Cartoon Characters As Humans

Cartoon characters are a source of nostalgia for many of us. These fun-loving colourful creations come in many forms, from talking animals to fictional monsters and even cars, but have you ever wondered what they’d look like in human form?

Ice Age

First up, let’s take a look at Scrat, the charismatic saber-toothed squirrel from the Ice Age franchise who couldn’t give a damn about the melting ice caps and impending mass extinction as long as he’s stockpiled as many acorns as possible.

Talented Russian illustrator Astkhik Rakimova had a go at reimagining the accident-prone critter as a human and this is what she came up with. Her depiction of the lovable little creature looks more like a deranged hobo whose been trapped on the ice for 40 years!

Kung-Fu Panda

Scrat isn’t the only cartoon character Astkhik has transformed with her talented artistic eye. Kung Fu Panda is one of the most popular animated series to come from DreamWorks in the past decade, and Jack Black’s electric performance as the sheepish panda turned dragon warrior makes it all the more entertaining.

According to Astkhik’s interpretation of the kung-fu hero, human Po isn’t exactly a spitting image of Jack Black. Nevertheless, the resemblance to the original character is so uncanny that it’s as if Po has unzipped his fur and this overweight bald dude just stepped right out.

Penguins of Madagascar

In every animated movie, there’s a side character who steals the show. In Madagascar, that was definitely the penguins. Illustrator Hallpen posted this rendition of the gang on Deviant Art, which reimagines them as real-life spies.

Even as humans, their individual personalities still shine through. Skipper is definitely still running the show, and Little Private is just happy to be included.

Finding Nemo

Finding Nemo is a true cult classic, and it would be nothing without the dynamic friendship between paternal clownfish Marlin and the ever-endearing Dory. Check out this human transformation of the duo by Deviant Art user Super-Cute.

The attention to detail is really impressive, from their appropriately colored clothes to the shape of Dory’s head, and this has to be the moment the pair spotted that terrifying angler fish.

3D illustrator Darya Kuznetsova has also produced this realistic drawing of what the cast would look like if they grew legs and stepped onto dry land.

Little Nemo has a crutch in reference to his adorable ‘lucky fin’, and they’ve definitely nailed those glazed-over eyes on Dory’s face as she tries to remember the iconic dentist’s address. Kuznetsova also turned the wise Moorish Idol fish, Gill, into a suave businessman; this is one old guy you certainly wouldn’t wanna mess with.

Zootopia

Although Disney’s Zootopia (or ‘Zootropolis’, if you’re from the UK) was only released in 2016, it’s already destined to become a future classic. The stars of the show are definitely the unlikely partners-in-crime Nick and Judy.

Canadian digital artist Sakimichan has created this adorable portrait to show what they might look like in human form.

While they clearly champion the possible romance between the characters, this 3D-rendering of the bunny cop Judy Hopps by artist Blair Armitage stays truer to her fierce feminist independence.

The DMV scene has got to be the funniest moment in Zootpia, and those sloths definitely deserve their own spin-off,although it would probably be about 10 hours long. Astkhik Rakimova has recreated the iconic scene in human form, and she’s definitely nailed the frustration on Judy’s face.

Looney Tunes

The Looney Tunes are some of the oldest cartoons out there, and iconic characters from Bugs Bunny to Road Runner have been entertaining kids since 1930. Artist and film student Marcell Salek went all-out and created humanized versions of the entire classic cast, and they’re so spot on you might not even notice the difference at first.

Taz somehow looks just as feral as he is in animal form, and I love how Bugs’ hands, feet and teeth and Road Runner's hair make them instantly recognizable. Sakimichan also gave the ‘Tunes the once-over with this lifelike digital painting of Bugs Bunny.

With that skin-tight three-piece, carrot cocktail and chain-link belt this certainly seems more 50 Shades than kids' cartoon. Sakimichan’s reimagining of Lola is definitely all grown up. Also, have you ever noticed just how much Natalie Dormer looks like Space Jam’s sultry female rabbit?

Winnie the Pooh

The Looney Tunes aren’t the only ones to get the Marcell Salek treatment, as the artist also created this adorable humanized version of the beloved Winnie the Pooh cast.

Suddenly Christopher Robin blends right in with his animal chums, who are easily identifiable by their clothes and their distinctive shapes. I guess this settles the debate over Piglet's true gender, and I can’t be the only one who thinks Eyore might have been self-medicating for his depression, judging by that suspicious look on his face.

Pinky and the Brain

Most 90’s kids will probably remember Pinky and the Brain, and with 66 episodes in total between 1995-1998 we never grew tired of watching Brain’s plans to overthrow the Earth come tumbling down again and again, mostly due to Pinky’s foolishness.

Deviant Art user WonderDookie has dreamt up this humanized version of the caged lab rats, which definitely shows just how polar opposite they are.

According to the artist, the humanized Brain is an evil university professor whose been lumped with a slightly less intelligent teaching assistant named Pinky. To me, human Pinky looks more like one of those ‘woke’ surfer dudes you’d find down on the Australian coast.

Cars

Who’d have thought talking, cartoon vehicles would cause such a storm? Still, Disney has managed to churn out three successful Cars movies since 2006 which follow the secret lives of the colorful driverless engines.

It takes a real skilled eye to imagine 4-wheeled vehicles as two-legged humans, yet digital artist JayofArtistika has produced this incredible reimagining of the enigmatic cast.

Lightning McQueen definitely looks like a winner compared to his rusty sidekick Mater, but the real star has to be the human forklift Guido; he’s so tiny! In case you were wondering how the original Cars are able to think and speak, check out this horrifying sketch. You can’t unsee it now.

SpongeBob

SpongeBob is one of the most universally loved and long-running cartoons with over 250 episodes to boot since its original debut in 1999. The reality of a talking sea sponge, a land-dwelling squirrel in a spacesuit and a piece of plankton with a computer for a wife is actually pretty hilarious – but how would these larger-than-life characters translate out of water?

Take a look at this humanized SpongeBob by Astkhik Rakimova:

By sticking to an accurate color palette and cartoonish style, this human sea sponge looks like he could be from a long-lost episode. Rakimova has definitely managed to make him look like a total dweeb too, and you can almost hear that irritating laugh.

Another Russian illustrator, Polly, or ‘Polochka’, has taken a different approach to the SpongeBob cast by turning them into doll-eyed teens worthy of a Japanese spin-off series.

SpongeBob still looks like a total nerd, but Patrick seems like a pretty cool guy to hang out with, while Sandy and Pearl have been transformed into total babes. Money-grabbing Mr Krabs is eerily spot on too, but I have to say, Squidward’s nose isn’t nearly big enough, unless this is supposed to be the handsome version. Polochka even went the extra mile by humanizing Karen. And now I see why Plankton chose to marry a machine!

Futurama

Futurama might have one of the most eclectic and confusing casts of non-human cartoon characters, but Darya Kuznetsova has kind of managed to humanize them in the digital painting below.

Kuznetsova has done wonders for Fry’s disturbing overhanging lip, but the diaper-clad Lord Nibbler suddenly looks a whole lot more terrifying. It seems like Leela would still only have one giant eye if she were reincarnated in human form, and somehow arching one giant eyebrow is one impressive party trick.

Ursula

The Little Mermaid is a heartfelt coming-of-age story with some classic romance thrown in for good measure, but it would be nothing without Ursula, the baddest sea witch in all the oceans.

Melissa McCarthy has been cast as the devious villainess in the live-action movie alongside Halle Bailey as Ariel, but what would she really look like IRL? Chilean digital illustrator and character designer Fernanda Suarez created this ridiculously badass human Ursula with impressive details such as the seashell jewelry and her ‘poor unfortunate souls’ tattoo.

Although Ursula was destroyed at the end of the 1989 movie, some people think she may have been resurrected on land, in the courtroom. According to some eagle-eyed Twitter users, the Ukraine judge Alla Bandura seems to have stolen Ursula’s look, from the harsh makeup down to the white beehive.

Cruella De Vil

Disney has some of the most iconic female villains in the cartoon universe, and who could forget about the fur-obsessed heiress Cruella De Vil? Plenty of people have tried to emulate her IRL, from Victoria Smurfit to Iggy Azalea.

In the movies and cartoons, this tyrannical chain-smoking woman definitely seems like she’s got a screw or two loose, but thanks to this digital painting by Fernanda Suarez her real-world counterpart certainly looks like one fierce lady. Anyone else getting ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ vibes?

Jessie From Toy Story

The uber-talented Fernanda Suarez has tackled a whole host of beloved cartoon characters that are definitely worth a look. Check out her reimagining of Jessie from Toy Story; she’s turned the childhood doll into a total doll. The equestrian tattoo and bracelet are a subtle nod to her cowboy roots.

You could totally find this girl working on a horse ranch somewhere in California! But maybe Jessie has already experienced a Pinocchio-like transformation though, as some have pointed out the uncanny resemblance between the cartoon cowgirl and actress Elle Fanning.

The Lion King

The 2019 live-action remake of The Lion King was a roaring success as filmmakers chose to create detailed 3D animals rather than casting actors or creating horrific human-animal hybrids like the Cats remake.

Still, plenty of talented artists have imagined what the four-legged cast might look like if they had two legs. Sakimichan has definitely taken a racier route with her humanized versions of Simba and Scar, which look like they might’ve stepped out of an R-rated fan fiction.

The ears, teeth and nails suggest that maybe these guys aren’t exactly human after all. They sort of look like the Na’vi people from Avatar, without the blue skin. The recreation below of Simba and Nala by talented Tumblr artist S0liana is definitely more PG, and it’s cool to see her sticking to their African roots, with a little bit of inspirational flair from the stage musical.

Astkhik Rakimova has also created this version of the loved-up felines which has captured their expressions perfectly, and it’s definitely interesting to see Nala as a blonde. This could definitely be from an unseen animation locked up in the Disney Vault.

Timon and Pumbaa have to be the most memorable characters in the movie, and Rakimova has reimagined them as some pretty cool dudes.

Their expressions are still unmistakable, but these guys look more at home at the local GameStop than in the Pride Lands. The version below by Fernando Mendoca is just as endearing, but Pumbaa isn’t fooling anyone; there’s definitely still a warthog under that mustache.

Finally, the crazed hyena trio Shenzi, Banzai and Ed were enough to give us nightmares as little kids, and the human version by illustrator Pugletz is no less terrifying.

Shrek

Many believe that DreamWorks is yet to top Shrek. Four installments may have been overkill, but the green ogre and his donkey sidekick defined the early 2000s and continue to live on in the hearts of many. In the second movie, Shrek was already briefly turned into a human, who looked oddly like Billy from Stranger Things, while Donkey became a handsome stallion.

Thanks to Astkhik Rakimova, we can now imagine what would’ve happened if Donkey had been humanized by the potion instead. He might not be the spitting image of Eddie Murphy, but somehow this transformation makes total sense regardless.

I hope you were amazed at how these cartoon characters would look like as humans. You might also want to check out our article about cartoon characters in real life! Thanks for reading!