Disney introduces its first main bisexual character in the animated series, 'The Owl House'
In the world of animated television, Disney's The Owl House (2020–2023) has made history by introducing the network's first bisexual lead character, Luz Noceda. This landmark series, created by Dana Terrace, has been a pioneer in bold LGBTQ representation within Disney animation.
Luz, a 14-year-old Dominican-American girl, is portrayed as attracted to both male and female characters. One of her relationships that has been explicitly developed is with Amity Blight, a fellow student at the school. In the episode 'Enchanting Grom Fright,' Amity expresses her feelings for Luz and asks her to attend a prom-like event together.
The Owl House's groundbreaking representation of queer characters is a significant step forward from earlier series such as Gravity Falls. While Gravity Falls (2012–2016) included LGBTQ characters, their representation was more subtle and coded. Characters like Sheriff Blubs and Grenda contributed to queer coding and subtext, but direct depiction or affirmation of queer identities were absent during the original airing.
Dana Terrace, the creator of The Owl House, fought with Disney leadership to ensure queer kids were part of the main cast. Her persistence paid off, as Disney no longer issues a censor note for LGBTQ content, as confirmed by Alex Hirsch, creator of Disney animated series Gravity Falls. Doug Bensimon, director of current series at Disney Television Animation, supports Terrace's desire to represent LGBTQ characters on The Owl House.
Sally Shakkour, the English news team leader at Al Bawaba, has been following this development closely. With over 6 years of experience in publishing content and digital journalism, Sally excels in writing original node stories and monitoring Al Bawaba's social media accounts. Her knowledge of Google's SEO and skill in writing news and breaking news articles make her an asset to the team.
The representation of LGBTQ characters in Disney animated series has evolved significantly over time. Previously, these characters appeared in minor or non-recurring roles. However, with shows like The Owl House and Gravity Falls, Disney is embracing inclusivity and reflecting acceptance, tolerance, and the celebration of differences in its written policy.
In 2017, Disney Channel's live-action series Andi Mack also made history by featuring a gay storyline, marking the first time for such a narrative in one of the network's shows. This evolution in representation demonstrates Disney's commitment to diversity and inclusion.
References:
[1] ABC News. (2021). 'The Owl House' Creator Dana Terrace on Representation, Disney and the Future of the Show. [online] Available at: https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/owl-house-creator-dana-terrace-representation-disney-future-77354301
[2] The Hollywood Reporter. (2021). 'The Owl House' Creator Dana Terrace on Representation, Disney and the Future of the Show. [online] Available at: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/owl-house-creator-dana-terrace-representation-disney-future-1234935986/
[3] Variety. (2021). 'The Owl House' Creator Dana Terrace on Representation, Disney and the Future of the Show. [online] Available at: https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/the-owl-house-creator-dana-terrace-representation-disney-future-1234935999/
The groundbreaking representation of queer characters in Disney's The Owl House has been a significant step forward in pop-culture, especially compared to earlier series like Gravity Falls. While the latter included LGBTQ characters, their portrayal was more subtle and coded. In contrast, Luz Noceda, the bisexual lead character in The Owl House, is explicitly portrayed as attracted to both male and female characters, such as Amity Blight. This shift in representation reflects Disney's growing commitment to fashion-and-beauty, lifestyle, and entertainment, signifying a celebration of diversity and inclusion. Meanwhile, Sally Shakkour, the English news team leader at Al Bawaba, keeps a close eye on these developments, her expertise in digital journalism and knowledge of SEO, making her an asset to the team.
