Cartoon characters with big noses are some of the most iconic, from Mr. Burns, Squidward, and Phineas Flynn to Dick Dastardly.
One common trope in cartoons is the character with a disproportionately large nose.
This can be seen in cartoons such as Disney’s Pinocchio, where the titular character’s nose grows whenever he lies, or Nickelodeon’s Hey Arnold!, where the main character Arnold has an iconic, football-shaped head with a large nose.
Using a prominent nose as a physical trait for comedic or exaggerated effect can be traced back to the early days of animation, with cartoon characters such as Squidward Tentacles and Popeye the Sailor Man also sporting large noses.
Cartoon Characters With Big Noses
Some have criticized using a big nose as a trope in cartoons, arguing that it perpetuates negative stereotypes about people, who are often depicted with large noses in comics and other forms of media.
However, others argue that using big noses in cartoons is merely a comedic device and not meant to target any specific group.
Regardless, it remains a prevalent feature in cartoons and continues to elicit laughs from audiences of all ages.
24Ferb Fletcher
Phineas Flynn’s stepbrother, Ferb Fletcher, is a big-nosed cartoon character known for his unique appearance and charm. Linda Flynn, Phineas’ mother, married Ferb’s father, Lawrence Fletcher.
Ferb actively communicates most of his thoughts through hand gestures and the innovative technology he crafts.
He plays the bass guitar in Love Handel and frequently collaborates with Phineas on their “Big Ideas.” His intelligence and inventive ideas stand out. In the “Phineas and Ferb Musical Cliptastic Countdown,” Ferb uses his big nose to play the trumpet.
23 Pinocchio – Big Nose Disney Character
Big nose Disney characters like Pinocchio symbolically carry the weight of lies and deceit. When Pinocchio lies, his nose grows longer and more prominent.
This constant, physical reminder of his flaws drives Pinocchio to seek change. Furthermore, his big nose embodies the power of redemption and transformation. As he matures and corrects his ways, his nose reverts to its original size, illustrating his growth and ability to change.
22Squidward Tentacles
Spongebob Squarepants features the unforgettable character of Squidward Tentacles, who is prominently distinguished by his large nose.
This pronounced feature not only defines many of Squidward’s storylines but also plays a significant role in his often irritable demeanor. While Squidward might express disdain for his nose, it is undeniable that it has become a hallmark of his identity.
21Spongebob Squarepants
With his lovable and quirky personality paired with a character with a big nose, Spongebob Squarepants became a household name on Nickelodeon in 1999.
Patrick, Squidward – the character with the pronounced nose – Sandy, Pearl Krabs, and Mr. Krabs are Spongebob’s close friends. Together, they share adventures in the underwater city of Bikini Bottom, where Spongebob resides in a pineapple.
Spongebob’s unwavering optimism and determination often land him in hot water, but with his friends by his side, especially the character with the big nose, Squidward, he always finds a way to rise above.
20Billy
The story is set in a peculiar town, where the daily life is anything but ordinary. At its heart, it revolves around the misadventures of a troubled boy named Billy, his dimwitted best friend, and the Grim Reaper.
While the concept might seem bizarre, it proves to be a hit, especially with older audiences. The show masterfully weaves dark humor with satirical references, making it a rich tapestry of comedic elements.
Notably, Grim, with his otherworldly powers, and Mandy, the big nosed cartoon character known for her cunning and intelligence, form an unlikely partnership.
19Mr. Burns – Big Cartoon Nose
Among famous cartoon characters with big noses, Mr. Burns stands out not just for his unique facial feature but also for his distinct personality traits.
As the billionaire owner of Springfield Nuclear Power Plant, his notorious greed and selfishness know no bounds.
His willingness to harm others for his personal gain is legendary.
Yet, despite his questionable ethics, Mr. Burns remains an iconic character in Springfield, always at the center of the town’s peculiar escapades. His signature catchphrase “Excellent” perfectly encapsulates his pleasure in causing mayhem and devastation.
18Captain K’nuckles
A human named Captain K’nuckles uses fake “whiskers” on his head, causing his entire head to appear blue, as shown in the movie Beard Buddies. He has scars and tattoos, as evident when he is shirtless. He is 5’3″.
Aside from his long, orange nose, K’nuckles also has crude, prosthetic hands and legs, and even his rear end is made of a small wooden log.
17Stimpson J. Cat
Stimpson J. Cat, commonly known as Stimpy (or Super Robo Stimpson), stands as one of the main protagonists of The Ren & Stimpy Show.
This cartoon character with a big nose is a plump Manx kitten, boasting a unique blend of red and white fur, a blue nose, and purple eyelids. Although he lacks a tail and has human-like buttocks and flat feet, his peanut-sized brain is even more remarkable.
16Stan from Gravity Falls
Stanley “Stan” Pines, known to many as Grunkle Stan and once assuming the identity of Stanford Pines, stands out among cartoon characters with a big nose.
Born on June 15, just 15 minutes after his twin brother, Ford Pines, Stan serves as the summer guardian for Dipper and Mabel Pines. He’s also Mr. Pines’ paternal uncle and plays a pivotal role as the tritagonist of the series.
15Grumpy from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Introduced alongside his six companions at the Dwarfs’ Mine, Grumpy stands out among the big nose characters. Along with Bashful, Sneezy, and Happy, he actively digs to extract diamonds from the tunnels.
Sleepy then hands over these diamonds to Doc, who bags the valuable ones and tosses aside the worthless ones for Dopey to sweep up.
14Gru from Despicable Me
Gru has a distinct look with a bald head, long pointed nose, and a heavy East European accent (voiced by Steve Carell). Initially, he’s depicted as a classic, albeit somewhat bumbling, supervillain.
He has a strong desire to be the world’s greatest villain and often comes up with elaborate schemes to achieve this.
Over time, however, we see layers of his personality unfold, revealing insecurities, a desire for family, and a heart that grows warmer and larger.
13Gargamel from The Smurfs
Gargamel is typically depicted as a haggard and slightly stooped old man with a large, big hooked nose and balding hair. He often wears a dark robe.
12Flint from Cloudy with the Chance of Meatballs
Flint Lockwood is the main protagonist of the “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” series, which includes two animated films produced by Sony Pictures Animation.
He is a young, skinny individual with wild, curly hair. He often sports a lab coat, showcasing his scientist persona.
11Pearl from Steven Universe
Pearl has a slender figure with a pointed nose. She has pale blueish skin, and her gem, which is a pearl, is located on her forehead.
Over the series, she has had a few different outfits, but she’s often seen wearing a tutu-like skirt, referencing her balletic movements and postures.
10Phineas Flynn
Among cartoon characters with a big nose, Phineas Flynn stands out. He has three freckles and short, spiky orange-red hair near his temples.
His prominent, pointy nose and large, dark blue eyes are among his distinguishing features. In terms of height, he seems to be slightly shorter than Isabella but taller than Baljeet.
Phineas has a noticeable slouch. Whether this posture is attributed to a potential medical condition, perhaps related to the size of his head, or merely a habit remains unclear.
His eyebrows are seldom visible, tinted the same red as his hair.
9Dick Dastardly
Dastardly, the big nose and moustache character, always pairs up with Muttley and consistently tries to cheat his way to victory. He drives the Mean Machine (Double Zero) in Wacky Races.
Desperate to win, he deploys various despicable tricks, but they never seem to work in his favor.
In the first episode, a replay reveals Dastardly removing his hat. This action, unfortunately, disqualifies him, pushing him to the last place by the subsequent episode.
8Goofy – Big Round Nose
Dippy Dawg was originally called Goofy by comic strips until 1936 when the name was changed to Goofy. In the early years, the other Mickey Mouse’s gang members saw him as a meddler and a pest but eventually warmed up to him.
Floyd Gottfredson drew the comic strips for Disney were generally based on what was going on in the Mickey Mouse shorts at the time. However, Disney decided that he should not appear in Gottfredson’s comic strips after Donald Duck gained his newspaper strip due to his popularity.
7Nigel Thornberry
Sir Nigel Archibald Thornberry, born on April 19, 1951, is a world authority on wild animals and their habitats. He has dedicated his life to studying these creatures. His bushy mustache and vibrant red hair are as striking as his dry wit and infectious laughter.
Beyond narrating the show, Thornberry has flown planes and cultivated wood. Alongside his many roles, he frequently ventures into dangerous situations with his family, risking everything to ensure their safety.
6Mr. Bean (Cartoon)
He uses his unique wit to accomplish everyday tasks as the series’s main protagonist. Frequently, partly because of his oblivious nature, he ends up causing trouble for himself and others around him.
Mr. Bean is one of the most famous cartoon characters with a big nose. He often wears tweed jackets and red ties, and he rarely speaks. This animated series is known for its unusual ways of performing everyday tasks. It is never mentioned that Bean is an extraterrestrial.
5The Little Man (Pink Panther)
In many animated versions of the Pink Panther cartoon series, the Little Man, also known as The White Man and later officially renamed Big Nose, is the main antagonist.
The Pink Panther usually plays an antagonistic role. However, sometimes he is friendly or is merely an innocent bystander who ends up being the unintended target of all sorts of antics.
4Hugh Neutron
With brown hair and brown eyes, Hugh wears a blue sweater vest, navy blue pants, and brown loafers with gold buckles. He is tall and wears glasses. When you think of cartoon characters with big noses, Hugh Neutron cmes to mind right away.
Unlike most Neutrons (except for Jimmy and Baby Eddie), he wears a blue suit jacket instead of a sweater vest in the pilot and shorts.
3Dr. Doofenshmirtz
It is based on the character of Heinz Doofenshmirtz, an evil scientist living in the Drusselstein area. His main concern is to create havoc in the entire Tri-State Area.
The scientist has coconut-shaped brown hair on top of his head, big round eyes, and a larger-than-average nose, which makes him an excellent opponent for his work.
2Big Nose Thug (Tangled)
How can we have a list of cartoon characters with big noses and not include this character. During Eugene’s verse of “Life After Happily Ever After,” Big Nose is seen in Corona Castle. In the scene, Big Nose enjoys a spa treatment along with most of the main thugs.
He appears to be Eugene’s closest companion outside of Rapunzel and Maximus. The only thug to speak in the scene is Big Nose.
1Popeye – Long Nosed Character
In 1929, Popeye burst onto the scene as a big nosed cartoon character from the 1930s in a comic strip. His passion for spinach and his iconic catchphrase, “I yam what I yam, and that’s all that I yam,” alongside his signature pipe and anchor tattoo, skyrocketed him to fame.
Animated cartoons, movies, and even a Broadway musical have since showcased Popeye.
However, his true hallmark remains his fervent advocacy for spinach. After showcasing his superhuman strength post-consuming the leafy vegetable, spinach sales surged by 33% in the 1930s, largely due to Popeye’s influence.