May it be an animated movie or a cartoon series — we easily get excited when our favorite characters appear on the screen. It is not uncommon to see male and female cartoon characters as reflections of our inner selves. They are the heroes we seek to become. There are a lot of female characters in cartoons that are used more as supporting characters for the male heroes. It is important not to underrate the female heroes (and villains) because they are wells of inspiration for some and iconic cultural symbols for others.
It is vital to have an example to follow — one which we aspire to become. It is not a shame to focus on some original cartoon female characters, especially the great ones. Since they are animated and presented in eye-seducing colors, well-developed and inspirational fictional characters are entertaining to watch and fun to learn from. It all depends on the execution of their presentation.
Some characters are so renowned that it’s hard to find anyone who hasn’t heard about them. Iconic female cartoon characters became famous thanks to their unique characteristics. Wonder Woman is known for her strength — Mystique for her double-sided intentions and strange abilities. An iconic female cartoon character is one we remember for the character she is. Mixing uniqueness with design will most certainly result in the rapid popularity of a character.
If you are wondering just how many animated female characters you know — you don’t need a quiz to find out. Below, you can check out your knowledge and maybe compare some of the entries with their male counterparts. If you recognize the cartoon characters in the list, be sure to upvote them. If you got inspired by one of the entries — share your story with a comment below.
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#1 Elsa, The Snow Queen (Frozen)
Elsa might be the best deuteragonist of the story — first being a villain, later becoming one of the greatest heroes of the story. Born with the ability to create snow and ice, she is the first daughter of Queen Iduna and King Agnarr. She was a Queen of Arendelle, but when the tides of history turned against her, her sister, Queen Anna, replaced her.
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19points
#2 Mulan (Mulan)
Mulan is the center of the Hua Mulan story and the protagonist of the 1993 animated movie Mulan. In it, she is the daughter of an army veteran, who replaces him and goes to join the imperial army, faking her identity and acting like a man. Mulan broke the gender norms of her time.
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18points
#3 Merida (Brave)
When all the attention is concentrated on the English royal family, Merida, the Scottish princess, feels like a breath of fresh air. Free-spirited and with strong determination, Merida is a tomboyish character who challenges the traditional views of her family and society. A true fighter, she takes destiny into her own hands.
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18points
#4 Princess Fiona (Shrek)
Shrek wouldn’t be the complex, deep character we know today if it weren’t for Fiona, a cursed princess. She was the only child of King Harold and Queen Lillian to be born in the realm of Far, Far Away, who was cursed when she was a little child by a witch. Her curse? Turning into an ogre every night. Yet she was able to find a way to love her new self over the course of the movies.
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16points
#5 Moana (Moana)
Sometimes, the thirst for adventure comes from one’s parents. Moana, a daughter of Chief Tui and Sina, has the ambitious wish to set out to sea on a boat. While she might have the spirit to rebel and travel, storms and faith seem to shackle her to the ground. Stubborn, she knows what she wants and is willing to try everything to reach it.
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16points
#6 Anna Of Arendelle (Frozen)
Anna of Arendelle is the heir apparent to the throne of Arendelle. She is a character who enjoys life as it is, mingling and playing with everyone like a young and energetic child. She maintains her upbeat attitude, trusting personality, and innocent belief in everyone around her, and doesn’t change much after becoming a full-grown adult.
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16points
#7 Wonder Woman (Justice League)
When we are talking about Wonder Woman and amazons — we aren’t talking about the US-based company. In the Justice League cartoon, Wonder Woman, one of the most adored and recognizable DC Super Heroes of all time, represents equality, justice, and truth for those who seek it.
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14points
#8 Pocahontas (Pocahontas)
Pocahontas is a character based on a real-life figure, Amonute — a Native American woman of the Powhatan people. In the animated movie, she is a brave and independent woman who tries to create a long-lasting peace between the newly arrived settlers from Europe with the native people of America.
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14points
#9 Elastigirl (The Incredibles)
Elastigirl is the alter ego of Helen Parr, and, as the name gives out, she is elastic and quite strong. She is the wife of Mr. Incredible, another superhero, and a mother to several children with powers. While her employer was the US government, she wasn't against working with other superheroes.
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14points
#10 Nala (The Lion King)
A king without a powerful queen is always bound to lose the title. Nala is a lioness, a friend and spouse of Simba, the protagonist of Lion King, and a very independent character with a light touch of kindness. She is the female lead in the movie and seems to fit the role perfectly.
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14points
#11 Kim Possible (Kim Possible)
If there is something impossible to do — Kim Possible will make it possible. Kim Possible is the protagonist of the happily named series Kim Possible (creative). While she might only be 14 years old, she works with law enforcement officers as a vigilante. In school, she is an A-grade student and popular among her peers.
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13points
#12 Belle (Beauty And The Beast)
Belle is the beauty in the movie Beauty And The Beast. She loves to explore the world around her and is very close to her innovative father. When he goes missing, Belle goes on a search, resulting in her meeting and being imprisoned by the Beast in a palace. She can see the beauty in the Beast and falls in love with what lies behind the furry layer of fear.
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13points
#13 Rapunzel (Tangled)
Rapunzel of Tangled, a character from the Grimms' fairy tale, represents young girls who are autonomous, imaginative, and continually wish to explore the vibrant world outside the little window. Rapunzel was a princess but didn't realize it until she was 18 years old.
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13points
#14 Katara (Avatar: The Last Airbender)
When the waterbenders of the southern water tribe were taken by force, Katara, the last remaining waterbender, was saved by her mother. Forced to hide her bending abilities, she went on the joint adventure with the Avatar and friends, during which she matured and mastered her own skills in bending.
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12points
#15 Velma Dinkley (Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!)
Most of the time, Velma is a bright young woman who enjoys the sciences in her numerous guises. She is showcased in the movies and series as extremely knowledgeable in specialized subjects like Norse literature. Due to her intelligence, she is usually the first to solve the mystery presented.
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12points
#16 Lisa Simpson (The Simpsons)
Lisa Simpson is the second child of Homer and Marge, the younger sister of Bart, and the oldest sister to Maggie. She is eight years old, intelligent, caring, and enthusiastic about the environment and all living things. She embraced vegetarianism and Buddhism and tried to instill the same beliefs in others but failed.
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12points
#17 Daria Morgendorffer (Daria)
The main character of the teen cartoon series Daria is named, you guessed it, Daria. In the beginning, she was a supporting character in the MTV series Beavis and Butthead but soon became a protagonist of her own. She is cynical, intellectual, and prefers to maintain a low profile, although she has a deadpan look.
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12points
#18 Turanga Leela (Futurama)
Turanga Leela is one of the main characters of Futurama and a commander of the Planet Express Ship. Kind-hearted in nature, with a no-nonsense type of personality, Leela can be funny and serious when needed. Leela's greatest strength is her ability to adapt to the presented situation and learn from her mistakes.
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12points
#19 Lana Kane (Archer)
In the spy-comedy animated series Archer, Lana Kane plays the female lead. She is a skilled spy who has received training in hand-to-hand fighting, counter-sniper, Krav Maga, and various weapons. Lana Kane is a go-getter who will do everything she can to reach her own goals and help others do the same.
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12points
#20 Captain Marvel (The Avengers: Earth Mightiest Heroes)
Captain Marvel is one of the greatest defenders of the universe, who seeks to create peace and destroy injustice. She was an officer in the US air force, but after being exposed to some DNA-changing material, she became Captain Marvel. Strong and independent, Captain Marvel is a deus ex machina type of character.
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12points