She-Ra, Trailblazing a Path From Filmation to DreamWorks
Born of the 80s, I spent many childhood afternoons rushing home from school to watch a variety of cartoons. While mornings were reserved for the likes of Casper the Friendly Ghost, Pink Panther, and Looney Tunes, my weekday afternoons were mainly filled with shows produced by Filmation. In hindsight, perhaps the most memorable of the Filmation oeuvre was She-Ra: Princess of Power. The show, one of two well received cartoons that featured a strong ensemble of female villains and protagonists (the other being Jem and the Holograms), concerned itself with the title character’s fight against the Evil Horde, an intergalactic empire bent on the enslavement of Planet Etheria. A gay subtext seemed to rest just under the surface of the series, especially in regard to certain rogue characters that were modeled on the likes of Grace Jones and Errol Flynn. Coupled with the ever-present rainbow color schemes and the civil rights movement storyline, today I see how the series could be viewed from the LGBTQ perspective if so desired. Years later, with an updated version of the series looming on the horizon, as a gay adult writer and artist, I’m hoping for even more of a substantial LGBTQ presence. And it looks like I may be in luck. Helmed by Noelle Stevenson of the Lumberjanes comic book series, just from the tone and aesthetics of the new trailer, the show, now titled She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, definitely seems to present more LGBTQ friendly fare.
The reason why I hope for this? It’s time. I would like children and youngsters of today to be acquainted with positive reinforcement and acceptance of the LGBTQ community. Families are comprised of diverse individuals. Especially given today’s political climate, along with the misogyny and hatefulness that’s so pervasive online as of late (particularly in geek culture), it’s time for love and understanding of gay men and women to enter the public consciousness in regard to cartoon show storylines. Over the years, in various interviews, both Lou Scheimer and his daughter Erika Scheimer, two of the great talents behind Filmation, expressed the missed opportunity to do this within the context of the original series. Maybe DreamWorks and Noelle Stevenson can fulfill their wish at long last … and She-Ra can continue to be a trailblazer. Some kids grow up with two dads. Some kids have two moms. Some kids grow up in places that aren’t the most tolerant. If a gay boy or girl can acquire some sort of positive reinforcement from a cartoon, then so be it. The ability to identify with a character who is like them, even if that character is fictional, would be a great thing.
