We’ve all had that coworker or classmate whose work ethic and drive outpaced everyone else. Often the general consensus is that if their output level is expected to become the norm, they are “ruining it for everyone”.
The following ten cartoon characters aren’t necessarily known for their work ethics, but each of them ruined something for everyone.
There’s a reason cartoons aren’t just made for children. Cartoons have a way of removing us from our mundane lives for a while and sweeping us off into another world.
From back in the 1930s when Looney Tunes were shown in theatres, to today where there are multiple cable networks devoted to cartoons, the medium has always provided a much needed escape for kids and adults alike.
This list is not meant to criticize or cast blame on any cartoon for having a negative effect on society. We’ll leave that stuff to One Million Moms. We assembled this list to celebrate these characters and the things they ruined (in a good way) for everyone.
Lois Griffin
What She Ruined: the image of a perfect wife
Lois Griffin took the “perfect, loving wife” bar and raised it out of sight. Lois would be an outstanding partner for any man, and with what she puts into her marriage she deserves a caring, considerate partner. Instead, she has Peter Griffin.
Being married to perhaps the worst husband and father in television history hasn’t stopped Lois though. She continues to be a doting, compassionate, organized, smokin’ hot spouse after all these years, who many talented artists are clearly sexually attracted to (just Google Image search her name – NSFW!).
He-Man
What He Ruined: the body image of every adolescent boy in the mid 80s
He-Man was impossibly jacked. His forearms were bigger than your quads and his lats looked like oily tan aircraft carriers. As a young He-Man fan in the 80s, I can tell you from experience: you can do pushups and pullups everyday from the time you get home from school until Arsenio goes off the air and you’ll still never look like He-Man.
super-jacked and a huge bully = remarkable role model
I’m sure there were some who protested He-Man’s physique and its effect on boys at the time, but nothing compared to the backlash this would generate today. Come to think of it, maybe if I had this t-shirt it would motivate me to get in shape…
Jessica Rabbit
What She Ruined: your idea of what A.) a woman looks like, and B.) what a rabbit looks like
Bugs Bunny was handling the position of Chief Anthropomorphic Rabbit just fine until someone had to go and frame Roger Rabbit in 1988. While Who Framed Roger Rabbit was Roger’s starring vehicle, it was Jessica Rabbit that would become the breakout star.
Based on Tex Avery’s character named Red, Jessica Rabbit obliterated everyone’s image of a female figure (rabbit, human or otherwise).
Scooby-Doo
What He Ruined: your impression of your pet
Scooby-Doo is a great cartoon, but deep down you know if you met anyone from “the gang” the conversation would go something like this: “Howdy, nice to meet ya! Our dog talks and catches villains, what does your pet do?”, bringing you to the stark realization that your pet is mortifyingly inadequate.
Also ruining your idea of a cool pet: Dino from The Flintstones. “Oh, you have a Chinese Water Monitor? We have a dinosaur.”
and they would all peer at you like this
The Jetsons
What They Ruined: your concept of the future
As a kid watching The Jetsons, you probably saw the futuristic technology and way of life and figured it was all realistically attainable by when- 2000? If not, then 2010 for sure! 2015?
Unless there are some serious technological and lifestyle advances in the next few years, the generation who grew up watching The Jetsons will never see cars that look like spaceships or houses in the clouds.
READ ON to find out who ruined tape decks, daughters and mustaches for everyone—>
Pages: 1 2
Correction: Jessica Rabbit was the bust-out star of WFRR?
dammit. well done Dex.
Okay, why is it that the gang could understand Scooby just fine until danger came along and they had to do the whole Timmy and Lassie routine? That ruined the concept of dog communication…
good point. He must have had a plot device stuck in his throat
Such adjectives to describe He-Man.
there aren’t enough adjectives in the world to describe He-Man
“Oily tan aircraft carriers” for the win
seriously. Greasy Flaggs.
The Scooby Doo gang peering at me will appear in a nightmare, thanks
like that one phantom in the opening credits of the original series? with the red eyes! The worst!
Excellent work!
For the mustache you forgot Handlebar the bartender.
SO many great mustaches out there. He didn’t even make the cartoon mustache top 10 list, did he? Whoops! Egregious omission!
If I could survive He-Man (& Hulk Hogan (& Schwarzenegger)), then I can survive anything, hehe.
I’m weird that I didn’t pay much attention to Jessica Rabbit when I was a kid.
not weird at all. I actually never saw Roger Rabbit!
Smurfette doesn’t ruin are concept of gender roles.
It actually enforces it.
Have you tried online dating. There’s literally 1 genuine female to every 100 men.
Didn’t ruin anything for me. I grew up reading science fiction. Simpsons and Family Guy never ruined anything because I don’t watch them.
I cant believe I remember this from 30 years ago… But Smurfette wasnt a real Smurf. There are no female smurfs. She was created by Gargamel.
Damn you’re right. I remember that too, thanks to your reminder.