Top 20 Cartoon Characters Who Should Have Been Couples

“6teen” (2004-10)

What a missed opportunity! These two would have balanced each other out so well. Jude’s laid-back attitude could have mellowed out Jen’s highstrung nature, while Jen could have been a motivating factor in Jude’s life. This ship isn’t coming out of nowhere, either. We’ve seen them engage in romantic activities together, like that time they became a fake couple to make Jen’s crush jealous. Or that time they got to see what their baby would look like. They’re also the sporty two of the “6Teen” crew, a shared quality they’d no doubt bond over. While many were waiting for Jen and Wyatt to get together, we think Jude and Jen would’ve made for a more interesting love story.

“Spongebob Squarepants” (1999-)
Though there have been fan theories as to the legitimacy of Spongebob and Sandy’s marriage in the episode “Truth or Square”, it’s never been confirmed by the showrunners. But the whole friends-becoming-lovers trope makes a lot of sense here. Spongebob and Sandy have a seemingly silly, but very deep friendship. We’ve even seen Spongebob go to great lengths just to spend time with and seem cool to Sandy. And then of course, there’s the karate. It’s been said that this relationship was actually intended to turn romantic before the crew ultimately scrapped the idea early on in the show’s run.

“Big Mouth” (2017-)

Amid the whirlwind of precarious “Big Mouth” couples, we thought Jay and Matthew had something real and beyond sweet. Their budding connection came out of nowhere but it didn’t take long before we were convinced. Although they’re complete opposites of each other, both were willing to put in the effort to make it work. And it did. For a while there, they were really happy. Unfortunately, they split after Matthew began to feel like he was changing Jay too much. There’s still plenty of room for character development, so here’s hoping we’ll see a reconciliation before the show’s end.

“Bluey” (2018-)

Yes, we know they’re young for all of this stuff, but we’d love to see these two get together when they’re older. Mackenzie has always been able to match Bluey’s energy well, which may have something to do with the two both being herding dogs. Plus, the show has thrown in playful hints here and there, while still keeping everything age-appropriate. Perhaps the biggest suggestion is the child who shows up in the flash-forward scene at the end of “Surprise”. Many think the pup resembles a mix of Bluey and Mackenzie which, of course, has led to tons of speculation about a potential future together.

“Adventure Time” (2010-18)
While we know that Finn was all about Princess Bubblegum for a while, he and Flame Princess had an on-again off-again relationship that a lot of us can relate to. Initially, Flame Princess was portrayed as unstable and even a little evil. But, with Finn, things were different. They worked well together, they clicked. But, unfortunately, the whole “opposites attract” dynamic was what ultimately led to their downfall. While their relationship ended up being a learning experience for them both, they could have been a great couple had they maybe gotten together a little later in life.

“Over the Garden Wall” (2014)

Look, we like Sara as much as the next YouTube channel, but every autumn when we sit down to watch this miniseries, we can’t help but feel like there was more to explore between Wirt and Beatrice. It doesn’t help that they get so much more screentime than Wirt and Sara do. The show takes its time developing their relationship, showing us how well they work together, even in highly stressful situations, and even with Beatrice in her bird form. Balancing their fun banter are some softer moments that emphasize just how much they come to care for each other. It always leaves us longing for more of their story after Beatrice becomes human again.

“Kim Possible” (2002-07)

Even the bad guys deserve a little romance. While there’s not a lot in the canon to suggest anything overly romantic between the two, there is one moment in the final episode that shippers cling onto, when Drakken’s flower brings him and Shego close together. Besides that, we see their bond nearly as often as we see Kim and Ron’s. They’ve been through a lot side by side and, although there’s often bickering and some snide comments from Shego, it’s clear the two care about each other beyond their work partnership.

“Bob’s Burgers” (2011-)

We didn’t know we wanted this until the episode “Bob Actually”. It’s Valentine’s Day and Louise mistakenly thinks Rudy has a crush on her. Although at first she hates the idea, she seems disappointed when she finds out he’s actually crushing on Chloe Barbash. Nevertheless, after Rudy tells her he’s hoping to get his first kiss from Chloe, Louise does her best to get the girl to kiss him. When the latter refuses, Louise rolls up her sleeves and takes care of things herself. It proves how much she cares about him, and puts their dynamic in a whole new light. They’re obviously still quite young but it would be sweet to see their relationship transition from friends to something more as they grow up.

“As Told by Ginger” (2000-06)

Are we the only ones who think Ginger ended up with the wrong guy? In terms of story payoff alone, we don’t get to see Ginger and Darren’s reconciliation before it’s revealed that they eventually got back together and had a child later in life. It’s just not really satisfying. Plus, it doesn’t sit right with us that Darren cheated on her, even if it was in high school. Orion, on the other hand, was a constant in Ginger’s life after she met him. He was there for her through her break up – and it’s not like they didn’t have chemistry by the boatloads. It always makes us wonder what could have been if they continued in the direction of Ginger “making that leap”.

“Inside Job” (2021-22)

We hate to perpetuate the media convention that all best friends of the opposite gender have to get together romantically. But we can’t help feeling these two would have worked so well together. The fandom is pretty much split down the middle on whether they’d have liked to see Brett and Regan develop something more than friendship and, while we understand the arguments on both sides, we just can’t see these two with anyone else. They simply bring out the best in each other. In just a few episodes, the show was able to create a ride-or-die connection we love to root for; we can only imagine how things would have progressed if creator Shion Takeuchi was given the chance to tell her story in its entirety.

“The Owl House” (2020-23)

While the end of the series does imply that Willow and Hunter become an official couple, we never receive outright confirmation in the canon itself. This is more than likely a result of “The Owl House’s” third season being suddenly cut short. Still, the crew did their best to give us something that felt authentic and well-paced between the two. Willow helps Hunter become the person he wants to be, while Hunter is there to uplift Willow when she needs support. As much as that pinky scene is adorable and more than earned, we’d have loved to see something that pushed their relationship a little further.

“Regular Show” (2010-17)

After the mess that was Mordecai and Margaret’s timeline, CJ was a breath of fresh air. Not only did they have a lot in common and a fun dynamic, they also formed a genuine friendship before things got complicated. They had realistic communication issues, with Mordecai not always being straight-up, and CJ sometimes jumping to conclusions. An arc of them slowly but surely doing the work to sort out these issues would have made for a much more compelling storyline than the one we got, where things became far too muddled to work out. In the end, Mordecai is seen with a character we never even got to meet which, although realistic, isn’t especially satisfying for fans who stuck around so long.

“Recess” (1997-2001)

We’ve wanted T.J. and Spinelli to be together since we were as old as they are in the show! The writers probably felt the characters were a little young to develop anything romantic, but there were certainly hints about feelings that went beyond platonic ones. In one episode, Spinelli’s mom flat out tells the gang her daughter has a crush on T.J. In many others, we see what a great team they make. And then there’s the kiss episode. While they react how you would expect a couple of kids might, the end of the episode leaves you with the impression that they won’t be so grossed out when they’re older. With a history built on trust, loyalty, and unwavering support, we’re still rooting for these two all these years later.

“Voltron: Legendary Defender” (2016-18)

There’s a reason Klance is the biggest ship to come out of “Voltron: Legendary Defender”. The arc these guys have is phenomenal, and we’re all suckers for the rivals-to-allies trope. They also have tons of banter which, as we all know, is one of the best ways to create chemistry between two characters. Ultimately, the bond they develop is deep, authentic, and meaningful in its evolution. While the destruction of the relationship between Adam and Shiro seemed to come out of nowhere, Keith and Lance ending up together would have made perfect sense.

“Adventure Time” (2010-18)

We touched on Finn’s time with Flame Princess but it’s his spell with Huntress Wizard that leaves us wanting more. Although she’s floating around throughout the series here and there, it’s really towards the end that she and Finn strike up intimacy. We weren’t expecting it, to say the least, but we also weren’t mad about it. The two have this natural chemistry despite their different personalities and ways of life. It would have been super interesting to delve into their dynamic further and explore what could have come out of a real romantic relationship.

“Justice League” (2001-04)

We’ve seen Bruce and Diana come together in other DC media before, but this show made it so easy to ship them. The characters worked perfectly together, whether on the battlefield or in more intimate settings. And the crew working on the show definitely flirted with the idea on more than one occasion – pun very much intended. Perhaps the biggest instance was in the three-part finale when the two kissed to avoid getting caught by the Thanagarian soldiers. Their endearing little exchange really sets up the idea of a true relationship between them but, unfortunately, the show ended before things could get that far.

“Gravity Falls” (2012-16)
This one is a phenomenal slow burn. Throughout a good portion of the show, Pacifica is insufferable. It wasn’t until season two that fans got their taste of a blossoming romance between Pacifica and Dipper in the episode “Northwest Mansion Mystery”. Dipper finally sees a softer side to the stuck-up rich girl, ultimately coming to understand the root of her behavior. While the show never went as far as making the pair canon, we’ve gotten more shipping material in the book release of “Journal 3” and the accompanying “Lost Legends” comic “Face It”.

“The Spectacular Spider-Man” (2008-09)

We were so close! And yet so far. Here’s a couple that was so obviously going to get together, if not for an abrupt cancellation of their story. Gwen and Peter had obvious feelings for each other but they knew the right thing to do was end their previous relationships before getting into a new one. With the recent passing of Harry’s father at the end of season two, however, Gwen couldn’t bring herself to break up with him. And that’s where their arc leaves off. At least we have that Thanksgiving kiss to look back on…

“Teen Titans” (2003-06)
Sure, in “Teen Titans Go!”, Raven and Beast Boy finally become an item. However, in the original animated series, their relationship was left mostly platonic. It’s not entirely out of the question to believe the two might have ended up together after the Beast Boy/Terra arc was resolved. Since the series was cancelled before the writers could give us any closure, however, we’ll just never know. Ultimately, the series showed the two bringing out the best in each other time and time again and, really, isn’t that what a relationship is all about?

“Avatar: The Last Airbender” (2005-08)
Katara lost her mother in a Fire Nation raid, so friendship with a Fire Nation prince wasn’t supposed to be on the cards. Especially when that prince was on a mission to hunt down her friends. But when Zuko became a Team Avatar ally, Katara found herself forced to confront contradictory feelings. Eventually, the two form a bond, with Zuko even risking his life for her. While their connection was far from smooth, it’s not hard to see why many fans wanted them as a couple so badly and for so long. They would have had a great enemies to lovers arc, with personalities that both contrasted and aligned in intriguing ways.



Which pair of characters were you hoping to see get together? Let us know in the comments!