In the hopes of piquing your interest, we tried to focus on the cartoons which have garnered a worldwide following over the years. Of course, there are more obscure ones, of which only a handful of people has heard, but chances of them getting a shoe collection are, sadly, minimal.

So, let’s go over the animations and characters which found their place on our list – and maybe a few that hadn’t, but that are still quite popular. It’s easy when you’re shopping for yourself, and you’re confident in your favorites and choice. But if you happen to be confused by all of this, and have stumbled upon our list only to get inspiration for a gift for someone who’s passionate about cartoons, this speedy tutoring in all things cartoons will help.

Disney – You can never go wrong with Disney. A certified cartoon empire, The Walt Disney Company, started out as a family-owned business in 1923. Since then it has evolved dramatically, and today there isn’t a child, teen or adult who hasn’t heard about Disney.

Coincidentally, we’re certain that there’s no child, teen or adult who doesn’t have a favorite Disney movie or a favorite Disney character. Which is why when shopping for cartoon shoes for someone else, Disney is a safe bet. Though there are different versions of Disney you should be aware of:

Disney Princesses – With every passing year they grow in numbers. First, there were the eight original Disney princesses: Cinderella, Snow White, Belle, Ariel, Aurora, Jasmine, Mulan and Pocahontas. But now our princess group includes Merida, Rapunzel, and Tiana, and will likely continue to expand.
The Disney Princesses encompass everything a little girls dream of beauty, strength, cleverness, courage, big sparkly dresses, and dazzling tiaras. This Disney collection has been on a roll since its inception, and you can find the now iconic of Disney Princesses on any type of product you can imagine: from office supplies to electronics, from food and ice cream too, unsurprisingly, apparel. Learn what someone’s favorite Disney Princess is, and you won’t have to worry about shopping for them ever again.

Classic Disney – When we say ‘classic,’ we’re thinking of the timeless silhouettes of Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Donald and Daisy Duck, Goofy, Pluto, and others. Like the little black dress and a string of white pearls, these cartoon characters will never go out of style. Whether they are marketed in their original, playful design for children, or have a bit of a twist to them to appeal to an older demographic, you will surely find an endless supply of shoes with Classic Disney themes.

Anime – Anime is a word that refers to the type of 2D animation originating from and commonly associated with Japan. That is not to say that anime is limited to only this country. For decades now, it has spread and prospered all over the world, garnering millions of devoted fans in the West in particular. The Internet is packed with communities centered around anime productions, and in recent years anime conventions have become the go-to events for artists, cosplayers and other fans looking to meet new people and share their interests.
Some of the most popular animes, which have a wide selection of merchandise available, shoes included, are:

Hayao Miyazaki movies, such as Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, etc.

Hello Kitty – Admittedly, Hello Kitty is not a cartoon character. Rather, she is a cartoon in the sense that she is drawn, but she doesn’t belong to an actual cartoon production or animation. She has been designed by a company named Sanrio, presumably as a marketing strategy. Which worked, since today Hello Kitty is known worldwide, and her cute kitty face graces many a product, from school supplies to coffee shops, and even entire airplanes decorated in her color theme.

She is a representative of the ‘kawaii’ part of Japanese pop culture, a word that roughly translates to ‘cute, adorable, loveable.’ Indeed, Hello Kitty has captured many hearts with her pink bow, button nose, short whiskers, and precious outfits. Today, she is not only popular among children but also among many young (and older) adults as well.

Snoopy – The craze for Snoopy originated in a comic strip titled ‘Peanuts’ in 1950. Charlie Brown and his pet beagle have become the most recognizable and iconic characters of this strip, and have a huge following all over the world, especially in Asian countries.

Cartoon Network – Cartoons from the Cartoon Network, unfortunately, didn’t make it on our list, but it is important to mention them, as they have strong fanbases despite being a part of a cable TV channel. You might have heard of titles such as The Powerpuff Girls, Johnny Bravo, Dexter’s Laboratory, Ed, Edd & Eddy and similar. These are all part of the Cartoon Network family, and not famous only in the US. The channel has been a kids’ favorite in other parts of the world as well, and this is why products bearing these familiar cartoon faces are sought after everywhere.

Marvel and DC – Marvel and DC don’t only come in epic cinematic form – they are comics first and foremost, and as such stock-full of hand-drawn cartoon characters. They might represent people and are less caricatured than others, but entire pages out of these comics find their way onto fashion runways. They offer a trendy, rock and roll vibe that is perfect for those who are looking to be a little bold and a little ironic in their style.
For fear of overloading you with information not particularly relevant to shoes, we’re going to stop here. Bear in mind that the ones mentioned in this section and on our list are not the only cartoons you can find printed on shoes. They are the most commonly purchased, but if you’re looking for that perfect cartoon-themed gift for someone, make sure to get the name of their favorite animation as well as their shoe size.

Print in the form of cartoons doesn’t lend itself to high fashion or formal gatherings. Sure, some might wear a cartoon-themed gown or high heels to an elegant event for a more tongue-in-cheek approach, but when we hear cartoon shoes, we think causal. Laid-back. We imagine the weekend and hanging out with our friends or playing with our kids.

This is why the shoes on our list are leaning towards comfortable, everyday wear, and why we have chosen models that can be worn with anything in an unofficial setting.

Sneakers: Whether you’re looking for a pair of new shoes for the gym, need basic footwear for every day, or are even trying to match something easy and effortless with that new skirt you bought – sneakers will never fail you. Cartoon sneakers especially are cute, whimsy, and will add a touch of that much-needed liveliness to any outfit.
On our list we have included regular trainers, then slip-ons for – as their name says – quick and easy slipping into your shoes, particularly useful for those who are perpetually late, and of course, high tops, for a splash of cool rock rebellion.

Boots: Just because it’s rainy and muddy outside doesn’t mean you have to feel that way inside too. Treat yourself to a pair of waterproof boots with some colorful cartoon designs on the sides and step out into bad weather with a grin on your face and a spring in your step. Instant mood lifters!

Sandals: When summer rolls around we immediately go for bright and bold, open-toed and strappy. Sunshine and clear skies are the perfect opportunity to break out sandals with adorably funny cartoon characters on them. They certainly won’t leave anyone indifferent and will garner you many compliments along the way.
Don’t take our word as law, however. When it comes to fashion there are no rules; rather, there might be some, but style and taste are subjective, so in this case, rules are meant to be broken. If it’s a reflection of your personality, if you like to challenge both yourself and those around you, then by all means, wear those cartoon shoes to work, meet your in-laws in them, conquer the world!

Comfort comes, first and foremost, in the form of cushioning. Look for molded footbeds, for padded insoles, memory foam, and other shock-absorbing materials. When you’re expected to be on your feet for most of the day you need footwear which will distribute your weight evenly inside the shoe. The most important thing is that you don’t feel pressure in your heel and that your feet, ankles, knees and even lower back aren’t experiencing any cramping or pain.

Flexibility plays an important role in footwear comfort. You should go for shoes which roll with your foot as you move, which have soles that aren’t too rigid. The best option would be those which flex in the forefoot area.

Before you settle on a purchase, you should check that your shoe fits well. Your toes, or any other part of your foot, shouldn’t be hanging off the edge, and the straps of the sandal should be comfortable. They shouldn’t be so loose that your foot is slipping out – as you may risk losing your shoe in the middle of a hike – but they also shouldn’t be too constricting and painfully digging into your skin.

Lastly, try to avoid heavy, bulky models. They tend to put a lot of stress not only on your feet but also on your shins, and they aren’t ideal for all-day activity.

One of the key characteristics of a great design is being versatile enough to be worn with a variety of outfits. Usually, this will be something that isn’t too fancy or too plain.

Another important aspect of overall versatility is the color options. The colors available are important because even if the style is attractive, it won’t be quite as wearable if you aren’t able to get a color that will match with what your wardrobe.

Another important criterion that we used when picking out products is the price tag. The truth is, we all know the price is important. When picking out footwear, we have a budget in mind and try to stay in-between a specific dollar amount. However, when it comes to this type of evaluation, we are looking at something a bit different. Here, we focused on a way to ensure that no matter what product you decide, you receive your money’s worth for the purchase.

We paid very close attention to the highest priced items and the lowest price. In this, we were able to draw some conclusions as to what perhaps maybe an average price tag.