History ManChild / WesternAnimation

* ''WesternAnimation/TheBrothersFlub'' Guapo is old enough to have a job, but he acts like a bratty child. In one episode he even willingly drinks from a baby bottle.

* ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice2010'': As with the comic example above, Captain Marvel is really a kid. However, none of the teens know his real form, so he definitely comes off as being this trope.

** Although not to Peter's extent, Lois' behavior in later episodes resemble that of a spoiled teenage girl who thinks she can do whatever she wants just because.

-->'''[[spoiler:White Diamond]]:''' You're just a-a-acting like a CHILD!
--> '''Steven:''' I ''am'' a child. [[ArmorPiercingQuestion What's your excuse?]]

* ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'': [[AdultsAreUseless Most of the adult cast]] qualifies, but Randy Marsh deserves special mention. He is a LethallyStupid man with a need for constant self-gratification, jumping on the latest trend whenever possible. This is especially ironic, since his son, Stan, is the OnlySaneMan[[note]]along with Kyle[[/note]].

* ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'': [[AdultsAreUseless Most of the adult cast]] qualifies, but Randy Marsh, the father of Stan, deserves special mention. He is a LethallyStupid man with a need for constant self-gratification, jumping on the latest trend whenever possible. This is especially ironic, since his son is the OnlySaneMan[[note]]along with Kyle[[/note]].

* ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'': [[AdultsAreUseless The majority of the adult population]] qualifies, but Randy Marsh, the father of Stan, deserves special mention. He is a LethallyStupid man with a need for constant self-gratification, jumping on the latest trend whenever possible. This is especially ironic, since his son is the OnlySaneMan[[note]]along with Kyle[[/note]].

* ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'': [[AdultsAreUseless Most of the adult ensemble]] is this, but Randy Marsh, the father of Stan, deserves special mention. He is a LethallyStupid man with a need for constant self-gratification, jumping on the latest trend whenever possible. This is especially ironic, since his son is the OnlySaneMan[[note]]along with Kyle[[/note]].

** The titular character. He is old enough to hold down a job and live on his own, but doesn't drive, doesn't pay the electric bill, doesn't have any money of his own, and he's been referred to as a kid on multiple occasions.
** Patrick Star even more so, and is more than happy to play dumb games with [=SpongeBob=]. He has his own home, but unlike [=SpongeBob=], he doesn't even have a ''job''. TheMovie also shows that he's worn the exact same GoofyPrintUnderwear for three years straight.

** Despite being the "older, responsible" sibling, she has various bouts of immaturity and would regularly [[NotSoAboveItAll throw tantrums, retaliate and act out]] whenever Eda gets one over her. While learning glyphs from Luz, Lilith acts like an excitable schoolchild, calling Luz "Miss Teacher" and generally behaving like a TeachersPet.

-->'''Eda:''' ''[grunts]'' I don't wanna do this!\\

* Robin, Beast Boy and Cyborg from ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitansGo'' All three are rude, egotistic, mean-spirited, whiny, destructive, immature jerks. Robin cries like a baby when something as little as his "staff" breaking happens.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Rugrats}}'': Most of the [[AdultsAreUseless adults]] are portrayed as more absent-minded than one would expect a parent with an infant to be, but Stu Pickles ranges from "immature adult" during arguments and short feuds with his older brother Drew, to what can only be described as "borderline mentally deficient" at seemingly random times. In "[[Recap/RugratsS3E12CuffedTheBlizzard The Blizzard]]," he runs into the kitchen and screams "Yippee, school's been cancelled!" after a big snowstorm, at which point Chas has to remind him that he's 35-years-old and doesn't have to go to school anymore. In "[[Recap/RugratsS2E2ChuckieVsThePottyTogetherAtLast Chuckie Vs. the Potty]]", he rushes to get Chuckie's potty while Chuckie is in the bathroom -- Didi tells him to "put it down," and Stu puts it down right where he's standing... outside of the bathroom. Even Chuckie probably realizes that the potty doesn't belong in the hallway.

--> "I must admit, it's sadly anti-climactic. Behind all the strum and batarangs, you're just a little boy in a playsuit, crying for mommy and daddy! It'd be funny if it weren't so pathetic... Oh, what the heck, I'll laugh anyway! ''([[LaughingMad Mad Laughter]])''"

--> "Listen, Steamer, today's my bro-tillion! Today, I am not a baby child; I am a MAN child!"

** Supersonic Stu is perhaps the most blatant example. He's said to be in his THIRTIES already and still acts like he's around five or six.

* ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'': [[AdultsAreUseless Most of the adult ensemble]] is this, but especially Randy Marsh, Stan's father. He is a LethallyStupid man with a need for constant self-gratification, jumping on the latest trend whenever possible. This is especially ironic, since his son is the OnlySaneMan[[note]]along with Kyle[[/note]].

** The titular character. He's old enough to hold down a job and live on his own, but doesn't drive, doesn't pay the electric bill, doesn't have any money of his own, and he's been referred to as a kid on multiple occasions.

* The Warden of ''WesternAnimation/{{Superjail}}''. Even lampshaded by the Mistress.

* ''WesternAnimation/UncleGrandpa'' takes this to extremes. He's shown be a [[{{Cloudcuckoolander}} very bizarre]] man who lives in his large R.V. and takes children on adventures to solve their problems.
* ''WesternAnimation/WallaceAndGromit'': Wallace himself is a perfect example; he is rather giddy and socially inept, shows disgust towards vegetables, plays with his inventions like toys, and fails to take most things seriously. Gromit the dog is shown to have far more emotional maturity (let alone common sense) than his master.

* ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'':
** Randy Marsh, Stan's father, is a LethallyStupid man with a need for constant self-gratification, that jumps on the latest trend whenever possible. This is especially ironic, since his son is the OnlySaneMan[[note]]along with Kyle[[/note]].
** [[AdultsAreUseless The majority of the adult characters]] likewise fit this description; each episode is launched by their general lack of maturity, [[TooDumbToLive let alone intelligence]].

** Randy Marsh, Stan's father, has become this in recent years (he was initially one of the saner adults on the show), transforming into a LethallyStupid man with a need for constant self-gratification, that jumps on the latest trend whenever possible. This is especially ironic, since his son is the OnlySaneMan[[note]]along with Kyle[[/note]].
** [[AdultsAreUseless Most of the other adult characters]] also qualify; their overall lack of maturity, [[TooDumbToLive let alone intelligence]], is what sets each episode into motion.

* WordOfGod on ''Franchise/{{Madagascar}}'' is that RidiculouslyCuteCritter Mort the mouse lemur, who looks and acts like a child, is [[OlderThanTheyLook the lemur equivalent of a 35-year-old]]. Julien has tendencies this way as well; he's constantly demanding attention and throws tantrums when he doesn't get what he wants, but at the same time gets very upset and starts talking to his plush toys when he's lonely, and [[spoiler:it's revealed via the magic of the Golden Squirrel that his greatest desire is simply to have his friends near him]].

* WordOfGod on ''WesternAnimation/{{Madagascar}}'' and ''WesternAnimation/ThePenguinsOfMadagascar'' is that RidiculouslyCuteCritter Mort the mouse lemur, who looks and acts like a child, is [[OlderThanTheyLook the lemur equivalent of a 35-year-old]]. Julien has tendencies this way as well; he's constantly demanding attention and throws tantrums when he doesn't get what he wants, but at the same time gets very upset and starts talking to his plush toys when he's lonely, and [[spoiler:it's revealed via the magic of the Golden Squirrel that his greatest desire is simply to have his friends near him]].

** [[AdultsAreUseless Most of the other adult characters]] in South Park also qualifies; their overall lack of maturity, [[TooDumbToLive let alone intelligence]], is what sets the series into motion.

* King Bumi from ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' also qualifies for this. He is an old man who is slightly crazy. He also sometimes says that it is simply fun to make nonsense. He has not changed since when he and Aang were children

* ''WesternAnimation/BigHero6TheSeries'' There are three main examples of this trope in the series that are often PlayedForLaughs

* A central theme of ''WesternAnimation/BojackHorseman'' is that most of Hollywood's residents, especially the more affluent ones, never had to face any real struggle or [[MiseryBuildsCharacter hardship that prompted them to grow as people]] and became stunted as a result, making the same mistakes over and over without truly learning from them.

* ''WesternAnimation/CatDog'': Despite being an adult, Dog acts like a kid, for example he likes reading comic books, playing in the park, throws tantrums, and is rather naïve and innocent. Cat even describes him as being "like a little puppy".

* Mr. Delmas of ''WesternAnimation/CodeLyoko'' has shades of this -- plays games on his computer, for instance.
* The eponymous protagonist in ''WesternAnimation/DanVs'' acts this way a lot. He dislikes vegetables, refuses to get a job even at the risk of eviction, can't keep his place clean in 20 minutes, has Chris and Elise pay for his meals as if they're his parents, throws a temper tantrum when he doesn't get his way, and of course, instigates vengeance against anyone (and anything) over minor incidents. Fitting considering it's a show aimed at children with subtle adult humor.
* ''WesternAnimation/DextersLaboratory''

* On ''WesternAnimation/DragonTales'', Mungus the Giant, despite looking like an adult giant and living by himself, he often behaves and talks like a child. He claims that he didn't know he was supposed to clean himself and breaks down crying when the gang accidentally ruins a dessert he made for his mommy's birthday.
* Captain Hero from ''WesternAnimation/DrawnTogether'' is revealed in the pilot episode to be a 28-year-old superhero yet he wears diapers, wets the bed, and throws tantrums. He also crosses into a psychopathic version of this frequently and is considered to be very dangerous through this tripe.

* Peter Griffin from ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' wavers between this and PsychopathicManchild.
--> "I wanna be the baby!"
* Gary Goodspeed, the BadassAdorable protagonist of ''WesternAnimation/FinalSpace'', is 32-years-old but acts [[OlderThanTheyLook (and looks)]] about half that age; although it should be noted that he [[CharacterDevelopment matures]] throughout the series, he still retains a bubbly and childlike disposition. he's especially this in regards to his attachment to [[TrademarkFavoriteFood cookies]], observed in this classic exchange from Episode 10:

* Glickenstein and King Malbert from ''WesternAnimation/{{Igor}}''.
* The titular character of ''WesternAnimation/JohnnyBravo''. He's in his mid to late 20s, still lives with his mother, throws temper tantrums when he doesn't get what he wants, spends much of his time playing with toys, has a lot of childlike interests, and he sleeps with a teddy bear and baby blanky often while sucking his thumb. On the other hand, he's pretty perverted and constantly hits on women.

* ''WesternAnimation/KingRollo'''s daily schedule is indistinguishable from that of a 5-year-old boy. His kingdom doesn't seem to suffer too much from his behaviour, though.

* While it's not clear how old the Ferocious Beast in ''WesternAnimation/MaggieAndTheFerociousBeast'' is, he appears to be relatively physically mature. However, he acts more like a 4-year-old, and 6-year-old Maggie is far more levelheaded and responsible in comparison.

* Toki Wartooth from ''WesternAnimation/{{Metalocalypse}}''. He has a teddy bear, eats candy, collects model airplanes, says "Wowee", and has a childish naivety for certain subjects such as sex. He also drinks, swears, and [[spoiler:goes on the occasional [[PsychopathicManchild murderous rampage]]]].

* Texas ''and'' Tooley in ''WesternAnimation/{{Motorcity}}''. When the former is telling the latter about "his" exploits, Tooley even lies down like a kid would.

* The main characters of ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' are all responsible young adults, more or less, setting aside when they need to be relatable to young children. That said:

* Oggy from ''WesternAnimation/OggyAndTheCockroaches''.

* Kyösti Pöysti in ''WesternAnimation/{{Pasila}}''.
* Mayor Humdinger from ''WesternAnimation/PAWPatrol'' became one in the show's later seasons. This is perhaps best shown in "Pups Save Baby Humdinger," where Tracker dreams that Humdinger turns into a baby after witnessing him throwing a tantrum over not getting any coconut milk.
* Dr. Doofenshmirtz from ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'' is physically in his 40s, but mentally around 10.
* The Mayor from ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls'' eventually wound up becoming this.

* Ray Stantz, one of ''WesternAnimation/TheRealGhostbusters'', is a downplayed example of this trope. While mature and perfectly capable of looking after himself, Ray still possesses an almost childlike idealism and enthusiasm for life. Ironically, this actually helps the Ghostbusters lure the Boogieman when they learn that the monster is attracted to people who think like children.

* Most of the adults on ''WesternAnimation/{{Rugrats}}'' are portrayed as more absent-minded than one would expect a parent with an infant to be, but Stu Pickles ranges from "immature adult" during arguments and short feuds with his older brother Drew, to what can only be described as "borderline mentally deficient" at seemingly random times. In "[[Recap/RugratsS3E12CuffedTheBlizzard The Blizzard]]," he runs into the kitchen and screams "Yippee, school's been cancelled!" after a big snowstorm, at which point Chas has to remind him that he's 35-years-old and doesn't have to go to school anymore. In "[[Recap/RugratsS2E2ChuckieVsThePottyTogetherAtLast Chuckie Vs. the Potty]]", he rushes to get Chuckie's potty while Chuckie is in the bathroom -- Didi tells him to "put it down," and Stu puts it down right where he's standing... outside of the bathroom. Even Chuckie probably realizes that the potty doesn't belong in the hallway.
* The title character of Creator/{{Terrytoons}}' ''WesternAnimation/SidneyTheElephant'' shorts is 44-years-old, but often shown to be extremely childish in demeanor. The short "Sidney's Family Tree", for example, has him beg other animals in the jungle to adopt him as their son. He is eventually [[InterspeciesAdoption taken in by a monkey]], much to the dismay of her husband.

* Randy Marsh, Stan's father from ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'', has become this in recent years (he was initially one of the saner adults on the show), transforming into a LethallyStupid man with a need for constant self-gratification, that jumps on the latest trend whenever possible. This is especially ironic, since his son is the OnlySaneMan[[note]]along with Kyle[[/note]].

* ''WesternAnimation/TheRidonculousRace'':
** Surfer dudes Geoff and Brody are 19-years-old yet they both act like children.
** Owen becomes this in the show as he is also 19 yet he carried a teddy bear around with him until he accidentally ate it.
** Daters Ryan and Stephanie are said to be in their 20's yet they both throw tantrums and it was exaggerated after they became the haters in which their insults towards each other were immature.
** Rock and Spud, who form the Rockers team are said to be in their late teens yet they are implied to be rehearsing music in the garages of their families and Spud in particular is shown to be very lazy and motivated by junk food such as Choco oinks.

* ''WesternAnimation/WeBareBears'' has two of the three titular bears, Grizzly and Panda. Growing up as orphans with extremely poor guidance towards adult life makes them as this. Grizzly generally acts childish and can be seen playing with children's toys at times, focusing more on socializing than responsibilities, while Panda acts as a PhoneaholicTeenager who often whines and complains about his medical problems and love life. Ironically, they are biologically the ''oldest brothers'' and usually have the youngest brother Ice Bear provide for their food and money. Interestingly enough, it's more pointed out with Panda since Grizzly and Ice Bear are protective of him.

* As with the comic example above, Captain Marvel in ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice2010'' is really a kid. However, none of the teens know his real form, so he definitely comes off as being this trope.

** The Earl of Lemongrab is an interesting version of this. Physically he's eighteen at the youngest, but because he was born in a laboratory, he's only about 1-year-old chronologically. He acts like a bratty little kid trapped inside the body of an adult, mainly because he IS a very young brat who happens to be an adult, too.
*** He and his brother/clone/[[AmbiguouslyGay boyfriend]] have kids together... and they're STILL immature manchildren.

* Richard Watterson from ''WesternAnimation/TheAmazingWorldOfGumball''. If anything, he's even ''more'' immature than his own offspring. Justified in that this was how his mother raised him. After [[spoiler: his father [[YouDirtyRat Frankie Watterson,]] a conman]] left, Jojo Watterson raised Richard to be unable to do anything himself and instill a fear of everything in him, hence why he is the way he is today. In the episode we discover this, she attempts to this to her grandchildren (as a result of her disagreement on Nicole raising them), but Nicole put a stop to that.

* Sterling Archer in ''WesternAnimation/{{Archer}}''. Despite being a world-class secret agent, he is also a brainless, immature MommasBoy who is often more interested in things like pirate lacrosse or ''Film/{{Aliens}}''-style space robots than the safety of his companions.

** Jack Spicer is a young man who is [[OlderThanHeLooks apparently in his early 20's]] there have been many signs of him acting very childishly. These hints include [[ScreamsLikeALittleGirl girly screaming]], constant whining, and he was revealed to often sleep with a night light on. He also plays with the shen gong wu as if they were toys. This is mostly due to the fact that his rich parents did not raise him as much as they should as they often send him money in a vain attempt to make up for this.

** [[spoiler: Soos’s girlfriend]] Melody is a [[Main/RareFemaleExample Rare Female Example]]. [[spoiler: It’s part of the reason why she gets along so well with Soos.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Recess}}'': Principal Prickly may think he's a {{Child Hater}}, but many episodes show that he is rather childish himself. He gets into arguments with his equally immature older brother Paul, he gets absolutely flustered when things don't go his way, and, in one episode, he is [[{{Hypno Fool}} accidentally hypnotized to think he's a first grader]]. The movie confirms that he is a {{Man Child}} because he misses his own childhood.

* As with the comic example above, Captain Marvel in ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'' is really a kid. However, none of the teens know his real form, so he definitely comes off as being this trope.

** Pinkie Pie [[GenkiGirl acts like an excitable 6-year-old]] and seems [[{{Cloudcuckoolander}} incapable of holding a serious conversation or actually reading the mood]]. She can be surprisingly neurotic and [[InnocentlyInsensitive insensitive]] whenever events aren't as exciting as possible or if she isn't getting the kind of attention she wants.

** Homer Simpson. Originally he was just a stereotypical BumblingDad but eventually developed into, in the show's own words, "a drunken, childish buffoon". A combination of low intelligence, emotional immaturity brought on by a neglectful father and absent mother, and simple CharacterDevelopment turned him into this trope.