30 Iconic Cartoon Characters With Glasses (Ranked by Style)

Cartoon characters with glasses are some of the most iconic, like Velma from Scooby-Doo, Meg Griffin, Johnny Bravo, and SpongeBob. Hollywood celebrities wear sunglasses and eyeglasses in different styles, but what about cartoons?

As someone who wore glasses growing up, I always gravitated toward these characters. They proved that specs weren’t just for nerds—they could be cool, mysterious, or even heroic. However, if your child just got a prescription, they might need some convincing.

Whether you are looking for a female cartoon character with glasses like Daria or a cool cartoon character with sunglasses like Johnny Bravo, this list has them all. I’ve compiled the ultimate roster of bespectacled icons.

The Intellectuals (Smart Characters with Glasses)

In animation, glasses are often visual shorthand for “this character is smart.” Here are the geniuses.

Velma Dinkley

Velma is arguably the most famous female cartoon character with glasses. Her thick-rimmed spectacles are essential to her character—literally. Without them, she is blind as a bat. They symbolize her role as the skeptic and the intellectual of Mystery Inc. While Fred and Daphne worry about looks, Velma is looking for clues.

Dexter

Dexter’s glasses are a key aspect of his design. They are comically oversized, often taking up half his face. The reflection on the lenses hides his eyes, making him look more serious and intense than a child should be. They serve as a barrier between him and the “stupid” outside world (mostly his sister Dee Dee).

Simon Seville (Alvin and the Chipmunks)

Simon possesses an IQ just north of Einstein. As the oldest (and tallest) chipmunk, he is the voice of reason. His glasses distinguish him instantly from the mischievous Alvin and the sweet Theodore. Without them, he’s just a tall chipmunk; with them, he’s a scientist.

Professor Frink

Professor Frink is the stereotypical nerd cartoon character. His glasses are thick, Coke-bottle style lenses that magnify his eyes to a disturbing degree. This visual gag emphasizes his chaotic, high-energy intellect. He is a direct parody of Jerry Lewis’s Nutty Professor, glasses and all.

Milo Thatch (Atlantis)

Milo is one of my favorite Disney protagonists because he isn’t a prince or a warrior; he’s a linguist. His large, round glasses give him a scholarly, unthreatening appearance, which makes his bravery later in the film even more impactful.

Gretchen Grundler (Recess)

Gretchen was the brains of the Recess gang. She is known for her distinctive appearance, which includes her thin, round glasses and buck teeth. She represents the “smart girl” trope but defies it by being one of the most loyal and adventurous friends in the group.

Honey Lemon (Big Hero 6)

Honey Lemon proves that superheroes can wear glasses too! She is beautiful, bubbly, and popular, in addition to being a chemistry nerd. Her large, pink-rimmed glasses are a fashion statement, defying the trope that glasses make you “ugly” or “nerdy.”

The Cool Cats (Sunglasses)

Sometimes glasses aren’t for seeing; they are for looking cool. Here are the characters who rock the shades.

Johnny Bravo

When talking about iconic cartoon characters, Johnny Bravo comes to mind. His wide-rimmed, aviator-style sunglasses are not just a fashion statement but a key part of his character. They convey his coolness (or his attempt at it). He wears them everywhere—even indoors—to maintain his Elvis-like persona.

Garnet (Steven Universe)

Garnet wears futuristic, visor-style sunglasses that cover her three eyes. For most of the first season, the glasses added an air of mystery. When she finally takes them off, it is a huge reveal. They symbolize her stoicism and leadership.

Cyclops

In the X-Men series, Scott Summers (Cyclops) doesn’t wear glasses for fashion; he wears them for safety. His eyes emit powerful concussive blasts that can destroy mountains. His ruby-quartz visor is iconic, making him one of the most recognizable male cartoon characters with glasses.

Judy Funnie

Judy Anastasia Funnie is Doug Funnie’s older, dramatic sister. She rarely removes her beret or vintage-style sunglasses. She wears them inside the house to show just how artistic and misunderstood she is. I always found her hilarious.

The Nerds & The Outcasts

For these characters, glasses emphasize their awkwardness or social standing.

Milhouse Van Houten

Meet Milhouse, the bespectacled best friend of Bart Simpson. With his thick, round glasses and giant nose, Milhouse is the quintessential nerd. Without his glasses, his eyes are portrayed as tiny black dots, a visual gag that emphasizes just how helpless he is without them.

Chuckie Finster (Rugrats)

Chuckie is beloved for his bright red hair, purple square glasses, and timid nature. It is rare to see a baby character with glasses, but for Chuckie, it worked perfectly. They made him look older and more cautious than the adventurous Tommy.

Meg Griffin

“Shut up, Meg.” Meg’s glasses are part of her “plain” design, contrasting with her mother Lois. While she is often the butt of the joke, her glasses have become a symbol of her resilience against her terrible family.

Daria

Daria is a high school student known for her intelligence and deadpan sarcasm. Her glasses are a prominent feature, often acting as a shield between her and the shallow world of Lawndale High. She proved that being the “girl with glasses” could be cool, cynical, and edgy.

Arthur Read

Arthur is an aardvark, but he wears his glasses like a human (on his ears, not his actual ears on top of his head—don’t think about it too hard). He is the most relatable character for young kids getting their first pair of specs.

Tina Belcher

She is the oldest child of the Belcher family. Tina is a hopeless romantic with thick, black-rimmed glasses. She constantly adjusts them when she’s nervous. Her glasses are a crucial part of her awkward, “groaning” charm.

SpongeBob (Sometimes)

While SpongeBob doesn’t wear glasses all the time, his “Jellyfishing Glasses” (thick, black-rimmed spectacles) are iconic. When he puts them on, he transforms from a fry cook into a “professional” jellyfish hunter.

The Classics & The Elderly

For older characters, glasses represent wisdom (or poor eyesight).

Carl Fredricksen (Up)

Carl’s thick, black square frames are a defining part of his design. They mirror his boxy, stubborn personality. In contrast, his wife Ellie had round features. His glasses help convey his grumpiness but also hide the sadness in his eyes.

Scrooge McDuck

Scrooge wears pince-nez glasses (glasses that clip to the nose without earpieces). This old-fashioned style fits his character perfectly—he is an old miser from a different era. He often looks over the rims to intimidate people.

Doc

Doc is the only one of the Seven Dwarfs to wear glasses. This was a deliberate choice by Disney to mark him as the leader and the “wise” one (even if he does mix up his words constantly).

Hans Moleman

Poor Hans Moleman. His glasses are thicker than bulletproof glass, yet he still can’t see anything. He is the ultimate bad-luck character in The Simpsons, often getting hurt because of his poor vision.

Edna Mode (The Incredibles)

Edna Mode is a fashion icon. Her massive, round, black-rimmed glasses are a nod to real-life fashion designers like Edith Head. They make her look intense, judgmental, and fabulous. “No capes!”

Mr. Mackey

Mr. Mackey is the guidance counselor from South Park. His glasses are as big as his balloon-shaped head. They emphasize his dorkiness and his role as the out-of-touch authority figure. Mmmkay?

Hank Hill

Hank Hill wears very standard, rectangular frames. They represent his conservative, straight-laced personality. He isn’t trying to be cool; he just wants to see his propane and propane accessories clearly.

Toby Turtle (Robin Hood)

A deep cut for Disney fans. Toby Turtle wears round glasses that are slightly too big for his face. It makes him look incredibly endearing and timid.

Chicken Little

Chicken Little wears iconic green circular glasses. They serve as a visual representation of his nervousness and his role as the “runt” of the litter. Fun fact: The glasses were chosen to make him look like a “little intellectual.”

John Darling

John is the middle child in Peter Pan. He wears glasses and a top hat, mimicking his father. His glasses symbolize his reluctance to let go of the “adult” world of rules, until he learns to have fun in Neverland.

Cedric Sneer (The Raccoons)

Cedric is the son of the villain Cyril Sneer. He wears thick glasses that represent his gentle, nerdy nature, contrasting with his father’s greed. He is a great example of a “good” character born into a “bad” family.

Sam Sparks (Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs)

Sam Sparks initially hides her glasses to appear “cool” for TV, but she learns to embrace them. She is a great role model for kids, showing that you can be beautiful and smart while wearing specs.