List of fictional vegetarian characters

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For vegan media, see List of vegan media. For vegetarian and vegan symbolism, see Vegetarian and vegan symbolism. For vegetarian organizations, see List of vegetarian organizations. For for information about vegetarian characters in fiction, see Vegetarian characters in fiction.
Bonneville Fish Hatchery, Multnomah County, OR "Fish are friends, not food!"

This is a list of fictional characters that either self-identify as vegetarian or have been identified by outside parties to be vegetarian. Listed characters are either protagonists and recurring characters. Some scholars have argued that mass media serves as a "source of information for individuals" interested in vegetarianism or veganism,[1] while there are "increasing social sanctions against eating meat."[2][3] Even so, there are lingering stereotypes of vegans and vegetarians in the same media,[4][5][6] with journalist Farhad Manjoo writing in August 2019 that it is "still widely acceptable to make fun of vegans."[7]

The names are organized alphabetically by surname (i.e. last name), or by single name if the character does not have a surname. If more than two characters are in one entry, the last name of the first character is used.

Animation[]

Characters Show title Character debut date Notes Country
Aang Avatar: The Last Airbender February 21, 2005 According to the show's creators, "Buddhism and Taoism have been huge inspirations behind the idea for Avatar."[8] As shown in "The King of Omashu"[9] and "The Headband",[10] a notable aspect of Aang's character is his vegetarian diet,[11] which is consistent with Buddhism, Hinduism, and Taoism.[8] In the Brahmajala Sutra, a Buddhist code of ethics, vegetarianism is encouraged.[12] United States
The Legend of Korra April 28, 2012
Beast Boy Teen Titans Go April 23, 2013 He has been transformed into "animals who are commonly used for meat production," with some criticizing his character as a stereotype of a "militant crybaby vegetarian."[13][14] He is also a vegetarian in the 2003-2006 Teen Titans animated series and the comics.[11]
Jessica Cruz (Green Lantern) DC Super Hero Girls March 8, 2019 A lead character in this series, she is not only pacifist, but also a vegan and environmentalist,[15][16][a] resulting in her becoming friends with Pam Isley. She often professes her commitment to the environment and plant-based meals.[17][18]
Count Duckula Count Duckula September 6, 1998 As the series went into production, one of the writers suggested he become a vegetarian, which added an even sillier concept to the series, making him "an egotistical vegetarian vampire duck" within a castle.[19][20] United Kingdom
Draculaura Monster High May 5, 2010 Some have said she deserves recognition as "one of the very few outspoken vegan cartoon characters out there."[21] Despite being a vampire, she consumes fruits, vegetables and "a lot of iron supplements" instead of blood.[22] Mattel vice-president of design Kiyomi Haverly said "she's a vegan. She's turned off by meat. Girls could really relate to that because that's part of what they're thinking of these days."[23] United States
Gerald Goode The Goode Family May 27, 2009 The family are made up of a number of vegetarian environmentalists who attempt to be "politically correct in every way."[24]
Helen Goode
Ubuntu Goode
Bliss Goode
Che
Charlie
Petratishkovna "Tish" Katsufrakis The Weekenders February 26, 2000 Intelligent and artistic, Tish is openly vegetarian, and eats a "carrot in a bun" in the show's opening credits.[11]
Mira The Hollow June 8, 2018 In the first episode of Season 2, Mira's dad, Curtis, says "one veggie burger, for our favorite herbivore" and later, her adopted brother, Miles, says "...you're a vegetarian, remember?"[25] While Mira accepts this, she still realizes the world is fake. In the series finale, Curtis serves Mira and her friends veggie burgers.[26]
Canada
Nadia Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water April 13, 1990 The main protagonist of the series. She has the ability to communicate with animals and cares deeply for them. She is a pacifist and a vegetarian, and openly condemns violence, meat-eating, and hunting.[27] Japan
Apu Nahasapeemapetilon The Simpsons February 25, 1990 Apu is a vegan, as revealed in the season 7 episode "Lisa the Vegetarian".[21] United States
Panda We Bare Bears July 27, 2015 The show's pilot and in the episode "Tote Life" he is revealed to be a vegetarian who does not eat eggs.[28] The latter is shown in the episode "Christmas Parties." While it isn't known if he drinks milk, he is, at least, an ovo vegetarian, along with having severe allergies to peanuts and cats.
Lisa Simpson The Simpsons December 17, 1989 In the October 15, 1995 episode, "Lisa the Vegetarian," Lisa decides to stop eating meat after bonding with a lamb at a petting zoo. Her schoolmates and family members ridicule her for her beliefs, but with the help of Apu as well as Paul and Linda McCartney, she commits to vegetarianism.[29] The staff promised that she would remain a vegetarian,[30][31] resulting in one of the few permanent character changes made in the show.[32][33]
Iron Fist (Danny Rand) Ultimate Spider-Man April 1, 2012 A martial artist also known by the name Iron Fist, he can not only "summon his chi," but he is a vegetarian, with his diet mentioned directly in this animated series.[14]
Norville "Shaggy" Rogers What's New, Scooby Doo? September 14, 2002 Before this animated series, Shaggy, known for having an "enormous appetite" earlier in the Scooby-Doo franchise, "started leaving meat out of his meals" and in one episode it is shown that he is vegetarian. The decision to make Shaggy a vegetarian occurred after his voice actor, Casey Kasem, convinced the producers to do so, since he was a vegan who supported animal rights and opposed factory farming, saying he would refuse to voice Shaggy unless the character was vegetarian.[34][35]
Steven Universe Steven Universe November 4, 2013 In the episode "Snow Day" of Steven Universe Future, Steven tells the Gems he lives with that he has been a vegetarian for a month, drinks protein shakes and mentions that he does "his own skincare routine."[36]
Steven Universe Future December 7, 2019

Comics[]

Characters Name of comic Years Notes
Bruce Banner Ultimate Wolverine vs. Hulk 2005-2009 While The Hulk eats people, it is shown in Ultimate Wolverine vs. Hulk that he is vegan, but it is not known if this has "anything to do with his alter ego's cannibalistic tendencies."[14]
Broo Astonishing X-Men Vol. 3 2004-2013 Mutant of the Brood race and formerly a student at the Jean Grey School of the X-Men, he is an "extremely sensitive, intelligent, and caring" character who is also vegetarian.[13]
Karolina Dean Runaways 2003-Present Dean, also known as Lucy in the Sky or L.S.D., is a lesbian, a vegan, and "an ardent animal lover...committed to a life completely free of meat and dairy."[14][11]
Connor Hawke (Green Arrow) More Fun Comics 1935-1947 Previously the sidekick of Green Arrow, he becomes "the second Green Arrow," and it was shown that he "was a practicing Buddhist and devout vegetarian."[14] Later he ended up in a coma, not remembering being a hero, archer, or vegetarian, although he somehow healed himself.
Todd Ingram Scott Pilgrim vs. the World 2006 Todd, Ramona Flowers' third ex-boyfriend, is a rock star who is "really smart or incredibly dumb." However, being a vegan gives him "psychic powers" which he uses against Piligrim in Scott Pilgrim and the Infinite Sadness, although he is later revealed to be "cheating on his vegan diet."[14]
Scott Pilgrim and the Infinite Sadness 2005
Arcus McCarthy Acception 2015-Present The protagonist of this ongoing Dutch teen dramedy romance webcomic is Arcus, who states on various occasions that he is vegetarian.[37][38]
Bernhard "Buddy" Baker (Animal Man) Animal Man 1988-1990 Buddy, otherwise known as Animal Man, argued with his wife "about meat consumption," criticized conditions in factory farms, and opposed scientific testing on animals. He also, in another comic, assists animal rights activists in helping save dolphins, leading some to call him "probably most active in fighting for animal rights" of all the superhero characters.[13][14][11]
Magneto Ultimate X-Men no. 1 - Ultimatum no. 5 2001-2009 He has "chosen to abstain from animal products" for unknown reasons, possibly because he "feels for the animals and does not want to harm innocent creatures."[14]
Wanda Maximoff Scarlet Witch vol. 2 2016 Originally introduced in 1964 as a villain, Wanda, otherwise known as the Scarlet Witch, later became "a member of the Avengers," and it is later revealed that she doesn't eat meat or drink alcohol.[14] She was later depicted the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Millie Mutts 2013 In a number of comic strips in Thanksgiving 2013, Millie, who owns a cat, "decides to cook a vegan meal" for Thanksgiving,[39] with her husband not "sold on the idea,"[40] but later admits he "didn't miss the turkey."[11][41]
Adrian Alexander Veidt (Ozymandias) Watchmen 1986-1987 Veidt, otherwise known as Ozymandias, began as a hero but later became a villain, is a vegetarian, perhaps because of his "love for his feline companion."[14]
Persephone Lore Olympus 2018-Present 19-year-old Persephone, also known as Persie and Kore, is the goddess of spring, and a naive, warmhearted newcomer to Olympian life, and is searching for her independence.[42] She is revealed to be vegetarian in episode 79 of the webcomic.[43]
Damian Wayne (Robin) Batman Incorporated Vol. 2, no. 1 2012 Robin, otherwise known as Damian Wayne, becomes a vegetarian after "a mission that took place in a slaughterhouse," adopting a cow, which dubs a "Bat-Cow."[13][11] His decision to continue being a vegetarian was also "referenced several issues later."[14]
Zatanna Zatara Hawkman 1964-1968 A powerful magician, she is a vegetarian, works with animals in her magic acts, and "has a particular affinity for bunnies."[14][11] Due to her long history in DC Comics, she has been named as one of DC's best and most powerful female characters[44][45] and one of the Justice League's greatest and most important characters.[46][47]

Film[]

Characters Title / Franchise Actors Years Notes Country
Lenny Shark Tale Jack Black 2004 Lenny, Don Lino's youngest son, is a vegetarian shark, younger brother of Frankie, and later a good friend of Oscar. Additionally, Michael Imperioli is embarrassed of Lenny's vegetarian views.[48] United States
M'Baku Black Panther Winston Duke 2018 In the film, M’Baku, the Jabari tribe leader who lives in the mountains of Wakanda, declares to a White CIA agent named Everett Ross, "if you say one more word, I’ll feed you to my children!" After Everett is shaken by these words, he jokes, saying he is kidding because all those in his tribe, including himself, are vegetarians.[49] Some praised this scene for challenging a stereotype of Black culture and the perception of what vegetarians look like.[50] Duke later said that some Black outlets cooked vegan meals for him, and said that the scene is "kind of teaching kids that eating vegetables is cool," which is something he is for.[51]
Megan But I'm A Cheerleader Natasha Lyonne 2000 Before she is sent to a conversion therapy camp, her parents and others claim she is a lesbian because she is a vegetarian.[52]
Anna Scott Notting Hill Julia Roberts 1999 Famed actress Anna Scott joins Will Thacker for his sister's birthday party, where she informs the cook's wife that she is a vegetarian.[citation needed]
Elle Woods Legally Blonde Reese Witherspoon 2001 When she introduces herself at Harvard Law School, she describes herself and her dog as "Gemini vegetarians."[53]
Yeong-hye Vegetarian Chae Min-seo 2009 This film is portrait of a woman, Yeong-hye, who "swears off meat before retreating into a literally vegetative state."[54] South Korea

Games[]

See also: PETA satirical browser games
Characters Title/Series Year Notes Developer
Bryce the Cow Steer Madness 2004 In this animal rights inspired action-adventure game, the player assumes the role of Bryce the Cow, a walking, talking bovine determined to put an end to animal exploitation and turn everyone vegetarian.[55] During gameplay, the player goes on a series of missions to save the animals using many different tactics. The game is based in an open city environment and features several transportation methods, with gameplay similar to the game Grand Theft Auto III (without the guns or violence), and was given a PETA award.[56] Veggie Games Inc.
Monika Doki Doki Literature Club! 2017 Monika.chr is a fictional artificially intelligent computer program and main antagonist of the visual novel metafictional psychological horror video game, serving as a character in the game within a game Doki-Doki Literature Club, initially serving as the titular club's president and the designated nice girl preparing for an upcoming festival.[57] When she is alone with the protagonist, she reveals she is not in love with him, but with the player themselves, drawing them into the game in the character's place. She continues to endlessly talk with the player about various topics as love, vegetarianism and her Twitter account, unless the player completely deletes her from the game by going into the game files. Team Salvato

Literature[]

Characters Work Author Year Description
Elizabeth Costello Elizabeth Costello Coetzee J.M. 2003 In this fictional work, Elizabeth is a well-regarded Australian writer who, instead of talking about her novel, wants to talk about "fiction, realism, and the human-animal divide," outlining her reasons for being in favor of animal rights and vegetarianism.[4] The book also has Elizabeth call the killing of animals an animal holocaust and engages with Franz Kafka, a "literary vegetarian."
August Engelhardt Imeprium Kracht Christian 2012 August is the author of an 1898 pamphlet entitled A Carefree Future, where he describes a utopian society founded on nudism and a diet of coconuts, so-called cocovorism. An ardent vegetarian, Engelhardt argues that just as man is God's embodiment in the animal kingdom, so too is the coconut God's embodiment in the plant kingdom; cocovorism, he concludes, is therefore the path to divinity.[58]
Frankenstein's monster Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus Shelley Mary 1818 Frankenstein's monster in this novel said he is a vegetarian who eats "acorns and berries."[59]
Herb Herb, the Vegetarian Dragon Bass Jules 1999[b] Herb, a friendly dragon who lives in Nogard, a magical forest, likes tending a vegetable patch and is captured by a knight, with others agreeing to help him only if he "agrees to eat meat."[60][61] The Vegetarian Resource Group praised this children's book for being fun, entertaining, and said that from it, "children can learn about the strength of ideals and individualism" and getting along with others.[62]
Harter Debbie
Yeong-hye The Vegetarian Kang Han 2007 Based on Han's 1997 short story "The Fruit of My Woman", The Vegetarian is set in modern-day Seoul and tells the story of Yeong-hye, a part-time graphic artist and home-maker, whose decision to stop eating meat after a bloody, nightmarish dream about human cruelty leads to devastating consequences in her personal and familial life.[63]
Hazel Lancaster The Fault in Our Stars Green John 2012 Hazel is vegetarian out of her desire to minimize the number of deaths she is "responsible for" as a human from her diet.[4][64]
Simon Lewis The Mortal Instruments series Clare Cassandra 2007-2014 Simon is the 16-year-old friend of the protagonist and has been a vegetarian for six years. As the story moves forward, his diet ends up only being "an interesting detail."[64]
Lola Nolan Lola and the Boy Next Door Perkins Stephanie 2012 Lola, who wears costumes of various themes and wigs daily and loves her dads. Her vegetarianism has been described as "a perfectly natural part" of her character.[64]
Andi Oliver Dakota Grimes Martha 2008 Andi is a drifter who suffers from amnesia, comes upon animal abuse, and feels she must do something, pointing out the inconsistency of eating animals when people say they care about animal welfare.[c] The book was praised by the Vegetarian Resource Group for emphasizing the "need of individuals to speak out against factory farms."[65]
Dawn Read Schafer The Baby-Sitters Club series Martin Ann M. 1986-2000 Dawn, a recent transplant to Connecticut, meets four other girls who want to babysit for the whole neighborhood, and becomes the "resident Californian," dedicated to healthy food, sunshine, and "her vegetarian diet."[4] Some described her character as introducing "a generation of readers to vegetarianism."
Mia Thermopolis The Princess Diaries series Cabot Meg 2000-2015 At one point in the series, Mia, whose full name is Amelia Mignonette Grimaldi Thermopolis Renaldo, says she does not eat meat when talking about her mother's cooking, something which her mother respects.[4] She also lives in a community which is likely "more than accepting" of her vegetarianism.[64]
Vivian Sharpe Adventures of Vivian Sharpe, Vegan Superhero Rose Marla 2012 Vivian, a character who is deeply empathetic, becomes a superhero and has a pathway that leads her to veganism.[66] Aileen McGraw of the Vegetarian Resource Group praised the book for being a "authentic coming-of-age story" that exposes vegan youth to "teenage challenges."[67]
Sula Comyenti Call Off The Search, A Novel of Epic Supernatural Fantasy (The Comyenti Series Book 1) 2014 Sula, the main character, is a comyenti, a humanoid being living on a fantasy planet called Bhan, who has a set of skills adopted from animals to inherit their special powers. She is deeply empathetic, helps animals where she can, but shuns people who were the main reason for the disappearance of her species. She meets Felix, a vegetarian goat herder, and farmer. Shazar, another remaining comyenti also has a vegan diet and lifestyle. He knows slightly more about the origins of comyentis, but Sula and he are thought to be the last. "So relevant to our own world and our own days, this story presents us with Sulla and her and her people's struggle to survive, not only as people but as a race. Hunted down and brutally slaughtered because of their ability to turn into animals, not to mention their slightly different appearance, they seem to be facing the same challenges and dilemmas so many of so-called 'minorities' around our world face." -- Vine Voice Reviewer <https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HIRTFZE/ref>
Mathilde Yoder Fates and Furies Groff Lauren 2015 Mathilde, a woman who manages the work of her husband, Lotto, after quitting her job at an art gallery, is a vegetarian due to an "exposé on television about industrial husbandry."[4] Some called this notable because vegetarianism, or pescatarianism to be specific, "is subtle throughout the majority of the book."
Fay Comyenti Quarterling, A Young Adult Fantasy FF Romance: The Story of a Rebel 2018 Fay Comyenti is the main vegan superhero of the book. She is the daughter of Sula, half comyenti and Felix, human, from The Comyenti Series' books Call Off The Search and Children of the Sun. When she is seventeen she leaves her sheltered life in a small village to travel the world of Bhan, a world much like Earth about 500 years ago and saves animals in need. The story follows her as she uses her superpowers, all the best skills of animals she adopted and can call on at any time. It is an animal rights story, a coming of age story, as much as it a deeply philosophical story about the nature of humans and how Fay can best help with the powers she has without becoming the very thing she detests in people. "This book is by far the best vegan fiction I have read." ~ Sunday Times "It's an intelligent story with a message behind it and I enjoyed it." ~ Kitty Kat VINE VOICE <https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FF5RH15/ref>
Evanna Zeller Komoreby Vida Su 2021 Evanna Zeller is the vegan protagonist of the young adult novel Komoreby. Veganism is explored throughout the story in the eyes of the character and her interactions with others.[68]

Live-action television[]

Characters Actor Show Duration Notes
Rachel Berry Lea Michele Glee 2009-2015 At the beginning of the show, she was depicted as vegan, but it was later clarified that she was "actually a vegetarian," meaning she can have eggs and dairy.[69][35]
Temperance "Bones" Brennan Emily Deschanel Bones 2005-2017 Brennan promises to consider becoming a vegetarian after seeing how pigs were slaughtered (which was also the way her mother had been killed).[70][better source needed] However, in "The Tough Man in the Tender Chicken" (season 5, episode 6) Angela cites health reasons for Brennan's vegetarian diet.
Phoebe Buffay Lisa Kudrow Friends 1994-2004 Due in no small part to her extremely traumatic childhood, Phoebe has developed a childlike naïveté in an attempt to shield her from the world's evils. In addition to being a vegetarian and an avid tree-hugger, she also displays a remarkable lack of experience with the "darker sides" of life.[71][35]
Topanga Lawrence Danielle Fishel Boy Meets World 1993-2000 She is a vegetarian who begins dating Cory, and he invites her to dinner at the International House of Salad, known as IHOS, after learning her dietary preferences.[72]
Angela Martin Angela Kinsey The Office 2005-2013 Angela has said that she is a vegetarian on multiple occasions.[73][35] However, some reviewers believed that writers may have forgot she was vegetarian.[74]
Britta Perry Gillian Jacobs Community 2009-2015 A vegetarian, she prides herself on judging others in her study group, including on their eating habits, with her heart "always in the right place."[35] She also is an anarchist, atheist, and activist who traveled around the world after dropping out of high school.
Spock Leonard Nimoy Star Trek 1966-1969 Said to be "television's first vegetarian," he and other Vulcans avoided eating meat due to a "philosophy of non-violence."[35] He is identified as vegetarian following an episode where he was "transported back to pre-civilised times" and ate meat.

See also[]

Notes[]

  1. ^ Although Faust calls her a vegetarian, Cruz has expressed she is a vegan multiple times. For instance, she says in the episode "#Retreat" that she is vegan and "eats plants for breakfast."
  2. ^ Later re-published in 2005
  3. ^ Grimes official website describes the book as focusing about abuses at "a massive pigfarming facility."

References[]

  1. ^ Reymond, Stephane (June 1, 2016). Vegetarianism/Veganism: A Sociological Analysis (PDF) (Masters). Texas A&M University. pp. 39, 41, 57. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  2. ^ Rothgerber, Hank (November 12, 2012). "Real Men Don't Eat (Vegetable) Quiche: Masculinity and the Justification of Meat Consumption" (PDF). Psychology of Men & Masculinity. 14 (4): 2–3. doi:10.1037/a0030379. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  3. ^ Sanchez-Sabate, Ruben; Sabaté, Joan (April 2019). "Consumer Attitudes Towards Environmental Concerns of Meat Consumption: A Systematic Review". International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 16 (7): 1220. doi:10.3390/ijerph16071220. PMC 6479556. PMID 30959755.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Martin, Kristen (August 17, 2016). "5 Fictional Vegetarians Who Defy Stereotypes". Lit Hub. Archived from the original on June 17, 2020. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  5. ^ Thomas, Matt (July 2016). "5 Crazy Vegan Stereotypes—Smashed!". VegNews. Archived from the original on May 31, 2019. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  6. ^ Wetzel, Corryn (July 2016). "Vegetarian Stereotypes: True or False?". The Odyssey. Archived from the original on September 6, 2020. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  7. ^ Manjoo, Farhad (August 28, 2019). "Stop Mocking Vegans". New York Times. Archived from the original on June 16, 2020. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b DiMartino, Michael Dante; Konietzko, Bryan (2006). "Myth Conceptions". Nickelodeon Magazine (Winter 2006): 7.
  9. ^ Director: Anthony Lioi; Writer: John O'Bryan (March 18, 2005). "The King of Omashu". Avatar: The Last Airbender. Season 1. Episode 5. Nickelodeon.
  10. ^ Director: Joaquim dos Santos; Writer: John O'Bryan (September 28, 2007). "The Headband". Avatar: The Last Airbender. Season 3. Episode 2. Nickelodeon.
  11. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h Dean, Anthony (November 5, 2017). "10 noteworthy vegetarian cartoon characters". Diverse Tech Geek. Archived from the original on September 6, 2020. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  12. ^ Jing, Fanwang. "Brahmajala Sutra Translated Text". Purify Out Mind. p. 4. Archived from the original on February 4, 2008. Retrieved February 12, 2008. He must not create the causes ... and shall not intentionally kill any living creature.
  13. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Thienenkamp, Marius (January 26, 2016). "Saving Human Lives Only? Vegetarian Superheroes and Animal Rights". ComicsVerse. Archived from the original on August 24, 2020. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  14. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l Gerber, Jamie (October 27, 2016). "15 Superheroes (And Villains) You Didn't Know Were Vegetarian". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on May 17, 2020. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  15. ^ McLean, Tom (March 8, 2019). "Teen Girls to the Rescue: Lauren Faust Powers Up 'DC Super Hero Girls'". Animation Magazine. Archived from the original on August 22, 2020. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  16. ^ Barraclough, Leo (October 19, 2019). "'DC Super Hero Girls' Shows Girls As They Really Are, But With Superpowers". Variety. Archived from the original on October 12, 2019. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  17. ^ DC Super Hero Girls (TV series) [@dcshg] (January 2, 2020). "Vegetarian Jessica Cruz offers to fill in for Barbara Gordon at the Burrito Bucket. Check out VEGGIE MEAT BURRITO: bit.ly/38Sz0Lw Be sure to catch the #DCSuperHeroGirls animated series, now streaming on @Netflix in the U.S.