Black female cartoon characters include Susie Carmichael, Valerie Brown, Keesha Franklin, Foxxy Love, Jodie Landon, and Abigail Lincoln.
As we grow older, some things stick with us forever – and for many of us, cartoons are one of them.
From Saturday morning cartoons to after-school specials, many of us have vivid memories of spending hours in front of the TV, completely engrossed in our favorite shows.
And for those of us who grew up in the 80s and 90s, there were some genuinely unique black female cartoon characters that we’ll never forget.
Who’s Your Favorite? The Most Iconic Black Female Cartoon Characters
These characters were more than just cartoons – they were powerful, inspiring, and helped shape our worldviews.
They showed us that Black women could be superheroes, musicians, detectives, and so much more. And they did it all with style, grace, and many attitudes.
15Abigail Lincoln, aka Numbuh 5 from Codename: Kids Next Door
Numbuh 5, or Abigail Lincoln, features in the popular cartoon, Codename: Kids Next Door. She is the sole female member of Sector V, renowned for her intelligence, resourcefulness, and swag.
Numbuh 5 is a trailblazer in the animated world of Black female characters. Her character emanates confidence, boldness, and fearlessness. She fearlessly expresses her opinions and stands up for her beliefs. Her skills as a fighter and strategist make her an indispensable asset to Sector V.
What distinguishes Numbuh 5 from other Black female cartoon characters is her swag. She displays a distinctive fashion sense, characterized by bold patterns, bright colors, and statement accessories.
Numbuh 5’s signature hairstyle is a fan favorite and has become an icon of the show. Her swag is an extension of her self-assurance and distinctiveness, setting her apart from her peers.
14Libby Folax from Jimmy Neutron
In the animated TV series Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, Libby Folax is a beloved character and one of the most popular Black female cartoon characters in children’s animation.
Libby exudes confidence and sass and is recognized for her sense of humor and no-nonsense attitude. She is a loyal friend who readily offers her help whenever her friends need her. In addition, Libby’s exceptional dancing and singing abilities are frequently on display during school events.
What distinguishes Libby is that she is one of the few Black female characters in a prominent role in a popular animated series. She represents a positive depiction of Black girls and women, demonstrating their strength, confidence, and ability to succeed.
Furthermore, Libby shatters stereotypes about Black women by portraying a well-rounded character with her personality and interests.
13Foxxy Love from Drawn Together
In the adult animated TV series, Drawn Together, Foxxy Love is an iconic swag Black female cartoon character.
Foxxy Love embodies the essence of “swag.” Her confidence, sex appeal, and ability to achieve her desires are among her distinguishing features. Her alluring voice and curvy figure match a daring sense of fashion, setting her apart from other characters on the show. Foxxy is also known for her quick wit and sassy remarks.
Beyond her seductive appearance, Foxxy is a multifaceted character with a complex personality. She is unwaveringly loyal to her friends and always defends what is right. The show slowly reveals her enigmatic backstory over its course.
Foxxy’s representation of Black women is crucial. Her character challenges typical media stereotypes by portraying a strong, confident, and independent character.
12Trixie Carter from American Dragon: Jake Long
In the animated TV series American Dragon: Jake Long, Trixie Carter is a prominent character who has captured the hearts of fans with her strong personality, humor, and combat prowess.
Trixie is a self-assured and savvy character who is always eager for a challenge. She also possesses a great sense of humor, which relieves tension in the show.
Trixie is an essential part of the team, wielding formidable fighting skills and aiding Jake Long, the show’s protagonist, in defeating their adversaries.
11Monique from Kim Possible
Actress Raven-Symoné voices Monique, a stylish and fashion-savvy teenage girl who attends the same high school as Kim Possible.
Monique exhibits exceptional fighting skills and resourcefulness in various situations, along with quick wit and a sharp tongue that delivers sarcastic comments with a dry sense of humor.
Monique actively serves as a close confidante and ally to Kim Possible throughout the series, providing her with support and advice while helping with various missions. In addition, she actively maintains a close friendship with Ron Stoppable, Kim’s best friend and sidekick, frequently assisting him with fashion advice and various schemes.
10Alex Casoy from Totally Spies
The show depicts Alex as a fun-loving, carefree, and outgoing teenager who enjoys surfing and playing video games while being the most fashion-conscious of the three spies, frequently sporting trendy outfits and accessories.
However, she also actively demonstrates her capability as a fighter, showing exceptional strength and agility that are useful during various missions.
Throughout the series, Alex actively serves as an important spy team member, providing her unique skills and perspective to their missions. Additionally, her optimism and positive attitude are well-known to boost the morale of her teammates during challenging situations.
9Storm from X-Men: The Animated Series
Throughout the series, Storm actively demonstrates her strong, intelligent, and confident personality, being deeply committed to fighting for the rights of mutants.
She frequently manages the team during missions, utilizing her exceptional fighting skills and natural leadership abilities.
Storm’s character actively represents a significant milestone in the history of animated television as a black female character prominently featured in a mainstream cartoon series.
8Jodie Landon from Daria
The show depicts Jodie as a highly intelligent and ambitious teenager who attends the same high school as the protagonist, Daria Morgendorffer.
Jodie stands out among her classmates. She is one of the few students who can keep up with Daria intellectually, providing a foil to her more cynical and jaded personality.
Jodie also actively participates in extracurricular activities and excels as a talented public speaker and debater.
As a black girl character, Jodie’s storyline does not solely focus on her race. Nonetheless, the show actively addresses issues of race and racism in various episodes, particularly through Jodie’s interactions with her white classmates and teachers.
In one episode, Jodie is unfairly denied a prestigious scholarship due to her race, leading her to speak out against the school’s discriminatory practices.
7Miranda Killgallen from As Told by Ginger
Although Miranda possesses negative personality traits, the show actively depicts her as highly intelligent and strategic, using her intelligence to scheme and manipulate those around her.
Her home life is also portrayed as difficult, with overbearing parents who constantly pressure her to succeed.
As the series progresses, Miranda actively undergoes character development, revealing her backstory and struggles with balancing her desire for success and her authenticity. She becomes a more complex character and less of a villain, giving viewers glimpses of her vulnerable side and her capacity for empathy.
6Shana Elmsford from Jem
The show depicts Shana as a talented musician and fashion designer passionate about music and fashion.
Being the only African American member of the Holograms, her character actively represents the show’s commitment to promoting diversity and representation.
Throughout the series, Shana actively demonstrates her intelligence, level-headedness, and practicality, frequently serving as the voice of reason within the group. Her ability to help the other members remain grounded and focused on their goals is a valuable contribution to the Holograms.
Additionally, Shana is an active and skilled problem solver, utilizing her creativity and resourcefulness to find unique solutions to the Holograms’ challenges.
5Susie Carmichael from Rugrats
Susie Carmichael actively appears in the animated series Rugrats, portraying a kind, intelligent, and confident young girl who serves as a role model for younger characters. She is also portrayed as incredibly talented, showcasing her interests in music, sports, and academics.
As one of the few black cartoon characters girl in the show, Susie’s race is a significant aspect of her storyline, actively addressing issues of racism and discrimination in several episodes.
Susie’s interactions with other characters, who make assumptions about her based on her race, provide a platform to showcase the challenges that people of color face.
In one particular episode, Susie is subjected to racist taunts from a group of older boys, leaving her feeling isolated and upset. However, her character actively shows strength and courage, inspiring viewers to stand up against racism and overcome challenges in the face of adversity.
4Valerie from Josie and the Pussycats
Valerie stands out as one of the few black female characters featured in animated television while the show was produced.
Her character portrayal showcases a strong and independent young woman who fearlessly speaks her mind and stands up for her beliefs.
Throughout the series, Valerie takes an active role in confronting issues related to racism and inequality. As a musician, she uses her platform to promote social justice and activism, calling out the music industry for its lack of diversity in one episode.
She highlights that the industry excludes musicians of color from mainstream promotion and success.
3Maxine from Batman Beyond
In the animated series Batman Beyond, Maxine “Max” Gibson actively appears as a highly intelligent and tech-savvy teenager attending the same high school as the protagonist, Terry McGinnis.
Her technical expertise and hacking skills make her a valuable ally to Terry in his missions as Batman.
Max’s character actively challenges traditional gender norms and expectations, portraying a strong and independent young woman unafraid to speak her mind and stand up for her beliefs.
Her active and empowered character is a refreshing change in animated television.
2Penny Proud from The Proud Family
Penny Proud actively appears as a strong, confident, and independent young woman with a unique and fun-loving personality. Her representation as a black female character is noteworthy, actively breaking down stereotypes and promoting diversity in animated television.
Her love of fashion and “swag” is a refreshing change in character portrayal. Penny actively confronts race, discrimination, and social justice issues throughout the series.
Her character is notable for speaking out against a racially insensitive comic book in one episode and confronting a discriminatory dress code policy at her school in another.
1Princess Tiana from Princess and the Frog
The film portrays Tiana as a strong, determined, hardworking young woman who dreams of owning her restaurant.
Her character breaks traditional gender and racial stereotypes by portraying a successful and independent black female.
Tiana actively confronts discrimination and inequality throughout the film, particularly those related to her race and social class. She promotes the importance of working hard and pursuing one’s dreams while also emphasizing the significance of community and family support.