The Top 10 Best Cartoon Dogs From Movies
5. Dodger- Oliver and Company
Lady and the Tramp might be iconic and Dug might be adorable, but Dodger is just flat out cool. After all, he’s voiced by Billy Joel in Disney’s animated remake of Oliver Twist. The movie might center around a kitten, but Dodger tends to steal every scene he’s in. The dog all but owns New York as this Jack Russell Terrier dances his way through the city, artfully stealing everything he needs to survive while singing a jaunty tune. He teaches the feline orphan the ropes and eventually takes Oliver in to join his merry gang of lost souls. When it comes to cartoon dogs, Dodger is one of the best con artists and thieves out there. However, at his core, Dodger is a good boy who joins Oliver in risking everything to save a little girl kidnapped by a nefarious crime lord.
4. Balto- Balto
When it comes to good boys, there are few that live up to the legend of Balto. A wolf-dog hybrid, Balto was shunned by humans and dogs of the small Alaskan town he lived in. However, when the town’s children get sick, a freak storm prevents a plane from being able to bring them much needed medicine, and so it’s up to Balto and a team of sled dogs to make a perilous journey to get the medicine to them in time. The film is based on the 1925 serum run to Nome, which eventually went on to inspire the annual Iditarod race. It turns out that Balto was a real dog that actually helped make the initial run and save the lives of dozens of children thanks to his indomitable spirit. Not many on this list of cartoon dogs can hold a candle to his heroics.
3. Chief- Isle of Dogs
So far the entries on this list of cartoon dogs have been animated or CGI, but let’s not forget about all those incredible stop-motion movies out there featuring man’s best friend. Isle of Dogs triumphs the relationship between man and dog that’s been going on for so long it’s practically hardwired into our DNA at this point. Chief leads a pack of dogs that had been abandoned and shipped off to Trash Island in Japan in order to isolate those infected with dog flu. While he might have a bitter taste in his mouth for humans, he soon finds himself reluctantly befriending a small boy who comes to the island looking for his own lost dog. Even though he’s been hurt by humans before, Chief can’t help protect and love the young boy and that shows just how wonderful dogs are.
2. Gromit- Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
One of the most iconic stop motion dogs of all time managed to earn a spot on this list of cartoon dogs from movies thanks to the theatrical release of Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit. Before then he starred in several made for TV specials that featured him keeping his hapless owner out of trouble. Despite the fact that Beagles are so vocal in real life, Gromit never so much as utters a word as he constantly rescues his master Wallace from danger (most of which is self-inflicted). Gromit is an incredibly smart pup who’s loyalty (and patience) seems endless. Along with his master, Wallace, Gromit has scooped up a handful of Academy Awards which earns him a high spot on this list of cartoon dogs.
1. Charlie B. Barkin- All Dogs Go to Heaven
When it comes to cartoon dogs none of them hold a torch to Charlie B. Barkin. A stray German Shepherd who doesn’t trust humans as far as he can throw them, Charlie starts the film only looking out for number one. Together with his partner in crime, a loyal Dachshund named Itchy, he runs cons all over town earning a lot of enemies along the way. That is until he meets a little orphaned girl who needs his help. Reluctantly, Charlie helps the girl but insists it’s only because he can use her to get what he needs. Despite his words, Charlie’s actions show that he cares deeply for Anne-Marie. He even goes so far as to make the ultimate sacrifice to save her life. Charlie proves that all dogs are good at heart and because of that, all dogs go to heaven.
Honorable Mention: Zero- The Nightmare Before Christmas
Even ghost dogs deserve a bit of love, which is why I’m giving a shout out to Jack Skelington’s faithful companion, Zero. The little guy comes through at just the right moment to save Jack’s cultural appropriation of Christmas which makes him quite the hero. Plus, he’s just adorable.
Those are my picks for the best cartoon dogs from movies over the years. There are a ton of them out there though, so let me know if I missed your favorite. Leave a comment below with your thoughts. As always, I’ll be updating this list as new and improved cartoon dogs hit theaters. So, be sure to check back from time to time to see how the rankings on this list change.