1.)Popeye 2.)Joker 3.)Beavis and Butthead 4.)Dr. Octopus 5.)Batman 6.)Cartman 7.)Woody Woodpecker 8.)Bugs Bunny 9.)Clutch Cargo 10.)Mr. Hanky

I'd go with, in no particular order, and off the top of my head, and only US-type characters [no Asterix, etc.]

Mickey Mouse
Bugs Bunny
Popeye
Kenny
Bart and/or Homer Simpson
Bullwinkle and/or Rocky
The Grinch
Charlie Brown
Beavis and Butthead
Woody Woodpecker

Those aren't necessarily my ten favorite, but what I would consider, off the top of my head, the Top 10 most popular/most recognized/most impact/most important animated characters.

don't forget about Pokemon....er.....Picachu

Pokemon would be an anime character.

anime = slang for japanese animation. how is that any different?

Too me anime and animation are different but somewhat similar.It doesn't look good for present day animation unless you count Disney movies.

bugs bunny
homer simpson
faye valintine (cowboy bebop)
Peter Griffen
beavis
(since the poster said "animated characters" so I guess characters from movies can count also)
Scar (lion king)
spiderman (the fox kids early 90's version, not the mtv version)
Mickey Mouse
Eric Cartman
snow white
Marlin (finding nemo)

these were also off the top of my head, and the original poster did not say anything about exluding anime characters

Hank Hill

Going purely for historical reasons:

Tom and Jerry (William Hannah/Joseph Barbera, 1939)
Fred Flintstone (William Hannah/Joseph Barbera, 1960)
Bugs Bunny (Warner Bros, 1938)
Felix the Cat (Otto Messmer, 1916)
Jonny Quest (William Hannah/Joseph Barbera, 1966)
Jessica Rabbit (Disney Studios & Gary K. Wolff, 1988/1981)
Mickey Mouse (Walt Disney, 1928)
Popeye (Elzie Segar, 1929)
Bart Simpson (Matt Groening, 1987)
... and Betty Boop (Max Fleischer, 1930)

(Others would be Mighty Mouse, Papa Smurf, and Fritz the Cat)

Gumby!

1.Optimus Prime (come on, can't believe he hasn't come up yet).
2. Rick Hunter
3. J.T. Marsh (Exo Squad)
4. Phaton (Exo Squad).
5. Kanada (Akira)
6. Spike (Bebop)
7. Megatron
8. D (Vampire Hunter D)
9. Snake Eyes (G.I. Joe)
10. Optimus Primal (Beast Wars).

Of course if we're not counting Anime than it's a totally different ball game.

Jar-Jar

Dammit!!!

Benjamin Daniel Katz.

Hank should be a model for us all.

How technical should we get?

This is a TV thread, but many characters here (Bugs, Mickey, Popeye) began in the movie theaters as their shorts played before the feature films

yeeeep

I still can't believe that I am the only one who mentioned Clutch Cargo.

who?

In no order, and leaving out some great choices:

1. Bugs Bunny
2. Animaniacs
3. Pinky and the Brain
4. Powerpuff Girls
5. The Genie (from Aladin)
6. Shrek
7. The Grinch
8. Underdog
9. Mojo Jojo
10. Homer Simpson

For information about Clutch Cargo go to toontracker.com/clutchcargo/cargohtm

In no particular order:

1 Popeye- If only for character. After a while his routine gets stale but it's always fun seeing Olive Oyl get harrased by Bluto.
2 Bluto- the first ultimate badass
3 Daffy Duck- funnier than Bugs.
4 Homer Simpson- He's like my pop...only fatter and dumb.
5 Tom and/or Jerry- You can't have one without the other. Best Cat and mouse team till....
6 Pixie and Dixie (and Mr Jinx!)- Mr Jinks was the first cat beatnik without even knowing it. Like...um, yeah.
7 Ren and/or Stimpy- I dunno about this new turn of events involving them but I guess they always were a little too close.
8 SpongeBob- I'm not sure why I like him so much but he gives me the Ren and Stimpy vibes.
9 Dexter- Crazy cool. Lives in his own nutty world.
10 Donald Duck- Even when he's serious, he's funny.

Honorable mentions:
Woody WoodPecker
Beavis and Butthead
Timmy (of southpark)
Wimpy
Itchy and Scratchy
Comicbook Guy
Speedy Gonzales

and of course......Carl from the simpsons.

1. Dr Zoidberg - Futurama

and the rest, in no paticular order...

Baby Stewie Griffen - Family Guy
Fred - Flinstones
Bart & Homer - Simpsons
Harley Quinn - Batman The Animated Series
Chilly Willy
The Pelican from Chilly Willy
Peter Griffen - Family Guy
Bruce Wayne/Batman