Top 10 Cartoon Characters Better Than The Hero
#10: Snake Eyes “G. I. Joe: A Real American Hero” (1983-86)
You do not want to mess with this ninja. An original member of the G.I. Joe Team, Snake Eyes served as a reconnaissance officer in southeast Asia before lending his many talents for the fight against Cobra. This former U.S. Army Sergeant is renowned for hand-to-hand combat and owns a pet wolf named Timber. While that is enough to establish Snake Eyes as one of the coolest characters ever, an early mission rendered him mute and severely disfigured, which only enhanced the commando’s general mystique.
#9: Tigger “The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh” (1988-91)
A character so loved, he got his own spin-off movie. The Hundred-Acre wood is home to a cast of colorful anthropomorphic animals who defined many childhoods, with Tigger arguably the most fondly remembered. Well-meaning but reckless, this fictional tiger often creates exciting contraptions that cause more trouble than they are worth. Due to his inability to think things through, Tigger is willing to protect his friends without worrying about his own safety. Also, how can someone not love a tiger who occasionally pretends to be a superhero called The Mask Offender?
#8: Garnet “Steven Universe” (2013-)
Born from the fusion of Ruby and Sapphire, the Crystal Gems’ head honcho serves a crucial role in the Earth’s continuous survival. Capable of maintaining composure when things hit the fan, Garnet is a powerful fighter who encourages the rest of the team to experiment with their powers. As the Crystal Gems’ leader and the group’s moral compass, Garnet struggles to express her feelings properly due to her stoic nature. One of the planet’s standout warriors, Garnet relies on her intuition and physical abilities, often jumping head-first into a battle without forming a proper strategy.
#7: Brock Samson “The Venture Bros.” (2003-)
Do not let the name fool you, the Venture Bros are far from the stars of this hilarious cartoon. Brock Samson is voiced by Patrick Warburton and oozes cool from every pore of his being. An OSI agent and Dr. Venture’s bodyguard, this muscular spy started off as the silent and strong hero – who loved to brutally kill his enemies – before developing into a multi-layered character. After saving the day thousands of times, Brock slowly deepened his relationship with the Venture family, and now genuinely seems to care about them.
#6: Perry the Platypus “Phineas and Ferb” (2007-15)
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This platypus lives a secret life as a spy. What else needs to be said? Adopted by the Flynn-Fletcher family, Perry spends most of his day engaged in a fierce battle for survival against the evil Dr. Heinz Doofenschmirtz. In a strange twist of events, the two rivals are known to save each other’s lives, with the mad scientist considering Perry as his best friend. Phineas and Ferb remain in the dark about their pet’s activities, as Perry barely reacts to anything around him, giving off the impression that he is brain-dead.
#5: Dale Gribble “King of the Hill” (1997-2010)
Oblivious does not begin to describe Dale Gribble, aka Rusty Shackleford. Paranoid of the government and people in general, Dale Gribble shows an unflinching devotion towards his family, constantly showering them with gifts and praise. Despite Nancy having an affair for 15 years and Dale practically catching them in the act, he remains completely unaware that anything is amiss. While not the greatest of friends, Dale is arguably the best parent on “King of the Hill,” as he is always emotionally available for his son Joseph. Although not above killing a horse for looking at him funny, Dale occasionally shows his sensitive side through a love for music and show turtles.
#4: Zuko “Avatar: The Last Airbender” (2005-08)
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Banished from the Fire Nation and forced to spend three years scouring the planet for the Avatar, this prince experiences his fair share of hardship throughout the series. Accompanied by his uncle, Zuko is introduced as the primary villain, before rejecting his own father and joining Aang’s team. While not considered a child prodigy like his sister Azula, Zuko is fueled by a desire to restore the Fire Nation’s honor and bring the Hundred Year War to an end. Over the three seasons, Zuko demonstrates a substantial amount of character development, as he learns to free himself from his family’s shackles.
#3: Tina Belcher “Bob’s Burgers” (2011-)
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The oldest child of the Belcher family, Tina is a fantastic role model for pretty much anyone. Stuck in those awkward early teen years, Tina likes horses and zombies – because why not love both? While her social skills leave something to be desired, Tina is aware of her sexual desires and constantly owns them. Her younger sister believes Tina might be autistic, which is implied by her inability to show any real emotion but never really confirmed. Funny, confident, and inspirational – this teenager constantly steals the show.
#2: Bender Bending Rodriguez “Futurama” (1999-2013)
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Speaking of great role models, yeah, this robot is definitely not one of them. Made in Tijuana, Bender Bending Rodriguez never stopped being funny. Since his fuel cells can only be recharged by drinking alcohol, Bender finds himself in a perpetual state of intoxication. Booze is not this metallic menace's only vice, as the arrogant robot loves to gamble and often drops a huge amount of cash to get his rocks off. Although Fry is Bender's best friend, this did not stop him from stealing the human’s kidney.
#1: Penny “Inspector Gadget” (1983-86)
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As the saying goes – behind every great man, there is a great woman. In Inspector Gadget’s case, this would be his highly capable niece. Penny accompanies her uncle on nearly every mission, using her superior intelligence and cunning to solve the case. Resourceful and brave, Penny prefers to not take credit for her heroics, allowing the oblivious Gadget to be perceived as the hero. Once in a while, Dr. Claw manages to capture Penny to try and blackmail Gadget, but the young girl avoids turning into a stereotypical damsel in distress by saving herself.
