In the vast cosmos of animated worlds, where imagination knows no bounds, cartoon spaceships have soared to become iconic symbols of our beloved characters’ interstellar adventures. From the futuristic realms of modern animation to the timeless classics of the past, these celestial vessels have captured the hearts and minds of audiences young and old alike. Prepare for an exhilarating journey through the stars as we count down the Top 18 Famous Cartoon Spaceships Ever, blending the cutting-edge wonders of the Voot Runner from Invader Zim with the nostalgic charm of the Miraj from SilverHawks. Buckle up, fellow space explorers, as we navigate through a universe of whimsy, daring, and intergalactic greatness!
18. Galaxy One from Final Space
One of the top famous cartoon spaceships ever, The Galaxy One is the spaceship where Gary Goodspeed served his prison sentence during Season one. Despite technically being under the control of its artificial intelligence, H.U.E., Gary claimed to be the ship’s captain, even though he was assigned to it solely for his prison term. The spaceship’s design features a primarily gray exterior with dark grey-blue accents on the top front, sides of the cargo bay, and the lightfold engine. The ship proudly bears the number “01” on both sides of the cargo bay, with all windows tinted hot pink from the outside. Inside, the Galaxy One houses a bridge and a commissary with a cookie machine, along with a refrigerator affectionately named Beth by Gary. Throughout the season, the Galaxy One acted as the main mode of transportation for the show’s protagonists
17. Kang and Kodos’ Spaceship from The Simpsons
Kang and Kodos are two villainous extraterrestrial beings from the Rigellian race and usually appear in the show’s “Treehouse of Horror” Halloween episodes. Their Spaceship is a blue flying saucer, which is a classic representation of a UFO in popular culture. The spaceship often hovers menacingly over Springfield, catching the attention of the residents. Inside their spaceship, Kang and Kodos have access to advanced technology and facilities. One of the notable features is the sleep tubes, which allow them to rest during their long journeys through space. Additionally, the spaceship contains a game console with the classic video game “Pong,” reflecting the creators’ nostalgic take on alien technology and their pop culture references.
16. The Phantom Cruiser I from Space Ghost
The Phantom Cruiser I is a famous cartoon spaceship that belongs to the superhero Space Ghost. This remarkable vessel is designed in the shape of a bird and features a canary yellow hull. On its dorsal surface, between the wing roots, it proudly bears Space Ghost’s personal sigil: a featureless, white-eyed black head on a red field. The Phantom Cruiser I boasts impressive capabilities, including atmospheric flight and the ability to transport at least four passengers across interplanetary distances. Among its advanced features are an energy shield, a cloaking device, and a powerful nose-mounted energy weapon. As Space Ghost’s trusted mode of transportation, the Phantom Cruiser I plays a crucial role in his intergalactic adventures.
15. The Red One from Lilo and Stitch
Another one of the top famous cartoon spaceships ever, The Red One is a crimson intergalactic federal police cruiser that Stitch managed to commandeer from Gantu’s ship in a daring attempt to escape exile on a desolate asteroid. However, during his escape, The Red One came under fire from a fleet of pursuing police cruisers, ultimately crash-landing on Earth, specifically on the island of Kauai. The ship boasts a powerful hyperdrive, enabling it to make massive leaps through space, and it also features a formidable plasma blaster for defense.
14. The Ghost from Star Wars Rebels
The Ghost may not be a classic “cartoon spaceship”, (let’s just agree it’s an animated one), it serves as the main mode of transportation and base of operations for the crew of the Ghost, a small band of rebels fighting against the oppressive Galactic Empire. The ship has a distinct and rugged appearance, reflecting its status as a modified VCX-100 light freighter. Its design includes elongated, forward-swept wings and a central cockpit, giving it a unique and recognizable silhouette. The ship boasts advanced weaponry and defensive capabilities to protect its crew during combat and evasive maneuvers. Named for its capacity to navigate undetected past Imperial sensors, the vessel was equipped with numerous concealed advantages that bolstered the crew’s resistance against the Empire. Among its impressive array of features are a 360-degree dorsal laser cannon turret, two forward laser cannons, two rear laser cannons, and onboard sleeping quarters. Additionally, the ship housed the Phantom, a fully-armed starfighter serving as its secondary shuttle.
13. Martian Maggot from Looney Tunes
Marvin the Martian is a small, green-skinned alien with an oversized helmet and a red Roman soldier-like skirt. He often carries a ray gun, known as the “Illudium Q-36 Explosive Space Modulator,” which he uses to carry out his plans. He regularly uses a spaceship called “The Martian Maggot, which is long and yellow, reflecting the playful art style of the Looney Tunes.
12. The Spaceship from Rocket Monkeys
Rocket Monkeys follows the misadventures of two dim-witted and enthusiastic monkey astronauts named Gus and Wally. Their mission is to explore the galaxy and perform various tasks assigned to them by Dr. Chimpsky. Gus and Wally’s escapades often involve them bungling their missions, getting into hilarious predicaments, and facing bizarre alien encounters. Despite their incompetence, they manage to find humor and camaraderie in their interstellar journeys. The spaceship used by Gus and Wally is simply referred to as the “Spaceship”. It is a large and eye-catching orange vessel that serves as their main mode of transportation. The ship is quite distinctive with its bright color and cartoonish design, matching the humorous tone of the show. The Spaceship has various gadgets, which the monkeys often use in unconventional ways, leading to unexpected outcomes. While the Spaceship may seem playful, it can still navigate the cosmos and explore distant planets.
11. Spaceship from Solar Opposites
After their utopic home planet is destroyed by an asteroid, a family of aliens crash lands on Earth and faces a crucial decision—whether Earth is awful or awesome. Their spaceship is a frog-like vessel that is operated by a weird artificial intelligence named Aisha. The spaceship also houses the Pretend-O-Deck, a special area that can conjure up holographic environments and characters.
10. The Phoenix from The Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers
Set at number 10 of this list of famous cartoon spaceships, the Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers follows a group of Galaxy Rangers, a team of specially trained law enforcement agents tasked with maintaining peace and justice in the galaxy. They work under the jurisdiction of BETA (Bureau for Extra-Terrestrial Affairs) and strive to protect innocent beings from various threats, including the evil Crown Empire. The Galaxy Rangers’ spaceship, The Phoenix, had a hyperdrive and a laser cannon.
9. The Jetsons’ Space Car from The Jetsons
The Space Car serves as the Jetson family’s primary mode of transportation, and while they didn’t invent the flying car, “The Jetsons” played a significant role in popularizing the concept of airborne automobiles in American culture. The third episode of the series, titled “The Space Car,” originally aired on October 1962, and offers an in-depth look at the Space Car. In this episode, George and Jane Jetson visit a local car dealership to purchase a new vehicle. However, their trip takes an unexpected turn when they become unwittingly entangled in a crime. Mistaken for an escaped convict and his attractive accomplice, the Jetsons find themselves in an unprecedented predicament.
8. Star Cruiser 42 from Buzz Lightyear of Star Command
In the animated series “Buzz Lightyear of Star Command,” Buzz Lightyear leads a team comprising Mira Nova, Booster Munchapper, and XR aboard a remarkable rocket ship. This spacecraft is known as the Star Cruiser 42, proudly representing the pride of the esteemed Star Command Fleet. Driven by advanced crystallic fusion engines, it possesses the capability to traverse the entire galaxy and beyond. The Star Cruiser 42 has an array of sophisticated tools! This includes the magnalock—a magnetic disk and cable that allows them to reel in other starships. Additionally, the ship features a small shuttlecraft launched from the front of the cockpit. This small craft really adds to its versatility and effectiveness during interstellar missions.
7. The Righteous Indignation from Bucky O’Hare and the Toad Wars
The Righteous Indignation is a frigate commissioned by the United Animals Security Council for S.P.A.C.E (Sentient Protoplasm Against Colonial Encroachment) Agency. It serves as the flagship under the leadership of Captain Bucky O’Hare. Its primary mission – to patrol mammal space, thwarting any potential Toad intrusion and pushing back invading forces. The spacecraft has extensive equipment to endure prolonged space missions. It features a spacious bridge cockpit module and an enhanced propulsion system with six boosters at its rear. The Righteous has a formidable twin maser cannon mounted in its forward ball turret. The Righteous Indignation stands as an exceptionally powerful craft, well-prepared to defend against any threats that may arise in space.
6. Axiom from WALL-E
The Axiom is a massive starliner spaceship in the Pixar animated film “WALL-E”. The film is set in a dystopian future where Earth has become uninhabitable due to pollution. Humanity was forced to evacuate the planet on massive spaceships. The Axiom is one of these spaceships, built by the mega-corporation Buy-N-Large (BnL), which is responsible for the depletion of Earth’s resources. The ship’s primary purpose is to sustain the human population while they wait for the cleanup efforts on Earth to make the planet habitable again. Design-wise, the Axiom is an enormous and luxurious spaceship, resembling a colossal floating city in space. The ship has large BnL logos and an abundance of windows that offer a breathtaking view of space. Inside, the Axiom boasts a vast array of facilities designed to cater to every need of its human inhabitants. The ship houses numerous dining areas, recreational centers, and shopping districts, all maintained by an army of robotic assistants. The technology aboard the Axiom is so advanced that it can automate almost every aspect of human life. However, this led to a sedentary and overindulgent lifestyle for its occupants.
5. Voot Runner from Invader Zim
In the fifth spot on this list of top famous cartoon spaceships, The Voot Runner is a spaceship that was used by Invader Zim in his voyage to Earth. In this darkly humorous series, an alien named Zim from the planet Irk is sent on a supposed “secret mission” by his leaders, known as The Almighty Tallest, to conquer Earth. However, Zim’s mission is actually part of an elaborate scheme to keep him out of their way. The Voot Runner serves as Zim’s primary mode of transportation. Like its owner, stands out for its quirky design and exaggerated features. The spaceship reflects the show’s artistic style, featuring a spindly shape, with oversized, buggy eyes. Despite its odd appearance, the Voot Runner has various advanced technologies, weapons, and gadgets. Zim uses these in his misguided attempts to conquer Earth and prove himself to the Irken leaders.
4. The Argo from Star Blazers
I am aware that “Star Blazers” is an anime series, but its nostalgic significance for many of us who grew up watching it makes me believe it deserves a spot on this list. The Argo, aka the Space Battleship Yamato in Japanese, is a legendary ancient anime spacecraft. It took off on a mission to save mankind from the attacks of an alien race known as the Gamilons. Design-wise, the ARgo Yamato has a distinctive and iconic appearance. It features a sleek and imposing spacecraft design, reminiscent of a battleship fused with advanced technology. The ship has a combination of white and blue-gray colors, with a large forward-facing bow and a retractable wave motion gun on the ship’s front. The Argo has powerful weapons, including a main wave motion gun capable of immense destructive power. The wave motion gun is a signature weapon in the series, often used to overcome formidable obstacles. The ship’s interior is also impressive, featuring numerous decks and compartments to accommodate the crew and carry out their mission. It includes the bridge, crew quarters, medical facilities, engineering rooms, and various control centers.
3. Miraj from SilverHawks
SilverHawks follows a team of interstellar law enforcement officers dedicated to safeguarding the galaxy from the nefarious Mon*Star and his gang of criminal misfits known as the Mob. The SilverHawks’ primary mode of transportation is the Miraj, an impressive light-blue spaceship generously provided by General Rawlings and Professor Ghemakain. The Miraj, piloted by Bluegrass, the expert pilot of the Hawks, boasts a massive size and a distinctive design. The central cockpit resembles the head of a hawk, with Bluegrass seated at the helm. The remaining four members rest in a prone position, ever prepared to leap into action at a moment’s notice. Moreover, the central cockpit can detach, transforming into a smaller vessel known as the “Hot-Seat”. Bluegrass can activate the invisibility feature of the entire Miraj with a mere push of a button from the Hot-Seat. Equipped with an array of weaponry, the Miraj becomes a formidable force against their adversaries, enabling the SilverHawks to take on even the most challenging foes.
2. Rick’s Space Cruiser from Rick and Morty
Rick’s Space Cruiser is the main mode of transportation for Rick and Morty as they navigate through the multiverse. The cruiser is an advanced piece of technology, equipped with an impressive array of gadgets, weapons, and dimensional portals. This allows the duo to travel to virtually any place in the cosmos. The spaceship’s design is somewhat boxy and rudimentary, contrasting with more sleek and futuristic vessels in traditional sci-fi series. However, its unassuming appearance belies its immense power and capabilities, making it a formidable asset for Rick’s chaotic adventures. Rick’s Space Cruiser has become an iconic symbol of the show, representing its wild nature.
1. The Planet Express spaceship from Futurama
Although we’re more of a Rick and Morty fan, it cannot be denied that Planet Express should be the top pick of this list of famous cartoon spaceships! Futurama portrays the adventures of Philip J. Fry, a pizza delivery boy who gets cryogenically frozen and wakes up 1,000 years in the future. He becomes a delivery boy for the futuristic delivery company, Planet Express, owned by the eccentric Professor Hubert J. Farnsworth. The Planet Express spaceship is a crucial part of the company’s operations, transporting its crew on various deliveries throughout the universe. Design-wise, the Planet Express ship is a mix of retro-futuristic and cartoonish elements, reflecting the show’s distinctive art style. Despite its seemingly ordinary exterior, the boat boasts a range of extraordinary features and capabilities. It has advanced propulsion systems and various defense mechanisms, allowing the crew to handle dangerous delivery missions. The Planet Express spaceship role in Futurama reflects the series’ blend of sci-fi, humor, and heartwarming moments, making it a beloved element of the show’s universe.
