100 Greatest Fictional Characters #35-31

We collected input from hundreds of visitors to the site, convention attendees, and industry professionals to compile the list of the 100 Greatest Fictional Characters of All Time. You can see the beginning of the project here, where you’ll also find an index of all the results to date.

Today we bring you the next five in our list of 100.

35. Mario

mario

Appears In: Nintendo video games
Created By: Shigeru Miyamoto

Plumber, super brother, and hero of the Mushroom Kingdom, Mario is the character who introduced an entire generation to video gaming. He became the primary mascot of gaming during the era of the NES, when Nintendo ruled the entertainment world, and his popularity endures even today.

34. Severus Snape

severussnape

Appears In: Harry Potter series
Created By: J.K. Rowling

Severus Snape’s questionable loyalties, moral grayness, and snark have made him one of the most complex characters in the Harry Potter universe. Couple that with his incredibly popular and successful portrayal by Alan Rickman in the movie adaptations, and Snape becomes an unforgettable anti-hero with a legion of fans.

33. Gandalf

gandalf

Appears In: The Lord of the Rings
Created By: J.R.R. Tolkien

Inspired by Merlin of the Arthurian legends, Gandalf would become the prototypical wizard of epic fantasy, himself inspiring countless future magic wielders such as Dumbledore and Rincewind.

32. Atticus Finch

atticusfinch

Appears In: To Kill a Mockingbird
Created By: Harper Lee

Father to Scout Finch, Harper Lee’s young heroine, Atticus is a lawmaker and attorney and presents unwavering morality and goodness alongside strength and honor. His cultural impact went far beyond the written page, actually inspiring many readers to pursue their own careers in the legal profession.

Voter Comments: “Atticus Finch was the ordinary person who became a hero through doing the right thing and is, in his character, the answer to all evil.” - Larry Davis

31. Laura Roslin

lauraroslin

Appears In: Battlestar Galactica
Created By: Ronald D. Moore

When viewers first meet Laura Roslin, she is a schoolteacher who has just been diagnosed with cancer. Fate drops her into the role of President of the Colonies, effectively making her the leader of humanity. She adapts and grows into her new role, showing humanity, fierceness, and strength of rare intensity for television.

Voter Comments: “Probably the best, strongest, and most well-written female character ever.” - Grant Gould

Previous five: #40-36
The list continues tomorrow with #30-26.

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 8th, 2009 at 11:00 am and is filed under Feature Articles, Lists. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.