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Ever wondered what cartoon characters in real life would look like? Yes, they’re fictional sketches, which means we’ll never know their human looks in our world. But what if cartoon characters were real? 

The subject of cartoon characters IRL is fascinating, so Bored Panda’s pro member Hidreley delved into experimenting with AI-generated cartoon characters. That’s what digital art is about—blurring the lines between fantasy and reality on screen!

Surprisingly, some cartoon characters as humans look even better than the originals. See if your favorite cartoon characters are on this list, and scroll further to witness 23 pictures of real-life cartoon characters!

Note: The original article was written by Hidrėlėy and later edited and updated by the Bored Panda team. 

More info: Instagram

Hidreley did all the work on AI-generated cartoon characters by himself: “I’ve done some similar posts by other authors here on Bored Panda. I wanted to try something out myself, and so I dove into the world of AI. This time, I challenged myself to try to do one on the theme of cartoon characters. For this project, I used Photoshop and three mobile applications, FaceApp, Gradient, and Remini.

The Simpsons were the most challenging when making realistic cartoon characters. “In terms of how they all turned out, I’m more and more pleased with the results with each post I make. I really liked how Moe Szyzlak, Ned Flanders, and Milhouse Van Houten turned out because initially, I thought that the Simpsons drawing style would be very hard to emulate on ‘real life’ terms. Still, they are actually very easy to recognize,” Hidreley explains. 

#4

Moana

ai recreation of appearance in real life of Moana character from the cartoon

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Orange Is Aging
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

“I am Moana of Moto’nui. You will board my boat, sail across the sea, and restore the heart of Te’fiti.”

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“This post inadvertently brought back some good memories from my childhood. Like every kid in my generation, I loved watching cartoons. I really loved the Simpsons and Hanna Barbera classics, and I can safely say that they’ve made a huge impact on my life,” adds Hidreley. 

#7

Pocahontas

ai recreation of appearance in real life of Pocahontas character from the cartoon

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gemmelltastic avatar
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RifleReptiles
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You're beautiful just the way you are, you don't need to look like anybody else! <3

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Kari Cline
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

American Indians had more pronounced cheekbones giving that part of their face more of a square-ish look. The AI in this picture has a far too heart-shaped face. But still very pretty

ahance_stl avatar
Ang.stl
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I’m somewhat confused by this. Indigenous Peoples of the Americas come in a million different shapes and sizes, including their cheekbones. Different shades of skin color from as pale as mine to quite dark. The real problem is 1) this is another colonization of the first known Missing or Murdered Indigenous Woman; 2) too old to show the age of the cartoon. And her name was Matoaka.

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zoenaidu0 avatar
Bored_Panda
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe check a history book to see Pocahontas in a painting 🖼

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LizaIsabellaXD
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Fun fact: Pocahontas was a real person, only cameras didn't exist in her time.

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Robert Bailey
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not too far off https://www.biography.com/historical-figure/pocahontas

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kindlirose avatar
**
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've see Native Americans of all different features and skin colors.

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Jocelyn Kuntz
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I always thought Pocahontas would look like a native version of Tia Carrere.

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Wren Hard
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

this photo is not her. Not even an American. That picture is of a Filipino woman

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Maria Mendez
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you look at B&W pics of Native Americans, you'll find that their facial hair is very light.

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Kalmar
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The cartoon version looks like teal hair compared to the realistic

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Donna Morgan - Passmore
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Pretty but, she needs sharper angles, wider, more square jaw and maybe a smaller nose, perhaps more pronounced cheek bones

cadenceswedhin avatar
Gay-Trash-Panda
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

nope. she was 9-10 when she met 27-29-year-old john smith. they got married when she was 17-18 and he was 35-37. they had a child together.

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Carol Odrlin
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hope the girl in the picture is stunning. I hope she is as brave as our girl!

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Charlie Day
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Good grief, that model is gorgeous. I rather doubt that Pocahontas resembled the model, though.

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Braeydyn Marreck
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can’t speak for Indigenous/Native people but please listen to Indigenous/Native people in the comments. It’s sad how glorified/romanticized Pocahontas is. It’s a false story and a problematic one . She’s based off of a real woman named Matoaka, but the story isn’t even close to the truth

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Braeydyn Marreck
Community Member
1 year ago

This comment has been deleted.

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EworldReacts
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Exude you But, Pocahontas was a real native woman they (meaning white people); kidnapped, abused and then killed her at age Twenty-One, John Smith later wrote three memoirs and lied In everyone of them most famously Claiming that “she fell in love with him”; after he “saved her and later contradicting his own claims saying, the savages a term in which is already a derogatory term; we’re just about to beat his brains out when she blocked them from doing so with her hands.” In actuality this is Not true

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Josurf
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Now I'm officially in love with Moanna and Pocahontas.

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Kai Skye
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't wanna be that person but we could also just use a picture of pocahontas herself here lmao

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Ang.stl
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Please don’t further the fetishization of Matoaka. She was a real GIRL when she was first taken, and was later taken to England where she died, away from her family and her tribe. She is the first documented case of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, which is an epidemic at this point.

kindlirose avatar
**
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Native Americans who worked on the Pocahantas movie said they were proud of it. Pocahantas had a good message.

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Laura Paalanen
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There are REAL pics of Pocahontas and trust me, she did not look like this.

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Chatgirl#1
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She looks like she just touched somebody and is having visions of the future like in twin Tution

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Noona Snest
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Pocahontas IS a real person. She doesn't get the credit for it. I think she's half black and Asian? She went in a couple interviews telling her story and she was an extra on a Jamie Fix episode where Jamie Fox (as the character) approached her flirting saying, "well hey there Pocahontas" -as a wink and a nod

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AzKhaleesi
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looks like Monica (Kelsey Asbille) off Yellowstone. I told my husband just yesterday she looks like Pocahontas. She's absolutely stunning.

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kindlirose avatar
**
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've see Native Americans of all different features and skin colors.

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KyletheWolf
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, the jaw line needs to be more square. Then it will look more like her. Other than that, looks good!

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Davja
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One of my friends is actually Algonquian. I should show him this and see what he thinks.

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GoddessOdd
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is not terribly different from the historic portraits of Pocahontas, but more similar to the cartoon. The mouth is especially good.

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Biliegh Berrie
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When I found my family came from her, I looked her up. This is absolutely nothing like what she looked like. Google her

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Teraza Salmon
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nose is completely wrong. I've seen photos of the First Nation people and the women are stunning.

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Ang.stl
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It’s plural, First Nations. And from what I’ve learned, the Nations/ Tribes/ Bands in Canada refer to themselves as First Nations, where as the Nations or Tribes here in the states call themselves Indigenous or Native. They are varied in just about everything. I think black hair is the most common trait they share, but even that gets iffy with some more Northern Bands. And I saw a video explaining why noses are built how they are, depending on humidity and temperature.

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Hypoxia Smurf
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2 years ago

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This is the result of her mom raped by a Brit, right?

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“I’ve been exploring the world of artificial intelligence recently, and I can tell you, it’s a world without limits! With the rise of AI-assisted art generation, there are virtually (no pun intended) no boundaries for digital art; you just have to be creative and know how to guide the blind hand of the machine,” explains Hidreley. 

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#9

Ned Flanders

ai recreation of appearance in real life of Ned Flanders character from the cartoon

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At some point, we’ve all wondered if cartoon characters were real. Were they inspired by celebrities or real-life events? Hidreley explains that he’s also intrigued by this concept: 

“I don't want to tease anything too early, but currently, I’m working hard on a project where I’m trying to show what some prematurely deceased celebrities would have looked like if they were still alive. I hope it will turn out great, and I’ll be able to share this with you soon!”

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#10

Milhouse

ai recreation of appearance in real life of Milhouse character from the cartoon

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Kristina Meyer
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He looks like a guy I went to elementary School with (except the haircolor). His Name was Sten.

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#11

Rapunzel

ai recreation of appearance in real life of Rapunzel character from the cartoon

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#16

Lady Tremaine

ai recreation of appearance in real life of Lady Tremaine character from the cartoon

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Orange Is Aging
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wrong hair. Her butt hair has always been very important to me

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#18

Kristoff

ai recreation of appearance in real life of Kristoff character from the cartoon

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Orange Is Aging
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He kinda looks like some kind of 2000’s Disney Channel character from a show that takes place in a summer camp

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#20

Isabela Madrigal

ai recreation of appearance in real life of Isabela Madrigal character from the cartoon

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gabrielshultz avatar
Orange Is Aging
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

WELCOME TO THE FAMILY MADRIGAL! THE HOME OF THE FAMILY MADEIGAL! WHERE ALL THE PEOPLE ARE fAnTaStIcAl AnD mAgIcAl!

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