LGBT representation in animated web series

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LGBT representation in animated web series has increased over the years, as many web series have featured LGBTQ characters, appearing on platforms like YouTube and Rooster Teeth, competing with those on Netflix and LGBTQ representation and other streaming platforms. Lesbian and bisexual characters have appeared prominently in Hazbin Hotel, Helluva Boss, RWBY, and Eddsworld. Other LGBTQ characters appeared in series such as Lizzy the Lezzy, Red vs. Blue, Bravest Warriors, Ollie and Scoops, and Nomad of Nowhere.

Lesbian characters[]

See also: List of lesbian characters in animation

Many web series had lesbian characters over the years. This included Lizzy the Lezzy, Eddsworld, Too Loud, Hazbin Hotel, Red vs. Blue, Nomad of Nowhere, My Pride: The Series, Ollie and Scoops, and RWBY.

Shannon McCormick, who voiced Agent Washington in Red vs. Blue, confirmed, in October 2016, that Agent Ohio "Vera" and Sherry were a lesbian couple.[1] Vera is an agent of Project Freelancer who appeared in two episodes of Season 14, specifically "The Triplets" and "The "Mission". In contrast, Sherry is a soldier for Charon Industries who appeared in one episode of Season 14, "The Mission."

Nomad of Nowhere, another RoosterTeeth show, released in 2018, featured a lesbian protagonist named Skout, who had a crush on Captain Toth, her superior.[2] Her crush on Toth was later confirmed by the show's staff.[3][4] In the show, Skout often tries to inspire confidence in her superior, she is often the voice of reason for Toth, who is a rule-oriented and may like Skout too,[5] despite the fact she is occasionally dismissive, causing fissures in their relationship.

Barbara Dunkelman, the voice of Yang Xiao Long in RWBY, at the Florida Supercon in 2018

In the RWBY episode "Alone Together," which premiered in December 2017, Ilia Amitola confessed her feelings for Blake, her former-current-best friend. In a 2018 Reddit AMA that Miles Luna, a showrunner, confirmed Ilia as a lesbian character.[6] In the seventh episode of the RWBY's Volume 6, "The Grimm Reaper", in February 2018, there was a lesbian couple, Saphron and Terra Cotta-Arc, who have a son named Adrian, with their lesbian identity confirmed by actor Lindsey Jones.[7][8] Some fans of RWBY who ship Blake Belladonna and Yang Xiao Long, commonly known as Bumbleby, have pointed to romantic feelings between the two characters, On September 4, 2014, the episode "Burning the Candle", which has been cited by such fans as beginning the ship. Fans and reviewers pointed to growing friendship between Blake and Yang in the show's first two seasons.[9][10][11] At the end of the show's sixth season, Yang works with Blake to kill her abusive ex-boyfriend, Adam Taurus,[12][13] her romantic feelings for Blake have been "strongly hinted"[14] since she touches foreheads with Blake and they share a tender momeny after the battle.[14][15] In a seventh season episode, Yang tries to awkwardly compliment Blake on her new haircut.[16]

Nico Colaleo's web series, Too Loud featured a lesbian couple. Molly and Rachael were also confirmed by Colaleo to be in a romantic relationship.[17] Ollie and Scoops, a show also by Colaleo, had two lesbian characters as well. The episode "Tutor Suitor," in October 2020, centered on the story of an anxious Ms. Bellie Bivvins has a crush on a science teacher, Ms. Wendy Whippleworth.[18] In the episode, they both get together in the end, with the help of the series protagonists Ollie and Scoops. Colaleo noted that in the episode, Bellie, wanted to tell "her crush how she feels" with butterflies from her tummy as the "physical manifestation of her anxiety".[19]

My Pride: The Series premiered in February 2020 on YouTube, following a "queer, disabled lioness" named Nothing who is trying to heal the world.[20] The series creator, Madeleine Patton, stated that it is important to tell diverse stories, and notes that the story deals with "ableism, queerness, feminism, womanhood and also, of course, lions."[21] The mate of Nothing is Hover, formerly named Longrun, as indicated in episode 7, "Hover," in September 2020.

On the other hand Lizzy the Lezzy, which premiered on Myspace in 2006, included LGBTQ+ characters like Lizzy, a lesbian.[22] Eddsworld, in 2003, a British animated web series, began airing on Newgrounds, and on DeviantArt the following year. In 2006, it began airing on YouTube. The show featured Katya, a lesbian woman, and her girlfriend, Kim, who is bisexual.[23] Kira Buckland voices both characters. In Vivienne "VivziePop" Medrano's series, Hazbin Hotel, Vaggie, a lesbian woman, has a girlfriend named Charlie.[24]

Bisexual characters[]

See also: List of bisexual characters in animation

Bisexual characters appeared in various web series, such as Bravest Warriors, Hazbin Hotel, Helluva Boss, RWBY, and Eddsworld.

Plum, a bisexual character, first appeared in the animated series, Bravest Warriors, a show which aired on Cartoon Hangover's YouTube channel. The show was made by Adventure Time creator Pendleton Ward and featuring Ian Jones-Quartey, who voiced the character, Wallow, while he directed his own show, OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes which featured multiple LGBTQ+ characters. Although Plum had a crush on Chris, kissing him multiple times during the show, she is also madly in love with her doppleganger as shown in the comics[25] and kisses Peach in another comic.[26] Furthermore, on numerous occasions, she has identified as bisexual, confirmed by Kate Leth, who wrote all three volumes of the Bravest Warriors comic, writing "Plum is bi and it's canon and I'm proud of her."[27]

In Hazbin Hotel, Charlie, the princess of Hell, is bisexual, and has a girlfriend named Vaggie.[28][24] Medrano's other series, Helluva Boss, featured various bisexual characters. One of these characters is a demon named Moxxie.[29] Medrano also responded positively toward a fan who shared the idea of a sitcom set in an alternative universe where "Blitzo and Stolas are two single dads getting married."[30] Stolas is also presumably bisexual as he is married, with a wife and a daughter, but also has sex with Blitzo. Verosika, Blitzo's ex-girlfriend, appears in the show's third episode.[31] It was confirmed that Blitzo still has genuine feelings for Stolas in episode 6: Truth Seekers but is afraid that Stolas only sees him as a plaything or pet.

Arryn Zech, voice of Blake Belladonna, a bisexual character, in RWBY in July 2014

The voice actress for Blake Beladonna in RWBY, Arryn Zech, confirmed, in April 2020, that Blake is bisexual, with the other cast members concurring with her assessment.[32] She previously had a relationship with an abusive ex-boyfriend and villain named Adam Taurus,[33] which Ilia implied as romantic in the episode "Alone Together" even though these feelings have since faded away.[a] Blake works with her teammate, Yang, with both trying try to confront Adam Taurus, leaving both traumatized and injured, an experience which strongly bonds them together.[34][11] Later both work together to kill Taurus, Blake's abusive ex-boyfriend at the end of the show's sixth season.[12][13] Her romantic feelings for Yang have been hinted since the show's first season,[9][10][11] Some reviewers said they were "strongly hinted" after she touches foreheads with Blake and they share a tender moment after the battle.[14][15] Apart from the Blake/Yang "Bumbleby" ship being described as one of the show's most popular fandom ships on Tumblr[35] Amanda Bruce of CBR said that while there is a continuing debate among fans if Yang and Blake are couple, "it’s fair to say they’re a couple until the show says otherwise."'[36]

Eddsworld includes, Kim, a bisexual woman, who has a girlfriend named Katya.[23]

Transgender characters[]

See also: List of fictional trans characters § Animation

Some web series featured transgender characters. This included Too Loud, RWBY, and a cancelled animated adaption of Rain.

Nico Colaleo's animated web series, Too Loud, the first season which ran from July to August 2017, and the second season which aired from September to November 2019, includes a LGBTQ character. In the episode "Slumber Party Sneak-In," Desiree plots with her sister, Sara, to dress up as a girl in order to go to a slumber party. The rest of the girls find this out, then console her, accepting, and deciding they like her no matter whether she is a trans girl named Desiree or as a closeted boy.[37] In September 2019, Colaleo later described the episode as important, described it as his favorite episode of the show's second season, and a "pro-transgender episode."[38][39]

Kdin Jenzen, the voice actor for May Marigold, confirmed, in December 2019, that her character was a trans woman and the first trans character in RWBY.[40] "I think my favorite part of May Marigold's story, overall, is that she found herself before she found herself," Jenzen, who is a trans woman herself, told CBR the following month. "It's the truest part of what helped me resonate so personally with her character. May's choice of the people who needed her over the privilege she was born into, brought on by self-reflection, helped her be who she was always meant to be. While the themes go so perfectly hand-in-hand with self-discovery and that realization, RWBY's handling of it all really stood out to me compared to how most other shows/movies/etc. handle these moments."[41]

Kdin Jenzen, the voice actor for May Marigold, talked about, on December 26, 2020, May being confirmed as a trans woman in the December 19, 2020 episode "War", the eighth episode of Volume 8 of RWBY.[42] She added that she never saw anything like this and only dreamed of "something so wildly powerful & meaningful existing in media," how she was crying while "delivering the lines" for it, and said the scene in the episode was everything she "dreamed of seeing."[43] She also said that that recording lines in the character were the first ones she had done since transitioning and implied that May was a lesbian, describing her as "out here collecting girlfriend's like Pokemon."[44][45]

In December 2020, Samara linked to a teaser trailer for an animated series of Rain, announcing that one was in production.[46] Larissa Logan Robin Frost, also known by their handle LariUmbreon, announced that she would be voicing Rain in a post on Reddit.[47] The official YouTube channel for the series described it as a "story for boys, girls, and everyone in between."[48] On September 14, 2021, in a video re-upload of an instrumental track coupled with animation for the series, LariUmbreon announced the series cancellation, but did not specify the reason.[49]

Other LGBTQ characters[]

See also: List of gay characters in animation, List of fictional pansexual characters § Animated series, List of fictional asexual characters § Animation and anime, List of fictional intersex characters § Animation and anime, and List of fictional non-binary characters § Anime and animation

There are other LGBTQ characters in web series such as Hazbin Hotel, and Helluva Boss, who are asexual, gay, genderfluid, and pansexual, while possible characters were hinted at in an animated adaption of ZooPhobia,

Hazbin Hotel features an asexual character named Alastor, who is also known as the Radio Demon.[28][50] The series also includes a pornstar named Angel Dust.[51][24] Medrano confirmed him as gay and called him a "trashy unapologetically sexually open character."[52] Helluva Boss, an animated web series in the same universe as Hazbin Hotel, includes a pansexual demon named Blitzo.[53] Medrano also supported shipping two male characters in an animated short titled "Bad Luck Jack," an adaption of her webcomic, ZooPhobia, after Benjamin Diskin shipped them together.[54]

Loafy features Scrooge, a male tarsier who is in a same-sex relationship with Eli, a human.[55]

Yssa Badiola of Recorded by Arizal hosted a RTX panel, in September 21, 2020, with Christine Marie Cabanos, Joshua Kazemi, and Kdin Jenzen, the latter who moderated.[56] Toward the end of the panel, Jenzen asked about LGBTQ characters in the show. Badiola said that if there was a full season, while Arizal's sexuality (and gender) would be explored, and that there were a "lot" of LGBTQ characters in a "show proper" they originally pitched.[57]

In November 2021, Strawberry Shortcake: Berry in the Big City introduced Lime Chiffon's dads in the episode "Berry Bounty Banquet Part Two".[58] The episode was nominated for a GLAAD Award for Outstanding Children’s Programming.[59]

See also[]

Notes[]

  1. ^ In this episode, Ilia said Blake was "too busy falling for Adam." In the episode "Best Day Ever," Blake as a sketch of him in her notebook, meaning she may still think of him, and in "Mountain Glenn" she calls Adam her partner, although more of a mentor. She further seems to have some remorse after killing Adam.

References[]

  1. ^ McCormick, Shannon [@sadogre] (October 2, 2016). "in my mind, lesbian" (Tweet). Archived from the original on May 14, 2020. Retrieved March 7, 2020 – via Twitter.The whole tweet conversation: @pineappletime: "@sadogre Sherry/Vera new OTP," followed by @sadogre: "duh," and @pineappletime: "is Vera bi/pan or a lesbian? #writerquestions." He responded with "in my mind, lesbian." @pineappletime then asked "what about Sherry? Bi/pan or lesbian?" to which he responded "lesbian, too." @pinappletime ended the thread by saying "*claps gleefully*"
  2. ^ Luna, Miles (2019). "Yup <3 [in response to a question titled "Is Skout a new LGBT character?"]". Reddit. Reddit. Archived from the original on February 11, 2020. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  3. ^ "Rooster Teeth Drawing Challenge". The Drawfree Channel. YouTube. March 17, 2018. Archived from the original on May 3, 2020. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
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  5. ^ Kaldor, David (2019). "Season Review: Nomad of Nowhere Season One". Bubble Blabber. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  6. ^ Luna, Miles. "CRWBY AMA w/ Miles Luna, Kerry Shawcross, and Paula Decanini". Reddit. Archived from the original on May 16, 2019. Retrieved February 17, 2018. See her comment "Ilia is a lesbian!" in response to the question "What does Ilia identify as? Is she a lesbian? Bisexual? Something else?"
  7. ^ Jones, Lindsey [@IAmLindsayJones] (February 4, 2019). "My friend, I said "certain parts" of the fan base, addressing a vocal minority. And that's my point: Saphron and her wife played such a small part in the show as a whole, so why would these people take their inclusion as the end all of RWBY's writing?" (Tweet). Archived from the original on August 13, 2020. Retrieved August 13, 2020 – via Twitter.
  8. ^ Jones, Lindsey [@IAmLindsayJones] (February 3, 2019). "After seasons of hereto love triangles, Jaune and Pyrrha share an on-screen kiss: *crickets* Saphron and her wife are in a few episodes: HOLY SHIT, RWBY HAS SOLD OUT COMPLETELY TO THE "GAY AGENDA", THEY DON'T EVEN CARE ABOUT PLOT OR A GOID STORY ANYMORE, IT'S ALL JUST PANDERING" (Tweet). Archived from the original on August 13, 2020. Retrieved September 13, 2021 – via Twitter.
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  17. ^ Colaleo, Nico [@NicoColaleo] (November 6, 2019). "Adding production art to this thread! Fun tidbit: Back in Season 1 a bunch of fans liked to ship Rachael and Molly, and I thought it was so cute that I made it canon. Watch them throughout Season 2 - they are totally a couple :)" (Tweet). Archived from the original on November 7, 2019. Retrieved September 13, 2021 – via Twitter.
  18. ^ Ollie & Scoops [@OllieAndScoops] (October 22, 2020). "Ollie & Scoops Episode 7 is here! "Tutor Suitor" Ollie & Scoops decide to help out Miss.Bivvins when they find out she has trouble expressing herself towards another teacher at the school. #OllieAndScoops" (Tweet). Archived from the original on October 20, 2020. Retrieved January 30, 2021 – via Twitter.
  19. ^ Colaleo, Nico [@NicoColaleo] (October 22, 2020). "In this case, Miss Bivvins wanting to tell her crush how she feels. Miss B's tummy butterflies are the physical manifestation of her anxiety, and when she crushes that last one at the end of the episode, she's finally conquered it. Thanks again for watching" (Tweet). Archived from the original on October 23, 2020. Retrieved September 13, 2021 – via Twitter.
  20. ^ "About". Official My Pride The Series. November 24, 2020. Archived from the original on November 29, 2020. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
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  22. ^ Ahren, Raphael (July 29, 2008). "Lizzy the Lezzy invites you to sing with her". Haaretz. Haaretz. Archived from the original on May 13, 2011. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  23. ^ a b "The Dudette Next Door". Eddsworld. Season 1. Episode 10. June 21, 2007. YouTube. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
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  27. ^ Leth, Kate [@kateleth] (October 30, 2019). "Plum is bi and it's canon and I'm proud of her" (Tweet). Archived from the original on October 30, 2019. Retrieved August 5, 2020 – via Twitter.
  28. ^ a b Medrano, Vivienne [@vivziepop] (October 11, 2018). "Angel and Alastor are old men who don't understand anything anymore