It doesn’t matter what age we’re, there’s nonetheless nothing like sleeping in on a Saturday morning and having fun with a giant bowl of cereal in mattress whereas watching cartoons. Again then, our favorites have been sugary, marshmallow-loaded Fortunate Charms and Pokémon. At this time, it’s peach and blueberry muesli … and Pokémon. Both method, what may very well 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 arduous at work, diligently compiling an inventory 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) among 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 scorching canines with tofu canines 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, is just not of Indian descent himself. And although Apu 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, take into account 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 (bear in mind his rose gardening stint?). He wished to maneuver to New York to attend faculty, the place we prefer to think about he’d cease by Washington Sq. Park in between lessons for a serving to of dosas from the 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 woman Velma from Scooby-Doo was the brains of the operations and would possible have made the good alternative of going plant-based and cruelty-free. Sparse veg choices within the ‘60s and life as a nomad possible hindered her from discovering her footing as a vegan, however we prefer to suppose 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 trustworthy: we’re not precisely aware of 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 remains to be out on her stance on garlic.
5 The Beets (Doug)
We by no means obtained 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 Fashionable Life)
Although he was maybe Nickelodeon’s most famed glutton, if Rocko’s Fashionable Life character Heffer have been round at the moment, he could be vegan. Give it some thought—he cherished junk meals and suffered at the very least one coronary heart assault due to it. Now, with the array of better-for-you junky vegan meals, Heffer would have the ability to take pleasure in fast-food burgers, pizza, and meatball subs, all with out animal merchandise.
7,8, 9 Dil, Chuckie, and Susie (Rugrats)
The entire Rugrats would by now be millennials—a gaggle instrumental in driving at the moment’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 regularly 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 youngster Pac-Child. There’s no method these life-sustaining pixels have been animal-derived, proper? And sure, he additionally ate ghosts, however that was in self-defense.
11 Eliza (The Wild Thornberrys)
No individual in his or her proper thoughts who might speak to animals would eat them or their secretions, particularly Eliza from The Wild Thornberrys. The center change of the long-lasting Thornberry household traveled around the globe befriending animals, so by now, she’d definitely be a vegan conservationist. There’s little doubt.
12 Popeye (Popeye)
A rootin’-tootin’ sailor man in his 90s with a perpetual scowl is probably not the very first thing that involves thoughts once you consider a vegan, however Popeye laid the groundwork for plant-based protein consumption method again in 1929. Beef? No thanks. Rooster? Move. Fish? You’d suppose, with all his time at sea, however no! Popeye knew he’d be robust to the end if he simply ate his spinach. Chock stuffed with iron, fiber, protein, and nutritional vitamins Ok, A, and C (and maybe flippantly 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 truly downright grossed out by the straightforward act of consuming. In reality, nearly the one factor we see her devour 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 he or she’s the actual deal. All through her totally different iterations, Jessica has been portrayed as a pacifist, a staunch environmentalist, and he or she even operates out of Portland, OR … you’ll be able to’t get extra vegan than that.
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Richard Bowie (@wichiebowie) is VegNews’ editorial director primarily based in Los Angeles, CA.
