- Ivan: An easygoing gorilla who has lived in the Big Top Mall and Video Arcade for 27 years. Ivan has spent most of his life in captivity, either living in a human home or at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade. He remembers only a little about his life before captivity and has grown content with his life at the mall. As the story progresses, Ivan determines that his life is not satisfactory and he works to save Ruby and himself by having them both brought to a zoo, where they will spend the rest of their life.
- Stella: a senior elephant who used to live in a traveling circus before she suffered an injury and was sold to Mack. Stella has a long memory, and would much prefer to live in a zoo. She extracts a promise from Ivan to take care of Ruby if she cannot. She also dies from her foot infection.
- Bob: a stray dog who lives with Ivan in his domain. Bob is satisfied to be a stray dog and has no desire to be adopted into a human home. By the end of the book, it's implied that Julia's family takes him in.
- Mack: the owner of the small mall and part-time circus clown; he purchased Ivan from poachers who captured him in his home in Africa. Mack is not seen often in the book. He appears to be a generally good man. However, his business is failing and he cannot afford to keep up the mall the way he used to. His actions regarding Stella and Ruby are what finally spur Ivan to try to have Ruby moved to a zoo.
- George: The mall custodian. George is a good man who cares for the animals and the mall. However, he is conflicted about helping them because he is afraid of losing his job.
- Julia: George's daughter, who inspires Ivan to love drawing. Julia works to help Ivan in his quest to move Ruby and the other animals to a zoo.
- Ruby: a baby elephant who is new to the mall. Ruby has only recently lost her mother and has never previously been trained in circus tricks. Ruby's treatment at the hands of Mack is what ultimately drives Ivan to try to find a way to save her. She can also tell if people are lying.
- Thelma: a repetitive parrot who lives in the mall.
- Kinyani: a female gorilla who Ivan meets at the zoo.
- Maya: the zoo owner who brings Ivan and Ruby and all the animals from the Big Top Mall to the zoo.
- Murphy: a white rabbit whose job in the circus is to drive around in a little red fire truck and squirt people with a hose.
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