Top American Cartoonists

Cartoonists are able to express emotions behind life experiences and conjure reactions with simple means. Hand-drawn figures can elicit laughter, anger, melancholy and the desire to just see more. The list of power players below outlines the American cartoonists who have made a lasting impact through the form of drawn expression.

Top American Cartoonists (in no particular order)

1. Bill Watterson

“It is surprising how hard we will work when the work is done just for us,” said the iconic Bill Watterson, artist of beloved Calvin and Hobbes cartoon strips. His uplifting, family-focused satirical art about a young boy and his best friend, a stuffed tiger, dominated the market with intelligent humor and soft-hearted sentiment. The 10-year syndicate won him over 15 awards. Refusing to merchandise, the cartoonist has stated that only knockoff thieves have made money from the comic. He also avoids signing his books to ensure copies are not sold for extra money.

During childhood alone time, Watterson would draw for hours upon hours, influenced by other comic strips like Peanuts and Krazy Kat. With parental support, his initial creations were displayed through forums like yearbooks and the school paper. Drawing became his main avenue of meeting and sustaining friendships.

Infamous rough-and-tumble kid Calvin was named during Watterson’s studies of political science in college after John Calvin, a 16^th-century theologian entrenched in predetermination. Hobbes was named out of respect for a 17^th-century philosopher with a pessimistic view of human nature. Despite Watterson’s talent for elaborate paintings, his cartoon figures were usually in black and white and simple in nature, mostly relying on bubbles containing words. This minimalism also displayed depth, imagination, and inspiring humor.

2. Cathy Lee Guisewite

Midwesterner Cathy Lee Guisewite ran a 34-year comic strip featuring an American female struggling with “the four basic guilt groups;” eating, work, relationships and having a mother. Guisewite’s talents originated as a picture-form diary and venting mechanism during her years in college as an English major. To find products that can help you do the same, check out our drawing pencils.

This cartoonist’s “Cathy” character and storyline became evident to professionals in the art industry, eventually making her one of the most popular American female cartoonists of all time. Her comics were featured in books, shows, drawings and decorative ware, cards and newspapers. After Guisewite’s hard work was recognized with multiple nationally-recognized awards, she always stood by the power of release putting pencil to paper can create, whether or not money or recognition is gained from it.

3. Seth MacFarlane

Beer-guzzling fathers, talking dogs, perverted neighbors and superheroes is touching the atmosphere of Seth MacFarlane’s cartoon planet. Author of the animation series Family Guy and American Dad (among others), MacFarlane was published weekly as a comic since middle school in his local newspaper of Connecticut. Even at that age he received backlash for his edgy sense of humor, in particular about a joke he drew regarding Sunday communion.

At the age of 24, he pitched his original work to Fox, becoming the youngest executive producer and eventually the highest paid television writer. His recognizeability was bolstered when he took over the voices of the four main male characters in Family Guy and also began appearing in acting roles. Movies, songs, dolls, websites and a myriad of products have evolved out of MacFarlane’s solitary sketch work, in addition to millions of fans that have never seen his face.

4. Chuck Jones

No list of the top American cartoonists would be complete without Chuck Jones. Chuck was the longtime animator of Looney Tunes, and creator of iconic characters like Wile E. Coyote and Marvin the Martian. He also directed the Christmas classic How the Grinch Stole Christmas and the profoundly (and delightfully) odd The Phantom Tollbooth. He was a living legend before he passed away in 2002, and his legacy and love for animation and cartooning live on through the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity in Southern California.

Chuck also had an affinity for a certain pencil. Can you guess which pencil that was?

5. Walt Disney

Possibly the most highly recognized and enduring figures in the cartoonist community, Walt Disney’s span in his field across time and location is almost incomparable. The term high school drop-out is usually associated with laziness, but Disney was planning on entering the military. Never graduating high school or successfully gaining entry into the army, he started working jobs like ambulance driving and banking. Disney worked night and day to start a company featuring entertainment, also giving him an opportunity to experience his passion, drawing cartoons. After 32 Oscar Awards, 48 Academy Awards, a multi-billion dollar franchise and an international presence on the market, Disney passed away at the age of 65 in 1966. His company and legacy continue across the globe.

6. Ron English

Considered a highly influential multi-medium artist, Ron English, a “culture jammer,” portrays social commentary by utilizing popular culture images in re-fashioned context. He coined the term “Popaganda” as a nickname for traditional advertisement that encourages consumerism of specific products, religions and politics, especially harmful influences like tobacco, fast food or thin ideals. English became prominent with his use of comic book collage, featured in magazines and movies like Supersize Me.

His artistic process begins with pencil sketches and can end in paintings, sculptures, comics, billboards and figurines. Stating that ideas are fragile, English keeps pencils and pens at his disposal as much as possible, stating, “New ideas should be documented before they are forgotten.”

What do you think Pencileers? Who are your favorite American cartoonists? Sound off in the comments!