Many of us have experienced being told that cartoons are only for kids. That’s a big lie, and you know it as much as I do. While most cartoon shows are actually made for kids, it doesn’t mean that they can only be watched by a certain age group. In fact, many adults, including me, still watch cartoon shows to this day. Why, you might ask? Well, for starters, they’re comforting. And as we grow older, the characters we used to love (and hate) make more sense. Everything that’s happening in our favorite cartoons, when viewed from a more mature perspective, shows how greatly the characters were developed.
In this blog post, I’ll be sharing some of the most relatable cartoon characters that most people, including myself, have related to growing up. Most of these cartoon characters can be watched on most streaming services like Disney+, Netflix, and others. Let’s begin!
In This Article:
Squidward Tentacles – SpongeBob SquarePants
Squidward is always tired, often annoyed, and just wants some peace and quiet. However, it seems like life has other plans. His personality, overall, is extremely relatable for tired adults who are just trying to get by. We all know that our work and responsibilities can take a massive toll on our daily lives. Add to that the societal expectations most of us are trying to cope with.
He also wants to be a famous musician, but he’s stuck working a job he doesn’t like. Most of us have been there before. That chase for our dreams, but then we still feel stuck. A lot of viewers, especially as they grow older, start to see themselves in him more than in the overly happy SpongeBob.
Grinch – The Grinch
Even though the Grinch is popular for being a Christmas villain, there’s something deeper about his character that many people can relate to. He isn’t really evil. He was just hurt, lonely, and misunderstood, which made him cold. The Grinch lives away from everyone because he doesn’t belong. Over time, his bitterness grew not from being bad, but from feeling excluded. It’s sad, but then, it happens to many people on a daily basis.
The anger and frustration that come from pain are something many of us have experienced growing up. And to be pretty honest, he didn’t hate Christmas. He just didn’t like the noise and the feeling of being left out of the joy this holiday brings. His heart grew three sizes, which teaches us that even the most distant or the most damaged can still be capable of change with kindness. When you watch this movie, make sure you have fast internet services at home because the movie is really great.
Eeyore – Winnie the Pooh
I couldn’t miss Eeyore, a.k.a the gloomy character in Winnie the Pooh. The thing about this character is that, somehow, we all know someone like him… or have felt like him ourselves at some point. That’s why I think many people relate to him. He represents those quiet, heavy feelings that many people carry but don’t often talk about. Sadness, self-doubt, insignificance, and other negative feelings that we sometimes feel.
But despite his sadness, Eeyore always shows up. He stays with the group, even if he thinks no one notices him. He doesn’t fake happiness, and he doesn’t hide how he feels and yet his friends accept him just as he is. That’s the most beautiful thing about this cartoon character. It teaches us that you can be yourself and still be loved.
Stu Pickles – Rugrats
I love Rugrats so much because I remember my childhood whenever I watch it. I used to watch it before going to school, so it really hits the spot. But as I got older, I started noticing someone I didn’t pay much attention to before. Stu Pickles, Tommy’s dad. He’s the perfect example of an adult trying his best while everything around him feels like a mess. He’s often overwhelmed and running on little to no sleep (like I am while writing this post).
There’s this one scene where he was making a pudding at 4 a.m. because he’s lost control of his life. That line was hilarious but a painful slap in the face, if you ask me. He represents the side of adulthood we don’t talk about much. The burnout. The pressure to provide. Yet, we keep going. That’s why I included him on this list, because most young adults, breadwinners, and parents can relate to him.
Final Thoughts
I’ve kept this list to my personal favorites, but there are still a whole lot of cartoon characters most adults can relate to, even if those characters seem a bit insignificant at first. There’s just something about the cartoons we watched when we were young that hits differently than the shows we have today. Nonetheless, they’re always a treat to watch.
