History TheHero / WesternAnimation

* Bulletproof, the African-American {{cyborg}} of ''WesternAnimation/COPSAnimatedSeries'''.

* Bulletproof, the African-American cyborg of ''WesternAnimation/{{COPS}}''.

** ''Disney/{{Aladdin}}''
** Simba from ''Disney/TheLionKing''.
** Disney/{{Hercules}}, which is exactly the main plot in the film. To recover his [[DisabledDeity lost Godly-status]], he has to prove he is a hero like the other Greek legends, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pa0lMzaljTk the film even explicitly inserts a musical number titled "From zero to hero"]].
** Aladar from ''Disney/{{Dinosaur}}''.

* Timothy from ''TimothyGoesToSchool''.

* Robin of ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans''.
* Averted in ''WesternAnimation/CodeLyoko'', where none of the protagonists is placed as the actual "hero", the attributes being instead shared between them: [[TheSmartGuy Jérémie]] is TheLeader (and the one in love with TheChick), [[TheChick Aelita]] is the one leading the plot, [[TheStoic Ulrich]] is the one with the HeroesPreferSwords and fighting attributes, [[TheLancer Yumi]] is the TheKirk and [[PluckyComicRelief Odd]] is the hot-headed one.
* ''WesternAnimation/XiaolinShowdown'' started out with Omi as the hero. Later, the role was transferred to Raimundo.
* Kwame of ''WesternAnimation/CaptainPlanetAndThePlaneteers'', which gives him the honor of saying the {{Invocation}} before their ByThePowerOfGreyskull ritual.
* ''WesternAnimation/HeManAndTheMastersOfTheUniverse1983'': He-Man, of course.
* Hank of the ''WesternAnimation/DungeonsAndDragons'' cartoon.
* Palmer of ''WesternAnimation/TitanMaximum'' is a Deconstruction of the classic Mecha Team hero, being a glory-seeking JerkJock who as his former Lancer turned BigBad Gibbs can tell you is "an egomaniac [[IdiotHero troglodyte]] who will let you all die a fiery hell before he shares even one iota of glory." Palmer does in fact put himself over the team and is directly responsible for Gibbs' FaceHeelTurn (having once ''left him to die'' so that he wouldn't be late for a hot date), though he does have some degree of care for his [[TeethClenchedTeamwork "Friends"]].

** Disney/{{Aladdin}}

** Aladar from Disney/{{Dinosaur}}
* Bulletproof, the African-American cyborg of ''WesternAnimation/{{COPS}}''.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheTick''. He's also TheBigGuy, believe it or not.
* Jack/Bionic 1 of ''WesternAnimation/BionicSix''.

* Stan Marsh and Kyle Broflovski from ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark''.
* Jack of ''WesternAnimation/Xyber9NewDawn'', TheChosenOne as a KingArthur-related archetype.
* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' being an impulsive CloudCuckooLander and IdiotHero has not stopped Philip J. Fry. He tends to have the most focus, often saves the day (even if accidentally) and most importantly of all, is the one who drew the RagtagBunchOfMisfits together.

* Almost anyone named [[{{Transformers}} Optimus]] (whether it ends in Prime or [[WesternAnimation/BeastWars Primal]]).
* [[TheLeader Aqualad]] on WesternAnimation/YoungJustice, though he's said he's willing to pass the mantle on to Robin (TheLancer) once he's matured and gotten better at working with a team, instead of as Batman's partner.
** The show mainly features an EnsembleCast, although ComicBook/BlueBeetle seems to have taken on this role in season 2.
* Littlefoot from ''WesternAnimation/TheLandBeforeTime''
* Megan from ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePony''.
* Finn from ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime''.
* Although Mordecai and Rigby get more focus than any other ''WesternAnimation/RegularShow'' characters, the real hero of the show is [[{{Keet}} Pops]], as season 8 revealed that [[spoiler: he is TheChosenOne to fight the season's BigBad, his EvilTwin Anti-Pops]].
* While established more as TheSmartGuy of a three member ensemble, Sam of ''WesternAnimation/TotallySpies'' is usually enthasised as what holds the team together, usually saving the team at least once per episode and sometimes even stopping the villain almost singlehandedly at times.

* Twilight Sparkle from WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic. It is downplayed due to [[ADayInTheLimelight character rotations]], but she still tends to play this role in the series as a whole.

* Timothy from TimothyGoesToSchool
* Skysurfer One of ''WesternAnimation/SkysurferStrikeForce''.
* Hank Hill from ''WesternAnimation/KingOfTheHill'' due to being the guy that always solves other people's problems and being the show's [[OnlySaneMan Only Sane Man]].

* Littlefoot from ''TheLandBeforeTime''
* Megan from ''MyLittlePony''.

* While established more as TheSmartGuy of a three member ensemble, Sam of ''TotallySpies'' is usually enthasised as what holds the team together, usually saving the team at least once per episode and sometimes even stopping the villain almost singlehandedly at times.
* Rufus is a strange nominal case in ''TheDreamstone'' starting off as such in the pilot before getting quickly downgraded more into a TagalongKid and HeroAntagonist afterwards. He shifts back a little by the end of the series but it's still often downplayed and shared with Amberley.

* Averted in ''WesternAnimation/CodeLyoko'', where none of the protagonists is placed as the actual "hero", the attributes being instead shared between them: [[TheSmartGuy Jérémie]] is TheLeader (and the one in love with TheChick), [[TheChick Aelita]] is [[MacGuffinGirl the one leading the plot]], [[TheStoic Ulrich]] is the one with the HeroesPreferSwords and fighting attributes, [[TheLancer Yumi]] is the TheKirk and [[PluckyComicRelief Odd]] is the hot-headed one.

* Rufus was established as such in early episodes of ''TheDreamstone'', though was quickly downgraded more to KidSidekick and occasional DecoyProtagonist akin to Amberley later on.

** The show mainly features an EnsembleCast, although BlueBeetle seems to have taken on this role in season 2.

* ''TheTick''. He's also TheBigGuy, believe it or not.
* Jack/Bionic 1 of ''BionicSix''.

* Jack of ''Xyber9NewDawn'', TheChosenOne as a KingArthur-related archetype.

* Skysurfer One of ''WesternAnimation/SkysurferStrikeForce''.

* Applejack from WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic. It is downplayed due to [[ADayInTheLimelight character rotations]], but she still tends to play this role in the series as a whole.

* Averted in ''CodeLyoko'', where none of the protagonists is placed as the actual "hero", the attributes being instead shared between them: [[TheSmartGuy Jérémie]] is TheLeader (and the one in love with TheChick), [[TheChick Aelita]] is [[MacGuffinGirl the one leading the plot]], [[TheStoic Ulrich]] is the one with the HeroesPreferSwords and fighting attributes, [[TheLancer Yumi]] is the TheKirk and [[PluckyComicRelief Odd]] is the hot-headed one.

** YourMileageMayVary, since Twilight Sparkle is generally considered to be TheHero of the group.

** YourMileageMayVary, since most people generally consider Twilight Sparkle to be TheHero of the group.

** Disney/{{Hercules}}

* Twilight Sparkle from WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic. It is downplayed due to [[ADayInTheLimelight character rotations]], [[OutOfFocus especially in the second season]], but she still tends to play this role in bigger action centric episodes.

* "WesternAnimation/HeManAndTheMastersOfTheUniverse": He-Man, of course.

** The sequel series, ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'' does this again with the next Avatar. Only this time, [[ActionGirl she's a girl.]]
--> ''Conventional TV wisdom has it that [[EstrogenBrigade girls will watch shows about boys,]] but [[GirlShowGhetto boys won't watch shows about girls.]] During test screenings, though, boys said they didn't care that [[ActionGirl Korra]] was a girl. [[http://www.npr.org/2012/04/13/150566153/airbender-creators-reclaim-their-world-in-korra They just said she was awesome.]]''

* Optimus Prime in all versions of {{Transformers}}.

* [[TheLeader Aqualad]] on WesternAnimation/YoungJustice, though he's said he's willing to pass the mantle on to Robin (currently TheLancer) once he's matured and gotten better at working with a team, instead of as Batman's partner.