The cartoon crushes every 80s kid had (and won't admit)

If you grew up in the 80s with a TV and a bowl of cereal, you had a cartoon crush. Maybe you didn't tell anyone. Maybe you still haven't. But somewhere between G.I. Joe and Transformers, between He-Man and ThunderCats, there was a character who made you sit a little closer to the screen.

This is that list. All animated. All the reason your younger self suddenly cared about plot.

Jessica Rabbit (Who Framed Roger Rabbit)

Jessica Rabbit hit theaters in 1988 and became the gold standard for animated crushes overnight. She sang at the Ink and Paint Club, wore a red dress that defied physics, and delivered the line every kid quoted without fully understanding it: "I'm not bad, I'm just drawn that way." The film is streaming on Disney Plus and available on disc, and she's still the one everyone remembers first.

April O'Neil (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)

April O'Neil was the reporter who spent most of the 80s cartoon getting kidnapped by the Foot Clan and rescued by four turtles. She wore a yellow jumpsuit, carried a microphone, and somehow kept her job despite the worst luck in journalism. The original 1987 series is on Paramount Plus, and April remains the cartoon crush that launched a thousand action figure purchases.

She-Ra (She-Ra: Princess of Power)

She-Ra was He-Man's twin sister, the leader of the Great Rebellion, and the owner of a sword that turned into anything the plot needed. She ran around Etheria in a tiara and boots, fought Hordak, and made every kid wonder why He-Man got all the attention. The original series is available on DVD and streaming, and the 2018 reboot on Netflix reminded everyone why she mattered.

Jem (Jem and the Holograms)

Jem was a rock star, a hologram, and somehow also Jerrica Benton, who ran a foster home and a record label. The show ran from 1985 to 1988, delivered dozens of original songs, and made pink hair and star earrings the look of the decade. The series is on DVD and streaming services, and the theme song still gets stuck in your head on the first note.

Cheetara (ThunderCats)

Cheetara was the fastest ThunderCat, a warrior with a staff, and the only member of the team who seemed to have her life together. She wore a leotard, ran at super speed, and had a sixth sense that mostly told her when Lion-O was about to do something dumb. The original series is streaming, and Cheetara remains the character every 80s kid remembers when someone mentions Third Earth.

Lady Jaye (G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero)

Lady Jaye joined the Joe team in 1984 as a covert ops specialist who threw javelins, spoke multiple languages, and somehow made a beret and a jumpsuit work. She was voiced by Mary McDonald-Lewis and became the Joe everyone rooted for when Flint was around. The original series is available on DVD and Tubi, and Lady Jaye's action figure remains one of the most sought-after from the line.

Scarlett (G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero)

Scarlett was the counter-intelligence expert who carried a crossbow, wore a blue jumpsuit, and spent most of the series in a love triangle with Snake Eyes and Duke that the show never quite resolved. She was voiced by B.J. Ward and appeared in the cartoon from day one. You can watch her on the same streaming services as Lady Jaye, and her figure is still one of the most recognizable from the original toy line.

Daphne Blake (Scooby-Doo)

Daphne Blake has been around since 1969, but the 80s gave her a purple dress, a green scarf, and a role as the danger-prone member of Mystery Inc. She spent the decade getting captured, falling through trapdoors, and somehow always landing in the same room as the monster. Scooby-Doo reruns are everywhere, and Daphne remains the character who made kids suddenly care about solving mysteries.

Teela (He-Man and the Masters of the Universe)

Teela was the captain of the royal guard, the adopted daughter of Man-At-Arms, and the only person on Eternia who didn't know Prince Adam and He-Man were the same guy. She wore a snake-themed outfit, carried a staff, and spent most of the series being more competent than He-Man. The original series is on Netflix and DVD, and Teela's figure remains a staple of any vintage Masters collection.

Betty Rubble (The Flintstones)

Betty Rubble was Barney's wife, Wilma's best friend, and the Bedrock resident who somehow made a stone-age housewife role charming. She wore a blue dress, had a laugh that carried across the quarry, and appeared in countless reruns throughout the 80s on syndication. The Flintstones is available on Max and DVD, and Betty remains the cartoon crush that predates most of the others on this list.

Ariel (The Little Mermaid)

Ariel hit theaters in 1989, closed out the decade, and reminded everyone that Disney knew exactly what it was doing. She was a mermaid who wanted legs, collected human junk, and sang "Part of Your World" in a grotto while kids sat in theaters and forgot about the plot. The film is on Disney Plus and Blu-ray, and Ariel became the template for every Disney princess that followed.

Quick answers

Where can I watch these shows now?

Most are on streaming services like Netflix, Paramount Plus, Disney Plus, Max or Tubi. Some are only available on DVD or Blu-ray through Amazon or eBay.

Are the action figures worth anything?

Some are. Vintage G.I. Joe, Masters of the Universe and ThunderCats figures can sell for decent money if they're complete and in good shape. Check eBay sold listings for current values.

Did everyone really have a cartoon crush?

If you had a TV in the 80s and a pulse, yes. It was part of growing up with Saturday morning cartoons and after-school reruns.