Top 10 First Kisses in Cartoons

While most of the entries to come feature first kisses that often herald the beginning of a relationship or at least deepening attraction between two characters, this is one between two characters in an established relationship. Ruby and Sapphire are both female alien Crystal Gems who have been in an established relationship throughout the show, to the point where they’re often fused into the same person, Garnet. However, it took five years and their marriage, which was one of the first LGBTQ+ ones to appear in a cartoon, to finally get the pair to lock lips.

These two best friends have shared plenty of danger together facing down ghosts, but it takes them until the series finale to finally realize they want to share more. Although Danny and Sam have done a few “fake-out make-outs” (pretend kisses meant to allay suspicion), this is their first genuine kiss. The smooch is the prospect of Danny enacting a desperate plan to save the world from an asteroid that finally pushes them to admit their feelings for one another. Fans of the show certainly felt like they’d “gone ghost” and died from happiness at seeing Danny and Sam get together at last.

#8: Green Lantern & Hawkgirl “Justice League” (2001-04)

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While they often argue, John Stewart, or Green Lantern, and Shayera Hol, a.k.a. Hawkgirl, have great chemistry with each other. Despite several almost kisses, a crisis is what makes them face their feelings for each other. Green Lantern is gravely injured when saving Hawkgirl from an explosion; causing her to abandon the current mission to get him to safety. When he wakes up and recovers, John wants to pursue things further, since his brush with death has left him tired of waiting. Although Hawkgirl tries to make excuses for why they shouldn’t pursue a relationship, she ultimately concedes that her arguments are flimsy and they share a kiss against the backdrop of the planet down below in a very romantic moment.

#7: Lisa Simpson & Nelson Muntz “The Simpsons” (1989-)

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The middle Simpson child, Lisa has several notable first kisses with Springfield boys, and while it’s sweet to see her finally kiss her longtime crusher (xref) Milhouse, we had to give our pick to her first smooch with Nelson Muntz. One episode sees Lisa crushing on the school bully and her attempts to get to know him better. Nelson’s character is fleshed out and he genuinely has fun with Lisa, culminating in a kiss on a date to the town observatory. While Nelson naturally returns to his old ways by episode’s end, his kiss with Lisa is still a notable moment for both characters.

The titular blue cat and his peanut friend, Gumball and Penny have a longstanding mutual crush, and while both of them are aware of how the other feels, they have trouble expressing it to each other. That all changes when Gumball accidentally cracks Penny’s shell when the two of them appear in “Beauty and the Beast.” While he encourages her to live outside of it, his delayed response in telling her what he thinks of her appearance leads her to shapeshift into a rampaging creature. Gumball eventually catches up with Penny and tells her how he really feels with a kiss; bringing out her inner beauty.

#5: Cat Noir & Ladybug “Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir” (2015-)

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Another superhero romance, Adrien Agreste, or Cat Noir, has a crush on Ladybug, the alter ego of his classmate Marinette Dupain-Cheng, who likes him but not Cat Noir. As Cat Noir, he frequently flirts with Ladybug, but when a magical arrow that turns love to hate turns him against Ladybug, the only way she can snap him out of his uncharacteristic behavior is with a kiss, to remind him of his real feelings. Although their secret identities remain intact, it’s still nice to see these two get the kiss they want, even if both of them aren’t aware of it in the moment.

The epic finale of “Adventure Time” had a little something for everyone, including romance. One of the show’s more subtle and gradual romances occurs between Marceline the Vampire Queen and Princess Bubblegum, with hints of attraction sprinkled throughout the series. This all culminates in the finale when it looks as though PB is killed, prompting Marceline to take enraged revenge on her attacker. The princess is revealed to be alright, though, and after a tearful and relieved hug they kiss, finally confirming fan hopes and theories once and for all.

#3: Phineas Flynn & Isabella Garcia-Shapiro “Phineas and Ferb” (2007-15)

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These two neighbors have a somewhat mutual crush on one another and even kiss several times during the series, though it’s always in a dream or undone by memory erasing or something. In fact, their first proper kiss doesn’t even happen until a flash-forward episode near the end of the show. In it, Phineas finally realizes that Isabella likes him and their friends all try to get them together before Isabella leaves for college. They eventually do figure things out, leading to a temporary farewell kiss that was definitely worth the wait.

#2: Kim Possible & Ron Stoppable “Kim Possible” (2002-07)

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Longtime friends and partners in crime fighting, Kim Possible and Ron Stoppable are as close as friends can be, despite their differences. However, it isn’t until Kim begins showing interest in another guy before prom that Ron begins to realize how he feels for her. While he’s initially afraid of telling her, so as not to ruin their friendship, he ultimately confesses when her date turns out to be an evil creation of their nemesis. After returning to prom together and dancing with one another, they share their first kiss; finally confirming to each other what the audience and the rest of the school already knew: that they’re perfect together. Before we get to our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions: Sokka & Suki “Avatar: The Last Airbender” (2005-08) Finn & Princess Bubblegum “Adventure Time” (2010-18) Jake Long & Rose “American Dragon: Jake Long” (2005-07) Elisa Maza & Goliath “Gargoyles” (1994-97) Jack & Ashi “Samurai Jack” (2001-04, 2017)

#1: Aang & Katara “Avatar: The Last Airbender” (2005-08)

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The eponymous last airbender/avatar and his waterbender friend and ally, Aang and Katara actually share several kisses during the series, probably, like that time in the cave and when Aang kisses Katara before going into battle, those either took place off-screen or were one-sided. Our pick has to go to the one that closes out the series itself, when, with the war won and the future bright, the two young heroes share a mutual kiss and begin their romance in earnest; helping end the show on a high and optimistic note.