Images pulled from Fandom Wikis and IMDB

Father’s Day is the day we show our fathers how much they mean to us. In the traditional sense, it’s an ode to the man of the house who brings home the bacon and keeps the family together. As we celebrate this special occasion, let’s train the spotlight on animated father figures we enjoy in TV shows and films. From their example, Dads can find inspiration.

Bandit Heeler 

Bluey has become a worldwide phenomenon, not just for children but for adults too. There’s something about how comfy and wholesome the show is that feels like a welcoming series for anybody to jump into. In the series, we mostly follow Bluey, a young Australian cattle dog. For the adults who enjoy the show, it’s Bluey’s parents, Bandit and Chili, that tend to stand out. Bandit is known for always enjoying playtime with Bluey and her sister, Bingo. He’s also portrayed as a loving husband who is always ready to help around the household. Many online have praised him for his parenting style— he always explains things and sets clear boundaries with his children. We rarely see him raise his voice and he does his best to keep his daughters happy at all times.

Bob Belcher 

Out of all of Fox’s animated primetime shows, Bob’s Burgers has slowly overtaken the likes of Family Guy, The Simpsons, and American Dad. Many find it’s due to how less crass the show is compared to the others. But it’s the main protagonist, Bob Belcher, whom everyone keeps coming back for every time. Bob works as the owner of his own burger restaurant. He runs the joint with the help of his wife, Linda, and three kids, Tina, Gene, and Louise. What makes Bob stand out as a father figure is how he goes out of his way to keep his family happy, despite facing multiple troubles in running his burger restaurant. Though his kids tend to have odd personalities, we never see him chastising them, and he openly supports their passions. Aside from being a positive father figure, fans of the show like Bob for his love of cooking burgers. So much so that he creates unique burgers daily and comes up with witty names for each one.

Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz 

Although technically a recurring villain in Disney’s Phineas and Ferb series, Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz has always been known to be a good father to his daughter, Vanessa. Likely a result of the neglect he endured as a child, Doofenshmirtz has always gone out of his way to do what’s best for Vanessa. He is also shown to be civil and on good terms with his ex-wife. Whenever he’s not out there fighting Perry the Platypus with his evil inventions, he’s a dorky dad who just wants Vanessa to be happy. There are even episodes where Doofenshmirtz openly sets aside his rivalry with Agent P to either bond with his daughter or make sure she’s safe from harm.

Goofy 

Perhaps starring in one of the best animated fatherson movies out there (A Goofy Movie), Goofy has always been portrayed as a loving goofball father to his son, Max. In early animated shorts, Goofy’s character was often portrayed as a how-to guide type. He would be shown navigating through various everyday tasks. Eventually, the how-to series for Goofy had him learn how to raise a child. Since then, he has always been seen with his son, trying his best to provide for him as a single father.