Cartoons are what we lived for as kids. They bring back great memories of Saturday mornings, bowls of sugary cereal, and being parked in front of the TV. We couldn’t wait to see what the characters we loved were up to that week. Now, illustrator Isabelle Staub applies her unique art style to bring us these amazing reimagined cartoon characters.
“I let my art tell viewers a story, connecting them to a place, time and emotion,” illustrator Isabelle Staub writes on her Instagram account, “I pour my heart, mind, and soul into every piece I create.” The effort and talent that Staub displays are evident in every incredible piece she creates.
Whether it’s a Disney princess, a superhero, or even just a sarcastic teenage sister, these recreated cartoon characters by illustrator Isabelle Staub are drawn with incredible detail and style. Each individual portrait shows a different side of the character, making them seem fully realized and more human.
1. Tiana, The Princess and the Frog: Here, the down on her luck New Orleans Disney princess is given so much more depth and definition, particularly in her hair.
2. Cinderella, Cinderella: Here, the beleaguered young woman who would marry a prince looks much more put upon. Again, the hair illustrates her hardship and stress.
3. Pennywise, It: Sometimes illustrator Isabelle Staub steps outside of the cartoon character mould. Here she reimagines a female version of Stephen King’s famously evil clown.
4. Buttercup, The Powerpuff Girls: It’s clear that Staub is a big fan of the classic cartoon network series. She begins with the tough and headstrong Buttercup.
5. Blossom, The Powerpuff Girls: Next, Staub recreates the fearless leader, Blossom. The colour scheme and glowing pink eyes perfectly capture the classic look of the character.
6. Bubbles, The Powerpuff Girls: Bubbles, the sweet, innocent Powerpuff sister, is given a much more realistic look. The big blue eyes are still there, and the overalls are a nice touch.
7. Bliss, The PowerPuff Girls: Staub’s reimagined cartoon characters are granted more personality and definition in her portraits, and the fourth Powerpuff Girl is no exception.
8. Kidagakash Nedakh, Atlantis: The Lost Empire: Staub’s reimagined cartoon characters come from a number of sources. This unique character appeared in a lesser-known Disney animated film from 2001.
9. Snow White, Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs: Here, the very first Disney princess is recreated in stunning detail. Even the classic outfit is drawn with care.
10. Aurora, Sleeping Beauty: Every piece of this particular frame is lovingly recreated. Illustrator Isabelle Staub truly demonstrates her attention to detail with this reimagined Disney princess.
11. Mulan, Mulan: Here, the warrior princess from one of Disney’s most celebrated films is drawn with incredible beauty and detail. Even the cherry blossoms are recreated with care.
12. Kim Possible, Kim Possible: If you were a kid in the early 2000s, you were watching the high-flying adventures of Kim Possible. Here, Illustrator Isabelle Staub makes her look even cooler.
13. Moana, Moana: Despite the fact that Moana was rendered in CGI, Staub’s illustrated Disney princess stands up to the high-budget animation. She really captures all of Moana’s emotions.
14 Penny Proud, The Proud Family: The real magic in Staub’s recreated cartoon characters is all the little details. Here, she even captures Penny’s stray hair.
15. Belle, Beauty and the Beast: Emma Watson made a good live action version of Belle, But here illustrator Isabelle Staub lovingly recreates the beloved Disney Princess.
16 Jessica Rabbit, Who Framed Roger Rabbit?: The classic pin-up character from Robert Zemeckis’s groundbreaking film is redrawn here to look somewhat more realistic and proportionate.
17. Esmerelda, The Hunchback of Notre Dame: This unconventional Disney princess is redrawn in stunning detail. Illustrator Isabelle Staub captures every detail of Esmerelda’s classic look.
18. Anastasia, Anastasia: While not technically a Disney princess, Anastasia is just as beloved by people who saw the animated movie in their childhood.
19. Pocahontas, Pocahontas: Staub’s recreated cartoon characters have so much more definition and personality. Here, Disney’s Native American princess is reproduced in ultra-realistic detail.
20. Ariel, The Little Mermaid: Illustrator Isabelle Staub greatly improves upon the classic Disney princess, while keeping her classic look intact. The blue eyes and red hair stand out the most.
21. Meg, Hercules: The fast-talking Disney princess with an attitude is recreated here with a more realistic and less angular look. Her hair is still big, though.
22. Nani, Lilo & Stitch: Lilo’s older sister is drawn by illustrator Isabelle Staub with the same sisterly concern on her face, but the detail of it is much more attentively rendered.
23. Debbie Thornberry, The Wild Thornberrys: Staub’s recreated cartoon characters all have one thing in common: personality. Here she perfectly captures Debbie’s ‘too cool to care’ attitude.
24. Jasmine, Aladdin: Staub’s work always shows incredible attention to detail, and this portrait of Princess Jasmine is no exception. Once again the fine work on the hair and eyes really stands out.
