By KAITLYN HENSON
Staff Writer
Are you a part of the LQBTQ+ community looking for good representation? Are you an ally who wants to support queer cartoons? Look no further because I’ve got the list for you! Here are some of the greatest examples of queer representation that you have to check out!
Adventure Time
Never fear, for Jake the Dog and Finn the Human are here! Adventure Time is notorious for its characters Marceline and Princess Bubblegum, who was confirmed to be a lesbian couple by the end of the series as they shared a passionate kiss. Adventure Time: Distant Lands even has a dedicated episode of the two exploring more of their relationship and how much they’ve grown and changed as characters. They were also one of the first queer cartoon relationships to be seen on screen and it changed everything about what cartoons could do with representation.
She-Ra: Princesses of Power
Rebooted from the classic She-Ra cartoon from the ’80s, She-Ra: Princesses of Power is full of strong representation with the majority of its characters. The main characters Adora and Catra share a deep love for each other, the main character has two dads, two characters Nerossa and Spinnerella are a couple, there’s a nonbinary character named Double Trouble, and many many more. This show has a wide variety of queer representation and it does it wonderfully all while telling a beautiful story of magic, adventure, and saving the world of Etheria.
Steven Universe
It’s no surprise how much Steven Universe has changed the way we view representation in cartoons. The show features gem characters who identify as non-binary women, with several of them in lesbian relationships. One of the most beloved couples from the series is Ruby and Sapphire, and when fused they form Garnet. A famous scene from the series is from an episode where Ruby and Sapphire get married to each other, which made history in the world of cartoons. Steven Universe is a very passionate, very colorful show with so many great characters that tell the story of a magical boy named Steven saving the day with Garnet, Amethyst, and Pearl.
The Owl House
If you’ve been on social media for the past year, chances are you’ve probably heard of the popular ship of Luz and Amity. The Owl House is a Disney Channel show, and the creators made history when the titlar character and her friend confessed their feelings for each other in the most adorable way. It was a scene that felt so real and so sweet, and the build-up for it was so worth it. Besides the couple Luz and Amity, there’s also the mentor Eda who appears to have a crush on her old ex, a nonbinary character named Raine. They’re super sweet characters and I love them and Eda working together during the first episode they were in.
Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts
Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts surprised many people with its iconic coming-out scene with Benson and Kipo. After Kipo confessed her feelings to Benson, he politely turned her down and explained that he was gay. It was a really great moment with the two characters understanding each other and I love watching that scene a lot. Not long after we see Benson get a love interest named Troy, and they share a kiss on screen. Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts is a big part of LGBTQ cartoons, especially on Netflix, and is definitely worth a watch.
The Mitchells vs the Machines
I’ve talked about The Mitchells vs the Machines before, but I didn’t mention the fact that Katie Mitchell is a queer character. There are many hints throughout the movie that confirm her queerness, including a moment where she dresses as a sapphic, wears a rainbow flag pin on her jacket, and where talks about one of her female friends in a romantic manner. There’s also a really cute scene at the end of the movie where Katie’s mom asks about her date with the friend she talked about previously. Everything about Katie’s character feels so natural and so normal in a story about the robot uprising, and it all ties together beautifully.
Harley Quinn
Big DC fans are probably aware of the implications of Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy’s relationship, and in the animated series Harley Quinn they officially become a couple. I love the whole arc of them figuring out their sexuality when they accidentally sleep together, feeling awkward around each other, and just the overall sweetness of the two. They both have issues, but they help each other through them and they bring out the best in each other. Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy are so underrated as a queer couple and I love the two together.
Arcane
And finally, we have the new Netflix series Arcane, which features titular characters Vi and Caitlyn showing feelings for each other in some of the later episodes. After Caitlyn (who lives in the bright city of Piltover) finds out about smuggling going on of a dangerous substance, she seeks out the help of Vi (who is from the dark undercity of Zaun) to try and track down her sister Jinx for answers. Despite them being from opposing cities, they share a sweet connection that’s been hinted at in the League of Legends game and is now officially confirmed by the show. I love Vi and Caitlyn’s relationship and how they learned to trust each other and be there for each other to try and make a change between their two cities, and it’s just a beautiful relationship.