10 Best Female Cartoon/Animated Characters Of The '80s (2024)

From Lisa Simpson to Princess Adora, the hit animated movies and TV shows of the ‘80s introduced many iconic female cartoon characters. The ‘80s were a great decade for animation. Disney produced some of its finest films, from The Little Mermaid to The Great Mouse Detective to the groundbreaking hybrid of animation and live-action in Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Studio Ghibli also began making a name for itself, with such acclaimed movies as My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service, and Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, reaching international audiences with their powerful stories.

Animation in the '80s was also heading in a more progressive direction as studios began to create more empowering role models for young children by making its female characters more dynamic and relatable. While G.I. Joe had female villains who embraced their evil side, the likes of She-Ra: Princess of Power gave women a chance to lead and tell their own stories. Some '80s cartoons also effected the toy industry as they helped pave way for female characters to get their own action figures that weren't relegated to the market (via The Mary Sue). Cartoon and animation fans should never forget the impact these female characters had on the world.

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1 The Baroness (G.I. Joe)

The Baroness is one of the most cunning and powerful villains in the G.I. Joe universe. Intent on seizing control of Cobra for herself, the Baroness is a cold-hearted manipulator and a ruthless character who will use her intelligence and strong fighting skills to get what she wants. She proved to be so iconic and popular that she became the first character to cross over from the comics into the animated series (eventually getting her own action figure in 1984).

2 Ariel (The Little Mermaid)

Just when the Mouse House was struggling to stay relevant, The Little Mermaid came along and began the Disney Renaissance. The movie was praised for its dazzling animation, catchy musical numbers, and lovable heroine. Ariel's rebelliousness makes her one of the most relatable Disney princesses. She’s adventurous, self-reliant, and fiercely independent. Not everyone can relate to the feeling of wanting to leave behind an undersea kingdom to explore the surface world, but everyone can relate to the feeling of wanting to be free.

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3 Kiki (Kiki's Delivery Service)

The title character in Studio Ghibli’s coming-of-age gem Kiki’s Delivery Service confidently flies in the face of genre traditions. As the hero of her own movie, Kiki defies the trope that witches have to be villains. A kind-hearted and friendly individual, Kiki uses her abilities (flying on a broom) for good to help her community out whenever they are in trouble. Audiences around the world can also relate to the poignant metaphor in her story, as Kiki seeks independence from her parents, gets a job, and learns self-acceptance.

4 Gloria Baker (M.A.S.K.)

Gloria Baker, the only female agent in the titular organization in M.A.S.K., brought plenty of value to the team. She’s a black belt in karate and kung fu, making her one of the most formidable M.A.S.K. agents in hand-to-hand combat; she’s a champion racing driver, which made her handy for the team’s vehicular exploits; and her knowledge of such subjects as archeology, anthropology, and structural engineering made her one of M.A.S.K.’s smartest agents, too. Gloria was one of the most prominent agents of M.A.S.K., appearing in almost as many episodes as Bruce Sato and Alex Sector.

5 Arcee (Transformers)

Although some '80s cartoons were full of token characters, the Transformers cartoon in the '80s tried to change that when they introduced Arcee. The most memorable female Autobot, Arcee, can turn into everything, from a pink convertible to a Cybertronian hover car. She made quite an impression on viewers for being a well-rounded character and a protective friend. Arcee is also one of the most powerful Autobots in the Transformers franchise, with her strong fighting and sharpshooting skills helping her team cement numerous victories.

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6 Nausicaä (Nausicaä Of The Valley Of The Wind)

Based on writer-director Hayao Miyazaki’s manga of the same name, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind is Studio Ghibli’s take on the typical “hero’s journey” narrative, drawing influence from such literary masterpieces as Dune and The Lord of the Rings. The title character, a princess in a post-apocalyptic wasteland who embarks on a dangerous quest, is an empowered action hero who is often compared to classical protagonists like Luke Skywalker and Frodo Baggins. Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind is a timeless tale of bravery and it has a hero that everyone can look up to.

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7 Ursula (The Little Mermaid)

The major antagonist of The Little Mermaid, the conniving Ursula, was widely praised by critics and instantly considered one of the best Disney villains. Sorcery is Ursula’s skillset and Faustian bargains are her trade. Ursula manages to be both hilarious and sinister at the same time. Ursula is campy, flamboyant, and glamorous, but she also embraces her evil. Whereas many Disney villains at the time were trying to be sympathetic so the audience could understand their motivations, Ursula came along as a full-blown, shamelessly unsympathetic baddie.

8 Princess Adora (She-Ra: Princess Of Power)

She-Ra: Princess of Power flipped the script on gender roles in storytelling with a female hero, her all-female entourage, and one male character who constantly finds himself in “damsel in distress” situations in need of rescue. Princess Adora is just as powerful as He-Man, but she battles an even stronger villain; the fascist dictator Hordak. Adora and her fellow heroes plot to overthrow Hordak and replace him with a matriarchal system of power.

9 Satsuki & Mei Kusakabe (My Neighbor Totoro)

Satsuki and Mei Kusakabe are the sisters whose bond forms the emotional backbone of Studio Ghibli’s defining movie. Set in rural Japan shortly after World War II, My Neighbor Totoro begins with the girls’ father moving them into an old house near the hospital where their mother is recovering from a serious illness. While living there, the sisters get acquainted with the local magical beings. The environmentalist message of Satsuki and Mei’s uplifting, visually stunning adventure with the wood spirits remains relevant today.

10 Lisa Simpson (The Simpsons)

Lisa Simpson made her debut in the ‘80s and remains one of the most iconic female cartoon characters and a staple of pop culture to this day. The Simpsons first appeared in their own shorts on The Tracey Ullman Show, starting in 1987, before graduating to their own half-hour timeslot in 1989. While every Simpson is an icon in their own way, Lisa is particularly renowned as a role model. Not only is she the smartest member of the Simpson family (by far); she’s also the most enlightened. The Simpsons has used Lisa as a voice for social justice and progressive attitudes.