60 Most Iconic Animation Duos of All Time, Ranked

One of the most iconic acts in comedy is the comedy duo. It's a simple act involving two characters with polarizing personalities playing off one another with comedic timing. The most common of these is to have one character be wacky and bombastic, and another be more reserved to contrast them.

The world of animation has produced some of the most iconic duos in entertainment. Some date back to its Golden Age, while others are more recent creations, but all of them are united in their ability to make audiences laugh, cry, and come back for more. The best animation duos are influential, entertaining, and simply unforgettable for many fans who are reminded of some nostalgic viewing experiences every time they see these pairs.

60 WALL-E and EVE

Pixar earned global recognition for its ability to tell mature and heartfelt stories backed by groundbreaking CGI animation. Perhaps the best example of this can be found in WALL-E, a science-fiction romance between two robots. The titular WALL-E is the last operating waste disposal robot tasked with cleaning up Earth, until he meets EVE, an advanced probe sent to Earth to search for signs of plant growth.

First off, the character animation on these two is stellar, as you can tell exactly what emotion each is feeling despite their minimalist facial designs and limited dialogue. Then there's how well they complement one another in both design and characters. WALL-E is crude and rustic compared to EVE's sleek and futuristic design, and WALL-E's curiosity and optimism help EVE soften while still retaining a strong sense of duty.

59 Gumby and Pokey

From the mind of stop-motion genius Art Clokey came a series about Gumby, a green boy made out of clay. With his best friend, an orange pony named Pokey, he travels inside various books to interact with the characters and stories within. Sometimes their adventures lead to them thwarting the evil plans of the Blockheads.

While Gumby had a few friends, his relationship with Pokey was the strongest in the series. His nervous tendencies and occasional bouts of cynicism balanced out Gumby's more energetic and curious traits. Despite his fears, Pokey never abandons Gumby, showcasing their friendship's depths.

58 Ralph Wolf and Sam Sheepdog

Warner Bros. created many iconic duos in their Looney Tunes shorts, but one of the most unique dynamics comes from Ralph Wolf and Sam Sheepdog. At first glance, it seems like it'd be antagonistic: Ralph is constantly trying to steal a herd of sheep, and Sam thwarts him. However, the duo mixes things up by only being punch-clock adversaries.

When the whistle blows for quitting time, Ralph and Sam depart on good terms, and sometimes Sam even encourages Ralph that next time might be different. This friendly relationship is a great juxtaposition and serves as a good reminder that your opposition isn't always your enemy. Plus, the slapstick is hilarious, especially from Sam, who often just remains motionless as he lets Ralph dig his own grave with overly complex gadgets.

57 Rocky and Bullwinkle

Airing during the height of the Cold War, The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends introduced the world to Rocket J. Squirrel and his friend Bullwinkle the moose. They go on several adventures while thwarting the plans of Russian spies Boris Badenov and Natasha Fatale. In between, the show included several fun segments, including Peabody's Improbable History and Dudley Do-Right.

Despite coming out during the Cold War, Rocky and Bullwinkle's style of humor has allowed them to last into the modern day, with the most recent nostalgic cartoon reboot in 2018. This is thanks to the duo's dynamic. Rocky has a wide-eyed and energetic look at the world, while Bullwinkle is dim-witted but surprisingly witty when it comes to his humor.

56 CatDog

Nickelodeon was known for airing some really strange cartoons during the 1990s, but one of the most prominently bizarre ones is CatDog. It follows the lives of Cat and Dog, two conjoined twins who meet in the middle. Cat is the more intelligent, refined, and greedy of the two, while Dog is the more naive, jolly, and dimwitted one.

The conjoined nature of the brothers lends itself to a lot of creative stories and slapstick comedy, usually at Cat's expense. Unlike other duos, they literally cannot be apart from one another, and thus, audiences get to see how they structure their lives to accommodate one another as best they can. It's also nice to see that, even when their opposite personalities cause strife between each other, they still love one another like siblings should.

55 Arnold and Gerald

Hey Arnold! was one of those kids' shows that respected the intelligence of its audience and thus wasn't afraid to tell grounded, realistic stories. The show followed a football-headed youth named Arnold as he navigated life in the big city and all that came with it. No matter what trouble comes his way, be it investigating spooky urban legends or helping to reunite long-lost family members, Arnold was always helped out by his best friend, Gerald.

Arnold and Gerald's friendship stands out so well thanks to how simple and heartwarming it is. Arnold's optimism and kindness often lead him to help others, and though Gerald is usually more on the skeptical side, he always helps Arnold out because that's what best friends do. When they're not going on adventures, the two can also find fun in the simplest things, which is a good representation of how the best of friends can form fantastic memories through the simplest actions.

54 Tommy and Chuckie

Rugrats was a staple of 1990s Nickelodeon thanks to its unique premise of showing life from the perspective of toddlers. The most prominent characters are Tommy Pickles, whose house the kids always visit, and Chuckie Finster, who lives with his single father. Tommy would often lead his fellow toddlers on crazy adventures, while Chuckie would try, and usually fail, to voice his concerns.

Beyond their contrasting personalities, Tommy and Chuckie's friendship is a great example of the complexities that go into building and maintaining friendships. Usually, the two were as close as brothers, but sometimes they could butt heads, especially since their young age meant they couldn't process their emotions. No matter how many times they fight, they always come back together and sometimes learn from one another, which reaffirms the strength of their friendship.

53 Timon and Pumbaa

The Lion King wouldn’t be complete without the wacky misadventures of Timon and Pumbaa. An unlikely pair of friends, the witty meerkat Timon and the lovable warthog Pumbaa, are inseparable and complement each other perfectly. If there’s one thing fans still remember from the Disney classic, it’s likely the duo’s hit song "Hakuna Matata."

Although their subsequent appearances in spin-offs have failed to top their original roles in the animated film, Timon and Pumbaa are fondly remembered for the humor and wit they gave young fans back then. They perfectly capture the essence of true friendship.

52 Kim Possible and Ron Stoppable

"Call me, beep me if you wanna reach me." Fans of the iconic animated show from the early 2000s likely still have a special place in their heart for Kim Possible. The series that follows a high school cheerleader by day and crime-fighting prodigy by night would not be the same without the awkward best friend, Ron Stoppable.

Kim can be brave in the face of thrilling missions around the world, knowing she can always count on Ron’s comedic timing and unexpected heroism throughout the series. Everyone needs a strong friendship like the animated duo’s, which hopefully won’t fade into obscurity anytime soon.

51 Mordecai and Rigby

Regular Show was one of Cartoon Network's breakout hits of the 2010s and followed the adventures of best friends Mordecai and Rigby. This duo of anthropomorphic animals works as groundskeepers at their local park, but would rather be doing anything else. This leads to them often getting into trouble as they try to find ways to shirk responsibility.

Concerning their dynamic, Mordecai is the more level-headed of the two, while Rigby is the more chaotic and selfish one. Though they can occasionally get on each other's nerves, they are a wholesome depiction of best friends, as they always have each other's backs and love nothing more than to just hang out and share catchphrases. As the series goes on, both of them are subjected to character development that sees them grow up as they begin to find purpose in their lives.