Halloween is all about the thrill of finding the perfect costume, feasting on frighteningly sweet treats, and having fun for the whole night. As we prep for the holiday, our anticipation cannot be contained as the surge of timely makeup looks and hairstyle inspiration continues to circulate by the hour. If you are just as excited but have no idea what to wear, there’s no need to panic if you haven’t decided on a costume yet — dressing up as your favorite cartoon will definitely turn heads and spark major nostalgia.
When looking for easy cartoon characters to dress up as, there are a few things to note. First: what are your personal favorite cartoon Halloween characters, and which are also beloved in pop culture? It’s hard to resist bringing iconic characters like Cruella de Vil, Princess Tiana, Daria, or Carmen Sandiego to life. And because they are so popular, it’s easy for people to get the reference, whether you re-create the look to the letter or go a bit more abstract.
It’s safe to say that pop culture costumes will never go out of style, and new inspiration continues to thrive each year. Additionally, if you’re a beauty lover, not only is Halloween your time to shine and truly flex those face-painting skills, but you can also prove once and for all that you are a wig-styling master. Seriously, what’s not to love about this holiday?
Whether you would like to debut a look as a couple or fly solo with the most colorful hair in the room, we’ve got you covered. Here are 17 cartoon character Halloween costumes that are a blast from the past and will bring smiles to every person at the party.
— Additional reporting by Tasha Dowbachuk