Watching cartoons were simply just a great way to spend time on a Saturday morning while waiting for our parents to finish cooking our breakfast. Being able to catch up on cartoons every Saturday morning is the only chore that we as kids are willing to do. Cartoon Network back in the day brought us one of the best shows to look back on and remember the amazing characters, their unique art styles, and the lessons they taught us.

Nowadays, fan art for these beloved Cartoon Network characters have been made by dedicated fans all over the world, displaying their gratitude and talents for other fans to see. It would not be a surprise if some artists actually become one as a professional job, thanks to their love for the cartoons. You can see how their fan art and original works were made by their passion and influences from the cartoons they grew up with.

A common theme in fan art is drawing the cartoon characters as college students. Going to college is the gateway of entering the real world and while it is not for everyone, college is an important part in someone’s life. Seeing our childhood cartoons from Cartoon Network have the characters as college students make us fondly look back on how we and the artists who drew them still admire them to this day. What would they be studying? How would their style change after so many years have passed?

Let’s admire the awesome fan art featuring twenty Cartoon Network characters reimagined as college students!

20 Before Joining Team Rocket

via: maariamph.tumblr.com

Jessie and James from Pokémon are the few of the older characters in the show, being in their twenties. Before they joined Team Rocket, they met through a bike gang and were inseparable ever since.

Maariamph from Tumblr reimagines the two in a modern style, which can depict them as college students.

It is nice seeing Jessie and James’ backstories since they were not intentionally evil at first. Jessie definitely had it rough compared to James, but with him, and then later Meowth, they became the trio we secretly cheer for despite the running gag of blasting off again still being funny as ever.

19 Showdown At University

via: 1500yearoldspirit.tumblr.com

This show technically aired on Kids’ WB back in the day, but it has appeared on Cartoon Network, so this will act as one of the exceptions on this list. Xiaolin Showdown is a unique show that features four monks representing the elements of water, fire, wind, and earth. Omi, Kimiko, Raimundo, and Clay are an interesting team who are on the search for the Shen Gong Wu, which are objects that hold mystical powers.

1500yearoldspirit from Tumblr made this adorable drawing featuring side character Jack Spicer, and we can see them sitting at a university lounge at night watching a movie. While this show is underrated, the characters do stand out.

18 Master And Padawan

via: shorelle.deviantart.com

Star Wars: The Clone Wars is one of the best shows to come from the Star Wars franchise, deepening the characters’ development from the prequels, and they needed it desperately. Anakin and Obi-Wan are interesting characters and they work off greatly as Padawan and master respectively.

Imagining them being college students sounds hilarious, but intriguing.

Shorelle from deviantART gives us a comfy and cool fan art of Obi-Wan and Anakin wearing Star Wars punned shirts and we cannot get enough of it. Their shirts are something that college students would wear if they are Star Wars fans.

17 Gotham Meets Schooling

via: thecreatorhd.deviantart.com

The Batman universe is one of the greatest to ever come from DC Comics. Batman himself is a three-dimensional character with understandable motives, and his villains are extraordinary. We loved the cartoons based around him and they offer wonderful nostalgic memories.

While this is more of a hipster version of the Batman characters, it’s not hard to imagine them as college students here. Thecreatorhd from deviantART gives off a nice vibe for both the villains and heroes in a setting where college students can meet up, whether it’d be at a bar or college town. Plus, the Joker as the bartender is a sight to behold.

16 The Awesome Niece

via: tomecko.tumblr.com

Another show that appeared on Kids WB, but also appearing on Cartoon Network, Jackie Chan Adventures is a bizarre, but ingenious cartoon featuring the adventures of a fictionalized Jackie Chan. One of the prominent characters in the show is his niece Jade Chan, who is a brave spirit and is in one of the funniest running gags in cartoon history.

Tomecko from Tumblr drew Jade as a teenager, who looks passable as a bright college student. She looks great and it transitions from her younger self to her older self, since she would eventually become an agent of Section 13.

15 Sector V Still Keeping In Touch

via: andrahilde.deviantart.com

Codename: Kids Next Door might be one of the zany cartoons with a silly concept, but it works. Sector V contains Numbuhs 1 through 5 and they are a memorable team. Fighting against adults and to an extent, teenagers, by stopping their crimes make us look up to Sector V. Sadly, the finale shows Numbuh 1 going off to a mission that would last for years, so seeing this fan art can be bittersweet.

From deviantART, Andrahilde’s depiction of these five definitely look prepared for college, and it would have been an awesome idea to see the five interact in some way while studying.

14 Still The Lovable Self

via: aeolus06.deviantart.com

Mac from Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends is one of the few human characters shown throughout the series, but he still stands out as a genuine and intelligent kid. Sometimes he has to get on to Bloo for being selfish and self-absorbed, but the two were destined to be a duo ever since Mac imagined him.

Aeolus06 from deviantART mentions that they imagined Mac as a college student in this fan art, and if Mac were to be seen years later, this would be a perfect version of him. It’s strange that he’s mopping, but hey, a job is a job for a college student.

13 Last Time On Education!

via: lauradoodles.deviantart.com

Dragon Ball Z is one of the first anime that we probably have seen here in America, given its airing on Toonami. It has been a huge cultural phenomenon, being among other anime like Sailor Moon and Pokémon. The characters are arguably important in the anime community, due to their impact from their respective takes on the Dragon Ball series.

LauraDoodles’ version of the DBZ characters give off a school aesthetic and they look great with the artist’s use of color and simple detail. The six here look like a clique that you’d want to be with.

12 An Unlikely Duo

via: ponkuno.tumblr.com

For this entry, we are featuring Ponkuno’s art from Tumblr, featuring a strange duo of Samurai Jack and Johnny Bravo. The womanizer and samurai might be the most ironic team, but given the theme for the fan art, this is awesome. Jack and Johnny do look like they can be going to class together, except with the former holding his sword, which can be unsettling to think about.

However, crossovers are fun and Cartoon Network knows it.

While these two have never crossed paths canonically, they would make an interesting team if there was some alternate universe of Jack and Johnny going to school together. Sounds like some fanfiction is being written somewhere in the future.

11 Athletic Young Man

via: promsien.tumblr.com

Ben Tennyson from Ben 10 is that one Cartoon Network character who we watch grow up, showing how he changed from an excited and naïve ten-year-old to a teenager who matures and eventually saves the world. The spin-off that came out recently, however, can be forgotten for the sake of the franchise.

It makes you wonder what he could do as a college student.

Promisen from Tumblr depicts him as an athletic young man. Given that he has done a lot of fighting, it would make sense to have Ben look slightly muscular as if he is on his college’s football or basketball team.

10 Anything But Grim

via: isaiahstephens.deviantart.com

The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy features the trio of the Grim Reaper simply named Grim, Billy, a dumb, but kindhearted boy, and Mandy, a dark and cynical, but funny girl. This show can be a bit immature, but the comedy is gold and the writing blends well with its dark nature while keeping the setting mostly lighthearted.

Isaiah Stevens is responsible for giving us cartoon characters as if they grew up and this is one of his best. Imagining Billy and Mandy going to college (how could Billy even pass high school?) is a funny idea with Grim still being a part of their lives.

9 Learning Gems

via: askthecollegegems.tumblr.com

Steven Universe quickly became one of the smartest and beloved cartoons in the current run on Cartoon Network. Teaching kids that love exists no matter who the person is is a wonderful lesson, and it holds true since the Gems themselves are identified with female pronouns. Askthecollegegems from Tumblr has their own blog dedicating Garnet, Amethyst, Pearl, and Rose Quartz as college students, and the art is to go alongside the theme.

Imagining what the Gems would study is beyond our imagination. This Tumblr blog also features other Gems as college students, so check out their page for some cute fan art and interesting questions asked by fans!

8 Sailor Scouts' Fight Against College

via: behance.net/jenbartel

If there is anything we can learn from the Sailor Scouts from Sailor Moon, it is tough to be a superhero and a student in school at the same time. After all, Usagi changed from being a crybaby to a confident woman through the process, so it is rather rewarding.

College will be a whole other level for her and the other Sailor Scouts.

Jen Bartel from Behance gave us some awesome designs for the inner Sailor Scouts as young adults, and they look absolutely gorgeous. It makes us secretly wish that they do go to the same university, despite their different interests on what they want to do when they are out in the real world.

7 Queen And Princess

via: peebbles.tumblr.com

This cute couple from Adventure Time would be amazing college roommates despite their opposite aesthetics. Princess Bubblegum and Marceline the Vampire Queen have known each other for so long that there is just no other person that can come between them whether it being roommates or partners in projects.

Tumblr’s Peebbles gives these two ladies cute modern outfits that scream college vibes.

We can definitely picture Bubblegum being a timid but smart bookworm while Marceline is the rebellious yet faithful companion. These girls are just cute together and they would be a power couple in college for sure.

6 Spies Forever

via: turanszkij.deviantart.com

Totally Spies is a spunky but clever cartoon featuring the perspectives of three high school girls Sam, Clover, and Alex who can kick butt and be fashionable at the same time. While these three ladies have been going to high school for most of the show’s run, they have been starting college later on.

Turanszkij from deviantART has given the trio a slightly older look while retaining their trademark clothing. As college students and being a part of WOOHP, Sam, Clover, and Alex will always overcome their missions while also tackling some insane assignments for school on the side.

5 The Gang's All Here

via: britdoo.tumblr.com

Scooby-Doo is a classic that everyone knows and along with the lovable and scaredy-cat dog, Shaggy, Fred, Daphne, and Velma work together greatly to solve mysteries. As teenagers, the four have their own uniqueness to appeal to audiences young and old, despite being more than half a decade old.

Depicted in a more modern setting, done by the talented Britdoo from Tumblr, Fred, Daphne, Velma, and Shaggy fit the college look while also staying true to their personalities. While Scooby can’t attend college, he would be a great pet for Shaggy to keep in his dorm as long as no authorities are aware.

4 The Goofy Trio

via: andrahilde.deviantart.com

Ed, Edd n Eddy is one of the best cartoons hands down. Not just from Cartoon Network, but in general. The three Eds have completely different personalities despite sharing the same name, which is one of the coolest concepts for a cartoon. We love Ed for his kindhearted nature, despite being dimwitted, Double D is a genius for his young age, and Eddy is the cocky con artist.

Andrahilde is featured here again with the three Eds and their looks are quite accurate for being older teens in school. Double D is definitely the only one who would take his studies seriously while Eddy would try to make money in different ways, and for Ed, he does try his best despite not being the brightest.

3 Still As Smart As Ever

via: fanpop.com

Dexter is a young genius who we love to watch while dealing with his annoying sister Dee Dee and his rival Mandark. Dexter’s Laboratory also happens to be created by the same man who brought us Samurai Jack, that being Genndy Tartakovsky. After all, this cartoon helped launch the careers of Family Guy’s Seth MacFarlane, The Powerpuff Girls’ Craig McCracken, and more.

Going for more of an anime style, this artist gave Dexter an older look and we can see the redheaded scientist when he grows up. If he were real, Dexter would definitely be a great addition for discoveries.

2 Powerpuff Ladies

via: lilithkiss00.deviantart.com

The Powerpuff Girls is that type of show that kids can enjoy and root for the main three girls while adults can laugh at the subtle jokes we never knew about until we watch the cartoon years later. While the reboot is inferior in terms of writing and character, the classic will always be remembered for being one of the popular cartoons to appear on Cartoon Network.

Seeing Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup older makes us feel like they grew up alongside us.

Lilithkiss00 from deviantART has the girls rocking uniforms that make them look smart and beautiful. Who do you think is the smartest out of these three awesome girls?

1 Titans Stick Together

via: picolo-kun.deviantart.com

Teen Titans is a very special cartoon in a lot of fans’ hearts. The anime-inspired art style and the memorable five consisting of Robin, Raven, Cyborg, Starfire, and Beast Boy were our heroes back in the day. Brazilian comic artist Picolo-kun is one of the artists that we admire for amazing style.

The gang pictured here can be seen as college students meeting up for a quick bite or just reliving the good old days, or both. This fan art shows that no matter how old we get, we will be able to relive the glory days from our past by making friends with the same interests or majors. College has that impact and will always be a part in our lives.