It doesn’t matter what age we’re, there’s nonetheless nothing like sleeping in on a Saturday morning and having fun with an enormous bowl of cereal in mattress whereas watching cartoons. Again then, our favorites had been sugary, marshmallow-loaded Fortunate Charms and Pokémon. At present, it’s peach and blueberry muesli … and Pokémon. Both method, what could possibly be higher than this throwback combo of vegan breakfast and cartoons? Vegan breakfast and vegan cartoons.
Are there any vegan cartoon characters?
VegNews editors have been onerous at work, diligently compiling a listing of our favourite vegan and should-be-vegan characters from our favourite cartoons, previous and current. We’ve considered landmark episodes, character relationships, and settings, and consider these compassionate characters would make (or already are) a number of the finest vegans on TV.
14 vegan cartoon characters
1 Apu (The Simpsons)
Maybe one of many first and best-known confirmed vegan cartoon characters on the air, Apu was dwelling a compassionate way of life method again in 1990. The Kwik-E-Mart proprietor and operator famously switched out his sizzling canine with tofu canine with out anybody noticing—and had an instrumental hand in serving to Lisa Simpson on the trail to full-fledged vegetarianism. Apu was faraway from The Simpsons following the controversy surrounding the voice actor Hank Azaria, who, regardless of offering the voice of the Indian character, will not be of Indian descent himself. And although Apu now not graces our screens, his impression on TV historical past can’t be ignored.
2 Bobby Hill (King of the Hill)
Hear me out right here. Regardless of his household’s propane-fueled propensity for pork and different barbecue-ables, think about that King of the Hill character Bobby is a delicate, compassionate soul who was by no means weighed down by society’s annoying concepts about masculinity (keep in mind his rose gardening stint?). He wished to maneuver to New York to attend school, the place we prefer to think about he’d cease by Washington Sq. Park in between lessons for a serving to of dosas from town’s famed, all-vegan NY Dosas. Plus, he did go vegetarian for an episode to impress a woman.
3 Velma (Scooby-Doo)
Although Shaggy was the confirmed vegetarian of the group, our lady Velma from Scooby-Doo was the brains of the operations and would seemingly have made the sensible selection of going plant-based and cruelty-free. Sparse veg choices within the ‘60s and life as a nomad seemingly hindered her from discovering her footing as a vegan, however we prefer to assume that hearty helpings of beta-carotene-rich Moroccan carrots and parsnips would fulfill her veggie cravings.
4 Draculaura (Monster Excessive)
We’re going to be sincere: we’re not precisely acquainted with the esteemed work of Draculaura. However the 1,600-year-old Monster Excessive star rightfully deserves recognition as one of many only a few outspoken vegan cartoon characters on the market. Plus, she’s a vampire—discuss going in opposition to the grain! Draculaura eschews blood in favor of fruits, greens, and “a ton of iron dietary supplements.” Phrase continues to be out on her stance on garlic.
5 The Beets (Doug)
We by no means received affirmation on the consuming habits of Doug Funnie’s favourite rock and roll band, however the legendary Liverpoolers gave the world the treasure that’s “Killer Tofu.” And that has to depend for one thing (we additionally wished to work in a Patty Simply Mayonnaise joke right here however you get the image).
6 Heffer (Rocko’s Trendy Life)
Although he was maybe Nickelodeon’s most famed glutton, if Rocko’s Trendy Life character Heffer had been round immediately, he can be vegan. Give it some thought—he liked junk meals and suffered at the least one coronary heart assault due to it. Now, with the array of better-for-you junky vegan meals, Heffer would be capable of take pleasure in fast-food burgers, pizza, and meatball subs, all with out animal merchandise.
7,8, 9 Dil, Chuckie, and Susie (Rugrats)
All the Rugrats would by now be millennials—a bunch instrumental in driving immediately’s push towards extra vegan choices. However why this trio particularly? Dil was the youngest, and in All Grown Up, was proven to be a extra artistic, unconventional thinker. Chuckie was a candy, delicate soul who held a funeral for his pillbug companion animal Melville, whereas Susie was a champion of justice and incessantly stood up for the defenseless in opposition to the tyrannical cookie-chomping Angelica and her henchwomen Cynthia and Fluffy. All of those character traits lay the groundwork for some significantly compassionate adults.
10 Pac-Man (Pac-Man)
Pac-Man labored day in and day trip to supply Pac-Dots and Energy Pellets for his spouse Pepper and their little one Pac-Child. There’s no method these life-sustaining pixels had been animal-derived, proper? And sure, he additionally ate ghosts, however that was in self-defense.
11 Eliza (The Wild Thornberrys)
No particular person in his or her proper thoughts who may discuss to animals would eat them or their secretions, particularly Eliza from The Wild Thornberrys. The center change of the enduring Thornberry household traveled around the globe befriending animals, so by now, she’d actually be a vegan conservationist. There’s little question.
12 Popeye (Popeye)
A rootin’-tootin’ sailor man in his 90s with a perpetual scowl will not be the very first thing that involves thoughts while you consider a vegan, however Popeye laid the groundwork for plant-based protein consumption method again in 1929. Beef? No thanks. Rooster? Go. Fish? You’d assume, with all his time at sea, however no! Popeye knew he’d be sturdy to the end if he simply ate his spinach. Chock filled with iron, fiber, protein, and nutritional vitamins Okay, A, and C (and maybe frivolously wearing heart-healthy “olive oyl”), we’d all do good to comply with the sailor’s instance by pulling out a rusty can of the inexperienced stuff from of our shirt collars, stuffing it in a pipe, and smoke-eating it with gumption … or simply do that recipe for three cheese-spinach lasagna. Both or.
13 Pearl (Steven Universe)
Like the opposite Crystal Gems on Steven Universe, level-headed brainiac Pearl doesn’t want meals to maintain her alien physique, however she is totally different in that she’s really downright grossed out by the straightforward act of consuming. In actual fact, nearly the one factor we see her eat is tea—and we’re keen to guess she’s not including honey or milk, both.
14 Jessica Cruz (Justice League vs. The Deadly 5)
One of many Inexperienced Lanterns within the DC Universe, Jessica Cruz isn’t just a member of the Justice League, however a bona fide vegan—and she or he’s the true deal. All through her totally different iterations, Jessica has been portrayed as a pacifist, a staunch environmentalist, and she or he even operates out of Portland, OR … you may’t get extra vegan than that.
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Richard Bowie (@wichiebowie) is VegNews’ editorial director based mostly in Los Angeles, CA.
