Is it permissible to draw cartoon characters?

It is not permissible to draw or depict animate beings, whether by sculpting or on paper or cloth, and whether the image is real or imaginary, such as pictures of winged horses. This is based on the prohibitions indicated in the hadiths, and because the basis of the prohibition is that the depiction is of animate beings. Even if the images are imaginary or distorted, the prohibition remains in effect due due to the generality of the texts, the resemblance [to God's creation], and because it is a means to shirk (definition) (polytheism). This ruling also applies to animated cartoons depicting animate beings.