Cartoon Graphic Tees
Updated: May 20, 2026 · 857 in-stock cartoon designs · Free shipping over $69
Shop All 857 cartoon Designs →
Quick answer: RIPT Apparel offers 857 original cartoon-inspired graphic tees, designed by independent artists — not licensed reprints. Prices start from $17.95, with men's, women's, and youth sizes across regular and premium cotton fits. New cartoon designs drop on a daily limited-release schedule, so the in-stock selection changes constantly.
Cartoons aren't just for kids — they're how an entire generation learned visual storytelling, comic timing, and the difference between Hanna-Barbera economy and Disney polish. From 80s syndicated Saturday-morning fare to the Cartoon Network golden age to the modern Adult Swim and streaming era, animated television has built a deep, weird, wonderful visual culture. RIPT Apparel's cartoon collection celebrates all of it.
Every design is original artwork by an independent artist. No studio reprints, no factory-licensed posters. Just unique interpretations of the characters, shows, and animation-aesthetic moments that defined entire childhoods.
From Saturday Mornings to Adult Swim
The history of TV animation spans several distinct eras, and our collection reflects all of them. The 70s and 80s syndicated cartoons — Transformers, He-Man, GI Joe, ThunderCats — bring one visual vocabulary. The 90s Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon era — Powerpuff Girls, Dexter's Lab, Rocko's Modern Life, Hey Arnold — brings another. The 2000s and modern era — Adventure Time, Steven Universe, Rick and Morty, Bob's Burgers, Bojack — gives us our most recent layer.
Our artists pull from every era, and the cross-era mashups are some of the most popular pieces in the catalog — classic characters in modern animation styles, or modern shows referenced in 80s syndication aesthetics. The visual range here is enormous.
What Makes Fan-Made Cartoon Tees Special
Licensed cartoon merch tends to mean the same five iconic character poses — usually whatever the studio approved twenty years ago. Our collection takes a different approach:
- Original artwork from independent artists — designs reimagine and reinterpret rather than reprint.
- Coverage across every animation era — from 70s Hanna-Barbera to current streaming originals.
- Crossover mashups — classic cartoon characters in unexpected scenarios, settings, and pairings.
- Animation-style designs — pieces that capture a specific show's visual language even without using specific characters.
- Daily limited drops — designs are short-window releases that retire quickly.
Themes That Show Up Most
Inside our cartoon-tagged catalog, designs cluster around several recurring themes:
- 90s nostalgia — classic Nicktoons, Cartoon Network golden age, syndicated favorites of the decade.
- Character portraits and reinterpretations — beloved characters reimagined in alternate art styles.
- Adult-animation references — Adult Swim, Bojack, Rick and Morty, Bob's Burgers, broader sitcom-animation universe.
- Crossover mashups — characters from different shows colliding in unexpected ways.
- Group designs — ensemble portraits and friend-group compositions in cartoon style.
- Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon era pieces — the channels that defined late-90s and early-2000s animation.
- Hanna-Barbera and 70s/80s syndicated revivals — designs that reference the foundational era of TV animation.
Picking the Right Cartoon Tee
If you have a strong era-loyalty (90s kid, 2000s kid, Adult Swim adult), start with that visual language — designs from your era will hit on a different level. The 90s Cartoon Network era is currently the most well-represented in the catalog, given how strong the artistic nostalgia for it has become.
If you came to animation through Adult Swim and the more current adult-animation wave, the Bojack/Rick and Morty/Bob's Burgers-adjacent designs will feel most familiar. These tend to be the most visually clever pieces — fewer obvious character poses, more deep-cut references.
For gifts, character-portrait designs tend to be safest. Even casual cartoon fans recognize specific characters, and the artistic interpretations in our catalog skew clever rather than literal. Aim for a character your gift recipient was attached to in their formative years.
Featured Designs
A selection of in-stock cartoon designs from our independent artists. Click any design to see all available sizes, fits, and colorways.
View all 857 in-stock cartoon designs →
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these officially licensed cartoon merchandise?
No. Every design is original artwork by independent artists inspired by the broader animated-TV landscape. We don't reprint studio-licensed imagery — every piece is a unique fan interpretation.
Do you have designs from specific shows?
Yes — many designs reference specific cartoons, though we don't list them by show. Coverage depends on which artists are active in the rotation. Common shows referenced include Transformers, GI Joe, Powerpuff Girls, Dexter's Lab, Adventure Time, Steven Universe, Rick and Morty, Bob's Burgers, and Bojack.
Is there overlap with the anime collection?
Some yes. The cartoon tag covers Western and broader animation; anime is its own dedicated category. Pieces that span both styles often appear in both collections. Use the related-fandom links below to navigate between them.
What sizes are available?
Most cartoon designs come in men's regular, men's premium, women's, women's premium, youth, and kids' sizes. Each individual product page has the full size chart.
How long are designs available?
Most designs are limited-time drops. Once retired, they generally don't come back. If you see a piece you want, order before the drop window closes.
How much do RIPT cartoon graphic tees cost?
Prices start from $17.95 for a regular men's fit and run up to $46.95 for premium fits and hoodies. Each product page lists the exact price for every size and fit combination, so you'll see the full breakdown before you check out.
How often does RIPT release new cartoon designs?
RIPT Apparel runs a daily limited-drop model — new designs go live most days of the week. cartoon-inspired pieces appear in rotation throughout the year, with fresh artist submissions added regularly. Most drops are limited-time releases, so designs you see today may retire within days.
Where can I see all in-stock RIPT cartoon designs?
The Featured Designs grid on this page is auto-refreshed weekly with the current in-stock cartoon collection, sorted by lifetime popularity. For the complete in-stock catalog including newest drops, follow the 'View all' link below the grid — it goes to the full cartoon tag archive.
Shop the Collection
New cartoon-inspired designs drop throughout the year. The 90s nostalgia pieces and crossover mashups tend to retire fastest. Bookmark this page or follow the daily drop to catch limited releases. The full collection is below.
Explore Related Fandom Collections
Browsing one fandom? You might also like these related collections, all designed by RIPT Apparel’s independent artists on the same daily-drop schedule: