How Cartoons Enhance User Onboarding and First-Time Experiences

Part of our UX Design with Cartoons guide (coming soon)

First Impressions Are Everything (And Usually Overwhelming)

The onboarding experience can make or break a product. Users arrive with a mix of curiosity, skepticism, and impatience. They want to understand what your product does, how it benefits them, and whether they can figure it out without reading a manual. If those first few minutes feel confusing or tedious, they’re gone.

Traditional onboarding relies heavily on tooltips, tutorial slides, and instructional copy. The problem? Most users skip all of it. They want to dive in and start using the product, not sit through a slideshow. But without guidance, they get lost, miss key features, and never come back.

This is where cartoons shine. A well-placed cartoon in your onboarding flow doesn’t interrupt the experience. It enhances it. Instead of telling users what to do, you show them in a way that feels natural, friendly, and instantly understandable. Cartoons enhance user onboarding by turning abstract instructions into concrete moments that users actually remember.

Why Cartoons Work So Well During Onboarding

Onboarding is a unique challenge because you’re asking users to learn something new while also convincing them it’s worth their time. That’s a lot to balance. Cartoons help on both fronts.

They reduce the intimidation factor. New interfaces feel like foreign territory. When users see a cartoon, it signals that this product isn’t going to be complicated or stuffy. The visual warmth lowers their guard and makes them more willing to engage.

They clarify without lecturing. Nobody wants to read paragraphs of instructions during onboarding. Cartoons enhance user onboarding by communicating the same information in seconds. A cartoon showing someone setting up their profile is clearer than three bullet points describing the process.

They create emotional connection early. First impressions aren’t just about functionality. They’re about feeling. A clever cartoon makes users smile, and that positive emotion gets associated with your product. They’re more likely to stick around when the experience feels enjoyable from the start.

They reinforce key actions visually. Users forget text quickly, especially when they’re scanning. A cartoon creates a visual memory anchor. When they need to perform that action again later, they’ll recall the image, not the instruction.

Cartoons enhance user onboarding because they do more than explain. They welcome, reassure, and guide in ways that text alone simply can’t match.

Where Cartoons Make the Biggest Impact in Onboarding

Let’s get specific. Where exactly should you use cartoons during those critical first interactions? Here are the moments that matter most.

Welcome screens. This is the first thing users see after signing up. A cartoon here sets the tone immediately. Instead of generic “Welcome to Product X” text, show a cartoon that illustrates what users are about to accomplish. It primes them for success before they even start.

Feature introductions. When you’re explaining what makes your product valuable, cartoons enhance user onboarding by turning features into scenarios. Don’t just say “Collaborate with your team.” Show a cartoon of people actually collaborating. The difference in comprehension is massive.

Empty states. Before users add content or complete actions, your interface is probably full of blank screens. This is prime real estate for cartoons. A cartoon in an empty dashboard or project list tells users exactly what this space will look like once they start using it.

Progressive disclosure moments. Not every feature needs to be explained upfront. But when users unlock something new or reach a milestone, a cartoon can celebrate that moment and explain what just happened. It turns learning into achievement.

Tutorial tooltips. If you must use tooltips, pairing them with small cartoons makes them far more effective. The visual component keeps users from glazing over the text. Cartoons enhance user onboarding even in micro-interactions like these.

Each of these touchpoints is an opportunity to reduce friction, increase understanding, and build positive momentum. Cartoons make that possible without adding steps or slowing users down.

The Psychology: Why Cartoons Stick in Memory

There’s a reason cartoons enhance user onboarding better than bullet points or instructional videos. It comes down to how our brains process and store information.

Visual information gets processed faster than text. Your brain can interpret an image in milliseconds, while reading takes conscious effort. During onboarding, when users are already managing cognitive overload, speed matters. A cartoon delivers meaning instantly.

But it’s not just speed. It’s retention. Studies show that people remember visual information far longer than text. Add humor or personality to that visual, and retention increases even more. When users laugh or smile during onboarding, their brain tags that moment as important. They’ll recall it later when they need to perform the same task.

This is dual coding in action. When you combine a cartoon with a brief caption or instruction, users encode the information both visually and verbally. That double encoding creates a stronger, more durable memory. Cartoons enhance user onboarding because they work with how human memory actually functions, not against it.

And here’s the bonus: cartoons reduce anxiety. New users often feel uncertain or worried about making mistakes. A friendly cartoon signals that this is a safe space to explore. That emotional reassurance keeps users engaged instead of abandoning out of frustration.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Just because cartoons enhance user onboarding doesn’t mean every cartoon works. Here’s where teams often go wrong.

Overloading with cartoons. More isn’t always better. If every screen has a cartoon, the effect dilutes. Use them strategically at high-impact moments, not everywhere.

Mismatched tone. If your product is serious or technical, overly whimsical cartoons will feel jarring. The style needs to match your brand and your users’ expectations.

Cartoons that confuse rather than clarify. If users have to stop and decode what the cartoon means, it’s working against onboarding, not for it. The image should be instantly readable.

Skipping mobile optimization. Cartoons that look great on desktop can become cluttered or illegible on small screens. Always test your onboarding visuals across devices.

The goal is to use cartoons as functional guides, not decorative filler. When done right, cartoons enhance user onboarding by removing barriers, not creating new ones.

Keep Reading

Curious how cartoons reduce mental effort throughout your entire product experience?
Read: How Cartoons Improve UX Clarity & Reduce Cognitive Load

Q&A: Common Questions About Cartoons in Onboarding

Q: Do cartoons really improve onboarding completion rates?
Yes. When cartoons clarify next steps and reduce anxiety, users are more likely to complete the onboarding flow. Visual guidance keeps momentum going where text-heavy instructions often lose people.

Q: Should every onboarding screen have a cartoon?
No. Strategic placement matters more than frequency. Use cartoons at decision points, feature introductions, and moments where users commonly get stuck or confused.

Q: Can cartoons work for B2B or enterprise products?
Absolutely. The key is matching the style to the audience. B2B cartoons can be professional and polished while still providing visual clarity. It’s about illustration quality and tone, not whether cartoons belong.

Q: How do you measure if cartoons are helping onboarding?
Track completion rates, time to first key action, and feature adoption. Compare flows with and without cartoons. Most teams see measurable improvements in comprehension and engagement when cartoons are implemented thoughtfully.

Q: What if users find cartoons unprofessional?
This usually comes down to execution, not the medium itself. Low-quality or overly silly cartoons can backfire. Well-designed cartoons that serve a clear functional purpose rarely face this criticism.

Why Cartoons Make Digital Interfaces Feel More Human (coming soon)
Using Cartoons to Humanize Error Messages & Empty States (coming soon)
Accessibility & Inclusive UX Design with Cartoons (coming soon)