15 Cartoon Characters with Glasses and Braces (Awkward Icons Forever)

If you’ve ever had braces, glasses, or both at the same time—you already know the struggle. But animated TV has quietly made this combo iconic, turning awkward into adorable, nerdy into powerful, and shy into secretly unstoppable. Whether they’re the brainy sidekick or the chaotic genius, these cartoon characters wear glasses and braces like armor. Here are 15 of the best animated icons who remind us that being a little awkward is actually kind of legendary.

1. Mabel Pines – Gravity Falls

Mabel might be the reigning queen of weird, and she pulls it off with rainbow sweaters, sparkles, braces, and big glasses. She’s chaotic good, emotionally open, and completely unbothered by how loud her personality (or her fashion) is.

2. Chuckie Finster – Rugrats

Chuckie’s big purple glasses and lisp-prone speech make him the ultimate anxious toddler icon. Add in braces from his All Grown Up! years, and he becomes the most relatable cartoon kid ever to panic about literally everything.

3. Gretchen Grundler – Recess

Gretchen is tall, brilliant, and equipped with both glasses and braces. She’s basically the human version of a TI-84 calculator. But she’s also loyal, sweet, and occasionally smarter than all the adults.

4. Lisa Simpson – The Simpsons

Lisa doesn’t always wear braces, but when she does—it’s unforgettable. With her oversized pearls, smarts beyond her years, and thick-framed glasses in select episodes, Lisa’s a true intellectual who makes nerdiness look cool (even if no one in Springfield appreciates it).

5. Eliza Thornberry – The Wild Thornberrys

Eliza talks to animals and still manages to be the most awkward human on the planet. Her round glasses and braces are part of her wild charm, and she’s one of the few animated girls who actually looked like your average tween during an orthodontic phase.

6. Simon – Alvin and the Chipmunks

The tallest, brainiest chipmunk rocks glasses and braces with a dry wit and more patience than Alvin deserves. He’s the one solving the problems while the others are still dancing. Respect.

7. Carl Wheezer – Jimmy Neutron

Glasses? Check. Braces? Check. Allergies? Absolutely. Carl is the walking definition of “sweet but chaotic,” and his voice alone deserves a spot in the Cartoon Hall of Fame. Also, he really likes llamas.

8. Meg Griffin – Family Guy

Meg’s look changes a bit, but in her early seasons, she sports both glasses and braces—alongside a voice that constantly says “why me?” She’s often the punchline, but honestly, she’s tougher than anyone gives her credit for.

9. Milhouse Van Houten – The Simpsons

Milhouse is awkwardness incarnate. With huge round glasses and a nervous energy that screams “I peaked in middle school,” Milhouse is the underdog who tries his best—even when nothing ever works out.

10. Sid – Toy Story

Okay, this one’s a twist. In Toy Story, Sid wears braces and glasses—but instead of being the classic nerd, he’s the chaotic neutral neighbor who performs toy surgery. He’s not exactly a role model, but you can’t deny he’s memorable.

11. Braces Girl (Shannon) – Finding Nemo

You probably didn’t even know her name, but you remember the fish-shaking, tank-banging energy of Darla. Glasses, headgear-style braces, and pure dental terror. Pixar made orthodontics truly villainous, and we’re still laughing.

12. Tina – Bob’s Burgers

Tina doesn’t technically have braces, but the glasses and monotone voice earn her a place here. She’s awkward, brilliant, and obsessed with butts—and she owns it like no one else could. (Bonus: Gene wears fake braces once. It counts spiritually.)

13. Velma Dinkley – Scooby-Doo (and Spin-offs)

Velma usually doesn’t have braces, but in some versions (like A Pup Named Scooby-Doo), she rocks the full geek-chic look. Either way, her glasses, brains, and “jinkies!” energy make her a timeless nerd icon.

14. Chuck – The Powerpuff Girls

Chuck is one of the recurring villains—technically evil, emotionally fragile, and definitely rocking braces and oversized specs. His plans never quite work out, but his orthodontic commitment is top-tier.

15. Edd “Double D” – Ed, Edd n Eddy

He keeps his braces under wraps but his glasses are a signature. Double D is all brain, all manners, and all stress. He’s the kid who brings a ruler to recess and makes sure everyone stays hydrated. A true legend.

Final Thoughts (and a Mouth Full of Metal)

Glasses and braces might once have screamed “nerd” in the worst way—but in the cartoon universe, they signal heart, humor, and often, weird hidden power. These characters might have been awkward on the outside, but they were clever, kind, and iconic where it mattered. So if you ever had both glasses and braces and felt like you’d never be cool—surprise. You were already animated-level legendary.