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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. 

“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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#14

Peter Pan

ai recreation of appearance in real life of Peter Pan character from the cartoon

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Mermaid Elle-Jaye
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My little sister went to school with twin boys with similar ones 😂 they more like angry ones though

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Loki’s Lil Butter Knife
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We have reached the uncanny valley here. He looks human...yet there my mind is going "I really don't like this..."

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

i mean other than the eyes ( which creep me out a little) i like this one

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

You guys know that peter pan is evil cause Unlike his Disney fairytale counterpart who is slightly pompous but is otherwise heroic, this version of Peter Pan is totally evil and heartless (relating to a role thought by J.M. Barrie in the early drafts of the original book). He is also the arguable archenemy of his son, Rumplestiltskin

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A.T. Raine
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Even the Disney version was sociopathic and generally disrespectful. He ignores the girl he convinced to sneak out and brought to his land while avidly flirting with others in front of her, wastes time taunting his favorite rival While the victim he's there to rescue almost drowns (is he even aware his comrades are about to be burned to death?), and let's Not forget the time he scars a guy for life by cutting off his hand for No reason in the middle of supposed "play time". Even Captain Hook calls him a "Flying Devil," and were I in his position, I'd want revenge on Pan, too.

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

ahh yes, peter pan looks like a guy named "jack"

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

Yep, if you dyed his hair red and made it longer. Also plucked the eyebrows a little, he’s pretty close.

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

honestly i think the show once upon a time did a great job with peter pan

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Carter Allen
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He looks like a wannabe bad boy. His eyebrows look…. Disturbing.

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Bobby Driscoll
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Bobby Driscoll (the first of Disney's tragic child stars) his looks were used for Peter Pan as well as they used his voice.

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possessedcat101
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When I was a kid i went to sleepaway camp and there was a counselor who looked exactly like this photo

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

Robbie Kay who actually played peter pan (villan) in Once Upon A Time, actually looks more like peter than this image. But that's my opinion

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

Your AI is missing the pointed ears and the upturned nose. But very good likeness

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

Those r some crazy eyebrows. Although the color of the eyes and the hair aren't accurate.

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

Peter Pan was drawn from the actor who voiced him, Bobby Driscoll...and wow...this pretty much looks like him--even the eyebrows!

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

I was Tinkerbell in my high school play and this was our Peter! Wow!

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Crep 105
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He be looking like a slightly more attractive troglodyte.

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

Okay, this adorable version absolutely did NOT grow up to be Robin Williams (not casting aspersions on Robin W, one of my absolute favorite actors and comedians). Great rendition.

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

Y'all calling this one "creepy" but I srsly loved it, he looks so handsome

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

So, I’m not the only one, I hope, that sees the VERY obvious feminine traits in the cartoon version. The eyelashes and stylized feminine, high cheek bones, contrappasto stance with a cheeky expression, narrow but high shoulders pulled back as a lady might stand…. Then there’s the fact of the character classically being portrayed by females in the theatre. Makes me wonder if the character wasn’t supposed to have been female.

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Djtp09
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Besides the eyebrows it looks exactly like a kid I went to school with

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

Both of them look like they are trying to find the meaning of like by staring into my soul might just be me though

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

This Peter Pan has Esotropia, a type of Strabismus ( eye misalignment) often found in young children, in which one or both eyes turn inward. It is not Crossed eyes or Lazy eye. Two of my sons had this. One started at age 5 and was corrected with glasses, which he then no longer needed. The other presented at age 3, and he was prescribed eye drops and it cleared up fairly quickly because I caught it earlier. It can occur in adults as well, IDK how that goes.

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

*gets the wax* boy them eyebrows gotta be fixed they look like a whole caterpillar

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

A few theory Youtubers have said that Peter kills the lost boys when they get too old, so the picture is definitely a believable one.

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

I have a peter pan lego and he looks like a maniac. I took a lego ax and put it n his hand. With my friends, we had made "Battle of Hogwarts 2.0" around it. We combined multiple different universes.

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

My gut feeling is telling me to murder real-life peter pan right now

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

He looks like he'd be a theater kid that gets mad that he's not cast as the hunky leading man every year.

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goth mouse (they them)
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"If you can't imagine yourself being Peter Pan, you won't BE Peter Pan, so eat up."

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

I wonder why the hair color wasn't changed in the AI image like some of the others.

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

Wow. He looks very similar to the guy who played Pan in Once Upon a Time!

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

Ok, I take it back; making the man-boys features like all the prepubescent Disney women’s faces is creepy… sort of like making women look like underage girls at age 25.

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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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Orange Is Aging
Community Member
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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