Those who like to stay up late while flipping channels probably came across an odd cartoon show featuring talking fast food products at some point. Most fans of the Dave Willis and Matt Maiellaro-created cult hit Aqua Teen Hunger Force (ATHF), which ran on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim from 2000 to 2015 and will be returning in 2023, stumbled onto the show by accident and got hooked. There was no plot to speak of, yet the show still managed to attract a large fanbase because of its off-the-wall humor and fascinating characters.
As viewers delve more into the universe of Aqua Teen Hunger Force, they learn that it’s not just about three humanoid fast food products living together in suburban New Jersey; it’s about the bizarre, amusing, and often illogical adventures they go on. And while Master Shake, Frylock, and Meatwad are the apparent leads, the rest of the zany group makes ATHF stand out as a classic. There’s no doubting the influence of ATHF and its iconic cast on pop culture, even if some fans say that the show’s quality declined in later seasons. So, let’s stroll down memory lane and look back at the top 10 Aqua Teen Hunger Force characters who made us laugh and crave fast food.
10. Master Shake
Big and grumpy, Master Shake the milkshake cup leads the Aqua Teens. Shake’s sloppy, boastful, and selfish nature, which constantly upsets his housemates and neighbors (especially Carl), draws viewers to the show. Finding something positive to say about him will likely cause you to run out of episodes before you succeed. Shake is beneath contempt. He is the least likable of the three due to his illicit acts, which include murdering many people and torturing Meatwad in countless ways.
Even though Shake always gets what he deserves at the end of each episode, his character flaws prevent him from growing from his experiences. Shake’s popularity stems from the fact that he is portrayed as a social outcast who deserves the bad luck that befalls him; nonetheless, even as viewers delight in Shake’s misfortunes, they ultimately feel bad for him.
9. Frylock
Frylock, an intelligent container of french fries sporting a gray goatee, is far wiser than Master Shake or Meatwad. Master Shake may believe himself in charge, but Frylock runs the show. As the Aqua Teens’ rational leader, Frylock can use his laser vision and levitation — among his other superpowers.
Frylock is a faithful friend and protector, despite being frequently annoyed by Master Shake and Meatwad. He is the one who generally has to save the day when trouble arises, and while he isn’t hilarious himself, his reactions and actions often lead to the funniest gags from the other characters, especially Master Shake. His wit and relaxed manner are a welcome counterpoint to the mayhem on the show.
8. Meatwad
Meatwad, the raw meatball with the infantile personality, completes the leading trio. He is easily deceived and mistreated by others, particularly Master Shake and the Mooninites, because of his low IQ, inexperience, trusting nature, and sexual frustration. Fans love him anyhow because of his naiveté and good temperament.
Meatwad is always entertaining, thanks to his odd talent for shapeshifting (although inadequately) and his passion for playthings and electronic entertainment. He also frequently carries around a boombox radio from the 1990s called his “jam box,” which often blasts the music of MC Pee Pant’s incarnations. He may seem like the dimwit of the gang, but he proves to be very cunning and strategic at times, such as when he has Shake stuff a sword in his mouth to repay his debts.
7. Carl Brutananadilewski
The average person will meet a Carl once in their lifetime. The Aqua Teens’ grouchy next-door neighbor, Carl Brutananadilewski, is a shirtless, bald man with a heavy New Jersey accent. He loves sports, explicit material, and old-school rock (particularly Boston’s “More Than a Feeling”). Carl looks down on the Aqua Teens and thinks they’re weird. The Aqua Teens frequently use his pool without permission.
Carl’s occasionally cruel carpet factory worker father, his often argumentative mother, his male mafia cousin, and the single mother’s second cousin he clashes with — yet cares for — all make up his family. His personality seems eerily similar to that of real people. Carl’s trademark outfit consists of blue sweatpants, a white tank top, a gold chain, and green sandals. The word “2Wyked” is graphically displayed on the side of his Iroc.
6. Dr. Weird
The opening sequences of seasons one and two include Dr. Weird, a character who has nothing to do with the episodes but provides some of the show’s most memorable moments. Dr. Weird’s lunacy is fully displayed in the pilot episode when he creates the Rabbot to solve the world’s “vegetable problem.” There was the time he got his assistant Steve to eat sentient corn, had a child with a vacuum cleaner, opened a gateway to another universe, and took Steve’s spine out without a hitch.
This duo set the stage for disaster with their weird creations and nonsensical remarks. During the show’s cold openings, Dr. Weird would exclaim, “Gentlemen, BEHOLD!!” to Steve and, usually, no one else before demonstrating an item that would play a significant role in the episode, such as the RainbowMaker 400 in “Escape From Leprechaupolis” or MC Pee Pants in the episode of the same name.
5. The Mooninites
Pixelated aliens from the Moon, Ignignokt and Err, make frequent trips to Earth to cause trouble. The Mooninites’ superiority complex and penchant for petty criminality make them a continual source of tension for the Aqua Teens. They are a humorous addition to the show’s cast thanks to their 8-bit design and inflated sense of superiority. Leader Ignignokt is a green monster who towers over his red sidekick, Err.
Err is his rambunctious sidekick who talks a lot of trash, and he swears a lot to get his point across and agrees with Ignignokt most of the time. However, despite his role as a follower, Err has occasionally demonstrated that he is the smarter of the two. Uncle Cliff and the Gorgotron are two more Mooninites who have appeared in the show. Ignignokt’s uncle Cliff is a screamer over the smallest things, and The Gorgotron is a fictional creature from a video game designed as a con by the Mooninites.
4. The Plutonians
Plutonians Emory and Oglethorpe are two inept aliens from Pluto who have it in for the Aqua Teens. Despite the Plutonians’ best efforts, their schemes to exact vengeance invariably backfire on them. Their ineptness and outlandish appearance made them a hilarious counterpoint to the protagonists.
Oglethorpe, their leader, is the orange-skinned, overweight one who typically formulates their “plans” for global conquest. Oglethorpe’s tall, green sidekick, Emory, is always the first to realize when things have turned sour. The two have been partners since college, linked by a computer. Oglethorpe details his high school days with Ignignokt in “The Last One,” including a bizarre bus encounter.
3. MC Pee Pants
MC Pee Pants, also known as Sir Loin, Little Brittle, and the C-Bag, is a rap artist from hell who is reborn in new forms after each of his previous deaths. He adopts a new persona and identity each time he returns, but his voice, mannerisms, wardrobe, and bright, yellow eyes never change. MC Pee Pants rapidly gained a devoted following with his ludicrous outfit and zany rhymes.
He has transformed into a cow, an older man, a vampire, a worm, and a fly, among many other things. The only consistent features of his incarnations are the diaper, shower cap, and gold chain. Typically, he plots to take over the world by releasing a smash rap track like “I Want Candy,” “Doin’ it 4 Da Shorteez,” or “Come Visit Me, Dawg,” in which he gives his audience (who, thus far, is pretty much only Meatwad) detailed directions on how to carry out his plan.
2. Handbanana
Frylock’s genetic engineering experiments resulted in Handbanana, a yellow dog. Handbanana, now that he can communicate and has a warped moral compass, poses an immediate threat to the Aqua Teens and their neighbors. Handbanana is one of the most memorable characters in the program because of his disturbing personality and strange backstory.
Handbanana can utter words so that only Carl can hear them. This ability causes Carl much unease when he hears Handbanana say, “Tonight. You.” Frylock, Master Shake, and Meatwad all think Handbanana is a sweet dog because they can’t understand his words. Handbanana, on the other hand, develops an illicit hunger for Carl and regularly violates him without anyone noticing.
1. The Cybernetic ghost of Christmas past from the future
This robot from the future, known as the Cybernetic ghost of Christmas past from the future, is entirely bonkers and thinks he is the Ghost of Christmas Past. He initially visits Carl at his home, describing “what Christmas was like” when Carl was eight years old and his father forced him to eat carpet while robots and lasers destroyed their home.
While filling Carl’s pool with elf blood, he tells a narrative about Santa Claus, an ape named “Sir Santa of Claws,” and Martians who work as elves to the Aqua Teens and Carl. He constantly rambles on like this without ever getting to the point or making any sense. He may be related to Turkatron, the faulty present-day toy that claimed to be the Cybernetic ghost of Christmas past from the future.