Name The Cartoon Fighter
- by Ursula Nizalowski
- – on
- in Movies and TV
While many people think cartoons are just for kids due to their simple nature and tendency to teach moral lessons for the young viewers, who doesn’t want to see two awesome-looking characters duking it out in a spectacular animated fight sequence that lasts almost an entire episode culminating in an amazing final move? For that kind of cartoon, we have to look eastward to the country of Japan which produces anime. Though it may seem no different from American cartoons, the level of violence anime achieves is far greater than any show you get on something like Cartoon Network. But this is all dependent on the anime itself, from the martial arts epic known as DragonBall to the ultra-violent Fist of the North Star series. Yet American cartoons can get almost as violent, which was, especially, true during the 1980s with shows like G. I. Joe that had a lot of explosions and shooting. The same is true for movies, as the violent deaths of so many beloved Autobots in the animated Transformers movie, supposedly, caused a lot of children to cry in the theatre.
Nowadays, most cartoon shows and movies have become pretty tame focusing less on battling and more on character-driven narratives. Though some do find room to have cool fight scenes like Steven Universe and My Little Pony of all things. What we want to know is how many of these beloved fighters from cartoon series and movies you can name, including anime.
Who is the first to go Super Saiyan?
One of the most popular anime series of all time, DragonBall follows the story of a young man named Son Goku who goes on a series of adventures to search for seven glowing orbs called the Dragon Balls. When brought together, they summon the Eternal Dragon whom you can make any wish upon and have it come true. Then starting in the sequel series DragonBall Z, Goku is now an adult and learns that he’s a member of a nearly extinct alien warrior race called the Saiyans.
Who fights without using any form of Bending?
Not to be confused with the James Cameron movie, Avatar: The Last Airbender is set in a mystical world where certain individuals from different lands are capable of manipulating the literal elements known as Benders. But there is one who is able to manipulate all the elements who is called the Avatar. They are known to reincarnate every century and the current one is Aang, an Airbender who must stop the dreaded Fire Nation from taking over the world along with his companions Katara and Sokka.
Who is known as "The Fastest Thing Alive"?
Loosely connected to the video games it’s based on, Sonic the Hedgehog or Sonic SatAM takes place on a dismal world that’s been nearly taken over by a mad scientist named Doctor Robotnik (who later became known as Doctor Eggman). Along with his nephew Snively, they run the city of Robotropolis which used to be a sprawling urban center occupied by anthropomorphic animals. Now through a process called Roboticization, the city’s inhabitants have been turned into robot slaves while the rest fled to create the Knothole Freedom Fighters led by Sonic the Hedgehog.
Who among the Gargoyles uses brute strength?
Long ago, a group of living stone statues called Gargoyles resided in an old castle in Scotland protecting it from intruders though the castle’s human occupants weren’t too fond of them. Then a series of betrayals and misunderstandings occur, leading the Gargoyles to get permanently turned to stone until their castle is raised above the clouds. So a hundred years later, a rich millionaire named Xanatos decides to take the castle and put it on top of a skyscraper in Manhattan, New York City to see if the legend is true.
Who is possessed by a Nine-Tailed Fox?
While Boruto may be growing in popularity, Naruto will still have a place in the hearts of the otaku who grew up with it starting in 1999. It tells of a young trouble-making boy who wants to become the leader of his Ninja Village, despite housing a great evil that could destroy everything and everyone around him. But over the course of the series with a three-year gap between parts, he learns to control the evil spirit inside as a Ninja War brews on the horizon and he's pitted against his former comrade.
Who is the eponymous Princess Mononoke?
Set in Medieval Japan, Princess Mononoke depicts a world that is slowly becoming modern while the ancient Gods are growing weaker. In the midst of all this lies a village that still coexists with nature, whose peaceful existence is interrupted by the appearance of a demonic pig. Fortunately, the village prince manages to stop the demon, but at the cost of being cursed by it. So he heads off to find a way to lift the curse while getting involved in a conflict between iron-makers and the Forest Gods led by a figure nicknamed Princess Mononoke.
Who has a demon for a father?
Prior to its light-hearted reboot, the original Teen Titans show was more serious in tone though it had its funny moments here and there. Centered on five teenage superheroes who lived in a T-shaped tower outside of Jump City, they would fight all manors of evil both inside and out. There was Robin, the tactical genius martial artist, Starfire, the flying alien with the deadly energy bolts, Beast Boy, the green shapeshifter, Cyborg, the technological powerhouse, and Raven, the inter-dimensional psychic.
Who obtains the Black Cauldron first?
An obscure Disney film, The Black Cauldron is set in the mythical land of Prydain where a young boy named Taran serves as an apprentice to the enchanter Dallben who keeps a special pig called Hen Wen that has the ability to foretell the future. One day, though, she predicts the dreaded Horned King will try to obtain a mystical item known as the Black Cauldron which has the power to create an undead army that can’t be stopped by any mortal man.
Who leads the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles?
Also known as the Heroes in a Half-Shell, these walking talking reptiles will slay any foe with their ninja-based martial arts and weapons just in time to save their loved ones and order a pizza as a reward. They were originally conceived as a parody of superhero comics, but quickly grew into a cultural sensation thanks to the 1980s cartoon with several incarnations right up to the present day including several live-action movies and an animated one that came out before the current Michael Bay films.
Who has the power to summon the other ThunderCats?
From the planet Thundera, a handful of humanoid felines known as the ThunderCats (which the show's named after) made their way to a planet called Third Earth after their ship gets damaged by the evil Mutants who pursue them hoping to obtain the ThunderCats' legendary Sword of Omens. Fortunately, they reach Third Earth but at the cost of losing their leader who piloted the ship while everyone was put in suspended animation. Yet something went wrong with the young prince’s capsule causing him to age into an adult but still have the mind of a boy.
Who can kill people by hitting certain parts of their bodies?
Notorious for its extreme levels of violence, Fist of the North Star takes place in a post-apocalyptic world similar to Mad Max where humans have grown more barbaric with some forming gangs that attack defenseless villages. Yet among this chaos there is a man named Kenshiro who travels the radioactive wastelands helping those in need. This includes a little girl named Rin who gets kidnapped by some bikers after she showed kindness to him while he was imprisoned by her village. So he sets off to rescue her while being accompanied by a skeptical boy named Bat.
Who uses a magic sword?
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, which was based on a series of action figures, details the adventures of Prince Adam the heir to the Kingdom of Eternia. He is also the protector of Castle Grayskull, a foreboding place with mystical secrets that could be dangerous in the wrong hands, as his alternate persona He-Man. Aided by Man-At-Arms and his daughter Teela, Orko the magician, the mysterious Sorceress, and Kringer who turns into the fierce Battle Cat they defend Castle Grayskull from the likes of Skeletor and other forces of evil.
Who uses non-violence to win?
One of the first films directed by Hayao Miyazaki, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind tells of a warrior princess who lives in a post-apocalyptic world that is primarily overrun by the Toxic Jungle, a massive forest crawling with poisonous insects and plants. Apart from the desert wastelands, the only other place untouched by the Jungle is Nausicaä’s home the Valley of the Wind. But one night an airship crashes into the Valley carrying the embryo of a Giant Warrior, which were responsible for destroying the world in the first place, making them the target for a military state.
Who wears the Pegasus Saint armor?
Saint Seiya, also known as Knights of the Zodiac, tells of an orphan who heads to Greece to obtain a special armor that is worn by the protectors of the Goddess Athena called Saints. Their power levels are determined by the kind of armor they wear with Bronze being the lowest and Gold being the highest, and their designs are based on different constellations. Using the bronze-colored armor for himself, the orphan Seiya heads off to look for his missing sister while being accompanied by others wearing similar armor.
Who among Bucky O'Hare's crew has psychic powers?
Based on a comic-book series, Bucky O'Hare and the Toad Wars takes place in an alternate dimension called the Aniverse where anthropomorphic animals from various planets have achieved space-travel. But then an AI called KOMPLEX takes over the Toad Empire turning it into a military powerhouse that threatens to take over the entire galaxy. So it is up to the S. P. A. C. E. organization to stop them including one of their foremost captains Bucky O’Hare and his crew on the ship The Righteous Indignation.
Who defeats Shan Yu?
In ancient China, a young woman named Mulan is trying to find her place in the world while an invasion by the Huns is taking place led by Shan Yu. After Mulan gets told by the Matchmaker that she’ll never bring honor to her family, the Emperor’s messengers arrive to recruit able-bodied men for the army to oppose the Huns. Having served once before, Mulan’s father volunteers despite being physically weak. So, Mulan takes her father's place by dressing as a man and joining the army.
Who fights despite being blind?
As the title implies, Quest for Camelot takes place in a fantasy version of Medieval England where King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table are real. The main story, though, is about a young girl named Kayley who wants to be a Knight like her father. Unfortunately, her father’s life is cut short at the hand of an evil Knight named Ruber who was trying to steal King Arthur’s legendary sword Excalibur but failed. Several years go by, and Excalibur gets stolen. So an older Kayley decides to go look for Excalibur after her mother gets kidnapped by Ruber.
Who is Captain of the Straw Hat Pirates?
One of the longest-running series of all time, One Piece is set in an ever-expanding world where pirates rule the seas while constantly being pursued by the Navy. Yet, there was one pirate who stood above the rest, having amassed a great treasure that’s hidden somewhere. Before he was executed, this pirate proclaimed that whoever obtains the “One Piece” treasure will become the King of Pirates. Inspired by this legend, a young man named Monkey D. Luffy sets off to look for “One Piece” while gaining several companions and having tons of adventures along the way.
Who fights using a pair of fans in the world of Lyoko?
Code Lyoko is about four teenagers who discover a computer that leads into another realm called Lyoko that is digital in nature. There, they find a young girl who’s been trapped in Lyoko for most of her life and there is an evil AI called XANA that not only wants to destroy Lyoko itself but also take over the real world. As a result, monsters created by XANA start appearing in the real world, but the only way to defeat them is by going into Lyoko itself.
Who in KND's Section V has a British accent?
Codename: Kids Next Door, or KND as it’s sometimes called, focuses on the secret child-run organization known as the Kids Next Door who fight to protect children from adults and teenagers that threaten to wreck their fun. Section V of this group contains members whose codenames are Numbuh 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. Each of them come from different backgrounds and have unique skills they bring to the table. Together, they face threats that either attack them personally or other children at large.
Who is named after an actual person?
Jackie Chan Adventures tells of an ordinary archeologist who works for a university discovering a magical talisman that is one of 12. This makes him the target for an evil organization called the Black Hand. Their leader, Valmont, is hoping to collect all 12 talismans in order to revive an evil sorcerer named Shendu. Together with his uncle and niece, our hero is forced to do battle with the Black Hand after being recruited by the secret government organization Section 13.
Who does the Spinning Top signature move?
¡Mucha Lucha! takes place in a fictional town whose culture entirely revolves around Mexican wrestling or lucha libre as it’s officially called. Like WWE-style wrestling, the fighters wear colorful outfits and have some kind of signature move, only they wear masks to hide their faces. Such is the case for everyone living in this town and there is even a school which young children attend to study the art of lucha libre fighting. The show focuses on three kids named Rikochet, Buena Girl, and The Flea as they deal with everyday issues in exaggerated ways.
Who has the power to manipulate water?
An underrated classic, Xiaolin Showdown tells the story of four teenagers who are able to manipulate the four elements including: water, wind, earth, and fire. Together, they train at the Xiaolin Temple while also searching the world for special artifacts called the Shen Gong Wu with help from a dragon named Dojo who can sense the Shen Gong Wu’s presence. However, they’re rivaled by the likes of teenage mad scientist Jack Spicer and the evil sorceress Wuya who want the artifacts for themselves.
Who is a Substitute Soul Reaper?
Bleach is an anime based on a popular manga series that focuses on a teenage boy named Ichigo Kurosaki. An ordinary high-school student with a typical family consisting of a father and two younger sisters, he soon discovers that he can see spirits. In particular, he’s able to see Hollows which are vengeful spirits that refuse to pass onto the afterlife and are extremely dangerous towards humans. It is then that he meets a mysterious girl named Rukia who gives him the power to fight Hollows but at the cost of losing her own.
Who uses the Wuxi Finger Hold?
A surprise-hit by Dreamworks, Kung-Fu Panda takes place in an Asian setting occupied by anthropomorphic animals. Among them, though, only a handful know how to use martial arts. Known as the Furious Five, they were taught by a red panda named Master Shifu. But then Shifu’s mentor Oogway predicts that an evil snow leopard named Tai Lung will come back despite being imprisoned many years ago. So, Master Shifu holds a contest to find the legendary Dragon Warrior who can defeat Tai Lung while a martial arts enthusiast named Po decides to participate.
Who eats fire for sustenance?
Set in a world where wizards and magic exist, the anime series known as Fairy Tail is named after a popular yet notorious Wizard Guild whose members are powerful, yet have a tendency to cause massive damage wherever they go. A young girl named Lucy wants to join this group as she happens to be skilled in celestial magic, which involves summoning creatures that represent the different constellations. Then after nearly being tricked by an evil wizard she meets Natsu, a boy with fire-based magic, who takes her to the Fairy Tail Guild.
Who has the power to shape-shift to varying sizes?
Adventure Time follows the adventures of Finn the Human and his faithful companion Jake the Dog. Together, they travel across the post-apocalyptic fantasy land of Ooo which is made up of several kingdoms from the Candy Kingdom resided over by Princess Bubblegum to the Fire Kingdom ruled by Flame Princess. While some rulers are peaceful, others like the Ice King are not though he turns out to be a misunderstood soul. Same goes with Marceline the Vampire Queen, both having lived longer than anyone else in the Land of Ooo.
Who is a Duel Blade wielder?
In the near future, a virtual reality video-game called Sword Art Online hits stores and thousands of gamers line up to play it. Utilizing the revolutionary NerveGear technology, it completely submerges the player in a virtual reality world called Aincrad which has a total of 100 levels all stacked in a tower-like structure. But as the players quickly discover, none of them can log out. The reason being that the game’s designer Akihiko Kayaba has trapped them inside the game and will only let them out if they’ve beaten all 100 levels with any in-game deaths being real.
Who uses a shield as their main weapon?
Set in a fictional seaside town, Steven Universe focuses on its titular hero who tags along with three women called the Crystal Gems that save the world one battle at a time. They are otherworldly beings who came to Earth following their leader Rose Quartz who fell in love with a human male and had Steven. Then after she unexpectedly died, Garnet Amethyst and Pearl took it upon themselves to raise Steven and take care of him. Because he's part-Gem, his powers are similar to the other Gems including the ability of Fusion.
Who has the ability to turn into a Titan?
At an unspecific point in the future, the remnants of humanity have closed themselves off in a multi-walled city to be safe from colossal monsters called Titans that wander the earth freely. Inside the outermost wall lives a young boy named Eren Yaeger along with his childhood friends Mikasa and Armin. But one day, the outermost wall gets breached by the Titans forcing Eren and the others to flee though his mother gets left behind and dies in the process. Some years later, Eren and his friends have joined the city’s military to get revenge on the Titans.
Who has the Stand ability?
Based on a popular manga from the 1980s that got adapted in the early 2010s, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is a multi-generational story that began in the 1800s when a young man named Jonathan Joestar is introduced to his adopted brother Dio Brando. The two quickly grow to hate each other which results in Dio becoming a vampire after killing Jonathan’s father. From there, his grandson Joseph took up the fight against Dio and Joseph’s grandson Jotaro after that utilizing different abilities to stop him.
Who is the commander of the Leafmen?
In the animated movie Epic (not to be confused with the comedy film Epic Movie), a teenage girl named Mary Katherine aka M. K. is sent to live with her eccentric scientist father who believes there is a race of tiny humans called the Leafmen that protect the forest near his house from malevolent creatures known as the Boggans. Not believing her father, M. K. considers leaving but then their dog runs off into the forest. Meanwhile, the Leafmen’s queen Tara is contemplating who will be her successor when the Boggans suddenly attack.
Who becomes the successor to the Lord of the Beast Kingdom?
The Boy and the Beast begins with an orphan boy named Ren running away after his mother dies and his father never seems to come for him. He ends up wandering the street of the Shibuya district of Tokyo, Japan and runs into a humanoid bear named Kumatetsu. Having wandered from the parallel Beast Kingdom, Kumatetsu decides to take Ren on as an apprentice in order to seem more favorable to the Beast Kingdom’s Lord, who is planning to retire and become a deity.
Who uses a magic shamisen?
Set in a fantasy world heavily influenced by Japanese culture, Kubo and the Two Strings tells of our lead hero who is a young boy with one eye having had the other stolen when he was a baby. He takes care of his mother, who’s mental state has been slowly deteriorating since she hit her head on a rock around the same time Kubo lost his eye, and earns a living by telling stories to the local villagers. Then one day, Kubo’s life changes when he’s attacked by two strange women claiming to be his aunts.
Who is the Green Ninja?
As The Lego Ninjago Movie opens up, a young boy wanders into a shop owned by a man named Mr. Liu who tells him about the city of Ninjago which was always being attacked Lord Garmadon. Fortunately, a group of ninjas always saved the day by piloting giant robots. Their members include Lloyd Garmadon, the unfortunate son of Lord Garmadon, and his friends Jay, Kai, Nya, and Cole. After defeating Lord Garmadon again, the ninjas’ Master Wu returns from a long trip and mentions an Ultimate Weapon that could defeat Lord Garmadon permanently but advises it should never be used.