7 Best Cartoons with Badass Female Protagonists

“You can do anything” is a simple phrase, but it brings a lot of afterthought. When we watch a movie where the female lead goes above and beyond to achieve her life goals, we unintentionally start copying the same strategy in real life.

But when it comes to cartoon characters, they teach us that even the toughest situations can be dealt with, so we aren't afraid to try and fail. There are many animated movies and series with female characters being the important sidekicks, but here we want to mention the ones in charge, the badass leaders.

So here’s the list of the perfect 7 cartoons with protagonists like that.

1. ‘The Legend of Korra’ (2012–2014)

IMDb: 8.3/10

Rotten Tomatoes: 89% from critics, 79% from audience

Korra, the Avatar succeeding Aang, is a powerful, headstrong, and deeply human. She comes from the Southern Water Tribe and is here to serve and succeed. Now, with earth, water and fire by her side, she is mastering the art of airbending, while tackling political issues, spirituality, and her own traumatic past. Korra’s evolution throughout the series underscores resilience and leadership.

2. ‘She‑Ra and the Princesses of Power’ (2018–2020)

IMDb: 8.1/10

Rotten Tomatoes: 96% from critics, 84% from audience

A reboot of the 1985 classic, this DreamWorks series launched on Netflix. In the series, we follow Adora who transforms into She‑Ra and leads a rebellion of magical princesses against an oppressive regime.

3. ‘The Owl House’ (2020–2023)

IMDb: 8.6/10

Rotten Tomatoes: 100% from critics, 83% from audience

The Owl House follows Luz Noceda, a Dominican‑American teen who stumbles into a magical realm and chooses to become a witch despite lacking innate powers. Her creativity, warmth, and unapologetic identity make her journey empowering and groundbreaking.

4. ‘Daria’ (1997–2002)

IMDb: 8.1/10

Rotten Tomatoes: 94% from audience

A more realistic take on how a young and rather opinionated woman can behave in society that has difficulty embracing different kinds of personalities. Daria is a complicated character, but she never fakes her feelings or thoughts and is not afraid to stand up to bullying. Definitely a badass teenage hero.

5. ‘Star vs. the Forces of Evil’ (2012–2019)

IMDb: 7.9/10

Rotten Tomatoes: 81% from audience

Star Butterfly is another example of a force fighter who is ready to do everything to protect the ones she loves. Although the series is set in a magical world, the problems Star faces are more than real: betrayal, relationship problems, family drama. Literally everything that happens in our real world. However, when we see the little girl being so brave to fight it all, we also feel strong enough to deal with stuff here on Earth.

6. ‘Totally Spies!’ (2001–2014)

IMDb: 7.1/10

If you are in your late twenties right now, you definitely remember Sam, Clover, and Alex, three teenage girls who are also the best spies the country has ever seen. While their boss is a man named Jerry, the stuff they do to achieve their goals is totally up to them. The way they juggle high school life and international espionage is just amazing. I wonder if any man could have been as successful?

7. ‘Kim Possible’ (2002–2007)

IMDb: 7.2/10

Rotten Tomatoes: 88% from audience

This Netflix series follows Kipo Oak in a post‑apocalyptic world of mutant animals. As a leader, she uses kindness and communication rather than violence to navigate conflict, showing that empathy can be a radical strength. However, you have to be really worried for your life if you ever wrong her.