18 Most Annoying Cartoon Characters of All Time

The most annoying cartoon characters of all time include Elmyra Duff, D.W. Read, Pearl Krabs, Scrappy-Doo, and Drizella Tremaine.

Let’s be honest: some annoying cartoon characters don’t just “get on your nerves.” They move in, rearrange the furniture, and start yelling catchphrases at full volume.

Sometimes it’s the voice. Sometimes it’s the entitlement. Sometimes it’s the “why are you making every situation worse on purpose?” energy. And yet… I still remember every single one of them. That’s the frustrating magic of animation.

If you like lists like this, you’ll probably also enjoy my deep dives into grumpy cartoon characters and even bully cartoon characters—because annoyance comes in many flavors.

18 Most Annoying Cartoon Characters (Ranked by How Much They Test My Patience)

Quick note: This is subjective. If your favorite character is on here… I’m not saying they’re bad. I’m saying they are professionally irritating.

1. Elmyra Duff
2. Caillou
3. All the Angry Birds
4. Darla (Finding Nemo)
5. Princess Morbucks
6. D.W. Read
7. Nermal
8. SwaySway
9. The Emojis (Emoji Movie)
10. Pearl Krabs
11. Dee Dee
12. Drizella Tremaine
13. Angelica Pickles
14. Bendy
15. Mr. Frond
16. Scrappy-Doo
17. Snarf
18. Diego

1. Elmyra Duff

Elmyra is that specific kind of cartoon chaos where “affection” becomes a full-contact sport. The smile never drops, the volume never lowers, and the animals never get a break.

2. Caillou

Caillou is basically a stress test for parents. He isn’t evil—he’s just relentlessly fussy, and the show leans into that “constant learning moment” energy that can become exhausting fast. (Side note: if you’re into how kids’ media affects behavior, I’ve also written about how cartoons shape children.)

3. All of the Angry Birds

I get why Angry Birds took off as a game. But as full characters with nonstop “bits,” it can feel like the same gag repeated at different volumes.

4. Darla (Finding Nemo)

Finding Nemo is still one of my favorite animated movies, but Darla is specifically designed to spike your blood pressure. She’s basically a jump scare in pigtails. If you’re collecting more fish-related animated films, I’ve got a full list here: animated movies about fish.

5. Princess Morbucks (The Powerpuff Girls)

Princess Morbucks doesn’t want to be a Powerpuff Girl because she’s brave or heroic—she wants the spotlight. And her tantrums feel like they last an entire commercial break.

6. D.W. Read (Arthur)

D.W. is that perfectly written little sister who knows exactly which button to press. She can be funny—until she’s getting Arthur blamed for something again.

7. Nermal (Garfield)

Nermal is adorable, which somehow makes him worse. He weaponizes cuteness and acts like he’s doing everyone a favor by existing. If you’re a Garfield fan, I keep a whole character guide here: Garfield characters.

8. SwaySway (Breadwinners)

He’s loud, he’s constant, and he’s the kind of character who turns a simple errand into a full disaster arc. (Also: yes, he’s absolutely a big head cartoon character.)

9. The Emojis (The Emoji Movie)

I don’t even blame the emojis. I blame the entire concept. If you want a companion list for “what went wrong,” I also have: worst cartoons.

10. Pearl Krabs (SpongeBob SquarePants)

Pearl is basically “teenage angst” turned into a whale who lives with Mr. Krabs. And in a show full of loud characters, she still manages to stand out. If you’re in SpongeBob mode, here are two easy rabbit holes: Pearl Krabs and SpongeBob SquarePants characters.

11. Dee Dee (Dexter’s Laboratory)

Dee Dee ruins everything, constantly, with the confidence of someone who has never faced consequences. But she’s also funny enough that I can’t fully hate her. (It’s the “annoying sibling” curse.)

12. Drizella Tremaine (Cinderella)

Drizella is the kind of character who makes you appreciate Cinderella’s patience. If you enjoy Disney character deep dives, this pairs well with my list of ugly Disney characters (a lot of those designs are intentionally “annoying-looking,” and it works).

13. Angelica Pickles (Rugrats)

Angelica is basically a tiny corporate manager who discovered she can control toddlers. If you want a full character breakdown, I’ve got one here: Angelica Pickles.

14. Bendy (Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends)

Bendy is a professional victim. Even when he’s clearly the problem, he somehow makes everyone else look guilty.

15. Mr. Frond (Bob’s Burgers)

Mr. Frond is annoying because he thinks he’s helping, but his “guidance counselor wisdom” often creates new problems. Louise manipulating him doesn’t help either.

16. Scrappy-Doo (Scooby-Doo)

Scrappy-Doo is one of the most divisive cartoon characters ever. Some people love his bravado. I mostly remember the volume.

17. Snarf (ThunderCats)

Snarf stresses out in advance—about everything. But I’ll give him credit: when it’s time to show up, he does.

18. Diego (Dora the Explorer)

Diego gets included on “annoying” lists mostly because he’s everywhere once he shows up, and the show leans into repeated educational phrases. He’s not the worst here, but he’s definitely a “your mileage may vary” character.

FAQ: Why Are Some Cartoon Characters So Annoying?

Why do annoying cartoon characters exist?

Because they work. Loud, repetitive, and over-the-top characters are easy to remember, easy to write jokes around, and they create conflict instantly. A lot of these characters are basically “plot accelerators.”

Is it bad if a character annoys me?

Not at all. In many cases, the annoyance is intentional. Some of the best animated writing creates characters who are irritating in a way that’s still entertaining.

What’s the most common “annoying character” type?

In my experience: the spoiled bully, the constant whiner, and the loud chaos engine. (If you want more of those archetypes, these lists pair well: bully cartoon characters and grumpy cartoon characters.)