Zen Cartoon Character Page

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Cartoon Characters

Cartoons have come a long ways since Mickey Mouse and Bugs Bunny.

Backyardigans

wikipedia The_Backyardigans

This is wonderful creation of Janice Burgess with a team of directors, music and song composers and even a choreographer and team of dancers. The setting is in the communal backyard of the five main characters and their role playing takes them to all different places and scenarios to include fairytale worlds with knights and dragons, pirate treasure hunting, secret agent mission and futuristic Star Trek garbage collecting.

The choreographed musicals are quite brilliant and use various genres of music and dance.

	Pablo Pablo is an energetic, enthusiastic and excitable penguin. He thinks, speaks, acts and reacts quickly. But because he's wrapped just a little too tight, sometimes his excitement can overwhelm him--making him the character most likely to run in a circle flapping his flippers and squawking. He may not be the most agile or graceful of the friends, but he's probably the most determined and enthusiastic.

	Tyrone Tyrone is an easy-going, sensible young moose, who is also Pablo's best friend. Tyrone is a deep thinker, which may make him seem a master of the obvious sometimes. But he always enjoys a challenge because he knows, in his heart, that he is equal to it and he'll find a way to figure it out.

	Uniqua Uniqua is a one-of-a-kind character with an adventurous nature--Uniqua is not only her name, it's also her species. With her purple skin, pink spots and dainty antennae, she doesn't look like any other creature on the planet. She is sweet and graceful, but she can also be funny, a little mischievous and quite the daredevil.

	Tasha Tasha is a deceptively sweet and girlish hippo who wears red Mary Janes and a flowered dress. A favorite playmate of Uniqua's, Tasha looks sweet as pie, but underneath her girly exterior beats a heart that's tough-as-nails. She is rational, skeptical and highly motivated to get her own way. Tasha and Uniqua are always giggly, silly and full of fun when they are together.

	Austin Austin is a shy boy kangaroo. Sometimes he's a little hesitant to join in, but in the end his natural bounciness usually comes through.

nickjr backyardigans-about-the-show/the-backyardigans-characters

Go Diego Go

wikipedia Go_Diego_Go

This is a very simply cartoon that revolves around Diego Márquezthe Animal rescuer. He travels to various places in the world from high altitude alpine areas to he deep sea and rescues animals. He has a pet Jaguar, a rescue pack that can turn into any type of rescue device (not limited to rafts, kayaks, personal helicopter, bicycle, etc) and drives all sorts of recue vehicles.

Animals, adventure with lots of running, a boy main character, cool vehicles and rescue equipment and a cute Latino sister - it's the perfect cartoon for any male toddler.

	Diego Diego is an 8-year-old Latino action-adventure hero with a heart. His goal is to save and protect the animals and their environment. Athletic and fearless, he is always at the ready no matter what the situation. Diego loves learning new things. He takes a scientific approach to problem solving and also uses a variety of high-tech gadgets and gizmos to save the day.

	Alicia Alicia is Diego's 11-year-old sister and resident computer whiz. She adores her younger brother and is amazed at his natural gift for communicating and bonding with animals. Alicia is also protective of Diego and warns him of approaching dangers via his video watch from her monitoring position at the Rescue Center.

	Baby Jaguar Baby Jaguar is the animal closest to Diego's heart, and he appears in every episode. His physical abilities have not quite caught up to his youthful eagerness, so Baby Jaguar sometimes finds himself in precarious situations. But underneath his inexpert physicality lies a strong adventurer with a cool head, and a fierce roar!

	Click Part animal locator, part telescopic camera, Click is the most important piece of equipment in the Rescue Center, and she knows it! In every episode, Click asks the viewer to play an sound matching game to zero in on the animal that needs to be rescued.

	Rescue Pack Rescue Pack can transform into anything Diego needs once he says "Activar!" From flotation device to parasail, Rescue Pack can always be counted on to help Diego out of a tricky situation.

	The Bobo Brothers A mischievous pair of capuchin monkeys whose cute and innocent faces belie their naughty intent. The Bobos love to get into trouble and cause confusion and mayhem throughout the forest.

nickjr about-go-diego-go/go-diego-go-characters

Dora The Explorer

wikipedia Dora_The_Explorer

This is the original cartoon series where Go Diego Go was a spinoff from. Dora targets young preschool girls and is evident with everything from the main character being a 7 year old preschool girl, to the colors used, to the music of the backpack. Dora is also entertaining to preschool boys as Dora is their age, goes on adventures and has Boots the Monkey.

A new teenage Dora will target 5 year olds, while allowing for a sexier look which should attract more young consumers in the multi-billion dollar tween market to a new line of Dora dolls and accessories by Mattel.

	Dora Dora is a true heroine--an Indiana Jones for the preschool set. She is a born explorer, always eager for the next adventure. Though she's only seven, she serves as something of a big sister to her best friend, Boots, and to the viewer as well. With her pride in being bilingual, her respect for her elders, her growing understanding of her culture and heritage, and her love for storytelling and music, Dora embodies the Latina spirit.

	Boots Boots is a 5 year old furry monkey and Dora's best friend. He's like a worshipful younger brother. Sweet and loving, he likes to hold Dora's hand. Unlike Dora, Boots sometimes makes wrong choices and gets discouraged. When he is feeling down, he always bounces back quickly with one of his flips. No one can make Dora laugh the way Boots can. He's the best friend you always wanted.

	Backpack Backpack is a friend who accompanies Dora on all her adventures. Just like Dora, Backpack can speak both Spanish and English. Backpack is a real go-getter with a can-do spirit. As Backpack says in her signature song, "Anything that you might need, I've got inside for you." From binoculars to sticky tape, Backpack's loaded up with everything Dora might need for her quest--though it's up to the viewer to pick out the item that will solve the problem at hand.

	Map A funny, bouncy rolled-up Map that lives inside Backpack's side pocket and peeks out whenever we call "Map!" Map speaks English and is an incredibly useful helper for our young explorers because he always knows where to go and how to get there. Whenever Dora asks us to check the Map for directions, he plots out our journey with a simple graphic that shows our route.

	Swiper the Fox Swiper is a quick, sneaky fox who tries to swipe things that Dora needs to complete her quest. From delicious cookies to Boots' boot - if it's valuable, Swiper wants to swipe it. Then he hides it. Swiper serves an important curriculum role, as he always sets up our hidden picture games. Swiper is also a master of disguise and it isn't easy to catch him. In fact, the only way to stop Swiper before he swipes something is for Dora, Boots and the audience to call out, "Swiper, no swiping!" three times.

	Tico A four-year-old Spanish-speaking squirrel and a good friend to Dora. While Tico is young and playful, he can also be brave and heroic. Since Tico can operate any vehicle--everything from a bicycle-powered plane to a Super Spy boat-car--he has been known to save the day in a crisis. He is often found driving in his little yellow car or in his tree at the Nutty Forest.

	Benny A lovable six-year-old bull with a big heart. He is a loyal buddy to the rest of the gang. Benny speaks English and lives with his grandma in Benny's Barn. Benny is also a bit accident-prone. He once got stuck in a wall and his loud hiccups are famous. But Benny can always count on the viewer to get him out of a scrape.

	Isa A smart six-year-old iguana who is very cool and quite mature. She makes her way through the forest slowly and thoughtfully. Always a step ahead of the game, she is ready to provide essential information that Dora and Boots need to complete their journey.

	The Fiesta Trio A cymbal-playing snail, an accordion-playing grasshopper and a drum-playing frog make up this festive musical combo, who pop up to play a celebratory riff every time Dora and Boots make it past an obstacle

nickjr.com dora-the-explorer-characters

Bob the Builder

ewBob is a construction foreman and the main builder. He has a fleet of construction vehicles, all of which are basically young children in intellect who tackle various challenges each day which help them grow.

Here is the main crew:

bobthebuilder.com

Humans

Bob the Builder (catchphrase: "Can we fix it?") is a General Contractor and head of his own construction yard based in Bobsville. He is the eponymous main character. Bob is from a family of builders - his father Robert is also a builder. He is assisted by Wendy and a host of anthropomorphic vehicles in various projects in and around the town. Some of the problems in the show arise from Bob's habit of forgetting to turn his mobile phone on. He is the owner of Pilchard the Cat.
Wendy is Bob's business partner who runs the office and keeps the business in order, and often organizes tools and equipment. She is also seen doing construction work in many episodes. An underlying romantic tension between Bob and Wendy is hinted at in several episodes.
Farmer Pickles is a nearby farmer, and a good friend of Bob. He is the owner of Travis the tractor, Sumsy the forklift, Packer the truck and Spud the scarecrow.

Recurring human characters

Mrs. Broadbent – A Bobsville resident and neighbour of Bob
Mr. Beasley – A Bobsville resident and a frequent customer
Mr. Bernard Bentley – The building inspector and later Mayor of Sunflower Valley
Mrs. Barbara Bentley – Bernard Bentley's wife
Mr. Dixon – Postman and brother to a famous football goalkeeper
Mr. Ellis – Museum manager
JJ – Parts supplier
Molly – JJ's daughter
Mrs. Percival – School headmaster
Mrs. Potts – a Bobsville resident and owner of Tommy the Tortoise.
Mr. Sabatini – Runs the local pizza shop
Jana von Strudel - She yodelled with Roley. She speaks in a German accent.

Minor human characters

Mr. Costello – Drive-in movie manager
Dora – Bob's aunt
Dorothy – Bob's Mum
Mr. Fothergill – A Bobsville resident and Hamish's first owner
Jenny – Wendy's sister
Mavis – postwoman
Marjorie - The new Manager at Farmer Pickles factory
Pam – Runs the Arts Centre
Robert – Bob's Dad
Mrs. Sabatini – Mr Sabatini's wife
Mr. Stevens – An archaeologist
Tom – Bob's fraternal twin brother and zoologist
Mr. Williams – An airport manager

Recurring vehicle characters

Scoop – a yellow backhoe loader. Scoop is the leader of the machines. (male voice; catchphrase: "No prob, Bob!")
Muck – a red bulldozer with additional dumping bed. Muck often acts before thinking and subsequently gets in trouble for it. (male voice; female voice in US and JAP dub; catchphrase: "Muck to the rescue!")
Dizzy – an orange concrete mixer. Dizzy is portrayed as the youngest in the yard. She is eager, curious, and easily excitable. (female voice; catchphrase: "Brilliant!")
Roley – a green road roller who loves to make up songs and frequently spins his eyes when he is excited. (male voice; catchphrase: "Rock and roll!")
Lofty – a blue crane. Lofty lacks the confidence shown by the others; he is hesitant and timid, but with the encouragement of the team comes through in the end. (male voice; female voice in current US and JAP dub; catchphrase: "Uh, yeah, I think so!," usually said in response to the question "Can we fix it?!?")
Travis – a cyan tractor. Travis is owned by Farmer Pickles, and is often seen pulling a wood sided trailer. He helps out the crew when they need it and keeps an eye on Spud the scarecrow. (male voice; catchphrase: "Travis Tractor's my name, moving loads is my game")
Benny – a magenta excavator. Benny looks up to Scoop. (female voice; catchphrase: "It's unreal, banana peel!" in reference to Scoop's yellow color)
Scrambler – a dark blue quadbike (ATV). Scrambler was won by Bob for designing Sunflower Valley's new settlement. (male voice; catchphrases: "Let's Scram!", "Awesome!" and "Cool as a Mule")
Sumsy – a maroon and yellow striped forklift who greatly resembles Trix (may be the same model), explaining her absence in Project Build-It. Sumsy is owned by Farmer Pickles. (female voice; catchphrase: "I can pack 'em, I can stack 'em!")
Skip – a yellow skip-carrier. (male voice)
Trix – a purple forklift. Skip belongs to J.J. (female voice; catchphrase: "Easy peasy!")
Packer – a red semi-trailer truck. Packer is owned by Farmer Pickles and has two trailers, a flatbed and a covered trailer resembling the 1988 Freightliner FL50. (male voice; catchphrases: "Pick up and Deliver!" and "Pack me up and watch me go-go")

Minor vehicle characters

Dodger – a light blue and white pickup truck. Dodger is owned by Meg and is used to carry milk. He has a crane with a grabber that lifts the milk. His horn makes strange honking sounds that the rest of the team find funny. (male voice; catchphrase: "Dodger Delivers")
Tumbler – a green and yellow concrete transport truck. He is the loudest machine on Bob's team. (male voice; catchphrase: "I'm a Rumblin' and a Tumblin'" and "Rollin' and a Tumblin'")
Flex – a yellow cherry picker. (male voice; catchphrase: "Fantastic Flex!")
Bristle – a grey and blue street sweeper. Bristle is very eager to help out the others by doing jobs often ahead of the team. (male voice; catchphrase: "Clean as a whistle" or "Clean as a whistle bristle, that's me!)
Splasher – a yellow & blue amphibious car, who works at Bobland Bay. (male voice; catchphrase: "Never fear, Super Splasher is here!")
Scoot – a black and yellow snowmobile. Scoot is owned by Tom. (male voice;catchphrase "Christmas here we come!")
Zoomer – a purple snowmobile with a yellow lighting bolt on his side. He's owned by Jana. (male voice;Catchphrase "Zoom, Zoom, Zoom;" seen in the episodes "Zoomer's Snowy Adventure," "Scrambler to the Rescue" and "Tumbler and the Ice Rink" and the special 'Snowed Under')
R.Vee – a light blue work truck. R.Vee belongs to Robert, Bob's Dad. (male voice; catchphrase: "Amazing R.Vee, that's me!")
Jackaroo – a blue pickup truck. Jackaroo is owned in the Wild West by a cowgirl. (male voice; the only character who can move his mouth). He is only seen in Built to be Wild: The Movie.
Gripper – a brown and green crane. (male voice;catchphrase: "Gripper and Grabber having fun together")[16]
Grabber – a green and brown excavator. (male voice;catchphrase: "Grabber and Gripper having fun together")[17]
Scratch – a blue small digger. (male voice;catchphrase: "I'm part of the team")[18]
Rubble- An intellegant yellow dumptruck who helped Bob build the amusment park and has a secret friendship with scratch(only appeared in Big Dino Dig).

Animals

Bird – is a bird, Roley's best friend
Fin – Bob's pet fish.
Hamish – became JJ and Molly's parrot after Mr. Fothergill found out he was allergic to him.
Humpty – is a prize pig, owned by Farmer Pickles.
Pilchard – Bob's pet cat and considered a part of the team. However, she's often sleeping when she's needed.
Scruffty – a dog, owned by Farmer Pickles.
Squawk – Another bird, friend of Bird
Tommy – Mrs. Potts' tortoise
Sprat – Pilchard's friend
Pogo - Tom's pet husky, who joins him out during his job, and friend of Scoot

Other characters

Spud is a mischievous scarecrow on Farmer Pickles farm who tries to help Bob and the crew. Often he causes more problems, but it usually all works out in the end. It is Spud who needs to learn to be patient, not to eat all of the food, not to take things from other characters, etc. Spud has a habit of trying to do work and with his limited intelligence getting it wrong and spoiling materials. (male voice; catchphrase: "OK, Farmer Pickles" and "Spud's on the job!")
Pirate Brickbeard is a pirate who founded Fixham Harbour and sails in a ship called The Bonny Beard. He is believed to have hidden a golden hammer in Fixham. (male voice; catchphrase: "No one will ever find my Golden Hammer! Har har!"). He is only seen in The Legend of the Golden Hammer.

Thomas and Friends

Thomas and Friends was originally made with real model trains, tracks and scenery. The plastic faces with fixed expressions and moving eyes were really creepy and looked like possessed toys. Now animation is CG which allows for more animation and facial expressions which are a bit more human or lifelike and a whole lot less creepy.

Thomas and Friends have childlike intellect and tackle many of the social challenges that young folks and adults alike face on a daily basis.

There are many characters, all with unique personalities and voices. It seems very real for talking trains.

thomasandfriends.com

Dinosaur Train

A PBS special featuring a Pteranodon family with a foster T-rex child. The travel through time, continents and even underwater to visit various prehistoric creatures. This is quite educational and entertaining. This is a great intro to dinosaurs.

	Buddy, a curious, funny, and intelligent T-Rex is the star of the show. He is cautious, but always ready to jump into action and start asking questions. While on the DINOSAUR TRAIN, Buddy makes a hypothesis and begins searching for the answers to his questions with the help of his Mom, the Conductor, and the new dinosaurs he meets on the train. When Buddy isn't taking exciting trips on the DINOSAUR TRAIN, he is playing with his siblings, Don, Tiny, and Shiny and anticipating their next adventure.

	Tiny, who loves to make rhymes, is quite clever and very brave. Tiny approaches every dinosaur she meets with the confidence of a news reporter trying to get the full scoop. Tiny is so brave that she often wanders a little bit too far; but, Buddy is always there to help her get back on the right track. And in return, Tiny is fiercely protective of her brother Buddy. Tiny also has two Pteranodon siblings: Don and Shiny.

	Shiny is more "girly" than Tiny and proud of her shiny exterior, but can become shy in social situations. Shiny is outgoing with her siblings and acts as if she is the "wisest." She can be a bit of a show-off and loves role playing with her brothers and sister. Shiny is happiest at home in Pteranodon Terrace hanging out with Dad and Don, while her Mom, Buddy, and Tiny take trips on the DINOSAUR TRAIN.

	Don is a sweet, mellow little Pteranodon. Although he has a goofy streak, he is steady as a rock and very focused on the task at hand. Don is loyal to all his siblings and graciously waits his turn. Once his mind is made up, though, Don goes enthusiastically head-first into every challenge.

	Mrs. Pteranodon: teacher, companion, and tour guide extraordinaire. But, first and foremost, she is "Mom" to Buddy, Don, Tiny, and Shiny. She is always there to listen to Buddy's questions about being an adopted member of the Pteranodon family. Mrs. Pteranodon is intent on a good education, but she is also always looking for ways to let her kids explore their world.

	Mr. Pteranodon is the kids' devoted, hands-on "sports dad," Mr. Pteranodon loves to approach parenting like coaching a team. He can even make a squawk that sounds like a whistle when he needs to call "time out!" He exhorts his kids to work together towards their goals, often calling out, "Go Team Pteranodon!" He is fun, can be a little silly, and encourages the kids to "be adventurous."

	The Conductor is a Troodon and a special friend to Buddy and his family. He becomes one of Buddy's heroes because he is the Conductor of one the most awesome trains of all, the DINOSAUR TRAIN! The Conductor is very intelligent and is happy to explain facts about dinosaurs, the places they visit and even how the DINOSAUR TRAIN works.

	Scott Sampson is a Canadian dinosaur paleontologist who received his Ph.D. in Zoology from the University of Toronto. Sampson is the paleontology consultant on DINOSAUR TRAIN and is featured in the live action segments on the show.

Jane and Dragon

This is a not so bad "safe" cartoon with a female knight as the main character. The setting is in medieval fairytale lands with kings, castles and dragons. It's a safe intro into the King Arthur genre for toddlers.

Please feel free to link to this site so that others can find it. It's easy to link to this site, just copy one of the texts below onto your web page:

Zen Kid Page