Ever noticed how many heavy hitters in the animation world share an initial? From the anxiety-ridden pipes of the Mushroom Kingdom to a philosophical kid with a blue blanket, cartoon characters start with L occupy a weirdly specific space in our collective childhood memories. They aren't usually the main "hero" in the traditional sense. Instead, they’re the ones who give the story its soul, its humor, or—in the case of a certain bald billionaire—its most formidable threat.
Honestly, if you look at the roster, the "L" category is stacked with what I’d call "shadow protagonists." These are the characters who might not get their name in the show's title, but the show would be unwatchable without them.
The Green Shadow: Luigi and the Art of the "Player Two"
You can't talk about characters starting with this letter without immediately thinking of the man in green. Luigi first popped up in the 1983 Mario Bros. arcade game, and let's be real: he was literally just a palette swap of his brother. He was "Green Mario." But as the years rolled on, especially in the DiC Entertainment cartoons like The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!, Luigi developed a personality that was way more relatable than his fearless brother.
He’s terrified. Of everything.
While Mario is jumping headfirst into lava pits, Luigi is usually shaking in his boots, worrying about ghosts or whether the plumbing is up to code. It’s that cowardice that makes him interesting. When he finally does something brave, it actually means something because he had to overcome a paralyzing fear of Boos to do it. He’s the king of the "second bananas," but he’s also the one with the most emotional range.
The Smartest Kids in the Room: Lisa Simpson and Linus van Pelt
Then you’ve got the intellectuals. It's kinda funny that two of the most iconic brainiacs in animation both start with L.
Lisa Simpson is the moral compass of Springfield. For over 30 years, she’s been the voice of reason in a town that thrives on chaos. She’s an INTJ, a saxophonist, a vegetarian, and a Buddhist, which is a lot for an eight-year-old to carry. But she isn't just a "smart kid" trope. She’s often portrayed as deeply lonely, someone who feels like an alien in her own family. If Bart is the id of The Simpsons, Lisa is the superego, constantly reminding us that there’s a world outside of donuts and TV.
On the flip side, you have Linus van Pelt from Peanuts.
Linus is fascinating because he’s this weird hybrid of a toddler and a 17th-century theologian. He’s the kid who can quote the Gospel of Luke from memory during a Christmas pageant but can’t make it through the day without his security blanket. Charles Schulz once said Linus was his "serious side." He’s the philosopher of the playground, waiting for the Great Pumpkin while everyone else is out trick-or-treating. He’s proof that you can be the smartest person in the room and still need a thumb to suck on when things get stressful.
Other Heavy Hitters You Definitely Remember
- Lola Bunny: The breakout star of Space Jam (1996). She was originally designed to be Bugs Bunny’s romantic interest, but she became a cultural icon for being a "no-nonsense" athlete who was actually better at basketball than most of the guys.
- Lilo Pelekai: The heart of Lilo & Stitch. Lilo is one of the most realistic depictions of a "weird" kid in Disney history. She takes photos of tourists, likes Elvis, and deals with the trauma of losing her parents in a way that feels incredibly raw for a cartoon.
- Lucky Luke: Maybe less known in the States but a titan in Europe. He’s the cowboy who "shoots faster than his shadow." Created by the Belgian artist Morris, he’s a parody of every Western trope you’ve ever seen.
The Pilot Who Can’t Land: Launchpad McQuack
If we’re talking about cartoon characters start with L, we have to give it up for the man who turned crashing into an art form. Launchpad McQuack first appeared in the original 1987 DuckTales as Scrooge McDuck’s personal pilot. Why would the richest duck in the world hire a guy who crashes every single flight?
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Simple: he works for cheap.
Launchpad is the quintessential "lovable oaf." He’s huge, he’s dim-witted, and he’s incredibly loyal. He eventually made the jump to Darkwing Duck as the sidekick, proving that he’s basically the utility player of the Disney Afternoon universe. Whether he’s flying the Sunchaser or the ThunderQuack, you know two things: the mission will succeed, and the plane is going to be a total loss.
The Villains and the Anti-Heroes
It’s not all blankets and banjos. The letter L also gives us some of the most calculated minds in animation. Lex Luthor in the DC Animated Universe (voiced by the legendary Clancy Brown) is probably the best version of the character ever made. He isn’t just a mad scientist; he’s a corporate titan who views Superman as an existential threat to human achievement. He’s the mirror image of the heroes—cold, brilliant, and completely self-absorbed.
And we can't forget Lois Griffin from Family Guy. She’s the glue holding that disaster of a family together, even if she’s increasingly unhinged as the seasons go on. She’s gone from being the "patient housewife" to a character who is arguably just as chaotic as Peter, just with better vocabulary.
A Quick Look at the Stats
While it's hard to rank these exactly, certain "L" characters dominate search volume and fan nostalgia. Lola Bunny, for instance, was actually named the "most attractive cartoon character" in a 2020 global search study, which is... a very specific corner of the internet, but it shows her staying power. Meanwhile, characters like Luz Noceda from The Owl House represent a new era of "L" leads—diverse, magical, and breaking the traditional sidekick mold.
What Most People Get Wrong About These Characters
A common mistake is thinking that these characters are "interchangeable" because they often play supporting roles. They aren't. If you remove Luigi, Mario loses his humanity. If you remove Lisa, The Simpsons loses its heart. These characters are the "L" factor—the secret sauce that makes a show more than just a series of gags.
If you’re looking to dive deeper into the world of animation history, your next step should be to look at how these characters evolved from their first sketches. Most people don't realize that Luigi was a palette swap for almost five years before he got his own unique height and jump physics. Go back and watch the early episodes of your favorite show—you'll see the exact moment these "L" characters stopped being background noise and started becoming the reason we tune in.
Next Steps for the Animation Fan:
- Watch: The Luigi's Mansion series or the DuckTales (2017) reboot to see how these characters were modernized for a new generation.
- Research: Look up the "Marcinelle School" of drawing to see how Lucky Luke influenced the look of Franco-Belgian comics.
- Analyze: Re-watch "Moaning Lisa" (Season 1, Episode 6 of The Simpsons) to see the blueprint for Lisa's character development.