I think the 2000s were full of some of the best and most underrated cartoons. People rave about how the 90s had the best cartoons, but I think that title may go to the 2000s. (Though these shows were basically my childhood, so I may be a bit biased.)
The cartoons of this decade did focus a lot on characters. These characters were often more than just the heroes their world needed, but they were also people that had their own struggles as well. Being a superhero didn’t mean your life was perfect in any way, shape, or form. It just meant that on top of trying to save the world, you also had to deal with your own family drama. But that’s why we loved these characters; we got to know them really well in their personal lives.
But many fans can’t help but wonder what these characters would be like in an even more domestic setting. What would they be like if they settled down and had a few kids? What would our favorite heroes from the 2000s be like as parents? Would they be good? Would they be terrible? Would their kids look like them? Would they take after them or inherit their powers? These are the questions many fans have tried to address through fanfiction and fanart.
So here are 20 characters from the 2000s cartoons that have been reimagined as parents. Let’s see what they would be like!
Think we missed some good ones? Make sure to let us know in the comments section below!
20 He’s Got Some Ghost Children Now
Our ghost boy has become a ghost man (Does Danny age since he’s part ghost?) I’m curious to see what Danny would be like as a dad, considering how eccentric his own parents are. He and Sam would definitely get married and start a family.
I personally think these two would make great parents. Sam would be that mother that supports her kids in whatever they want to do. I could see Danny being that dorky dad and taking after his own father a bit. Maybe their kids would follow in their footsteps in ghost hunting. I also wonder if any of the kids would inherit Danny’s powers. (I know he wasn’t born with them, but his very DNA was changed, so it would make sense that it got passed on to his kids.)
Art by AllyPhantonRush.
19 It’s A New Experiment
Pretty much everyone who watched Jimmy Neutron shipped Jimmy and Cindy. (They are kids, but it was pretty obvious that they liked each other.) I think they would make a pretty great couple when they got older. And I think they would make pretty good parents too.
Jimmy would totally be the dorky dad.
I know I’m slightly cheating with this artwork, since it’s actually of Jimmy and Cindy with the other de-aged, but it still illustrates how they would look like as a parent. And it’s very sweet. I could see the two being very loving parents, especially since they’ve both had pretty good examples of parenting from their own. Jimmy would totally be the dorky dad, and Cindy would be that strict, but cool mom. Between the two of them, their kids would have a pretty interesting life.
Art by Twisted-Vision.
18 You Wish Your Father Was A Samurai
I still think Samurai Jack was one of the best cartoons to come out of the 2000s. It was interesting, had fantastic animation, and showed some pretty awesome characters. Jack’s no-nonsense demeanor worked surprisingly well for the crazy situations he was in. But how would he be like as a dad?
Considering he does get together with Ashi, I could see Jack becoming a dad. And I think he would be a great one. Despite his pretty stoic attitude, Jack has always been rather compassionate. Most of the battles he fought in the series were to defend those that couldn’t fight for themselves. I could see him teaching his kids the ways of a samurai. He would be a very firm, but kind father, and he would love his kids.
Art by To-My-Ovaries.
17 It’s A Superhero Family
For many of us fans of Teen Titans, Robin and Starfire were our favorite couple. They just complemented each other very well. I’m sure the fans cheered when the two finally got together. And in some versions of comics, Dick Grayson and Koriand’r do get married and have a daughter named Mar’i Grayson.
Mar’i is an adorable mix between the two.
Both would be pretty awesome parents. Starfire’s compassion and Robin’s dedication would mean their kid would always be loved. They would definitely teach her to embrace her differences and ignore all the haters. Plus, she would have all sorts of awesome “aunts” and “uncles” with the other titans. I also think Mar’i is an adorable mix between the two. I’m sure she’d join her parents in the superhero business; it’s in her blood, after all.
Art by Oh-Mother-Of-Darkness and Ya-ssui.
16 Their Summer Vacations Would Be Crazy
You don’t see many cartoons where the two main characters are part of a blended family. And it’s even less common for those family members to actually get along. But that’s what we got in Phineas and Ferb, and it’s pretty refreshing. These two stepbrothers are practically inseparable, and their bond is really cute. So, what would these two be like as dads?
I think they would be awesome at it. I could see Phineas and Isabella and Ferb and Vanessa going on family outings. They’d probably help raise each other’s kids as much as their own. I could see them living close to each other, and even if they didn’t, they would definitely spend as much time together as they could. They would make a pretty cool family, and they would probably still be close after all these years.
Art by Katiediazz.
15 Their Kids Would Lead Very Interesting Lives
I’m sure everyone cheered when Kim and Ron got together in the movie Kim Possible: So the Drama. And the fourth season showed their new relationship to be pretty chill but healthy. They had problems here and there, but they ended up working them out reasonably, which was nice to see. I could see these two getting married and having their own family.
Kim and Ron would be supportive of their kids, no matter what they do.
And I think they would be pretty awesome parents. Kim probably would push her kids to do their best in school and their activities, and Ron would be there to remind them to relax and enjoy life. And I’m sure Kim and Ron would be supportive of their kids, no matter what they do. I like the artist’s interpretation of Kim’s daughter, giving her Kim’s red hair and Ron’s brown eyes. It’s a nice mix of the two parents.
Art by Lionkyu.
14 These Two Should Have Their Own Sitcom
This was one couple we never got to see become canon in the Teen Titans series, but the two do get together in the comics, so I’m counting that as a win. Beast Boy and Raven do make a pretty awesome couple, being pretty well balanced. Beast Boy helps Raven to relax a little more, and Raven encourages Beast Boy to take things seriously when needed. And the two are pretty cute together.
I think Beast Boy would definitely be the goofball dad, which would probably annoy Raven a bit. I could see Raven being a fairly strict mother, but that’s mostly because she’s so disciplined herself. The two would probably argue initially over how to raise their kids, but I think they would ultimately figure things out. The question is if their kids would get Raven’s powers or Beast Boys. Maybe they would get a bit of both?
Art by Lesliemint.
13 These Moms Are All About The Drama
The Total Drama series had quite a slew of interesting characters that, while based on stereotypes, grew to be pretty fascinating people. It was a series that made fun of reality TV shows but also got you into reality TV shows again. So how would these characters do as parents?
Courtney and Gwen would have the best chance of being good moms.
I think many of them would be horrible parents, but I do think Courtney and Gwen would have the best chance of being good moms. Courtney is a bit uptight, but she would probably learn to mellow out with her kids, learning to let them make their own choices. Gwen would be a very supportive mom, not caring what her kids end up liking, as long as they’re happy. I could also see the two hanging out and having play dates. It’s a cute idea.
Art by Kikaigaku.
12 I Can’t See This Family Working
I seriously did not know this ship existed among fans, but apparently, people ship Jade and Drago from Jackie Chan Adventures. They seem to like the idea of one of the show’s protagonists getting involved with the son of one of the main antagonists. (I guess Drago is kind of good-looking, in a demonic sort of way.) I don’t think the relationship would actually work, but it’s an interesting idea.
I also don’t know how they would be as parents. Jade would probably be a pretty cool mom, and she would probably take her kids on a lot of field trips (I could see her following in Jackie’s footsteps and becoming an archaeologist). As for Drago, considering his family background, I don’t know if he would necessarily make a good dad. Maybe he’d want to do better than his dad did, but one can hope, I guess.
Art by MoHeart17 and PinkiePieGummy101.
11 It’s The Cutest Mutant Alien Family
Technically, Raph and Mona debuted in the original 1987 TMNT series, but I actually prefer their dynamic in the 2012 series. In this version, Mona is actually an alien, a proud warrior who can be just as temperamental as our favorite hot-headed turtle. I like the way these two interact, and the fact that Raph is drawn to her initially because she thoroughly kicked his behind the first time they met. They have a healthy respect for each other, and you can tell they care about each other a lot.
She thoroughly kicked his behind the first time they met.
I love the idea of these two being parents. (I don’t know if a mutant turtle and an alien lizard are compatible, but eh. It’s a cartoon.) And I like this version of their daughter. She’s a great mixture between the two, and the family just looks so happy. This is a family I’ll always root for.
Art by Juliefofisss.
10 This Is Wishful Thinking For Many Fans
Yes, I know that Katara and Aang from Avatar: The Last Airbender get married and have kids. But there were actually a lot of fans that supported Katara and Zuko as a couple and there’s been a lot of fanart dedicated to this particular pairing. I could see it being a thing; Katara and Zuko do share a lot of chemistry (though I think they’re both too dramatic for it to work).
I have to admit, I do like a lot of the fanart that’s come out of the shipping. Say what you will about Zutara, but they do look very good as a couple. I also love the artist that portrayed them as their alter-egos. The colors are just gorgeous, and I love the body language between the two. Perhaps, in an alternate universe, these two did get together and have a family.
Art by Pugletto and Jesterry.
9 This Family Is Surprisingly Cute
Drakken and Shego actually got hinted at as a couple in the fourth season of Kim Possible. Nothing really came of it, but fans have already taken the idea and had fun with it. In a way, I could see the two having a pretty good relationship. They already bickered like a married couple throughout the show. Plus, they’ve shown to be surprisingly close and protective of each other.
The family fights would probably get pretty crazy.
Their family life would be very interesting. I could see Drakken and Shego’s kids inheriting their tempers. The family fights would probably get pretty crazy (and explosive; there would be many explosions). Also, can you imagine a kid with Drakken’s knowledge of technology and Shego’s fighting abilities? Yeesh, Kim Possible’s kids better watch out! We’re seeing a potentially dangerous new supervillain on the horizon.
Art by Dinogaby.
8 They’d Probably Take Down Humanity As A Family
You’d think that Zim didn’t have a romantic bone in his body, especially since he was more concerned with world domination and all that. But he did have some promising interactions with Gaz, Dib’s younger sister. And fans took that idea and ran away with it. I have to admit, the two are pretty cute together. I could see them getting together in the future, if only that Gaz seems to hate humanity as much as Zim does. And she’s not bothered by Zim’s alien origins.
They would make interesting parents. Both can be rather dramatic, so I can imagine that the fights in this family would probably get rather explosive (literally). Their kids will probably be just as dramatic and antisocial. They should make that into a sitcom.
Art by Jericojim and Zagfreak94.
7 He Would Totally Be A Super Dad
The Ben 10 series was pretty interesting, where one kid could become not just one hero, but many. I think it would be way cool to be able to transform into many different types of aliens. Ben did start out pretty immature and reckless, but he eventually grew into a pretty responsible hero. So, how would he be as a dad?
There actually is a universe where Ben is a dad.
There actually is a universe where Ben is a dad. And his kid is a lot like him: brave, reckless, and wanting to do the right thing. I think Ben would make a good dad. He’s pretty down to earth and I could see him passing the Omnitrix down to one of his kids when he felt the time was right. Ben’s got a pretty strong moral compass, so I could see him trying to pass that on to his kids as well.
Art by Brit-Brit.
6 This Family Is Beautifully Deadly
The concept of The Reaper being enslaved to someone isn’t all that new. But the idea of The Reaper being enslaved to two kids is an interesting idea, and that’s what we get in The Grimm Adventures of Billy and Mandy. Grimm, also known as The Reaper, was actually my favorite character in this series; his dry humor was a refreshing change from Billy’s silliness and Mandy’s grumpy manner.
But did you know that people ship Mandy and Grimm? In a way, I guess I could see it working (but when Mandy got older, of course, she’s just a kid). And I have to admit that the art with these two is pretty amazing. I’m a little confused on how they would have children though. Would a human and the Grim Reaper be compatible? How would that even work? Maybe there are some things I’m better off not knowing.
Art by MissLizz and Lorraine-Schleter.
5 They’re The Ultimate Jungle Parents
If you didn’t know, Tarzan and Jane had their own animated TV series, and it was actually pretty good. The series did go into Tarzan and Jane’s relationship more, showing more of the ups and downs. It also had quite a few interesting antagonists that really expanded this world a lot more. And I really like Tarzan and Jane as a couple
Their kids would be this interesting combination of educated and wild.
I think they would be pretty good parents. Tarzan could teach them how to survive in the jungle, and how to swing from trees and tree surf (still don’t know how he does that), and Jane would teach them to read and draw. Their kids would be this interesting combination of educated and wild, being able to take down a leopard, but also knowing how to paint. You know that they would be loved by their parents, since the two have some of the biggest hearts I’ve seen.
Art by Dickie2008.
4 There’s Nothing Virtual About This Family
I feel like not enough people know about Code Lyoko. It was a great French animated series that played around with the virtual world and how that affected things in real life. Yeah, it had some weak 3D computer animation, but the plot was interesting, and the characters were a lot of fun. And two characters that were particularly sweet were Jeremy and Aelita.
I seriously think these two are the most adorable couple of all time. They’re both incredibly sweet and nice, and their bond is amazingly strong. Jeremy goes through a lot to bring Aelita back from the virtual world she’s trapped in and Aelita is willing to do what it takes to protect Jeremy and his friends in the real world. I think they would be amazing parents, and they would love their kids so much.
Art by Rev-Rizeup and Codelyokofan92.
3 Their Babies Would Be Pretty Cute
Just like Katara and Zuko is a popular ship in Avatar: The Last Airbender, Sokka and Toph is another popular fan pairing. And in a weird way, I could see it working. The two do have a pretty strong bond, and it was shown that Toph did have a little crush on Sokka. (Granted, Sokka was very much in love with Suki, so I’m not sure how this couple would take off.)
Sokka would be the goofy dad that could always somehow get the babies to stop crying.
I think the two would struggle a little as parents at first, but I think they would get the hang of it. Sokka would definitely be the goofy dad that could always somehow get the babies to stop crying. And Toph would be a pretty strict, no-nonsense mom. But I think between the two of them, they would raise some pretty awesome kids.
Art by Tissine.
2 They’re A Pretty Good Odd Couple
In Ben 10: Alien Force, Gwen and Kevin do actually become a couple, and they prove to be a sweet one. They’re the definition of an odd couple, with Gwen being a very scholarly type of girl and Kevin being the classic bad boy. But they actually work together pretty well. I could see these two starting their own family.
They would probably fight a bit over parenting choices. Kevin would be laid back about their kids getting into trouble, saying he did stuff like that all the time, while Gwen would be having none of that. I think they would work things out though. I wonder if their kids would inherit either of their powers. They would also be part alien, thanks to Gwen’s DNA.
Art by Kuri7 and Ancientwonder.
1 What Could’ve Been
I know Anakin is a father, but here’s the thing. He didn’t realize he was a father until long after he became Darth Vader. This art is exploring what Anakin would have been like if he had never turned to the Dark Side, and if he had stayed to help Padme raise their twins.
It’s really a tragedy this family wasn’t meant to be.
And I think he would make a fantastic father. Anakin is all about family, and he protects what he loves (well, before he went Dark Side). I could see him being a very protective dad, but also that dad that takes his kids on hoverbike joyrides. He would probably also be a bit awkward as a dad at first, probably because he wouldn’t have much experience with kids. But I think he and Padme would get the hang of things, and they would’ve been amazing parents. It’s really a tragedy this family wasn’t meant to be.
Art by Renny08.
