8 Fastest Cartoon Characters

In animation, anything can happen. Cartoon characters can morph into any form and possess boundless stamina and power. They can also magically produce useful items from thin air when needed. They also have a remarkable capacity for pain tolerance.

The ability to run at incredible speeds is another common characteristic of many cartoon characters, especially those whose animators gave them that ability on purpose. In addition, some animated characters can move quickly due to their special abilities.

It’s not always easy to tell who’s the quickest character because some are already fast, and others are fast because of their attire or innovations.

Whether via a lightning bolt, Super Serum, or defying gravity and air resistance, these speedy characters have been beloved by many people throughout the years. Here are some of the fastest cartoon characters in no particular order.

8. Road Runner

photo source: PNG Item

Inspired by a real bird, Road Runner has been enjoying highway travel since the late 1940s. In a series of animated shorts, the speedy Road Runner dashes through roads in the American Southwest, his legs and feet moving so quickly that they form a wheel-like blur, with Wile E. Coyote in hot chase.

The coyote uses Acme products like a giant rubber band or a “portable outboard steamroller” to catch the bird in each episode. Unfortunately, the coyote’s incompetence or the products’ unreliability inevitably ruin the plan. Road Runner dashes away after saying, “Beep! Beep!”

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7. Speedy Gonzalez

photo source: The Tracking Board

Characterized as a fast mouse, Speedy Gonzales has appeared in many Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons. His extraordinary speed earned him the moniker “The Fastest Mouse in All of Mexico.”

He favors the traditional attire of rural Mexican communities, including an enormous yellow sombrero, white shirt, pants, and a red kerchief, like a participant in the San Fermin celebration.

This little enthusiastic mouse is like the animal world’s Flash, although with an exaggerated accent and stereotypical Mexican from the 1950s. He evades anyone who tries to catch or consume him by turning into a blur. While his speed hasn’t diminished, his more aggressive qualities have been toned down.

Did You Know:

Volkswagen obtained a license to use the character Speedy Gonzales in 2006 for a series of ads in Spanish for the Volkswagen Golf.

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6. The Powerpuff Girls

photo source: Cartoon Network

Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup, three children with extraordinary abilities, are next on the list. These kindergarteners patrol the streets of Townsville with incredible speed and agility thanks to the superpowers their scientist father mistakenly gave them. The best part is that they leave a trail of rainbow hues behind them.

Professor Utonium made them out of “sugar, spice, and everything nice.”  A  strange liquid, Chemical X, was mistakenly added to the concoction, giving the girls their superpowers. They committed their lives to combat crime and the forces of evil in Townsville, USA, all before their bedtimes.

Though their top speed is unknown, the Powerpuff Girls are certainly no slouches on the ground. Blossom ran so fast that she shattered the Earth’s crust, releasing magma, while the others could sprint so quickly that they demolished entire buildings by just racing into them.

Did You Know:

Their iconic large eyes are based on the children depicted in the artwork of artist Margaret Keane.

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5. Dash

photo source: Pixar Wiki

Next is the ten-year-old Pixar family member with a name that fits well. Dash isn’t just agile; he’s also very quick to act on impulse and takes great risks. Even though he is intended to keep his abilities a secret, he can’t help but be the greatest at everything he does.

Dash can move much faster than an average person could. Due to this ability, he can outrun any normal human being and even cross bodies of water without getting wet. Also, he can punch and fight with incredible speed as well. Fortunately, his super suit is durable and can withstand repeated use.

In the first movie, Elastigirl transforms into a raft, and Dash uses his incredible speed to power the raft with his kicks. The acceleration boost Dash now enjoys another benefit: enhanced reflexes. In addition, dash’s super suit, invented by Edna Mode, can withstand Dash’s incredible speeds without being damaged by air friction, wear, or heat.

Did You Know:

The DC Comics character The Flash and the Marvel Comics character Quicksilver were inspirations for the character Dash, a speedster.

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4. Quicksilver

photo source: Pocket Tactics

Pietro Maximoff, aka Quicksilver, is Marvel’s equivalent of the Flash and can run as fast as the speed of sound. After being exposed to the isotope E, he gained additional speed and achieved Mach 5. To be able to spin up cyclones, that is!

Most representations of him see him as a mutant born with extraordinary skills. Quicksilver is primarily a villain for the X-Men in the canon of fictional works featuring the superhero squad. However, he eventually became a hero in his own right in later tales.

In most representations, he is also the son of Magneto and the half-brother of Polaris, in addition to being the twin brother of the Scarlet Witch.

Did You Know:

There are two live-action depictions of Quicksilver. First, Aaron Taylor-Johnson plays the MCU version in the X-Men films by Evan Peters.

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3. Superman

photo source: Bleeding Cool

Superman can leap skyscrapers and do any feat at incredible speeds. He even reached Mach 4, four times the speed of sound. That’s quicker than a bullet; therefore, it must be enough to reverse the Earth’s spin and turn back time.

Superman was born Kal-El on Krypton. Before Krypton was destroyed, his parents transported him on a little spacecraft to Earth. His ship landed near Smallville in rural America. Jonathan and Martha Kent, farmers, found and adopted him, naming him Clark Kent. Clark gained superhuman strength and invulnerability.

He fought crime when his adoptive parents encouraged him to help others. He fights crime as “Superman” in a colorful outfit to preserve his privacy. Clark is a Daily Planet journalist in Metropolis, a fictitious American metropolis.

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2. Sonic The Hedgehog

photo source: The Hollywood Reporter

While the actual animal is slow, Sega’s blue sneaker-wearing gaming mascot heats up under his feet. He becomes fast enough to roll, zip up walls, and loop while saving the woodland creatures from Dr. Ivo “Eggman” Robotnik. When powered up in gold form, he can go from the speed of sound to the speed of light.

Sonic is “like the wind,” a nomad who lives his life and adventures. Sonic opposes oppression. He’s quick-witted and easygoing, yet he’s impatient with slower things. Sonic is an honest, loyal, adventurous hedgehog who hates tears.

He raises Tails like a brother and rejects Amy Rose’s marriage proposals. He concentrates intensively on the problem during crises.

Did You Know:

Over 70 million copies of Sonic the Hedgehog video games have been sold worldwide.

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1. The Flash

photo source: DC Comics

The Flash can run even faster than the speed of light and is the fastest cartoon character of all time. Since his first appearance in Flash Comics #1 in the 1940s, the identity of the Flash has been inhabited by numerous people over multiple continuities, but most notably by Barry Allen.

The mysterious Speed Force has given heroes fantastic speed over the years. The Flash, the World’s Fastest Man, is the most well-known of these heroes. A guy in red who can sprint at incredible speeds has been saving lives and defending the defenseless since World War II.

In a single second, the Flash can easily outrun anything from hedgehogs to Kryptonians.

Did You Know:

The Flash can run so fast that he can time travel.