Cartoons have been both lessons and a reprieve from daily stressors ever since they've first been created. Some of them may have been strictly oriented toward younger audiences, but others have more appeal toward adults.
The widespread popularity of cartoons--across all ages and cultures--is unsurprising. The adventures of certain characters can be very relatable, even when they aren't human or they live in realities so different from our own. Cartoon creators often incorporate modern problems in their works, and that makes viewers empathize with a character that may seem very different from them.
10 Wolverine Has A History Of Heartbreak, Loss, And Torture
Comic book adaptations tend to be oriented toward an older part of the audience, but they also offer a lot of relatable characters. Before Hugh Jackman's Wolverine, there were other incarnations, and perhaps the most popular one is from Marvel's X-Men: The Animated Series.
Wolverine is a mutant who's suffered a great deal of prejudice and abuse because of his regeneration abilities. He's scrappy and stubborn, and his quips are probably the closest thing to actual cursing viewers could find in the series. He's a soldier who gets kidnapped and loses his loved one Yuriko during his absence, only to be hit by heavy amnesia later. His feelings for Jean Grey aren't completely unrequited, but she always chooses Cyclops over him. For an adult watching the series, he's definitely relatable.
9 Muttley Has To Deal With An Unappreciative Moody Boss
Many cartoons star animals, and the level of amusement a fluffy companion can add to a show is always a nice touch. Muttley is the sidekick of villain Dick Dastardly, who appears in shows like Wacky Races and Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines. He's a mixed breed dog who acts as Dastardly's helper in his schemes.
Dastardly isn't always appreciative of Muttley's efforts, though, so it's not unusual for Muttley to take pleasure in his villainous employer's misfortune. His rasping laugh and acts of malicious compliance are so hilarious he was given his own show, The Magnificent Muttley. Granted, Muttley isn't always competent, but anyone who's ever had to deal with an unappreciative boss would understand and cheer Muttley on for his acts of defiance.
8 Shrek And Fiona Suffer From Severe Self-Esteem Issues
The main characters of the popular Dreamworks franchise Shrek, Shrek and Fiona are surprisingly relatable considering their background. Shrek is an ogre living in a swamp and Fiona a fairytale princess trapped in a tower guarded by a fire-breathing dragon. But they're both just people, and as Shrek says, they have layers. Shrek feels very self-conscious and frustrated about the hatred he receives because of his ogre nature.
Fiona is originally quite traumatized over her nighttime transformation into an ogre. But together, Shrek and Fiona find happiness and realize beauty really is in the eye of the beholder. They have no reason to be self-conscious, because to each other, they're already perfect. It's an inspiring story for anyone who has experienced prejudice because of the way they look.
7 Marlin Is Just Like Any Worried Parent Even If He Is A Fish
Pixar's Finding Nemo is one of the most well-known animated movies of the early 2000s. Its commercial success was huge, as it became the highest-grossing animated film at the time of its release. Its success is in no small part due to its relatable characters.
Marlin is a clownfish who loses his wife and most of their eggs in a barracuda attack. He becomes very protective of the sole remaining egg, whom he names Nemo. Years later, this causes Marlin and Nemo to argue. Nemo is then kidnapped by a group of humans, and Marlin recruits the absent-minded Dory to embark on a trip to save his missing son. It's a heartwarming tale of family, and many of the viewers must have experienced similar tensions, tragedies, and reunions with their loved ones.
6 Raven Struggles With Heavy Expectations From A Terrifying Parent
Not every parent is as great as Marlin. In Teen Titans, Raven's father is the demonic Trigon. He seeks to take over the universe and wants to use Raven as his tool in his wicked schemes. For most of the series, Raven is constantly under mental torment by her terrifying parent.
She finally succumbs in season four, but she also defeats him with a little help from her friends. It's an unfortunate fact of life that even humans can be demonic, and many parents can be as abusive toward their offspring as Trigon was to Raven.
5 Stanley Ipkiss Is A Shy And Meek Introvert Until He Finds The Mask
Shy people with anxiety problems may see themselves a lot in the protagonist of The Mask, Stanley Ipkiss. Though he is very nice, Stanley is also incredibly shy and lacks the ability to stand up for himself. It allows others to take advantage of him and use him at work. It's not an unusual problem, and many people--especially those who are young--often find themselves in situations just like Stanley's. In fact, more than one viewer would have probably very much liked to find a magical mask that would allow them to shed their persona and take revenge on the people who abuse them.
4 The Powerpuff Girls Give Each Little Girl An Image To Look Up To
The cute Powerpuff Girls exploded on Cartoon Network in the late 1990s, bringing with them colorful villains, exciting fights, and a cool message. Girls are powerful, no matter what they're like. Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup have very different temperaments, but they're all a challenge for the villains of Townsville. In real life, young women may not find evil talking monkeys or devils with deceptively high-pitched voices, but they have plenty of problems just the same. No matter what a girl is like, she is capable of handling it.
3 Remy Just Wants To Fulfill An Impossible Dream
Having an impossible dream is the most relatable thing in history. The main character in Ratatouille, Remy, is the perfect image of that concept. He is a rat, but he wants to become a chef. His mere nature disqualifies him from his chosen profession. Countless people must have run into similar obstacles in life. And yet, Remi perseveres, and with a little help from Linguini, he accomplishes his goal. It's not perfect, and there are ups and downs, but it sends the message that people should always fight for their dreams, no matter how many people try to bring them down.
2 Courage Shows Fans The True Meaning Of Bravery
In the landscape of cartoons that marked many childhoods, Courage the Cowardly Dog is a very interesting addition--and nowhere near as optimistic as Ratatouille. It's a show that would probably not be made today, as it tackles some very uncomfortable themes, and some episodes are legitimately terrifying. Courage may be a dog who's apparently terrified of everything, but in reality, he's very brave. Many people can probably relate to his constant attempt to protect Muriel, despite him suffering abuse from Eustace.
The villains in the show illustrate fears and problems fans may find in real life. Cousin Fred, for example, is considered one of the most memorable antagonists of the show, and his attack on Courage has been compared to child abuse. King Ramses, one of the few characters animated through CGI, is a representation of what happens when one is motivated by greed. The show is an eerie reminder that life is often unkind, and children should be careful.
1 Dexter Is The Introverted Genius Being Bullied By His Older Sister
Created in 1995, Hanna-Barbera's Dexter's Laboratory tells the story of the young genius Dexter, whose sole desire is to create works of science in his secret laboratory. Unfortunately, he's constantly thwarted by his older sister Dee Dee. Dee Dee isn't malicious and she actually loves Dexter very much, but her behavior is still very destructive, often leading to Dexter's projects going badly awry. This leads to Dexter hating her even up into their old age. It's not unusual for introverted children to be overshadowed or suffer in silence due to the behavior of their louder, extroverted siblings, so Dexter is a very relatable character.