Gay adult cartoons
The 15 Best LGBTQ Cartoons of All Time
It took a long time, but mainstream cartoons are finally coming out of the closet. Now, we can only hope they endure that way.
When live-action television began making inroads for gay representation during the turn of the century, animation remained a frustratingly straight (if frequently queer-coded) affair. The reasons behind the medium’s slowness were obvious and, predictably, homophobic. Animation is too often seen as content made for kids, and queer attraction is regarded as an “adult” topic. So, pearl-clutching TV critics would argue, children shouldn’t be exposed to “adult” (read: gay) characters through raunchy cartoons.
That’s not to speak that there weren’t LGBTQ people in cartoons before the 2010s; Japanese anime, in particular, was slightly ahead of the curve on this front, with ’90s classics like “Sailor Moon” and “Neon Genesis Evangelion” featuring explicitly gay themes and love stories. But that content was often mercilessly squashed when it made its way to North America; glimpse the infamous first English dub of “Sailor Moon,” which
I don’t know about you, but I’ve been tearing up about The Owl House series finale for almost a full week now. In a wonderful way, because it was a flawless sendoff. And also in a unhappy way, because it’s over. If you’re feeling the matching way, maybe you could use a little list of other animated series to check out while your heart mends? Below I’ve chosen 15 of my all-time favorite queer cartoons! Please share yours in the comments!
The Legend of Korra
Where to watch: Netflix
Who it’s for: Gays who like badass, complicated women; Avatar-style magic; and a slow-burn romance with an endgame sapphic sendoff.
Steven Universe
Where to watch: Hulu, Cartoon Network (with ads)
Who it’s for: Fantasy fans who love expansive lore; found family feelers; trauma healers; and gay + trans characters for days and days.
Danger & Eggs
Where to watch: Prime Video
Who it’s for: Weirdos who know their queer pop tradition and want to vicariously attend the best Pride march ever.
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power
Where to watch: Netflix
Who it’s for: Anyone who likes legendary fantasy and sci-fi and has always
Homosexuality, Cartoons, and Satan
Anyway, like I was saying, it's not being gay that makes Satan hilarious. It's the proof that (especially in South Park) he is clearly, shall we say, not exactly the dominant one in the relationship. We're used to seeing Satan as big, masculine, dominating, and scary. Juxtaposing that image with this very effete, submissive, sensitive character: that's where the humor comes in.
It's compassionate of similar to how you notice kind of a lot of clown characters who are either downright sinister or else just plain dysfun
Pride month’s arrive and gone but, who cares! It’s always prime time to watch queer-themed TV. Round up the end of your 2022 with some wholesome (and maybe not so wholesome) animated shows!
Adventure Time (2010-18), Cartoon Network
Adventure day does not only have gay characters like Princess Bubblegum and Marceline the Vampire Queen, but it also has a broad range of queer subtext, particularly around ways of recognising other forms of kinship, shaped through community and friendship. The display also portrays the nuances of being a hero as as something beyond mere supreme authority and courage all the period, and takes its time to offer lessons in consent, reliance, and caring for others. The creators had to wait almost a decade to showcase a same-sex kiss between two of its characters, but the follow-up series explored more of its queer nuances.
Steven Universe (2013-19), Cartoon Network
Probably the best show on this list, Steven Universe deals with themes of intergenerational trauma, chosen family, love, colonisation, mental health, and identity. It does this through the coming-of-age story of Steven, a young person who’s comfortable with both their mascu