Cartoons have been the home to many great superhero teams. From Cartoon Network to Warner Bros. Entertainment, these heroes remain prevalent in the hearts and minds of their fans. They may not always start as the superheroes their worlds depend on, but they are always ready to stand up to villainous threats and injustice.
A hero can come in many forms, from a few children wanting to do some good to inanimate objects coming to life. No matter their origins, they all have interesting stories to tell and a world to save. In the form of cartoons, these superhero teams can go anywhere, creating memorable moments for their fans to enjoy for years to come.
10 The Kids Next Door Made For A Unique Team
Codename: Kids Next Door
In the early 2000s, Cartoon Network aired an espionage-centered series called Codename: Kids Next Door. In the series' six seasons, a group of five children worked together to foil evil plots contrived by adults, teenagers, and senior citizens. These crimes were both trivial and serious, yet the group always came together to save the day.
Kids Next Door's characters were unique and versatile. The five main characters, often referred to by their code names (One, Two, Three, Four, and Five), were completely different from one another. Their distinct personalities ensured that there was a solution to every problem, and despite their differences, they were always able to rely on one another.
9 Ladybug And Cat Noir Embraced The Value of Teammates
Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir
Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir, is a two-person show in the first few seasons. The main heroes, Ladybug and Cat Noir, spend the earlier seasons fighting their adversary, Hawkmoth, alone. It isn't until their powers fall short that Ladybug searches for more allies to help them.
Usually in the form of her friends and classmates, Ladybug and Cat Noir embrace the new heroes. In giving the magical jewelry known as "Miraculous" to people she trusts, the former superhero duo embraces a new team. As Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir goes on, every Miraculous is given a holder, and the defenders of Paris grow from a team of two to seventeen heroes.
8 The Gargoyles Kept New York Safe
Disney's Gargoyles
A fan-favorite show from the 1990s, Gargoyles features inanimate objects that come to life. This Disney series follows the story of cursed Gargoyles who have been taken from their home in medieval Scotland to modern-day New York City. After spending thousands of years in a petrified state, they take on the role of the city's secret nighttime guardians.
Gargoyles continues to be popular thanks to its surprisingly dark undertones and complex storylines. The Gargoyles become a nocturnal team of saviors as they simultaneously adjust to their new lives and take down numerous supernatural threats.
7 The X-Men Capture Their Comic Counterparts
X-Men: The Animated Series
X-Men: The Animated Series was Marvel's attempt at bringing the famous superhero team into the world of animation, introducing the likes of Wolverine, Cyclops, Storm, and others to many young fans. Running five seasons, the series contained both original plots and ones loosely adapted from the comics.
X-Men: The Animated Series isn't the only series featuring the X-Men, but it stands out for its commentary on social issues. While battling various threats to the human race, the X-Men also deal with personal struggles in relationships, religion, and the loneliness that comes with being a hero. The show's serious undertones fit perfectly with the X-Men and the comics that inspire them
6 Toxic Ooze, Pizza, And Martial Arts Creates Unlikely Heroes
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987)
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have thrilled their fans through multiple cartoon adaptions. Their fan base spans multiple generations, and they remain a group of unlikely heroes that people love to watch. While their earliest series honed in on the turtles' humor and absurdity, other series, like the 2003 animated reboot, contain more serious plots and undertones.
The one thing every iteration of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles has in common are the acts of heroism they perform for New York City. Hidden in the shadows, they utilize their martial arts training and brotherly bonds to defend the city against strange threats, be it a wild-eyed scientist or their nemesis, the Shredder.
5 Voltron Can Overcome Their Differences
Voltron: Legendary Defender
Voltron's Paladins return to defend the universe in Netflix's Voltron: Legendary Defender. This contemporary reboot follows a group of teenagers as they leave their homes on Earth to become the next defenders of the universe. The diversity of the characters creates an interesting dynamic, and while they are there for different reasons, they come together as the lone force standing up to the tyrannical Zarkon.
In Voltron: Legendary Defender, each Paladin is as unique as the mechanical lion they pilot, and it allows the team to feel balanced. Each character can help the others grow in some way, and they manage to save the universe by overseeing their differences and coming together for the greater good.
4 The Crystal Gems Are Full Of Heart
Steven Universe
Steven Universe follows the life of a boy by the same name as he attempts to live up to his late mother's superhuman legacy. Steven joins a group known as the Crystal Gems, and together they become defenders of Earth. The group of once self-proclaimed guardians turns into genuine heroes over time as Steven slowly becomes their leader.
While the Crystal Gems had been around for thousands of years, they reach new heights once they are joined by Steven Universe. He quickly becomes the heart of the group and encourages each member to embrace new sides of themselves, creating a heartfelt and family-motivated superhero team.
3 The Teen Titans Refuse To Be Overshadowed
Teen Titans (2003)
Teen Titans is one of the most highly-acclaimed series from Cartoon Network, and it features various heroes and villains from DC Comics. The original team - Robin, Starfire, Raven, Cyborg, and Beast Boy - stand apart from the heroes who came before them as teenagers who are trying to find themselves while defending their home in Jump City.
It would be easy for the Teen Titans to be overshadowed by others, but they refuse to back down as they thwart their foes. Many of the series' storylines are adapted from the comics, and the Titans remain indomitable in the face of Slade Wilson, Brother Blood, and even the demon Trigon.
2 The Avengers Are Still The Earth's Mightiest Heroes
Avengers: Assemble
Marvel took the Avengers back to their roots in Avengers: Assemble. This animated take on the famous hero team aired for five seasons and featured Falcon as he began his journey as the Falcon. In his new adventures as a hero, Falcon joins the Avengers as they deal with threats that are both personal and intergalactic.
Avengers: Assemble remains popular with fans for its witty writing and the way it includes many heroes and villains from Marvel Comics. This includes the likes of Red Skull, Ultron, and Thanos, each of who are no match for the Earth's Mightiest Heroes.
1 The Justice League Sticks Together
Justice League/Justice League Unlimited
In the series Justice League, and Justice League: Unlimited, heroes from all over the DC universe come together to form the largest crime-fighting force in the universe. The original members consisted of heroes like Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman, but their numbers grew to include over thirty superheroes.
It can be difficult for large teams like the Justice League to work together, but the group's versatile roster keep everyone on the right path. With so many heroes watching each other's backs, they can maintain peace and justice for the entire world.