When Lightyear was released just two months ago, the conversation centered on a same-sex kiss between two female characters. In the scene, which caused great controversy and saw the movie banned from several countries, two women in a long-term relationship give each other a welcoming, loving and chaste kiss, after one of them returns from space.
In these times, this should be considered completely normal. But the scene sparked debate due to two issues: Florida’s controversial “Don’t Say Gay” law, which prohibits any class discussion about sexual orientation and gender identity to students younger than nine years old, and Disney’s efforts as a company to have it repealed. The Lightyear kiss remained for a while in a drawer in the editing room. It had been destined for the cutting room floor, until the protests of Disney employees forced it back into the final version.
Disney’s new animated movie Strange World, co-directed by Don Hall and Qui Nguyen, once again has sparked a debate about sexual orientation. This time, the topic appears on a much larger scale: one of the protagonists, a teenager, is in love with another boy. He tells his father about it. His father supports him and gives him advice, not focusing on whether his son is gay or not, but simply as a father who is by his son’s side in matters of love. That is to say, the film completely normalizes the fact that a boy may feel attracted to or love another person of the same sex, along the same lines as, for example, the movie Call Me By Your Name by Luca Guadagnino, which also refrained from turning sexual orientation into the center of family conflict.
Some reviewers have criticized the fact that the boys in Strange World do not share an onscreen kiss. But that is irrelevant in light of the naturalness with which the film presents the relationship. For Disney, it’s a historic gesture.
Narratively, the film is a classic adventure that echoes Jules Verne’s novel Fantastic Voyage and the 1987 sci-fi movie Innerspace. It provides interesting subtext about generational differences: a tough grandfather, brave in the face of any threat; a practical father who provides solutions for everything; and a grandson, the teenage boy, who flees from conflict and goes through life armed with a uniquely contemporary idealism. That idealism also plays out in one of the key sequences, in which the three of them are playing a board game. While the grandfather and father insist that there must be a villain, the grandson wonders why there must always be a bad guy. Is this fallacy or naïveté?
Unfortunately, Hall and Nguyen fail to create an attractive new universe to live up to the title. The color combinations of fuchsias, greens and blues are not appealing. The story shares the same message about environmentalism as much of children’s media today. But the main problem with the adventure itself is that the living organism where they live, and the immune system that accompanies it, is described in such a cumbersome way that is difficult for viewers to understand.
This Christmas, Disney threw its support behind an idealistic world, the LGBT+ friendly and villain-less. It is not a small feat. But it misses what is essential in a film: a well-told story.
FAQs
It's the first Disney movie featuring an out-gay character named Ethan Clade, played by gay comedian Jaboukie Young-White. Clade's storyline includes having a crush on another male character named Diazo.
Who was the first gay Disney protagonist? ›
Strange World, which was released on November 23, 2022, features Ethan Clade, who is the first gay lead character in a Disney animated film. Ethan Clade is voiced by gay comedian Jaboukie Young-White.
What is the controversy over Strange World? ›
After Lightyear was banned in select countries due to a same-sex kiss (that had previously been removed and put back into the film) Disney was probably prepared for at least some backlash from critics once it was revealed that Strange World's main character, Ethan Clade, was Disney's first openly gay teen animated ...
What is the new Disney movie with openly gay characters? ›
What is Disney's 'Strange World' movie about? "Strange World," an animated sci-fi movie released by Disney in November 2022, depicts a group of explorers who go on an adventure to find an exotic plant that serves as their society's source of energy. The main character, Ethan Clade, is gay.
Is there a gay kiss in Strange World? ›
Some reviewers have criticized the fact that the boys in Strange World do not share an onscreen kiss. But that is irrelevant in light of the naturalness with which the film presents the relationship. For Disney, it's a historic gesture.
Is Diazo a guy or a girl? ›
Diazo is a laid back teenage boy who speaks softly, but shows some slight confidence. He is especially kind towards Ethan who has a crush on him and it is implied that Diazo is well aware. He likes to tease him and is shown to have a playful attitude.
What Disney movie has a gay child? ›
(CNN) - A fifth grade teacher in Florida says she's under investigation by the state after she showed her students the Disney animated feature “Strange World,” which features a gay teen romance.
Who is Disney's first non binary character? ›
Disney's Pixar division has introduced its first ever non-binary character – Lake Ripple – in the studio's latest feature release, Elemental.
Who is the gay guy in the Disney movie? ›
Strange World features Disney's first openly gay teen character, Ethan, who can be seen acting shy around his crush, Diazo. Even though Strange World had a large budget and was released around Thanksgiving, the movie bombed at the box office.
Why is Strange World getting bad reviews? ›
Strange World Reviews
While the animation remains top-notch, other aspects of Strange World lack vivacity and emotional connection due to its cookie-cutter procedure in its narrative development.
Everything in the Strange World is alive. The cliffs are alive, the creatures are alive and the water will dissolve the flesh right off your body. The family and the explorers are constantly in peril, which is likely to be distressing for some young children.
Why did Strange World do so poorly? ›
Why the poor performance? Experts offer loads of reasons, from a poor marketing push to Disney's historical troubles with animated sci-fi flicks to the struggles of animated films in general. But clearly animated movies can still make a buck at the box office.
How many Disney movies have LGBTQ? ›
Walt Disney Studios released five movies in theaters in 2021 that included at least one significant L.G.B.T.Q. character — more than any other film company, according to GLAAD. Also, Disney was the only major studio to release a movie with a transgender character.
Who was the first gay cartoon character? ›
The show's first episode, on December 17, 1989, introduced Smithers, who was named after gay puppeteer Wayland Flowers. Smithers was the first gay character to appear on a U.S. animated show.
Who is the gay character in Dr Strange? ›
The “Doctor Strange 2” character in question is America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez), who is a lesbian in the film and the Marvel comics.
Who is the non binary character in Disney? ›
Elemental features Pixar's first-ever nonbinary character, voiced by nonbinary actor Ava Kai Hauser.
Which cartoon character is gay? ›
In the 2000s
| Characters | Show title | Country |
|---|
| Steven Arlo Gator | Queer Duck | United States |
| King Gorilla | The Venture Bros. | United States |
| Grady | The Simpsons | United States |
| Bug Gribble | King of the Hill | United States |
28 more rowsLake is usually seen with their girlfriend, whom they met in art school; fans pointed out that this is a nice detail from Pixar since the LGBTQIA+ community is famous for their love for art. Aside from some criticism, Pixar has been praised for hiring a non-binary actor to play the role of Lake.
