From the brilliant but absent-minded gadgeteer to the mad scientist with world-altering ambitions, cartoons have always had a knack for creating memorable scientist characters that have charmed their way into our hearts and imaginations. Here, we’ve compiled a list of the greatest cartoon scientists of all time, ranked by impact, popularity, and their contributions to their respective worlds.

1. Professor Hubert J. Farnsworth (Futurama)

2. Rick Sanchez (Rick and Morty)

3. Dexter (Dexter’s Laboratory)

4. Dr. Doofenshmirtz (Phineas and Ferb)

5. Dr. Benton Quest (Jonny Quest)

6. The Brain (Pinky and the Brain)

7. Professor Utonium (The Powerpuff Girls)

8. Gyro Gearloose (DuckTales)

9. Jimmy Neutron (The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius)

10. Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz (Phineas and Ferb)

11. Wayne Szalinski (Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show)

12. Professor Frink (The Simpsons)

13. Doctor Otto Octavius/Doc Ock (Spider-Man: The Animated Series)

14. Professor Membrane (Invader Zim)

15. Bulma Briefs (Dragon Ball series)

16. Ford Pines (Gravity Falls)

17. Dr. Wakeman (My Life as a Teenage Robot)

18. Beakman (Beakman’s World)

19. Dr. Nefario (Despicable Me series)

20. Simon Bar Sinister (Underdog)

This eclectic mix not only highlight the wide-ranging interpretations of what makes a ‘scientist’ in animation but also celebrate the richness these characters bring to their stories—often driving plotlines with their inventions, experiments, or simply their quirky personalities that never fail to entertain us episode after episode.