Seth Rogen Animated Characters Ranked: From Big Mouth’s Worst Bully to The Lion King’s Lovable Pumbaa

Seth Rogen animated characters ranked highlights the comedian’s growing legacy as a versatile voice actor, moving from notorious animated troublemakers to beloved leads across movies and television. Over the years, Rogen has lent his instantly recognizable voice to a range of colorful personalities, from brief cameos to starring roles, steadily building an impressive body of animated work.

Famed for rarely shifting his natural tone, Seth Rogen brings a consistent vocal style to each part, allowing his roles to stand apart—or blend in—based on the stories and productions he joins. Whether voicing offbeat villains, comical sidekicks, or the occasional hero, his animated characters reflect both his comedic timing and his unique personal brand.

16. Seth Goldberg: Big Mouth’s Most Notorious Bully

Seth Rogen appears in three episodes of Big Mouth as Seth Goldberg, making an impact in a controversial show that is known for its brash humor and distinctive art style. Goldberg is depicted as one of animation’s more problematic figures, notorious for bullying other children, making crude jokes, and demonstrating openly transphobic behavior—even while harboring romantic feelings for a trans camper.

This role is widely considered Rogen’s least sympathetic animated character, and stands as a clear departure from the more lovable parts he has taken on elsewhere.

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15. The Ship Captain: Shrek the Third’s Fleeting Viking

In Shrek the Third, Seth Rogen voices a ship captain with a Viking appearance, transporting Shrek, Donkey, and Puss on their journey to find King Artie. Among the ensemble cast and the Shrek franchise’s sprawling universe, Rogen’s captain is a minor presence, notable largely for the rare effort he makes to alter his voice, offering a gruff, nautical drawl rather than his usual delivery.

Despite this vocal tweak, the ship captain’s role is limited to a few brief lines, vanishing from the story soon after his ship meets disaster, and leaving little lasting impression in the film.

14. Thor: Krapopolis and the Norse Guest Star

Krapopolis reimagines Greek mythology with comedic flair, and Seth Rogen enters the world briefly as Thor, the visiting Norse God of Thunder. For this role, Rogen abandons his typical delivery in favor of a booming, theatrical projection, echoing the superheroic portrayals familiar from early MCU films.

Though Thor is a charming, flirtatious visitor, his appearance is fleeting and ultimately lacks the depth or memorability of Rogen’s most significant animated contributions.

13. Morton: Horton Hears a Who!’s Loyal Mouse

In Horton Hears a Who!, Rogen voices Morton, the mouse who befriends Horton amid a cast of jungle creatures. Amid the world of Dr. Seuss adaptations, Morton is somewhat of an outlier—his loyalty stands out in a cast otherwise quick to dismiss Horton’s beliefs.

While Rogen’s vocal style does not perfectly fit Morton’s speedy, squirrelly energy, the character does manage to bring warmth to the screen, even if his absence would scarcely impact the plot’s direction.

12. Frank: Sausage Party’s Inquisitive Hero

Seth Rogen not only leads the raunchy comedy Sausage Party but also stars as Frank, a hot dog who discovers unsettling truths about his grocery store home. As the film’s protagonist, Frank serves more as a device for the film’s relentless stream of humor and social commentary than as a captivating character.

Despite Frank’s intentionally bland persona, Rogen’s commitment to the wild, crude antics of the script helps anchor the film’s bizarre world, providing at least a memorable if polarizing animated lead.

11. Santa Claus: Subversive Holiday Hijinks in Santa Inc.

Santa Inc. places Seth Rogen in the role of Santa Claus himself, in a satirical stop-motion series where traditions are upended and the search for Santa’s successor becomes fiercely competitive. The show blends nostalgic animation with edgy, irreverent content, featuring plenty of middle-school-level humor alongside pointed social commentary.

Within this cynical setting, Rogen manages to infuse Santa with moments of genuine warmth and approachability, though these are sometimes overshadowed by the series’ abrasive tone and controversial comedic choices.

10. Bebop: Mutant Mayhem’s Forgettable Boar

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem features Rogen as Bebop, a character he also helped bring to life as a producer. Traditionally known as a villainous partner to Rocksteady, Bebop’s role in this version is considerably lighter, more of a neutral figure with minimal dialogue alongside John Cena’s Rocksteady.

While the nostalgia of Bebop’s appearance appeals to fans, the adaptation refrains from fully developing the character, leaving Bebop and his rhino cohort on the narrative sidelines.

9. Bob: The Uncanny Valley Warrior in Chip n’ Dale: Rescue Rangers

Chip n’ Dale: Rescue Rangers turns the lens on the world of animation itself, and Rogen’s role as Bob the Viking pokes fun at both uncanny valley effects and his own voice acting style. The film includes meta-references, having many of his animated roles—from B.O.B., Pumbaa, and Mantis—converge for tongue-in-cheek cameos.

Bob, a photorealistic and intentionally awkward character, serves as a secondary antagonist. He is memorable for the self-aware humor, though Rogen does little to distinguish Bob’s voice from his other performances, intentionally so for comedic effect.

8. Napoleon: Political Power in Animal Farm

Seth Rogen takes on the classic literary figure of Napoleon in Andy Serkis’ forthcoming adaptation of George Orwell’s Animal Farm. Voicing the devious pig who symbolizes Joseph Stalin, Rogen blends his earthy comedic delivery with the iron-fisted undertones of a rising tyrant. This role stands apart for its historical and political resonance, demanding a different kind of gravitas from Rogen.

While his natural warmth is sometimes at odds with the narrative’s darker subtext, his approach gives Napoleon an approachable charisma that makes his rise to farmyard dictator disturbingly believable.

7. Pumbaa: The Lion King’s Comedic Heart

Rounding out the list, Rogen stars as Pumbaa in Disney’s photorealistic remake of The Lion King, a role previously made famous by Ernie Sabella. This new version amplifies Pumbaa and Timon’s roles within the film, allowing Rogen’s signature style to shine as the lovable warthog.

Although Rogen’s take on Pumbaa features a unique timbre compared to Sabella’s, it fits well in the comedic moments, helping to balance the film’s more dramatic scenes. However, the musical numbers present challenges for Rogen, most notably his delivery of:

When I was a young warthog

—Ernie Sabella, Original Voice of Pumbaa

His performance nonetheless cements Pumbaa as a highlight among Seth Rogen’s animated characters, showing how his distinct presence can successfully carry even the most iconic roles.

Seth Rogen’s Animated Journey: Enduring Influence and Future Roles

Seth Rogen’s ongoing foray into the world of animation underscores both his comedic talents and an evolving ability to adapt to various genres—from edgy comedies to modern takes on classic stories. Across Big Mouth’s controversial Goldberg, Shrek the Third’s ship captain, and the beloved Pumbaa in The Lion King, Rogen demonstrates that a consistent vocal style can nonetheless produce a spectrum of unforgettable, if sometimes conflicted, animated characters.

As productions like Animal Farm await release and animated franchises continue evolving, Rogen’s body of work stands as an illustration of the deepening connections between comedians and animation, hinting at more memorable performances on the horizon.