99 nail designs inspired by your favourite animated characters

By Jess Watts | 29 October 2026

Check out entries to the 28 October 2026 nail art challenge from Scratch, in which techs were tasked with creating a design to fit the theme: Animated Characters.

Each nail style was submitted via Instagram or Facebook using #ShowScratch #CreativeChallenge.

Follow Scratch on Instagram and Facebook for future Creative Challenges – launching every other Wednesday.

Neon yellow and cartoon character stiletto nail art
Image courtesy of Jennifer Casanova
Green Disney character nail art on hands
Image courtesy of Nails & Beauty by Louise
Three hand-painted horror-themed decorative nails
Image courtesy of Amy Lambourne
Long acrylic nails featuring colourful SpongeBob cartoon characters
Image courtesy of Sammy MacDougall
Aladdin-inspired blue genie and gold nail art
Image courtesy of Lydiarose Jenkinson
Hands with colourful rainbow and cartoon character nail art
Image courtesy of Pristine Nails
Hands with elaborate horror-themed character nail art
Image courtesy of Luna Nails
Colourful cartoon-themed nail art on tattooed hands
Image courtesy of DeadGlam – Hair & Beauty
Four colourful character nail art designs on glittery background
Image courtesy of Becka Turner
Nightmare Before Christmas-inspired colourful stiletto nail art
Image courtesy of MJ Allure
Aladdin-inspired blue glitter nail art with character portraits
Image courtesy of Emily Rainbow
Black and white cartoon character stiletto nail art
Image courtesy of Leia Sarah
Valentine’s nail art samples with kissing couple and hearts
Image courtesy of Kamila Konopniak
Teal and purple Pokémon character nail art
Image courtesy of Maï Shelb
Gloved hand holding a hooded face pendant on clear strip
Image courtesy of Icon ByTiffany
Green Powerpuff Girls nail art with white heart designs
Image courtesy of Sophie Ward Nail Artist
Cartoon character nail art on colourful blue manicure tips
Image courtesy of Candida De Lange
Hand with Alice in Wonderland character nail art
Image courtesy of Nails By Freya
Black and green novelty nail art with rude lettering
Image courtesy of Phenominails
Hands with Pokémon nail art holding Eevee Loungefly backpack
Image courtesy of Seaside Sanctuary
Hand-painted character nail art displayed on a clear stand
Image courtesy of Nailed by Clare
Hand-painted Simpsons character nail art set
Image courtesy of As Pretty As. Nails by Kelly
Pink glitter acrylic nails with cartoon character art
Image courtesy of Stacey Fleming
Colourful Powerpuff Girls-inspired stiletto nail art
Image courtesy of Valhalla beauty
Blue artificial nails with intricate hand-painted character designs
Image courtesy of Marina Fenwick
Colourful character nail art on hands with glitter accents
Image courtesy of SamWorrall.NailArtist
Turquoise nails featuring hand-painted Simpsons family portraits
Image courtesy of Aurelija O’Neill (Starry Moon Beauty)
Finding Nemo character nail art on glittery blue nails
Image courtesy of LoveUrban Nail Design
Hands with colourful cartoon character nail art
Image courtesy of Iris Retreat (nails by Jenna)
Halloween nail art with stitched doll and purple ombré
Image courtesy of Charmaine Baumber Beauty
Hands with colourful Nightmare Before Christmas themed nail art
Image courtesy of Bellissimo Beauty
Purple glitter nails featuring Harry Potter character artwork
Image courtesy of Storme Hargreaves
Hand-painted cartoon character nail art on four artificial nails
Image courtesy of Charlotte Knowles
Hands displaying colourful Halloween-inspired stiletto nail art
Image courtesy of Louise Bradshaw
Tattooed hands displaying colourful 3D character-themed stiletto nails
Image courtesy of Naileditbyam
Rabbit nail art holding heart balloon and love letter
Image courtesy of Brydie Leishman
Colourful cartoon character nail art designs on artificial nails
Image courtesy of Julie Quinn Cornes
Cosmic-themed blue stiletto nail art with cartoon astronaut
Image courtesy of Willow Tree nails & beauty
Blue and black gothic nail art on manicured hands
Image courtesy of Nails by Michelle
Colourful Scooby-Doo themed nail art on long pointed nails
Image courtesy of Casey Morris
Colourful cartoon character nail art on turquoise and purple nails
Image courtesy of Hayliegh Marie Nail Artist
Christmas Winnie-the-Pooh character nail art set
Image courtesy of Carla Brannan
Toy Story character-themed 3D nail art on a hand
Image courtesy of Julia Szczypel (Instagram.com/yukii_nails_)
Super Mario character nail art featuring six colourful designs
Image courtesy of Ellen Rigg
Nightmare Before Christmas character nail art on long nails
Image courtesy of Brittany Davies
Hands with colourful, pointed Halloween-style nail art
Image courtesy of Clare Kirk
Three cartoon character nail-art designs on display nails
Image courtesy of Daniella Manning (Ellagant Beauty)
Moana-themed acrylic nails with glittery blue ocean tips
Image courtesy of Alisa Jade
Winnie the Pooh character nail art manicure
Image courtesy of Base Coat
Disney Little Mermaid character nail art on long acrylic nails
Image courtesy of Mimi Crocker
Colourful cartoon character nail art on manicured fingernails
Image courtesy of Sophie Louise Anglesey
Cruella de Vil and Dalmatian themed nail art
Image courtesy of Vicki Sargeant
Hand with Scooby-Doo character nail art
Image courtesy of Ntina Tsihlas
Nightmare Before Christmas themed painted false nail display
Image courtesy of Amy Greenwood Brokey
Nightmare Before Christmas themed stiletto nail art
Image courtesy of Charlee Spencer
Hand with colourful comic-style nail art and gold ring
Image courtesy of Jean Stevens
Corpse Bride themed blue, black and silver nail art
Image courtesy of Wicked Nails By Heather
Glittery pink nails with cartoon faces, flowers and rainbow stripes
Image courtesy of Erin Kinney
Hands displaying colourful Winnie-the-Pooh character nail art
Image courtesy of Annie Bennett
Autumnal chicken-themed nail art on long pointed nails
Image courtesy of Bec Dawber
Black-and-white gothic manicure with skeleton and skull nail art
Image courtesy of Courtney Nicole (Instagram.com/thatfxnailgirl)
Character nail art on clear artificial nail tips
Image courtesy of Alexandra Dascalu
Six Super Mario character nail art designs
Image courtesy of Gail Cheneler Nicholls
Hands with colourful Pokémon character nail art
Image courtesy of Holly Morris-Last
Lion King-inspired nail art with sunset silhouettes and jewels
Image courtesy of Amanda Trivett
Hands displaying colourful cosmic-themed nail art designs
Image courtesy of Sage Blossom Beauty
Halloween-themed nail art featuring ghosts, monsters and skeletons
Image courtesy of Megan Sasbry
Halloween-inspired Mickey Mouse and skeleton nail art design
Image courtesy of Laura Bennett
Pikachu and Stitch character nail art close-up
Image courtesy of Petra Szabó
Hands displaying colourful Toy Story themed nail art
Image courtesy of Jess Hales
Simpsons character nail art on colourful acrylic nails
Image courtesy of beautyby.laylarose
Nightmare Before Christmas themed 3D Halloween nail art
Image courtesy of Ashley McCann
Toy Story character nail art on hands
Image courtesy of Natalie Barker
Nightmare Before Christmas themed nail art with rhinestones
Image courtesy of Steph Beaulieu
Long stiletto nails with hand-painted Disney villain portraits
Image courtesy of Megan Heppinstall
Colourful tropical nail art with portraits and hibiscus flowers
Image courtesy of Jessy Technicienne Ongle
Hands with colourful Pokémon character nail art
Image courtesy of Kiyomi Taianao
Neon green nails featuring colourful cartoon character portraits
Image courtesy of Vicky Fisher
Pokémon character nail art with glitter and Poké Balls
Image courtesy of Isabelle Pattissier
Colourful Scooby-Doo themed nail art on ringed hands
Image courtesy of Megan Roberts Allen
Lion King themed nail art on long pointed nails
Image courtesy of Hailey McCoy
Hands with illustrated nail art on faux fur coat
Image courtesy of Sydney White (Instagram.com/nailsbysydney.x)
Ghost nail art with pumpkin on lavender stiletto nail
Image courtesy of Laura McInulty (Beauté Vive)
Colourful long nails with cartoon girls, flowers and butterflies
Image courtesy of Rebel Rose Haus of Beauty
Green glitter nails with cartoon insect character designs
Image courtesy of Becky Tosh (Becky Boos Nails)
Toy Story character nail art featuring Slinky Dog and Buzz
Image courtesy of Kelly Lockwood
Colourful My Little Pony character nail art designs
Image courtesy of Sam Devereux
Pointed nails with colourful Transformers character nail art
Image courtesy of Claire Knight
Hands displaying detailed Disney villain character nail art
Image courtesy of Gels By Jodie
Hand with red and blue villain-themed nail art
Image courtesy of Nicole McKee
Hands with yellow Minion character nail art
Image courtesy of Zoe Holes
Up-inspired hand-painted blue nail art with balloons
Image courtesy of Claire Williams
Neon green and black abstract nail art manicure
Image courtesy of Julie Hardy (Sparkle & Glitz)
Disney villain and duck character nail art with autumn leaves
Image courtesy of Instagram.com/oliviamaystudio_
Flintstones character nail art on a marble background
Image courtesy of Instagram.com/seahorsebeauty_pressonnails
Hands with colourful comic-inspired character nail art
Image courtesy of Instagram.com/nails.by.katex
Black and white Nightmare Before Christmas character nail art
Image courtesy of Instagram.com/bonniequines
Colourful cartoon character nail art with glittery green swirls
Image courtesy of Instagram.com/savvystudios__
Grinch-inspired Christmas nail art with red and glitter nails
Image courtesy of Instagram.com/stacysnailstudioyql
Posted in Art & Technique