Top 10 Cartoon Heroes with a Philosophical Message

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, philosophy is defined as "the study of ideas about knowledge, truth, the nature, and meaning of life." On the other hand, the same source defines a cartoon as "a series of drawings that tell a story." Thus, it is no wonder why we tend to give philosophy a sense of solemnity while considering cartoons frivolous, associating them with children's entertainment and superficiality.

However, we often fail to understand that the very foundation of philosophy is rooted in simplicity and innocence. Friedrich Nietzsche expressed this idea best in his famous statement: "A man's maturity: that is to have rediscovered the seriousness he possessed as a child at play."

Below is a list of 10 cartoon heroes who carry profound philosophical messages.

The Top Ten

Goku (Dragon Ball)

Our number one is the Japanese anime and manga character, Son Goku (a.k.a. Goku or Kakarot), a legendary Saiyan superhero, savior of the universe, and arguably the strongest superhero ever. And when we say strong, we mean the type of strength capable of destroying galaxies in the heat of battle. But Son Goku is much more than that. He is kind-hearted and humble, highly intelligent and naïve in an unprecedented mix.
However, what makes Goku unique and a true philosophy messenger, as well as our top pick, is not his extraordinary strength, compassion, or kindness (as all these are attributes of many other heroes). His greatest strength is, in fact, his high level of self-knowledge and insight (the spring of his outer strength). His message is basically (in our words): have no regrets, live a simple life, and enjoy whatever it throws at you.
Goku is content with simple joys. His possessions are just a stick, a robe, and the Flying Nimbus (a magic cloud that carries only the righteous). And he is almost always smiling.
Lao Tzu once said, "To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders," and Son Goku is most definitely the personification of this.
Homer Simpson (The Simpsons)

Homer Jay Simpson is the main protagonist of the American animated television series The Simpsons, serving as the patriarch of the eponymous family. It is implied that he is not very intelligent, with a crayon stuck in his brain often cited as the reason. He works at the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant... read more

"The Simpsons and Philosophy: The D'oh of Homer" is, in fact, a famous book, so our hero's philosophical side is well known. And, as we all know, he always has something hilarious to say, and all his sayings reveal a deep level of insight. But we will not talk here about his lines but his general message.
Homer is the embodiment of mediocrity. He is a middle-class, plainly stupid, fat man with loads of problems in his family life. Sounds like a recipe for disaster or at least a very miserable life. But it is not. Despite his short bursts of anger, Homer is always happy at the end of the day. No matter how many problems he created, he does not mind kicking back with a cold beer.
So, you don't need to have everything to be happy. Happiness does not come from the outside but from within. And if you picture your life as a happy one, it will be because, after all, as Immanuel Kant said, "Happiness is not an ideal of reason but of imagination."
Wolverine (X-Men)

Suffering, distress, pain, agony - all define Wolverine. A lifetime of suffering. But is that really as bad as it sounds?
Friedrich Nietzsche wished to all those who were of any concern to him "suffering, desolation, sickness, ill treatment, indignities, profound self-contempt, the torture of self-mistrust, and the wretchedness of the vanquished." He did so not because of envy or hate but because of love and compassion. It sounds weird, we know, but how else can one grow if not by being exposed to constant stress? Muscles grow only if we stress them out, and it's no different for our character (it just takes a different type of stress).
Although he is hit, injured, crushed, or heartbroken, Wolverine emerges victorious after each experience, victorious and stronger than before.
We might never fight mutants, save the world, or fall in love with a beautiful mind-controller psychic mutant, but we should learn from Wolverine. We should never despair of life, even if it throws us into the darkest corners of Hell, because that experience will only make us stronger in the long run.
Popeye (Popeye the Sailor)

"I am what I am, and that's all I am" - Popeye the Sailor. "You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection," Buddha.
It seems like Popeye and Buddha have the same reflection on the importance of self-acceptance. They both understood that in order to live happily, one must fully accept who he is and care about oneself, but not in a selfish way.
Like Buddha, Popeye is very generous and unselfish, but that does not mean that he does not care about himself. Popeye enjoys his spinach and never hesitates to eat it whenever danger arises.
We should all learn from Popeye that we must not give up completely on our hedonistic ways in order to attain a deep sense of altruism. We should rather channel our pleasures toward helping others. And if we enjoy the ride, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.
Capt. John Smith (Pocahontas)

First of all, few know that the film is based on a true story, but that's not really the point here. And the wonderful Native American philosophy and spirituality of nature isn't either.
We should rather concentrate on Capt. John Smith, a young adventurer who came to the New World to claim its riches and was transformed by love. He was transformed to the extent that he gave up his quest for glory and material possessions for his love.
Barbara De Angelis said that "Love is a force more formidable than any other. It is invisible - it cannot be seen or measured, yet it is powerful enough to transform you in a moment and offer you more joy than any material possession could," and we're sure Capt. Smith would agree.
Ariel (The Little Mermaid)

Even though most of our heroes originate in classic tales, Andersen's little mermaid is probably the one that captured people's imagination at the deepest level. Thus, it is no wonder why the little mermaid (or Ariel - the name given by Disney) was honored with a statue that soon became the symbol of Copenhagen. But what is her most important message to us? Let's briefly remember the cartoon storyline (a bit different from the original tale).
A little mermaid, princess in the underwater kingdom, saves a young prince from drowning, then falls in love with him. In order to be with him, she trades her soul, status, wealth, and even her voice for a pair of legs. In the end, she gets married to him, and they live happily ever after. And the most important thing is that all she traded is returned to her. A beautiful story of sacrifice and love.
Ariel is obviously teaching us about the power of love and the meaninglessness of a life without it. But more importantly, she shows us that one never loses by surrendering to love and following the heart (even though it might feel that way at first).
Snow White (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs)

Let's move to another famous story revolving around physical looks.
Snow White is actually a classic fairy tale by the Grimm brothers, transposed on the screen by Disney. Guessing we all know the famous storyline, let's move to the message.
As beautiful as the Evil Queen is (or fair, to be exact), she is no match for Snow White. But why is that, one may ask? They are both extremely beautiful, and arguably, based solely on physical characteristics, the Evil Queen might be even more attractive. But she was wicked and hated everyone and everything.
Meanwhile, Snow White was innocent and loving. She loved all the animals in the forest, the dwarfs (even Grumpy), and the forest itself. She had only love to give and asked nothing in return. And that made her beautiful. As Saint Augustine said, "Since love grows within you, so beauty grows. For love is the beauty of the soul."
The message? As cliché as it may sound, it never gets obsolete: be kind and compassionate to others, stop hating and start loving, and the world will love you back.
Rocko (Rocko's Modern Life)

Rocko is the fictional main character from the cartoon Rocko's Modern Life and the comic book series of the same name. He is an Australian wallaby who immigrated to the United States and lives a modest life surrounded by quirky neighbors and friends.... read more

Philosophical message according to both the show's intro and the show itself: "Life sucks."
Pinocchio (Pinocchio)
Bloom (Winx Club)

The Newcomers

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Naruto Uzumaki (Naruto)

Naruto Uzumaki is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the anime and manga series Naruto, created by Masashi Kishimoto. He first appeared in 1999 in Weekly Shōnen Jump and has since become one of the most iconic characters in anime and manga. Naruto's journey from a mischievous outcast to... read more
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Ash Ketchum (Pokemon)

Ash Ketchum, known as Satoshi in Japan, is the main character in the Pokémon franchise. He is training to become a Pokémon Master and travels across regions to compete in Pokémon battles. Ash frequently thwarts Team Rocket's attempts to steal his partner Pikachu.

The Contenders

Aang (Avatar: The Last Airbender)

Avatar Aang is a fictional character and the protagonist of Nickelodeon's animated television series Avatar: The Last Airbender, voiced by Zach Tyler Eisen. Aang is the last surviving Airbender, a monk from the Southern Air Temple of the Air Nomads. As the Avatar, he is tasked with mastering all four... read more
Beast (Beauty and the Beast)
Courage (Courage the Cowardly Dog)
Zaheer (Avatar: The Last Airbender)
Katara (Avatar: The Last Airbender)

Katara is a fictional character in Nickelodeon's animated television series Avatar: The Last Airbender, as well as in its sequel series The Legend of Korra. She is voiced by Mae Whitman. Katara is a skilled waterbender from the Southern Water Tribe who plays a key role in the fight against the Fire... read more
Bart Simpson (The Simpsons)

Bartholomew JoJo "Bart" Simpson is the eldest child and only son in the animated TV series The Simpsons, which premiered in December 1989. He was created by Matt Groening... read more
Astro Boy (Astro Boy)
Lincoln Loud (The Loud House)

Lincoln Loud is the main character in The Loud House, an animated series that premiered on Nickelodeon in 2016. He is the only boy among eleven siblings and often navigates the chaos of his large family through creative problem-solving. The show has been praised for its humor and representation of family... read more
Stewie Griffin (Family Guy)

Stewart Gilligan "Stewie" Griffin is a main character from the animated television series Family Guy. He's the youngest child of Peter and Lois Griffin and the brother of Meg and Chris... read more
Bender (Futurama)

Bender Bending Rodríguez is a fictional robot and one of the central characters in the animated television series Futurama. He was created by Matt Groening and David X. Cohen and is voiced by John DiMaggio. Bender is known for his sarcastic personality, fondness for alcohol, and rebellious behavior,... read more
Lola Loud (The Loud House)

Lola Loud is a fictional character from The Loud House and is the third youngest child in the Loud family. She is the younger twin sister of Lana and is known for being arrogant, smart-mouthed, spoiled, and a tattle-tale... read more
Chris Griffin (Family Guy)

Christopher Cross "Chris" Griffin is a fictional character from the American animated television series Family Guy. He is the teenage son of Peter and Lois Griffin and the older brother of Stewie Griffin. The character is voiced by actor Seth Green.
Twilight Sparkle (My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic)

Twilight Sparkle is the primary main character of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. She is a female unicorn pony who transforms into an Alicorn and becomes a princess in the episode Magical Mystery Cure. Her character is known for her intelligence, love of books, and leadership qualities.
Lisa Simpson (The Simpsons)

Lisa Marie Simpson is a fictional character in the animated television series The Simpsons. She's the middle child and the most intelligent member of the Simpson family. Lisa is known for her academic excellence, strong moral convictions, and love for jazz music.
Peter Griffin (Family Guy)

Peter Griffin is the main protagonist and titular character of the American animated sitcom Family Guy. Peter is known for being foolish and doing random things for the sake of comedy. His wife, Lois Griffin, often nags him. He didn't pass the third grade, and his father is an Irish man.... read more