This Person Used AI To See What These 23 Popular Cartoon Characters Would Look Like IRL
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.
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Moe
Moe was apparently based on Rich Hall, he's friends with Matt Groening.
Load More Replies...I've been called ugly, pug ugly, fugly, pug-fugly, but never ugly-ugly.
How about pugly-fugly ugly? I think Moe wins.
Load More Replies...Please hire this dude if theres ever a real life version of the simpsons.....
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.
Eric
That is surprisingly accurate and an uncanny resemblance. He looks like a famous actor from a 90s sitcom that I just can't remember the name of.
Dj's boyfriend from full house? Steve I think his name was
Load More Replies...Carl Fredricksen
This one looks too cheerful to be Carl. Carl didn't get those frown lines overnight, I think he might look closer if he were scowling. I see AI favors blue eyes...at least everyone but Jasmine so far has blue eyes. I think Moe and Carl would both have dark eyes.
Maybe this is Carl after he found a new sweetheart? He might give smiling another try, right?
Load More Replies...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.
Moana
“I am Moana of Moto’nui. You will board my boat, sail across the sea, and restore the heart of Te’fiti.”
My cousin looks more like Moana than this AI creation. I feel like this doesn't quite have enough Polynesian evident.
I was thinking the same thing. The AI version looks more mixed with Asian than the actual Polynesian resemblance that I expected.
Load More Replies...I would not look at this person and think she looks like Moana. I've seen other people irl who look very much like Moana.
Moana is supposed to be Polynesian and I am Polynesian (Samoan, Maori, and Hawaiian) and this model looks more Asian and has zero Polynesian features.
This one certainly isn't accurate if Moana originated in the southern Pacific Islands. But I figure it might tie in more with attributes from people of Hawaiian descent?
Full blooded Native Hawaiians actually resembled more toward their Tongan and Sāmoan siblings.
Load More Replies...Ariel
As someone with a 12 year old sister (and who has seen her whole class) she looks more like she’s 14-15
Load More Replies...She looks almost exactly like me except my hair is light brown
Huh you think it would look like Alyssa Milano since that's what Disney said she was based on
“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.
Tinkerbell
Well, that's something AI doesn't know or consider. AI is not a person. AI stands for Artificial Intelligence. It's not sentient. It doesn't know the history behind a cartoon character. Probably this AI program has access to a database of random faces and then when a cartoon is presented they use all that data and algorithms to make it into something realistic. And I can definitely see Tinkerbell in this so the AI did a good job.
Load More Replies...Cheeks are too thin in comparison to Tinkerbell whose Cheeks are more rounded.
Pocahontas
You're beautiful just the way you are, you don't need to look like anybody else! <3
Load More Replies...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
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.
Load More Replies...“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.
Jasmine
yesss! and to the people arguing over a freaking WORD, let's just agree that she's pretty?
Load More Replies...I find AI fascinating, but there is also something rather uncanny about it. There's just something off that you can't quite pinpoint. For instance, look at the AI creation's left ear.
Yeah. Tired of being stuck in the palace, so feeling sad about it. Picture is before she ventured out beyond the palace walls
Load More Replies...Ned Flanders
Ned’s a cartoon. His glasses ARE drawn onto his face.
Load More Replies...Feels like I'm wearing nothing at all. Nothing at all. Nothing at all.
Load More Replies...I mean, you could just use Mike Wozniak haha mike-woz-6...8b6a3f.jpg
mhm definitely.........but am i the only one that is bothered by his glasses
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!”
Milhouse
He looks like a guy I went to elementary School with (except the haircolor). His Name was Sten.
Hah hah, this is great! 'But my mom says I' m cool.'
This is such a perfect interpretation, I love it! Everything's coming up Milhouse!
BEEN SEARCHING FOR THE NAME OF THAT SHOW AND IT JUST CLICKED THANK YOU
Load More Replies...He has black hair! Blue is there only because you can not animate black effectively :[ anyways good
Rapunzel
That's why it's perfect - because eyebrows should be sisters, not twins. :D
Load More Replies...Aladdin
*slaps because he's mine* (I feel like a cringe Roblox-gacha player)
Load More Replies...I can see similarities. It's difficult to compare because Disney makes all eyes and most mouths larger than humans on the characters, especially the girls.
Agreed, and I am 1000% not trying to be racist or anything, but it's made pretty clear that it takes place in a made up country called Agrabah tho, so they could have a mix of races.
Load More Replies...looks like an actor i know from some where..... OH YEAH THE DUDE FROM FIRE NATION IN THE LAST AIRBENDER!!!!!!!!
Anna
My mother look kinda like a more realistic Anna! Even has a streak of white hair!
Peter Pan
My little sister went to school with twin boys with similar ones 😂 they more like angry ones though
Load More Replies...We have reached the uncanny valley here. He looks human...yet there my mind is going "I really don't like this..."
Jeremy Sumpter was a *fantastic* Peter Pan (2003 film). Wish I could post a pic here, but he's just perfect!!!
i mean other than the eyes ( which creep me out a little) i like this one
Olive Oyl
That's what I think too. Shelley will always be Olive to me.
Load More Replies...Or at least several people pictures merged, not 100% AI
Load More Replies...Where are the bits of hair plastered from her head on down to her ears? That is one of Olive Oyl's distinctive traits. This is just a pretty woman.
Lady Tremaine
Wrong hair. Her butt hair has always been very important to me
Picking your second sentence out of context makes it sound weird. :)
Load More Replies..."Did you file your P73-XY form this year? Because I did not see it in the intended drawer and I am certain I said it had to be filed until last week. Now... think hard. Did you file it??"
Load More Replies...The hair is a literal personality trait of hers, why wouldn’t you include it? 😢
Wow, the AI really did a really thorough job on the wrinkles on the forehead!
I thought the wrinkles were more on the dents of the eyebrows... I have a teacher just like that, it's the hair (grey/butthead) that I'm more thinking of
Load More Replies...Handsome Hans
If they make a live action one Liam helmsworth has to play him
Him and Chris look so alike and both still lovable 😍😍
Load More Replies...*punches hand in the face* sorry you were saying
Load More Replies...Kristoff
He kinda looks like some kind of 2000’s Disney Channel character from a show that takes place in a summer camp
And he’d be that ‘edgy’ character who plays the guitar. And the main character would bump into him and the it’d be a love at first sight thing.
Load More Replies...??!! Men in Europe have been sporting earrings (and other body piercings) since the tribal times!!!
Load More Replies...True, "cute". But I have would have enough "cigar" for the BOTH OF US. 💜
Load More Replies...Elsa
Disappointed with this one, no braid, purple eyeshadow, or glitter. Still pretty though
Both mouth and nose. It's like "my first Photoshop project!"
Load More Replies...Definetly a Nordic/northern salvic look going here, but you can see the AI doesnt take to the "side-on" profile very well. The eyes always look a little mismatched in size.
And the nose is showing from the wrong angle in comparison to the face.
Load More Replies...my thoughts exactly. she stinks like mean girl.
Load More Replies...Isabela Madrigal
WELCOME TO THE FAMILY MADRIGAL! THE HOME OF THE FAMILY MADEIGAL! WHERE ALL THE PEOPLE ARE fAnTaStIcAl AnD mAgIcAl!
A hurrican of jacarandas, strangling figs, hanging vines. Palma de cera fills the air as I climb and I push through, what else can I do? Can I deliver us a river of sundew? Careful, it's carnivorous! A little just won't do. I wanna feel the shiver of something new! I'm so sick of pretty, I want something new. Don't you?
You just seemed like your life’s been a dream since the moment you opened your eyes. All I know are the blossoms you grow but it’s awesome to see how you rise, how far can I rise through the roof to the skies, LET’S GOOOOO!
Load More Replies...It starts with Abuela And then Tía Pepa, she handles the weather (but what about Mirabel?) My mom Julieta can make you feel better with just one arepa (but what about Mirabel?) My dad Agustín, well He's accident-prone but he means well (but what about Mirabel?) Hey, you said you wanna know what everyone does I got sisters and cousins and (Mirabel) My primo Camilo won't stop until he makes you smile today (Mirabel) My cousin Dolores can hear this whole chorus a mile away (Mirabel) Look, it's Mister Mariano, hey You can marry my sister if you wanna but (Mirabel) Between you and me, she's kind of a prima donna Yo, I've said too much and thank you but I really gotta go (Mirabel) My family's amazing (Mirabel) And I'm in my family, so (Mirabel) Well, Mirabel!!!
John Smith
Smith? Isn't that what she renamed him? Smith as John Smith... heeheehee
Load More Replies...Show White
Look where her front teeth are in comparison to her nose. Now you can't un-see it. You're welcome.
Her teeth are weirdly placed: the gap between her two large incisors should be aligned with her philtrum.
At least make her a teenager!! This lady IS stunning … but she looks more like a flight attendant (how they used to look - back in the day)
I just got an image of Snow White as an attendant and singing to a bunch of snakes 😄
Load More Replies...Bart Simpson
Nose as well. Either that, or Jimbo hit him square before...
Load More Replies...i've had acne since i was like 9 :( i'm 12 now it sucks
Load More Replies...Of course, but only for you you adorable little demon *casually grabs the holy water and checks to make sure its not watching me*
Load More Replies...Anyone remember Spike from Buffy...? I swear this looks more like a kid version of that character instead lol
I agree with the "surprisingly" part. Normally I roll my eyes at this type of post, but this time I was impressed.
Load More Replies...amazing! keep up the good work my good sir/ma'am (i aint tryna assume genders here)
Somewhere in the world there is someone that looks like each and every one of these guys.
How exactly is this achieved, I feel like 'ai' means you hit a button and it happens? I am sure its not like this but there is no context.
No they use something, maybe artbreeder, to make a face that looks like the character. this is why some features weren't recreated bc ai has a hard time with some stuff.
Load More Replies...I agree with the "surprisingly" part. Normally I roll my eyes at this type of post, but this time I was impressed.
Load More Replies...amazing! keep up the good work my good sir/ma'am (i aint tryna assume genders here)
Somewhere in the world there is someone that looks like each and every one of these guys.
How exactly is this achieved, I feel like 'ai' means you hit a button and it happens? I am sure its not like this but there is no context.
No they use something, maybe artbreeder, to make a face that looks like the character. this is why some features weren't recreated bc ai has a hard time with some stuff.
Load More Replies...
