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Elmo's character debuted on "Sesame Street" in 1979, but it wasn't until Kevin Clash, Elmo's puppeteer, started performing him in 1984, that the effervescent red monster became the huge international sensation he is today.
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Who knew an aardvark could be so loveable? "Arthur," a PBS TV series based on books by Marc Brown, continues to be a success, stressing the importance of family interaction and education in kids' lives.
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Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland" continues to captivate children and adults. A recent remake of the film, seen here with Mia Wasikowska, reached out to more mature audiences that likely grew up with the character.
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Bert and Ernie became a "Sesame Street" staple for many kids growing up. Recently, efforts have been made to declare the two a couple, but "Sesame Street" has denied the two longtime pals are gay because, they say, puppets don't have sexual orientation.
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Actor Donovan Patton appears With Blue, his animated co-star on the set of Nickelodeon's "Blue's Clues." Donovan replaced Steve Burns, the show's host since the children's show debuted in December 1996.
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The epitome of the lovable loser, Charlie Brown, from the Charles Schultz "Peanuts" cartoons, has found a special place in many hearts the world over.
Balloons of "Charlie Brown and the Elusive Football" are seen here floating down the route of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on November 28, 2002 in New York.
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Big Bird, for some fans, stands head and shoulders above many characters. This feathered friend made his "Sesame Street" debut on the show's very first episode in 1969.
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Clifford The Big Red Dog, first seen in books by Norman Bridwell, is seen here in the PBS cartoon with friends Emily Elizabeth, T-Bone and Cleo.
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What's cuter than Curious George? The popular children's book character -- created by Margret and H.A. Rey -- has been well represented on TV and the big screen. The adorable monkey is featured in an animated PBS series and was the subject of a fun 2006 movie.
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Googly-eyed Cookie Monster from "Sesame Street" is hard not to love -- just like the sweet treats he eats. He is known for saying, "Me want cookie!, "Me eat cookie!", and "Om nom nom nom."
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"Family Guy" -- the brainchild of Seth McFarlane -- tells the story of the Griffin family. The show, on the air since 1999, was cancelled and then brought back due to fan support.
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Chris Gifford, who co-created the children cartoon series "'Dora the Explorer," poses with his beloved character at a Paris hotel on November 8, 2010.
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"The Incredible Hulk" comic book debuted in 1962. And since then, the beloved, troubled character has appeared in two blockbuster films.
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Madeline is a character in books by Ludwig Bemelmans, an Austrian-born American author, and now, by his grandson, John Bemelmans-Marciano. The stories tell of a loveable little girl's life and adventures while at a boarding school in Paris -- and beyond. The Madeline series has become a television series and film.
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Mario rose to fame not through a book or children's TV show, but through video games. However, the character has leaped out the highly popular games and into animated TV shows and a live action film.
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Who doesn't love Looney Tunes? The characters got their start in movie theaters during World War II and became highly popular on TV and in films.
Sylvester the cat, Tweety Bird, Daffy Duck, Tazmanian Devil and Bugs Bunny arrive at the 'Scooby-Doo! Pirates Ahoy' premiere at the 32nd Deauville Festival Of American Film on September 9, 2006 in Deauville, France.
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And who could forget Mickey Mouse? The character devised by Walt Disney is seen here in an early cartoon film that debuted in 1928 called "Steamboat Willie."
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Fred Rogers, the host of the children's television series, "Mr. Rogers Neighborhood," rests his arms on a small trolley in this promotional portrait from the 1980s. Rogers, who died in 2003 at the age of 74, was a champion and pioneer of children's educational television.
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Pokemon cartoon characters in a scene from the TV series. For more than 10 years, these characters have become far more than just a video game, branching out into the TV series and movie.
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Popeye was first a newspaper cartoon and then became a film strip and TV cartoon staple, endearing himself to generations of fans. The character shows just how one person can make a difference -- if there's a can of spinach lying around.
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"Rocky and Bullwinkle" have staying power. Several TV shows since 1959 have shown told the story of the dopey moose and his squirrel friend. Here, Natsha Fatale, played by Rene Russo and Boris Badenov, played by Jason Alexander, plot against Rocky and Bullwinkle in the live action film "The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle."
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"Rugrats" was a Nickelodeon series that told the story of four babies: Tommy Pickles, Chuckie Finster, and Phil and Lil Deville.
Here are the characters with their star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame on June 28, 2001 in Hollywood, Calif.
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Do you love Scooby-Doo? The show, which aired for the first time in 1969, has been made into a film featuring big-name actors, such as Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze Jr.
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Superman a.k.a. Clark Kent, is an American iconic character first appearing in DC comics in 1938. Since then, the Man of Steel has appeared in many TV shows and films. George Reeves (TV) Christopher Reeve (mobies) are perhaps the most well-known Superman actors.
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Shrek, the "onion" monster with loveable layers, endeared himself to kids everywhere, sharing the lesson that beauty is truly what lies within.
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Matt Groening's "The Simpsons" have become the iconic American cartoon family. Seen here are the family members: from left, Lisa, Snowball, Homer, Bart, Santa's Little Helper, Marge and Maggie.
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The world-famous Teletubbies (L-R) Po, Laa-Laa, Dipsy and Tinky-Winky cross 7th Avenue in Times Square in New York on March 27, 2007 as they arrive on American soil in person for the first time.
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Comedian George Carlin starred in the long-running TV show featuring the sweet train called Thomas the Tank Engine. The TV series is based on a series of popular books by Reverend W. Awdry.
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Who knew mutant turtles could be such an enduring force among kids, young and old? Several successful films and TV shows have shown the long-lasting love of these Renaissance-named reptiles.
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles arrive at the Premiere Of Warner Bros 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' held at the Grauman's Chinese Theatre on March 17, 2007 in Hollywood, Calif.
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Mike Judge's show "Beavis and Butthead" has a devoted cult following. The series first aired in 1993. It was recently announced that the series would be revived.
