When most millennials were growing up, there weren't many body-positive cartoon characters to look up to. Princesses tend to be thin, with waists as wide as the bracelets on their wrists, and slender figures, suitable for running gracefully on the grass or waiting in towers. Then, as we grew older, we started watching Saturday morning cartoons, dinner parties where we became acquainted with new protagonists; although the faces and features were different, the bodies remained the same. All the while, I kept noticing that none of them really looked like me .
Don't even get me started on what happens when a character is plus size. These people usually exist for negative reasons. In The Little Mermaid , we have the evil, slimy Ursula with a round belly and outrageous plans. In Alice in Wonderland we have the terrifying Queen of Hearts, who is fat, fat, and as ugly as her intentions. On The Simpsons , Patty and Thelma are abrasive and a bit bitter in their single ladies club. Most of the time, the appearance of a body type that differs from a lean body type symbolizes a character flaw. They are either evil, miserable, negative, or just lazy. So how can you have a positive opinion about your body when you're bombarded with images like this?
Well, I'm happy to say that not every character supports this trope, even if it sometimes feels like it. There are a few (and probably more) that break the mold and inject a little body positivity into their messages. Here are seven cartoon characters that promote body positivity.
1. Jessica Rabbit in Who Framed Roger Rabbit
Curvy, sexy women are often portrayed as swooning, cannibalistic, and heartbreaking, but Jessica Rabbit breaks that mold. She knows how she comes across, and she threw that stereotype out the window when she told Eddie Valiant, "I'm not bad...I was just painted that way." it is true. Throughout the film, she is shown to be compassionate and loyal, coming across as a cute girl-next-door rather than a cool femme fatale, whose body-hugging dresses and long legs make people think she is just that. . This is a major move for television. After all, why would a woman with cleavage and a penchant for dresses that show off her curves (Natasha Fatale or Marvel's Deathbird) automatically equate to a villain?
Jessica Rabbit shows that this is an outdated way of thinking by making it clear that no matter what anyone else thinks of her, she only cares about her husband, that she's brave, resourceful, and can kick some big ass while wearing opera gloves.
2. Nani Pelekai in Lilo & Stitch
Nani, the 19-year-old sister of Lilo, has proven to be a strong woman in every way. Not only has she bounced back after she and Lilo lost their parents, but she's also in amazingly fresh shape for her Disney roles. Nani has a flat chest, wide hips, and thick thighs, and even has a VBO look. She is very beautiful and the best part is she is very confident. Instead of covering up, she walked around in a crop top and shorts, not once hinting that her body wasn't what's often considered the ideal .
3. Winnie the Pooh in Winnie the Pooh
One of Winnie the Pooh's most famous songs is "I'm short and fat and I'm proud of it," and he was always unapologetic about the pudgy parts of himself. Winnie the Pooh has always liked his stocky physique and doesn't see any reason why he should change. Just watching him do squats makes you say, "I really can't wait for some honey." You're a man after my own heart, Vinnie.
4. Betty Boop
The playful flapper was a symbol of America's first youth rebellion in the 1920s and 1930s, when children clashed with their parents' staid Victorian ways of thinking. Her character is half innocent and half aware of her sexuality. She embodies the idea that women no longer want to hide their bodies behind corsets and shabby tent dresses.
Boop was an important body-positive cartoon character during the Great Depression because, unlike other characters appearing at the time, she was strictly female. Most characters (like Minnie Mouse, Daisy Duck, and even later Ms. Pac-Man) were just female copies of male characters, with the addition of eyelashes, lipstick, or kitten heels. However, Betty is totally a woman, complete with short skirts, garters and cleavage. She proves that there is nothing shameful about the female form.
5. Garnet from Steven Universe
Garnet from Steven Universe is an amazing character because she helps say "no" to muscle shaming. While there is a growing focus on body positivity as it applies to plus-size bodies, unfortunately, fat girls are sometimes left out. This is where garnet comes in.
In Steven Universe , Garnet has the ability to change into any form she wants, so it's a clear indication that she decided to maintain a thick thighs, big butt, and powerful physique to match the composed warrior she plays. yes. On top of that, there's a character arc revealed in which one of the main characters has a crush on her and thinks she's extremely beautiful. Because well, she is.
6. The DNA of Bob’s Burgers
This little guy has no qualms about his chubby boy body. He often walks around in tight whites, doesn't mind getting naked in a burger costume, talks openly about his body parts ("I think I have the best legs in the family... and the smoothest ass") and doesn't 'Don't even consider that his soft tummy is probably what he should be focusing his efforts on "fixing". Instead, the dog on his belly is not an issue, nor is it part of his identity (he is not a "fat kid"), it is just his appearance. He didn't mind it at all.
7. Rose Quartz from Steven Universe
The show's resident mom, Rose Quartz, is Steven's warrior queen slash mother. She has a soft tummy, is over eight feet tall, wears a form-fitting shirt that accentuates her curves, and feels completely comfortable in her own skin. On top of that, every character in the show thinks she's incredibly beautiful, including her nemesis. The best part? Rose's obesity is irrelevant to the story - it's never mentioned, it's not a major character trait, and it doesn't define who she is, which breaks all the major "fat girl" tropes.
Clearly, these physical cartoon characters are gorgeous, and not just aesthetically.
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Images: Disney (2); Fox Studios (1), Cartoon Network (3); Republic Pictures (1)
