers many chances for the two to learn from and work off one another.
5 Wile E. Coyote and the Roadrunner
“Road Runner, the coyote’s after you.” Wile E. Coyote and the Roadrunner first appeared in the 1949 cartoon short Fast and Furry-ous, but became popular around the world thanks to the Saturday morning animated anthology series from the 60s, The Road Runner Show.
Its premise is simple and brilliant, centering on the endless chase that goes on between the coyote and the bird, with the Roadrunner managing to outsmart the predator every single time. Fans today likely still recall the numerous running gags (like the Acme products) and iconic sound effects from the series. The gut-busting characters are synonymous with classic animation, and are still referenced in contemporary shows and films.
4 Shaggy and Scooby-Doo
Zoinks! Although the most recent entry in the franchise, Velma, turned out to be one of the lowest-rated shows in recent years, it does little to tarnish the reputation of the legendary cartoon duo, Shaggy and Scooby-Doo. Norville “Shaggy” Rogers and Scooby-Doo’s friendship is best represented by the original Saturday-morning cartoon series from Hanna-Barbera Productions, Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!, which aired from 1969 to 1978.
Together, Shaggy and Scooby-Doo (along with the rest of the gang) unmask the very human villains behind seemingly supernatural occurrences. In the process of their humorous hijinks, Shaggy and Scooby have given fans iconic catchphrases like “Scooby-Dooby-Doo!” – and with the franchise still popular today, who knows how many more generations will fall in love with the wacky duo?
3 Rick and Morty
The world of adult animation tends to be hit-and-miss in terms of humor, character, and art style. One show that managed to impress a wide audience is Rick and Morty. It follows the adventures of Rick Sanchez, a nihilistic genius who goes on adventures across the infinite multiverse with his fourteen-year-old neurotic grandson, and how it affects the rest of their family.
Rick is like a perfect blend of negative tropes: he’s arrogant, egotistical, and stubborn to a fault, especially when he’s convinced he is right. In contrast, Morty is more soft-spoken and tries to balance his grandfather’s cynicism with optimism and kindness. Their interactions are the heart and soul of the show, which throws the innocence of youth against the harsh realities of the world. It’s important to note that earlier this year, the show’s co-creator Justin Roiland left Adult Swim following domestic violence charges. With the massively popular animated series (and its titular iconic duo) expected to return for season 7 sometime this year, only time will tell how much the show will change.
2 Tom and Jerry
Created in 1940 by William Hannah and Joseph Barbera, Tom and Jerry features the two titular characters who make up one of the oldest duos in animation history. From 1940 to 1958, the cat and mouse duo chased, bashed, and hammered one another in over one hundred shorts. The duo has continued to chase each other through multiple spin-offs and films.
Their success came from their contrasting personalities and skillful animation that rivaled Disney at the time. While Tom is usually arrogant and Jerry sympathetic, both can be the instigator or the victim of their never-ending feud. Several adaptations have tried to make them friends, but what audiences want is more slapstick to laugh at.
1 SpongeBob and Patrick
Beneath the waves, in the town of Bikini Bottom, SpongeBob Squarepants makes famous Krabby Patties at the local restaurant, the Krusty Krab. When he’s not working, he’s hanging out with his best friend, Patrick Star. Together they annoy their neighbor, Squidward, catch jellyfish, and make up their wild games.
While most episodes show SpongeBob and Patrick as being childish, their subtle differences are what makes this pairing so good. Patrick is the dumber and more stubborn of the two, while SpongeBob is more mature but easy to sway. The vocal performances by Tom Kenny and Bill Fagerbakke perfectly capture the innocence of the characters.
