The greatest curly-haired female cartoon characters include Ginger Foutley, Merida, Gerald Johanssen, Mirabel Madrigal, and Miranda Killgallen.
From the cascading red curls of Merida of DunBroch to the frizzy masterpieces donned by Professor Frizzle, the animation world has seen a vibrant tapestry of female characters who wear their curly manes with pride.
But these curls are more than just a stylistic choice. They often tell tales of rebellion, individuality, and the raw, untamed spirit that these characters embody.
Today, we will celebrate the female cartoon characters who’ve redefined beauty standards and inspired countless curly-haired viewers to embrace their natural spirals.
Miranda Killgallen
- Curls naturally add volume and bounce to hair, eliminating the need for extensive styling or hair products.
Miranda Killgallen stars as a primary character and the lead antagonist in “As Told by Ginger.” Ginger often finds herself at odds with Miranda because Courtney, Miranda’s best friend, frequently mentions Ginger. Cree Summer lends her voice to Miranda.
With her brown skin tone, Miranda boasts dark purple curly hair, reminiscent of cartoon characters with big curly hair.
She complements her look with pink lipstick, setting herself apart as one of the few characters whose lips don’t sit at the very bottom of their face. Throughout the series, Miranda’s wardrobe changes frequently. In the series’ early episodes, she predominantly chose purple outfits.
Reggie Rocket – Rocket Power
- Curly hair stands out in a crowd and can be a distinct personal trademark.
Reggie sports a tan complexion and flaunts long, curly purple hair. She accessorizes with red and blue sunglasses and pairs a magenta T-shirt featuring a yellow rocket design with army camouflage pants and red sneakers. In “Here’s the Twist,” she actively shifted her sunglasses over her eyes, marking a rare occasion.
Among the four, Reggie acts as the voice of reason. She often hesitates first during extreme decisions and once directly saves Sam’s life, countering Otto’s misguided belief that he could fly over him. Reggie exhibits deep empathy, contrasting sharply with Otto’s often detached demeanor.
Missy Foreman-Greenwald (Big Mouth)
- Curly hair provides a great base for experimenting with a range of hair accessories like headbands, clips, and scarves.
Missy, a cartoon character with brown curly hair, boasts thick curls, large light brown eyes, and a medium-brown complexion, all on a short and scrawny frame. At the show’s outset, she dressed in navy blue overalls, a bright yellow shirt, and a matching headband.
However, in “The Hugest Period Ever,” her cousins prompted her to embrace her racial identity and alter her look.
Consequently, Missy styled her hair in cornrows, secured with orange hairbands. She now sports orange earrings, dark blue jeans, a yellow crop top, and orange and white sneakers, having donated her signature overalls to Goodwill.
Tip Tucci – Home
Tip exudes sass, fun, and energy, pairing her lively nature with intelligence. She cherishes her friendships with Oh, adores her car Slushious, and holds deep affection for her mother, Lucy Tucci. Compared to her composed movie persona, Tip tends to act more impulsively and without forethought in the TV series.
Sporting brown skin, Tip flaunts medium-length curly brown hair, which she ties in a ponytail for the TV series, and captivating green eyes. She often dons casual attire, including an orange hoodie in the movie.
Ginger Foutley – As Told By Ginger
Ginger stands out with her curly red hair, echoing her name. She boasts a fair complexion and stands at an average height. Her face mirrors her father’s, but her pink lips set her apart.
Typically, Ginger opts for t-shirts and pants, though she occasionally slips into skirts or dresses for special events. During middle school, she frequently sported matching hair barrettes, but she ditched them in high school.
Mirabel Madrigal
- The way curls twist and turn makes them catch and reflect light uniquely, often enhancing shine.
Mirabel, a 15-year-old Colombian cartoon character with curly hair, stands at 5’2″.
Her chin-length black curls, thick eyebrows, hazel eyes, and prominent freckles on her nose and cheeks distinguish her. Among her sisters, she bears the strongest resemblance to their mother, Julieta.
As she is near-sighted, Mirabel often sports lime green round-framed glasses. She accessorizes with blue pom-pom earrings and usually carries a mochila bag. Her outfit features a white blouse adorned with colorful butterfly stitching and black frills trimming the neck and sleeves.
Marge Simpson – The Simpsons
Marge, with her yellow complexion, sports a tall curly beehive hairstyle in dark blue. She typically dons a long, strapless pale olive-green dress, complemented by orange low-heeled shoes and a red pearl necklace. This necklace, a family heirloom, has numerous duplicates in her drawer. In “Marge in Chains,” Doctor Hibbert unveils her unique webbed toes.
Susie Carmichael – Rugrats
Susie, a prominent female cartoon character with curly hair, frequently graces episodes of Rugrats, making her debut in “Meet the Carmichaels”.
Some would argue her hair also uses the dreadlock hairstyle, not curls. Although she only briefly features in The Rugrats Movie during Didi’s baby shower, she engages in a singing face-off with Angelica.
During her childhood, she styled her braided hair with three red ties adorned with red flowers on each end. She paired her yellow dress, decorated with purple wavy lines, with purple leggings and red flats.
In Rugrats in Paris: The Movie, Susie chose a white long-sleeved shirt beneath a purple dress speckled with green leaves. She gathered her hair with three purple and green ties and complemented the look with matching shoes. Later, she transitioned to a red dress featuring pastel purple and green flowers, accompanied by pastel purple leggings and magenta flats.
Moana
At 16, Moana of Motunui showcases a unique slender yet muscular physique, distinguishing her from earlier Disney princesses and heroines. Her captivating brown eyes, framed by thick eyebrows, full brownish-pink lips, and cascading curly black hair define her features. While she predominantly lets her hair flow freely, she occasionally pulls it into a top bun during her sailing adventures.
Moana’s attire features a red sash, fashioned from the same material as her skirt, crafted from shredded Pandanas and layered Tapa. The skirt boasts a practical slit, aiding her mobility on her voyages. As a leader on Motunui, a lei of green leaves and pink flowers graces her neck. Mourning Gramma Tala’s passing, Moana begins to wear her blue necklace, safeguarding the heart of Te Fiti within.
Ms. Frizzle – The Magic School Bus
With her curly and frizzy red hair, a result of static electricity, Professor Frizzle styles it into a casual bun. Each day, she chooses an elaborate dress mirroring the theme of her lesson, often with images that animate or radiate light.
This unique fashion choice prompts Keesha to wonder, “Where does she get her clothes?” When Professor Frizzle speaks, or whenever that characteristic “twinkle” appears in her eye, her earrings illuminate, hinting at the onset of an adventurous field trip.
Certain actions, like snapping her fingers, uttering specific phrases, or donning particular outfits, often trigger her unique luminescent reactions.
Merida of DunBroch – Brave
- Often, curls can indicate cultural or familial ties, linking individuals to their roots and heritage.
Merida’s curly hair defies the traditional sleek and polished look that many princesses in animation have been given. Its untamed quality symbolizes Merida’s reluctance to be tamed or bound by tradition. It’s a visual cue that reinforces her desire for autonomy and her struggle against the predetermined roles set for her as a princess.
Throughout the film, Merida’s hair becomes essential to her identity. It stands out in every frame, moving dynamically and reflecting her emotions, whether in moments of anger, frustration, or joy. The animation team at Pixar reportedly spent a considerable amount of time ensuring that the movement and appearance of Merida’s curls were realistic.