by Shannon Lausch

Created on: July 23, 2009

Need an avatar for a website and don't want to use a real picture? No problem! While you can't just take any picture on the web and use it as your avatar due to copyright laws, plenty of sites offer free avatars. The following four websites will generate a cartoon version of you.

1. Simpsons Avatar

To promote the release of The Simpsons movie, Fox created a site where you can design your own custom Simpsons avatar. Even two years after the movie's release, this site is still popular. For your avatar, you choose the gender, hair, eyes, nose, mouth and clothes color, and voila! You have your very own Simpsons character. After you're finished, download your avatar by using the down arrow key.

Registration is required and in the fine print, you'll see that Fox will send you e-mails about Fox products.

2. Yahoo Avatar

Yahoo also provides free, customizable avatars. You choose the appearance, apparel, background, and even extras such as accessories, pets, flags, family, and issues.

To use your avatar outside of Yahoo, you must take a screenshot of the page by hitting "ctrl" and "prt scr," and paste it into a graphics design program (it can be as simple as Microsoft Paint), crop it, and save it.

You must register with Yahoo, which can be a pain if you don't already have an account.

3. Face Your Manga Avatar

Face Your Manga is one of the best places to create an avatar. It's more detailed than The Simpsons avatar creator and less of a hassle than the Yahoo version. You pick gender, hair, eyes, nose, mouth, clothes, accessories, piercings, and even make-up.

After you're finished creating it, Face Your Manga will ask you for your e-mail address, and they'll send you your creation. Your avatar should display in the e-mail, and all you have to do is right-click and save it. They also give you the option of buying your avatar on the website to print.

4. South Park Avatar Creator

South Park's official website also offers an avatar generator for fans. You choose according to gender and age category, then skin tone, and then you can customize your South Park character according to eyes, eyebrows, mouth, hair, tops, bottoms, and accessories. After you hit finish, you can choose a landscape behind your avatar.

To download your avatar, click on JPG near the top. Choose the option best for your needs ("portrait" is a good, all-purpose choice). If you wish to save your creation, then you must register with the site.

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