Top 20 Cartoon Moms from TV

“The Loud House” (2016-)
Raising one or two kids is challenging enough, but 11?! It takes an army, and yet Rita Loud does what she can alongside her husband, Lynn Sr. When she isn’t dreaming of being a novelist, Rita offers much-needed support to her kids –especially her only son, Lincoln. She’s fair and kind, but not afraid to lay down the law when needed. She herself admits that she’s not perfect; she’s made her fair share of mistakes as a parent –some are more infamous than others. But with so many kids to care for, it only makes the times she gets it right all the more notable.

“DuckTales” (2017-21)
Outside of comic book appearances, we never got a chance to meet Della Duck, the mother of Huey, Dewey, and Louie. However, the 2017 “DuckTales” finally introduced us to the triplets’ unstoppable matron. Lost in space, she finally returns to Earth in season two. The reunion between her and the boys is nothing short of heartwarming. She loves her sons dearly, but being MIA for so long – coupled with her hotheaded, rash personality – means that she still has much to learn about motherhood. But with her family by her side, she can do it. It’s true what she always says: “Nothing can stop Della Duck”.

“The Wild Thornberrys” (1998-2004)
How can anyone still manage to raise a family while filming a nature show around the world? We’re not sure either, but they could learn a thing or two from Marianne Thornberry. While her husband Nigel is passionate and slightly oblivious, Marianne usually acts as the logical one – and that goes double for her children. They won’t get out of schoolwork with her around! She often clashes with Debbie’s rebellious attitude, and tries to keep Eliza in line to protect her from harm. That’s the kind of person – and especially mom – you want on your side no matter what.

“As Told by Ginger” (2000-06; 2016; 2021)
With “As Told by Ginger” being one of the more grounded Nicktoons, Lois Foutley is one of the more realistic portrayals of a single mother. Her teen daughter Ginger and wild card son can always rely on her for guidance. She’s definitely not afraid to speak her mind if necessary, either though, meaning they know she’ll lay down the law when the time comes, too. No mom can be fun-loving all the time or uber-strict all the time, and Lois is a great example of striking a balance between the two, always with care, depending on the situation.

“Futurama” (1993-2003; 2008-13; 2023-)
For a while, Leela struggled with not knowing where she came from or who her parents were. In season 4, many jaws and tears dropped to finally meet her family, including her mother, Turanga Munda. Munda met her husband Morris, and together they had Leela. Reluctantly, they gave her away, wanting her to have a normal life on the surface instead of in the sewers – at the time, mutants like them weren’t respected. However, the duo never stopped loving Leela, protecting her from afar until their tearful reunion. It’s not the traditional motherhood story, but it’s a fantastic one, as Munda sacrificed so much, and made sure to be there, even when Leela didn’t know it.

“The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius” (2002-06)
While fans of the “Jimmy Neutron” franchise have turned Hugh Neutron into a walking meme, he and his son wouldn’t survive without the true head of the household, Judy. With an outfit and hairstyle straight out of the ‘50s, Judy is the driving force that keeps the Neutron Household running and spic and span. Things can get chaotic when your son is a boy genius, so even though she loves him dearly, she must be firm occasionally. Despite this, there isn’t anything she wouldn’t do for Jimmy and her husband Hugh – and it’s heavily suggested that Jimmy owes his genius status to her.

“Dexter's Laboratory” (1996-98; 2001-03)
Let’s be honest, who didn’t have a crush on Dexter’s mom when they were young? It’s understandable – she’s beautiful not just on the outside, but on the inside as well. Not only is she devoted to her husband and kids, but she’s also dedicated to keeping a tidy ship. She is rarely – if ever – seen without her trademark gloves and is shown to be a massive germaphobe. We’re pretty sure that’s why Dexter has such a penchant for precision. While she’s normally sweet and loving, she has a low tolerance for anyone who gives her attitude or doesn’t do as she asks. So it’d be wise to respect the gloves. We know we do – she’s earned it.

“Danny Phantom” (2004-07)
Alongside her husband Jack, Maddie Fenton is one of the premier ghost hunters in the world. Maddie is the brains of the duo, but the couple’s love and support for each other is unquestioned. It goes without saying that she loves her kids, doing anything within her power to support them. However, with Danny being a half-ghost, he feels like he can’t tell his own parents about his whole self, which adds a sense of tragedy when they’re unknowingly hunting their own son. However, unsurprisingly, Maddie immediately accepts Danny once they find out his secret, showing that her maternal instincts supersede her ghost-hunting ones.

“The Amazing World of Gumball” (2011-)
No, she isn’t actually a doctor –that's her real first name... don’t let her hear you snicker. We’re not kidding, because Nicole Watterson has one of the scariest tempers we’ve ever seen, which is appropriate since she’s the glue holding everything together. While she can be strict and vindictive, she adores her family. She works to nurture Anais and Gumball, and even considers Darwin – who was originally their pet fish – her third child. She messes up and can be just as chaotic as her kids, but they can always count on her. And if anyone crosses her... she’ll make sure they regret it.

“The Proud Family” (2001-05) & “The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder” (2022-)
When dealing with infant twins and a teenage daughter, SOMEONE has to have their head on straight in the Proud Family. With Oscar being too overprotective and strict, it’s up to Trudy. In contrast to her husband, Trudy is patient and understanding, and the one who brings home the bacon. She is super protective of the twins and usually offers emotional support and advice to Penny. However, she’s far from a pushover – if her oldest daughter or husband steps out of line, she will not hesitate to put her foot down. And if you’re in the same room as her when this happens, thank your lucky stars that you’re not Oscar.

“Phineas and Ferb” (2007-15; 2024-)
Even the most loving mothers aren’t always the most observant, and no one knows this better than Linda Flynn-Fletcher. Once a popstar, Linda is raising two biological kids — Phineas and Candace — and one stepson, Ferb. And to say the jazz lover is doing a great job would be an understatement. She loves all three of them and nurtures them however she can, but she isn’t very observant regarding Phineas and Ferb’s activities. Candace tries to warn her every single time about the boys’ projects, but they manage to cover their tracks at the last minute. We sympathize with Candace’s frustration, but we can’t blame Linda for being 10 steps behind her boys.

“American Dad!” (2005-)
Of all the Seth MacFarlane cartoon moms, it’s been said that Francine from “American Dad” is the funniest. It's easy to see why, since while she’s more sensible than Stan most of the time, she’s not without her own wild moments. She is incredibly naive at times and has a hard time letting her kids grow up – especially her little Steve. However, it can’t be said that she doesn’t love them unconditionally. She’s usually the first to take their side when Stan’s being unreasonable and goes out of her way to get them out of trouble (even if she’s caused said trouble). She’s not perfect, but she’s trying, and rarely fails to make us smile along the way.

“The Jetsons” (1962-63; 1985-87)
While another certain Hanna-Barbera matron is an icon of the prehistoric past, Jane Jetson is one for the distant future. Even when technology and ways of living have evolved, Jane remains the loving, supportive homemaker for her family, hoping to keep things peaceful in the household. After all, no matter how much things advance societally, kids can always benefit from a mom who’s there to help them grow and flourish. This is exactly what Jane does for Elroy and Judy — and the pets! She might seem old-fashioned as a mom in a futuristic setting, but her loving, protective nature is not to be overlooked… unlike her driving skills.

“Avatar: The Last Airbender” (2005-08)
As much as we praise Ursa’s skills as a mom, she arguably could've done better with Azula. Meanwhile, Kya, Katara and Sokka’s late mother, showed her love for all her children in the noblest way. While we don’t see too much of her, it’s plain to see how much her kids miss her, especially Katara. When the Fire Nation wanted to abduct the only remaining waterbender, Kya pretended to be the one they seeked to protect Katara. Tragically, she didn’t make it out alive. This sacrifice was not in vain, as her kids grew up to be heroes themselves, and Katara would name her own daughter after her mom to honor her.

“The Fairly OddParents” (2001-06; 2008-17)
With Timmy Turner’s REAL parents being neglectful idiots, it’s fortunate for him that he has fairy godparents to care for him when they can’t. It’s even more fortunate that his godmother is Wanda. On the surface, Wanda may seem like a “nag” who just wants to spoil Timmy and Cosmo’s fun. In reality, she’s actually the most sensible member of the trio, going out of her way to defend and shield her godson and guide him on the straight and narrow path. It’s only fitting that Wanda would eventually become an ACTUAL (equally amazing) mother to Baby Poof. Wanda will always strive to provide safety and happiness to those under her care, be it Timmy, Poof, Chloe, or anyone else, and we’re in awe.

“Bluey” (2018-)
As much as we love Bandit, he’s only as good as his other half, Chilli. While she’s arguably the most grounded one in the Heeler home, she’s just as willing to immerse herself in her daughters’ games as Bandit. Though thankfully for her, she doesn’t endure as much rough play. As a parent, Chilli is caring and understanding, offering emotional support when needed and words of wisdom to steer the girls in the right direction. There are times when she worries about her maternal skills, wanting only the best for her children – something any good mother can relate to. But she doesn’t need to – anyone would be lucky to be raised by her. Still, we do NOT want to be caught by her icy stares!

“Rugrats” (1991-2004) & “All Grown Up!” (2003-08)
We joke about how inattentive the “Rugrats” parents can be, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t caring or responsible. Arguably two of the best examples are the fun-loving but caring Betty DeVille, and our personal pick, Didi Pickles. Most of the time, Didi relies on the wisdom of her parenting books to help raise her two sons, Tommy and Dil. However, she is extremely loving and caring for her babies. She’s also an important and good influence on her niece, the chaotic Angelica. She may sometimes fall into the same inattentive trope as the rest of the show’s parents, but there isn’t anything she wouldn’t do for her kids.

“The Flintstones” (1960-66)
You know the age-old cartoon trope of gorgeous women marrying dumb husbands? Meet the lady who practically started it all, Wilma Flintstone. Happily married to Fred, she’s naturally the only one of the two who’s got their head on straight. In the original cartoon, Wilma eventually gives birth to the couple’s only daughter, Pebbles. For several years, we get to witness Pebbles grow from an adorable tyke to a fully-grown advertising executive. While she takes more after her father, she still has plenty of love from Wilma, who has become an iconic starting point for animated mothers. She doesn’t always have it easy, yet she pushes through no matter what – always coming from a good place – which makes her a winner in our book.

“Bob's Burgers” (2011-)
It’s safe to say that the Belchers have one of the funniest and most positive family dynamics in adult animation. And proudly taking the helm of this zany ship is Linda Belcher. Already, fans adore Linda’s quirky, eccentric personality, and her parenting style blends perfectly with her overeager energy. She loves her kids dearly and encourages them no matter what, leading with love and care in her best moments – and in her worst ones, too. We also can’t pretend that her enthusiasm and oddball energy aren’t contagious. She’s real and relatable, while bringing out the best in her family.

“The Simpsons” (1989-)
When it comes to cartoon mothers, there isn’t anyone alive who doesn’t know the name Marge Simpson. While she’s had multiple careers throughout the series, Marge has consistently remained the heart and soul of the Simpsons clan. She offers wisdom and support to her kids and has more than once come to her family’s rescue. She isn’t above making the occasional mistake, but she always does her best to atone, and you know she’d do anything for her loved ones. And it goes without saying that she and Homer are made for each other. Honestly, the world would feel a little brighter if more people had Marge’s common sense and compassion.


Who would you want as your cartoon mother? Let us know in the comments.