Top 20 Best First Kisses in Cartoons

Top 20 Best First Kisses in Cartoons

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This first kiss is always the sweetest. Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the Top 20 Best First Kisses in Cartoons. For this list, we’ll be looking at first kisses in animated TV shows, whether it’s actually the couple’s first kiss, or just the first time we see them smooching.

Ah, young love. Fans of “Recess” shipped T.J. and Spinelli from the very beginning, and the fact that they kissed during the show’s third episode certainly helped push that romantic narrative along. Sure it was part of an “experiment” to see what happens when boys and girls kiss and they both loudly exclaim “EW” when it’s done. But considering how long the kiss actually lasts and the fact that images of a sunset, rainbow and flowers appear around them, it’s clear that this was much more than a game for these two.

#19: Finn & Princess Bubblegum “Adventure Time” (2010-18)

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In the season three episode “Too Young”, Princess Bubblegum has been de-aged, going from 18 years old to 13. When she’s in her younger form, she seems to have some serious affection for Finn, and in order to get her back to her actual age so she can rule the kingdom, he has to give her a "a whopping love-hug". Afterwards, the two kiss. But sadly, once Bubblegum is 18 again she looks at their embrace as ancient history. Finn can only dream of being brave enough to take up Jake’s advice on how to win her heart.

#18: Jack & Ashi “Samurai Jack” (2001-04, 2017)

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At the end of this season five episode, Jack and Ashi are fighting side by side, attempting to fend off a swarm of leeches that make up the alien Lazarus-92. While they struggle to figure out how to use the weapon that’s able to kill it, it seems as though they’re going to be overwhelmed and defeated. But after a hard fought battle, they emerge victorious (and exhausted) and stare at each other panting. Then they passionately kiss to the background tune of "Everybody Loves Somebody" as performed by Dean Martin.

#17: Jake Long & Rose “American Dragon: Jake Long” (2005-07)

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When Rose is told that she has to slay Jake, it’s obviously the last thing she wants to do. Before the two enter the arena together, Rose asks if Jake has any requests before he transforms into a dragon. He pulls up her mask and kisses her before taking on his alternate form. While at first it seems like Rose has actually killed him, he actually managed to pull a fast one by consuming a magical potion that only made it appear as though he was dead. Thank goodness!

Fans of “Gargoyles” had to wait more than 60 episodes for Elisa and Goliath to finally express their feelings for one another and kiss. The moment came at the end of the second season, in the three part episode titled "Hunter's Moon”. Elisa has started a relationship with Jason Conover AKA Jason Canmore but eventually ends things with him after realizing his identity, and deciding to focus on someone who means more to her. She and Goliath then open up about how they feel about each other and finally give fans the embrace that they’d been hoping for.

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.

In the season two episode “Starcrushed”, Star confesses her feelings to Marco. But he doesn’t give them the attention they deserve. Despite that, it’s clear that things changed between these two after Star told Marco how she felt. The following season, when they look back at old photos together, Marco acknowledges his mistake and decides to make it right by kissing Star after putting money into the photo booth. It’s a brief moment that’s quickly interrupted by Fotino, who bounds onto the scene with over the top congratulations. Well that escalated quickly!

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.

#12: 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.

#11: Sokka & Suki “Avatar: The Last Airbender” (2005-08)

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Sokka and Suki’s relationship didn’t get off to the best start. Captured by her Kyoshi Warriors, Sokka comes off as chauvinistic rather than charming. But he eventually realizes the error of his ways ... with help from Suki, who becomes his trainer and doesn’t go easy on him! Part way through the show’s second season, the tension between the two characters came to a head. While Suki is apologizing to Sokka, he stops her in the middle of her speech by kissing her and telling her that she talks too much. Maybe a little rude, but a lot romantic.

Lots of first kisses are sweet and loving, but this one didn’t exactly go so well. The fact that Mordecai and Margaret’s first kiss happened in an episode titled “Bad Kiss” tells you pretty much everything you need to know. Mordecai is mortified after Margaret cuts the smooch in the car short and tells him he has bad breath - and he decides to try to travel back in time to fix it. Watching two birds kiss is strange to say the least but this embrace was definitely a memorable one.

#9: 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.

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.

#6: 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.

After they gradually grow closer, Callum tries to comfort Rayla when she’s disappointed in herself for failing Runaan. She criticizes her own abilities, showing her lack of self confidence. But he gives her an impassioned speech about how amazing she is. While he compliments her bravery and perseverance, he also mentions her beauty, which causes her to initiate a kiss. He’s surprised because that wasn’t exactly what he had in mind … but luckily they clear things up later on and actually share their feelings.

#4: 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.

Until the series finale, this romance remained a will-they-or-won’t-they affair, with both characters growing closer but never quite getting together. Since Starfire hails from the planet Tamaran, Robin helped her understand and adapt to Earth ways. Their affection for each other was obvious to everyone around them … but neither could summon the courage to express their feelings. That all changed in the made-for-TV movie that capped off the series. After an epic battle against villain Daizo, the two FINALLY admit their feelings and share a kiss - in the rain, as their happy friends look on. … We’re not crying, YOU’RE crying.

#2: Kim Possible & Ron Stoppable “Kim Possible Movie: So the Drama” (2005)

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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.

#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.