10 cartoon/animated characters that you may have not known are autistic (in honour of Autistic Acceptance day) (2024)

1. Amity Blight (The Owl House)

Amity is one of the most popular characters in The Owl House fanbase, but there are only a few head canons of her being autistic. Amity has sensory issues to textures, subtly stims, takes thing literally, fixates on being“top student” (and gets upset when it doesn’t go her way), and frequently masks her traits. I think she would make great representation for autistic people because of her relatability.

2. Azula (Avatar: The Last Airbender)

As far as I know, Azula is also schizophrenic, which can be common in autistic people. However, I’ve never seen the autistic headcanon before. Azula likes to stick to routine (as shown in the ATLA finale), she gets upset when things don’t go her way and she fixates on being important. Despite being a villain, Azula is considered good representation because she is a likable character and her traits are not stereotypical.

3. Dipper and Mabel Pines (Gravity Falls)

I’ve seen that headcanon very often, and I can agree to some extent. Both of them show different autistic traits from each other. Dipper struggles with social cues, is fixated with the journals that he found and takes things literally. Mabel, on the other hand, struggles with volume control, finds comfort in her pig, Waddles, wears only sweaters (likely due to sensory issues), and stims. Both characters can be an example that every autistic person has different traits.

4. Muscle Man (Regular Show)

I’ve actually discussed my headcanon before on my blog, however, this should be a refresher for newcomers. Muscle Man wears the same shirt over and over again (likely due to sensory issues), eats mainly chicken wings, vocal stims by saying“My mom” jokes repeatedly and has poor volume control. Muscle Man is a good form of representation because he isn’t based off autistic stereotypes.

5. Penny Fitzgerald (The Amazing World of Gumball)

This was also a headcanon thatI've discussed on my blog, but I’m going to discuss it again. I’m probably the only person who has ever made that headcanon, but that’s okay, let me explain it to those that don’t understand. Penny struggles controlling her emotions (she shape shifts depending on her mood), stims and doesn’t make eye contact. Penny is a great example of someone who is autistic because she is a likable character that is not based off stereotypes.

6. Peridot (Steven Universe)

This headcanon is well-known within the autistic community and I don’t blame anyone who agrees with this headcanon. Peridot struggles with volume control, doesn’t understand social cues, uses a tablet for alternative communication, vocal stims by saying “clods” and has meltdowns. Peridot is personally one of my favorite autistic characters, because she is an example that autistic traits can make a character more likable.

7. Rick Sanchez (Rick and Morty)

I’ve also talked about Rick, but I want to clarify this headcanon again. Rick actually mentioned that he was autistic in an episode (The Rickchurian Mortydate), and one of the show’screators, Dan Harmon, is autistic himself. Rick is obsessed with science, so much that it takes over his life. He also struggles to show empathy, even though he is empathetic. He also vocally stims by saying“Wubba dub dub”. Rick is good representation because his character is well developed, and him being autistic is a huge part of that development.

8. Star Butterfly (Star vs. the Forces of Evil)

This headcanon is also commonly talked about amongst the SVTFOE fandom. While watching the first few minutes of the show, I could easily tell that Star was autistic. Star struggles with volume control, takes things very literally, does not understand social situations, stims by flapping her hands and chewing her wand, has unusual speech patterns and is obsessed with magic. Star is great autistic representation because she is a likable character and she does deal with the autistic consequences while not being an autistic stereotype.

9. Violet Parr (The Incredibles)

I really wish this headcanon was more talked about, because she is a character I’ve closely related to in middle school/early high school. Violet is probably autistic coded, meaning that she displays autistic traits, but she is undiagnosed (due to The Incredibles taking place in the 1960′s). Violet struggles with volume control, fixates on Tony Rydinger, has a meltdown when things don’t go her way, does raptor arms, doesn't understand social norms and very much masks her traits. Violet is seen as great representation because her struggles as an autistic person are accurate to what most autistic people experience.

10. Zim (Invader Zim)

This headcanon has been discussed a few times before, but I wanted to elaborate on it. Zim struggles with volume control, doesn’t understand the earth norms or the norms from his planet, stims and is very fixated on his plans to destroy Earth. Zim is considered good autistic representation because he does experience a lot of the same things that autistic people face.