Building on the progress in the 2010s, and anytime before, the 2020s held the promise of changing LGBTQ representation in animation in a significant way, especially when it came to Western animation. This went far and beyond anything in the 1990s or in the 2000s. In 2020 alone, the Steven Universe came to an end with the final episodes of Steven Universe Future,[1] as did She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, with its final season bringing the slow-burn lesbian romance of Catra and Adora full circle with their kiss saving the world (and universe) from destruction.[2] At the same time, shows such as Castlevania,[3] The Hollow,[4] DuckTales,[5] The Loud House,[6] Harley Quinn,[7] and Cleopatra in Space[8] featured LGBTQ characters while Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts premiered with a canon gay character named Benson.[9] In anime, Asteroid in Love,[10] Seton Academy: Join the Pack!,[11] and Interspecies Reviewers[12] included LGBTQ characters in their animations, as did My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! and Adachi to Shimamura.[13]

To see the list of LGBTQ characters in the 2020s, please read the List of animated series with LGBT characters page. For fictional characters in other parts of the LGBTQ community, see the lists of lesbian, trans, bisexual, non-binary, pansexual, asexual, and intersex characters.

Continued representation in anime shows

In the world of anime, there were a few series which included LGBTQ characters, all of which premiered in 2020. Asteroid in Love featured two protagonists (Mira and Ao) who want to discover an asteroid together[14][15] and have a friendship that develops into something that is more romantic.[16][17][10] Even in the show's ninth episode, Ao and Mira begin living together, continuing the low-key yuri romance.[18][19] On the other hand, Seton Academy: Join the Pack! featured two LGBTQ characters: a gay giraffe named Neku and an intersex, and possibly genderfluid, hyena named Iena Madaraba. While Neko tried to advance on the series protagonist, Jin, in two episodes,[20][21] Iena had a bigger role in the series, although still a secondary character. She is a spotted hyena with male genitalia and is confused about her true gender & sexuality, allowing others to refer her with either gender pronoun.[22][23] Some criticized the episodes about Iena to have "a wave of transphobic undertones"[24] and not portraying gender identity accurately,[25] although the same critic was satisified with the end of Iena's "gender arc."[26] Another series, a controversial adult sex comedy, due to the fact it is walking "the thin line of how explicit anime can be"[27] named Interspecies Reviewers included an intersex protagonist, an angel with a broken halo, named Crimvael, and a one-time lesbian character, Bina Banana, a film director who runs a lesbian succubus brothel in the city.[28] Crim, like Iena, has male and female genitalia.[29] but chooses to identify as male despite his feminine appearance because Stunk & Zel might try to do something perverted with him.[30] On T.H.E.M. Anime Reviews, Stig Høgset, noted that while Crim identifies as male, he has "sexual organs of both men and women," saying that he acts like this is the "standard for all angels," and has some enjoyable sexual experiences in the series.[12] Høgset further pointed out that the show is centered around "a group of men going around having sex with various girls in brothel-like settings," and writing about their experiences at these establishments.

In March of the same year, the voice actor Shiki Aoki for Idolm@ster, who voices Asuka Ninomiya, came out as a trans man, explaining how gender identity and sexual orientation are different.[31] He also stated that he identifies as pansexual (in the past he had identified as bisexual), his journey to discovering his gender identity, and noted the growing awareness of LGBTQ identities, although people continue to "feel uncertain about their identity," encouraging them to speak with him. Around the same time, The Daily Dot published an article talking about a Gender and Anime at Anime Boston in February 2020, noting that manga and anime have "a dearth of gender representation," with issues within Japanese culture itself, with crossdressing and genderqueer identity often made out to be a joke or a "trap" for the protagonist.[32] They further argued that Hourou Musako in Wandering Son is one of the "few sensitive portrayals of transgender characters out there," with one panelist calling it the "only true transgender anime in existence" and saying listeners should be "sensitive when discussing gender identity. Not long after, beginning in April, the episodes of My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom!, a fantasy-drama anime, began airing. The series follows a girl named Catarina Claes who was previously an otaku who "died in a past life" and enjoyed an otome game,[13] who amasses a bisexual harem pining for her as she tries to avoid being a villain and becomes very thoughtful.[33] This anime features two characters (Mary Hunt and Maria Campbell) have romantic feelings toward Catarina, after episode 2 for Mary[34] and after episode four for Maria.[35] In the show's eighth episode, Sophia confesses her love for Catarina and says they should move in together![36] In May of 2020, seven of the 10 spots of a "weekly favorite couple poll" by Anime Trending[37][38] were shipping characters with Catarina![39] The same month, voice actor Kouichi Yamadera, who voiced characters in Cowboy Bebop (Spike Spiegel), Dragon Ball Super (Beerus), and Lupin III (Koichi Zenigata) who had trended on Twitter when he created a meme about being a date with his boyfriend, made a video version of the same meme, which picked up "over 41,000 retweets and hundreds of amused comments from people impressed with how flamboyant Yamadera looks" as a gay voice actor.[40]

In October 2020, the romantic yuri anime titled Adachi to Shimamura will premiere on TV Tokyo. It will follow two close friends, Adachi and Hougetsu Shimamura, with Adachi wishing they were closer, even having "dreams of kissing Shimamura."[13] As such, the series, previously a yuri light novel series written by Hitoma Iruma, will focus on Adachi and Hougetsu falling in love.

Apart from these series, there are a number of other anime with similar themes. One of these was Tamayomi Baseball, adapted from a baseball manga series of the same name, which around centers Yomi Takeda, a pitcher, who reunites with her Tamaki Yamazaki, her childhood friend, and they fulfill their promise to each other as they start their baseball journeys, which aired from April to May 2020.[41][42] Other examples included Otherside Picnic,[43] directed by Takuya Satou who also directed Asagao to Kase-san,[42] with no exact date for a premiere, Vlad Love, a project of Mamoru Oshii,[44] with no premiere date set,[45] and Assault Lily: Bouquet[46] have similar themes. Others pointed out that in the second season of Kaguya-sama: Love is War two characters, Kaguya and Chika, got married in a board game,[47] and the protagonist, Eripiyo, of If My Favorite Pop Idol Made It to the Budokan, I Would Die is obsessed with her favorite idol,[48] a shy girl named Maina,[49] a show which aired from January to March 2020. In the latter show, Eriyipo, becomes obsessed with Maina Ichii, resulting in using almost all her money to buy Maina's merchandise.[50] Throughout the series, they clearly have feelings for each other, with Eripiyo saying she loves Maina on multiple occasions,[51] while Maina has feelings, but is more subdued in showing them.[52] Additionally, Reo and Sorane Matsuyama, members of the same idol group, may love each other.[53]

In 2021, Luminous Witches[54] created by Shaft, one of the best anime studios, and it may have yuri themes.[55][56]

LGBTQ characters: From Castlevania to Steven Universe Future

In Western animation, representation became more pronounced than before. Gay characters appeared in three shows in 2020: Taka in Castlevania,[3] Indy and Ty in DuckTales, slated as recurring characters in the show,[5] and Benson in Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts.[9] In the latter case, Benson said outright he was gay,[57] which is the reason he only liked the series protagonist, Kipo, in a platonic way, and attended a party with "cute boys" after being lulled into a fantasy world in the episode "Mulholland," and developed a crush on one of the boys who lives in the burrows in the show's 10th episode.[58] This is why some noted the show's "casual queerness."[59] One critic, Petrana Radulovic, described Benson's coming out scene as setting a precedent for future programming for all ages:

"Despite the fact that LGBTQ representation in all-ages programming is better than ever, no one has actually uttered the words 'I’m gay' in an all-ages animation series. While some shows feature characters in more prominent and explicitly queer relationships than others (Mr. Ratburn’s Gay Rat Wedding in Arthur, for instance, as well as Bow’s dads on She-Ra and the Princesses of Power), up until now, no character has actually come out to another...The highlights noted by GLAAD over the years emphasize worlds and settings where being in a gay relationship is not challenged or seen as something different...there’s a different effect to a character proclaiming 'I’m gay,' let alone a lead character...Benson’s coming out scene isn’t a big, tearful affair, but a quiet moment between two people who are close. The LGBTQ+ community knows you don’t just come out once, but over and over, to co-workers, to new friends, to prospective love interests. Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts gets that right."[60]

Apart from these shows, The Loud House featured a lesbian character named Lainey dating a girl named Alice,[6] Q-Force promised to be an animated comedy series that will focus on the adventures of a handsome secret agent and "his team of fellow LGBTQ super-spies",[61] and the animated series, Harley Quinn, Clayface, a member of Harley Quinn's villain crew,[62] was a gay character, having a crush on a male student named Chad.[63] The lauded show, Steven Universe aired the last episode of its limited epilogue series, Steven Universe Future, on March 27, 2020 with the airing of a four-part finale, with ideas about the series dating back to drawings in 2013.[1] Sugar argued that the series made a point about shoune anime and kids cartoons, with the aftermath of victories generally not explored, stating that the series explores the aftermath of the victory in the Season 5 finale, with the protagonist, Steven, having to face his problems head-on.[1][64][65] The series showed a character, Bismuth, have a crush on another character (Pearl) in the episode "Bismuth Casual."[66] The same year, a storyboarder for the show stated that Peridot was asexual and aromantic,[67] despite her reservations that she is only a secondary creator on the show,[68] pleasing fans, even though she said that she didn't believe Peridot was autistic.[69][70] Before (and after this point) fans had shipped Peridot with various other characters, specifically Lapis Lazuli and Amethyst, some reviewers even seeing Peridot and Lapis in a "close, loving relationship" in 2018.[71]

When Steven Universe Future ended, with Sugar saying she is going to take a break from the characters,[72] some said that shows like She-Ra and the Princesses of Power would continue moving forward LGBTQ representation in animation.[73] For her part, the series creator of She-Ra, Noelle Stevenson, stated that she is interested in "telling central queer stories," with queer characters just as supporting characters, but having stories built around them, adding that there is still progress to go on that front, while acknowledging the strides are "in no small part due to Steven Universe."[73] Others hoped for "more queer-friendly animated shows" like Steven Universe in the future[74] and described Sugar as the "guiding force behind bringing LGBTQ+ visibility to children’s cartoons" from 2010 to 2020.[75] This representation manifested itself in the 18th episode of the animated series Cleopatra in Space which introduces the two moms of Akila, friend of series protagonist, Cleopatra ("Cleo").[8] These moms, Theoda and Pothina, work as scholars, use dated social expressions, and love their daughter. The same year, an episode of Clifford the Big Red Dog, "The Big Red Tomato", featured the two moms of the character Samantha Mulberry (Dr. and Ms. Mulberry)[76] and the Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum series aired a special titled "I Am Madam President" which, among other aspects, highlighted LGBTQ+ astronaut Sally Ride.[77]

She-Ra's final season and LGBTQ representation

On May 15, 2020, what people have said about She-Ra and the Princesses of Power came to pass when the final season of Steven's show premiered on Netflix. The stakes were higher than ever before, with more danger than the previous season, according to Stevenson, as the season has "a core of optimism to it" with the characters discovering who "they are and following the path that each of them has."[78] Before the show premiered, Mey Rude, who has reviewed the show, said that it is "changing animation, television, and lives for the better"[79] and stated that She-Ra has and "will continue to be the catalyst for self discovery for countless queer people."[80] In an interview with Nerdist, Stevenson said that she wanted to represent points of view not usually seen in media, trying to explore them while being as "honest and as real as possible," adding that while crafting queer representation is different from "studio to studio, show to show," recommending that people who want such representation have to approach it "without any fear," saying that sometimes people hold back because they are scared, and called for increased LGBTQ representation.[81] She hoped that the show would inspire people to create "more queer relationships and characters who are textually queer," and that it inspires people in their lives as a whole. She echoed this in a later tweet, remarking that she hoped that in the future people stop thinking of LGBTQ representation "as a race or a contest and more as a community effort to uplift voices that have not yet had their stories told," adding that every piece of media is a broadening of horizons, not an endpoint.[82] In another interview, she made the argument that having characters who are incidental to the story, and have a "central and somewhat ambiguous, slow unfolding of a relationship," with the latter much tougher, arguing that it not time at the present for queer characters to die because that has been the norm for a while.[83] In terms of the show itself, the final season confirmed Rogelio and Kyle as gay characters[84] included scenes of a married lesbian couple (Netossa and Spinnerella), the two dads (George and Lance)[85] of series protagonist, Bow, and an episode with a major focus on Double Trouble,[86] a non-binary character. Most prominently, however, the slow-burn romance[87] of Catra and Adora came to a pinnacle, with both confessing their love toward each other and kissing one another in the series finale, with their love saving the universe.[2][83] Stevenson stated that while this romance was something she had planned from the show's conception, she wasn't sure how overt she could be, playing it sensitively at the beginning,[88] waiting for the right moment, laying the groundwork for the final season, with the slow-burn romance ultimately approved, and was glad she could finally talk about it, having it be central to the final season in "a very, very textually romantic way."[81][83] She implied influence of Steven Universe on the show,[89] while confirming the Bow/Glimmer, and Scorpia/Perfuma, and Entrapta/Hordak relationships, while noting she fought hard for the Catra/Adora pairing during the show's development.[90][91] At the same time, in one interview she noted that while the show focuses on humanizing villains like Hordak, that Horde Prime represents someone who cannot be redeemed, with redemption as a choice, and open-ended nature of the final episode.[88] She further stated that she based Horde Prime on suicidal cult leaders and Christian fundamentalists as many of his phrases feel "like they’re lifted straight out of religious sermons and songs," with megachurches used as a model for "designing Horde Prime’s spaceship."[92] In an interview with GLAAD’s Raina Deerwater she talked about queer representation in animation, situating her show with others like Legend of Korra and Steven Universe, noting that young fandom is expecting "nothing less than a variety of solid queer representation and central queer characters," calling it inspiring, and noting challenges that lay ahead.[93] When talking with Entertainment Weekly she told Christian Holub that she hoped that She-Ra would continue to pave the way, saying she hopes it will be easier to have "romances and relationships that are constant throughout the show" without it taking suspense out of the show itself.[94]

Furthermore, Stevenson talked to Gizmodo about the Catra/Adora relationship, shipping, and LGBTQ relationships in fiction:

"It’s kind of bothered me in the past when it comes to two characters who are gay or queer in a queer relationship, or are theorized to be in a queer relationship. And the way that it always seems to come down, the way it’s covered, that it is a shipping thing? Or it is something that, you know, bored kids on the internet do that’s not real—or it doesn’t have real merit and real value and real storytelling and meaning. That always seems to be the conversation around gay characters because it’s like, ‘Oh, I want these two characters to kiss. I ship them!’ Which is great. I love the fandom that is passionate about these things. But for me, I was like, why can’t it be a relationship that is central to the plot, a romance that is central to the plot. The way that so many straight characters have gotten to be, without it being the end-all-be-all...to actually see it [the Catra-Adora romance] be a central part of the plot and to fulfill the arcs of the characters in a way that felt satisfying. I really want to take it beyond ‘Oh, the shippers got what they want.’ Like, it’s not just a ship for me. It is a plot point. It is the necessary conclusion of each character’s arc, separate and together...I’m looking forward to seeing how that conversation evolves, and what it looks like in the next show and the next movie and the next story and the one after that. What can we ask for? What can we look for and what can we imagine for ourselves and for others that are represented on our screens and in our stories? And I’m excited for what that conversation will be."[95]

Some reviewers praised the series on its character development, plotlines, redemption arc for Catra, the screen time for Entrapta, hilarious moments, the interactions between Netossa and Spinnerella, and wrapping up existing character arcs.[96] Others said that the sendoff of the series is satisfying, with Catra portrayed as a victim of trauma, with her past straining her relations with Adora, with the message that nothing can overpower "the collective power of friendship, love, and solid storytelling."[97] A review on The Mary Sue stated that the show's final season hammers home the message of love, compassion, and sttength, even with an emphasis on forgiveness and allowing those who wish to be redeemed the space to change, like Steven Universe, although none of the pain caused is erased, and noted the lesbian marriage (between Netossa and Spinnerella), the two "queer leads" (Adora and Catra), non-binary characters, and many other forms of representation.[98] The same review made the argument that in the last ten years, LGBTQ television for children has changed to the extend that going backward isn't an option, with shows like She-Ra leading the way. Some stated that the series ends on a powerful note, with the final season "packed with big queer energy," with lesbian love literally saving the universe in the series finale, praising the finale season for putting "LGBT+ characters front and centre with a finale that does justice to its fans."[99] At the same time, reviewers said that the kiss between Adora and Catra would change TV forever.[2] Three reviewers for Autostraddle, Valerie Anne, Meg Jones Wall, and Heather Hogan, reviewed the show's final season, calling it a "literally perfect season of television", the friendship between Scorpia and Perfuma, the hilarious moments, and Entrapta coming more out of her shell.[100] They further pointed to Catra's redemption arc, the focus on Netossa and Spinnerella, and called the Catra/Adora relationship one of the best "queer couple storylines." Tracy Brown of the Los Angeles Times noted that Etheria is a planet without restrictions on gender and no hetereonormativity, adding that the final season actualized the "central queer love story," thrilled to see Catra and Adora admit their love for each other, surprised by it only because she "didn’t expect to be able to see a story like theirs unfold on a kids’ cartoon — at least not yet," going beyond what she called "ambiguous queer undertones," and said that she considers the TV show that lets all kids, especially those are queer, realize that "being honest about their feelings can make them a hero is as exciting as it is important."[101] Thomas Bacon of ScreenRant echoed this sentiment by saying that while the She-Ra franchise has always had "queer undertones," the queer romance between Adora and Catra is now canon, adding to the "lesbian relationship between the princesses Netossa and Spinnerella, and the nonbinary character Double Trouble," with the queer love between Adora and Catra becoming central, with their love saving the universe itself.[102] He described the show as bold and a "flagship show for queer representation," with nothing like it ever before, and hoped the show will "become a trend-setter." Adding to this was the review by Emmet Asher-Perrin on Tor.com, argues that Catra has an inferiority complex like Loki in Marvel Cinematic Universe films and the current "master" in the Doctor Who series, noting that while Catra becomes a villain originally, but after she realizes this makes her unhappy, she switches sides, saves Glimmer, and Adora rescues her from Horde Prime, noting that Catra stood in front of the girl she loved, confessing her feelings.[103] Another commentary, by Raina Deerwater of GLAAD in The Advocate, stated that the center of the show is a "relationship between two women" (Adora and Catra), with the dynamic between then driving the entire series, comparing the show to Killing Eve while noting shows like The Legend of Korra, Adventure Time, and Steven Universe also having central queer romances, and citing GLAAD's Where We Are on TV reports to talk about LGBTQ representation in popular media.[104] Deerwater also describes Adora and Catra as "undisputedly gay," with their kiss in the final episode making it clear that the show was a love story, with the title characters of both She-Ra and Killing Eve likely getting "to live their full queerness" following the series finales of both shows, while remaining optimistic about more representation going forward.

Beyond She-Ra: Expanded representation

In 2020, a number of other shows featured LGBTQ characters. One of these was The Hollow. On May 8, the show's second season premiered on Netflix. The second episode of that season, titled "Hollow Games," featured one of the show's protagonists, a Hispanic boy named Adam, was revealed to homosexual, saying that Mira, a female protagonist, is "not his type."[4] Prior to this, in the trailer for Season 2 the LGBT pride flag was seen in his room, leading some fans to speculate he was gay.[105] Some critics stated that while this was somewhat clear in season one, but that there is little or no "romantic entanglement" for the show's characters in the show's second season, with the show focusing on "difficult and dramatic friendships" instead.[4] The same year, in an episode of Harley Quinn, "There’s No Place to Go But Down," Harley Quinn saved her partner-in-crime, Poison Ivy, both kissed each other after they escaped from prison.[7] The critic who reviewed the episode stated that Harley and Poison's romance is "slow burn" one, adding that this love affair could turn into a "more realistic exploration of how it feels to fall in love with a friend or to have an awkward hookup with a workmate." Another reviewer, Sophie Perry, writing for a lesbian lifestyle magazine, Curve, noted how queerbaiting has long endured in LGBTQ representation, noting how She-Ra and Harley Quinn both had same-sex kisses, happening within stories which could have turned out to be "typical queerbaiting" but did not.[106] Perry added that the "queer conclusion" of the show is thanks to Noelle Stevenson, describing it as very different from the conclusion of The Legend of Korra which confirmed Korra and Asami’s relationship but left it "purposefully ambiguous" so it could air on a children’s network. She concluded by calling She-Ra culturally significant, and added that as more creative queer people come to the fore, inevitably queerbaiting will "become a thing of the past." On May 24, the voice actress for Blake Beladonna in RWBY, Arryn Zech, confirmed that Blake is bisexual, with the other cast members concurring with her assessment.[107] Blake previously had a relationship with the abusive Adam Taurus,[108] which Ilia implied as romantic in the episode "Alone Together" even though these feelings have since faded away.[109] She gets along well with her teammate, Yang Xiao Long, beginning in earnest with the episode, "Burning the Candle"[110] and also exemplified by both holding hands in the season 3 finale.[111] Blake and Yang also fight against Adam together in the episodes "The Lady in the Shoe"[112] and "Seeing Red,"[113] with Blake stating she will always be Yang's side. After the battle, and Adam's death, Yang and Blake embrace, and their foreheads touch each other,[114] and in later episodes Blake sleeps in Yang's lap[115] and goes to a dance with her.[116] Blake also shows closeness to Sun Wukong, taking him to a school dance,[110] develops a crush on him,[117] and gives him a goodbye kiss, on the cheek, in the first episode of volume 6.[118]

On June 12, 2020, the second season of Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts began streaming on Netflix. Some reviewers described it as being colorful and funny, with its diversity allowing it comment on sexuality, race, and class, combining the world-building in Avatar: The Last Airbender and the inclusivity, and heart, of a show like Steven Universe.[119] Others argued that Kipo, like the "fellow empath Steven Universe," attempts to talk antagonists about their feelings.[120] or noted that the show explores "burgeoning same-sex relationships in a positive manner," referring to the relations between Benson and Troy.[121] Later that month, the series creator of Kipo, Radford "Rad" Sechrist, when asked by a fan about Asher's gender, said that Asher is non-binary and uses they/them pronouns.[122]

Also in June 2020, Nickelodeon promoted LGBTQ+ characters in their shows, highlighting Spongebob Squarepants and The Legend of Korra.[123] While some said this "proved" that Spongebob was gay, Stephen Hillenberg, back in 2005, said he considered Spongebob to be asexual, with one writer for Out writing "it's important to realize that those who are asexual are queer as well and are just as welcome to dawn rainbows and celebrate Pride this month."[124]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Baron, Reuben (March 27, 2020). "It's Over, Isn't It?: Rebecca Sugar on the End of Steven Universe". Comic Book Resources. Valent, Inc. Archived from the original on March 29, 2020. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c Opie, David (May 15, 2020). "She-Ra's season 5 finale just changed TV forever with a groundbreaking moment". Digital Spy. Hearst Communications. Archived from the original on May 16, 2020. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  3. ^ a b "The Reparation of My Heart". Castlevania. Season 3. Episode 2. March 5, 2020. Netflix. This episode introduces Taka, a gay character.
  4. ^ a b c Trumbore, Dave (May 8, 2020). "'The Hollow' Season 2 Review: Netflix's Underrated Animated Series Levels Up". Collider (website). Collider, Inc. Archived from the original on May 8, 2020. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  5. ^ a b Morrison, Matt (April 4, 2020). "DuckTales Season 3 Reveals Violet Has Two Dads". Screen Rant. Valnet Inc. Archived from the original on April 10, 2020. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  6. ^ a b "Singled Out". The Loud House. Season 4. Episode 155. February 12, 2020. Nickelodeon. The episode features a lesbian character named Lainey dating a girl named Alice.
  7. ^ a b Knight, Rosie (May 15, 2020). "Harley Quinn Season 2 Episode 7 Review: There's No Place to Go But Down". Den of Geek. Den of Geek World Ltd. Archived from the original on May 16, 2020. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  8. ^ a b "Vacation". Cleopatra in Space. Season 1. Episode 18. April 10, 2020. Teletoon+. The release dates of this show are different depending on where it was released. The release date on Polish television was used here. This episode introduces the two moms of Akila, Theoda and Pothina, friend of series protagonist, Cleopatra ("Cleo") who work as scholars, use dated social expressions, and love their daughter.
  9. ^ a b Duffy, Nick (January 16, 2020). "Netflix's new animated series Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts features a beautiful coming out moment". PinkNews. PinkNews Group. Archived from the original on January 27, 2020. Retrieved April 22, 2020. ((cite web)): |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; January 17, 2020 suggested (help)
  10. ^ a b Liu, Michelle; Pfeiffer, Andy (January 30, 2020). "This Week in Anime: Is Asteroid in Love Worth Watching?". Anime News Network. Anime News Network. Archived from the original on February 25, 2020. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  11. ^ This animation features a gay giraffe and an intersex (and possibly genderfluid) hyena.
  12. ^ a b Høgset, Stig (2020). "Interspecies Reviewers". T.H.E.M. Anime Reviews. T.H.E.M. Anime. Archived from the original on May 6, 2020. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  13. ^ a b c Jones, Isiah (December 5, 2019). "10 Must-Watch Anime Coming In 2020". Comic Book Resources. Valnet Inc. Archived from the original on December 6, 2019. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  14. ^ "Two Promises Synopsis". Official Asteroid in Love website. Quro. January 27, 2020. Archived from the original on February 15, 2020. Retrieved January 27, 2020.In the translated version of this page, it says "Konohata, who entered high school, was shocked when the astronomical club, which she had decided to enter, was gone. Mira had a dream of "discovering an asteroid" that she promised to a young person...Waiting for Mira in the clubroom were three unique seniors and another..."
  15. ^ "Anime Winter Season 2020: Final Thoughts". Yuri Reviews. April 1, 2020. Archived from the original on May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  16. ^ "Memories Are Treasures!". Asteroid in Love. Episode 3. January 17, 2020. AT-X.
  17. ^ "Remember the Memories Synopsis". Official Asteroid in Love website. Quro. January 27, 2020. Archived from the original on April 5, 2020. Retrieved January 27, 2020.In the translated version of this page, it says that Mira and Ao have a "study session with Mira's older sister [and]...experience their first part-time job at a tin bakery" while noting that "the two go out on a "station-side date" with their first part-time job fee, and see Suzu and Ino walking side by side. Surprised by the surprising combination, she secretly chase after them.
  18. ^ "True Feelings". Asteroid in Love. Episode 9. March 6, 2020. AT-X.
  19. ^ Beckett, James (January 4, 2020). "The Winter 2020 Anime Preview Guide: Asteroid in Love". Anime News Network. Anime News Network. Archived from the original on April 1, 2020. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  20. ^ "The Beach Bard". Seton Academy: Join the Pack!. Episode 8. February 25, 2020. Tokyo MX.
  21. ^ "A Gentle Savage". Seton Academy: Join the Pack!. Episode 10. March 10, 2020. Tokyo MX.
  22. ^ "The Wild Habits of a Troubled Animal". Seton Academy: Join the Pack!. Episode 7. February 18, 2020. Tokyo MX.
  23. ^ In the official episode description, a translation says "What is masculinity and femininity? I want to hit Hitomi-chan as it is without being swayed by such a thing! If you have a strong feeling and an unbreakable heart, you can overcome any wall! I want to say, but it's a tantrum. Because you are trying to get over it, you're a kuso hyena and a xoratelle." Also, the official character list has a description for him (斑刃 イエナ役), but it is in a form that cannot be currently translated.
  24. ^ Doyle, Matt (January 29, 2020). "Murenase! Seton Gakuen Episode 4 [Anime Review]". Matt Doyle Media. Matt Doyle Media. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  25. ^ Doyle, Matt (February 4, 2020). "Murenase! Seton Gakuen Episode 5 [Anime Review]". Matt Doyle Media. Matt Doyle Media. Archived from the original on March 5, 2020. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  26. ^ Doyle, Matt (February 18, 2020). "Murenase! Seton Gakuen Episode 7 [Anime Review]". Matt Doyle Media. Matt Doyle Media. Archived from the original on February 21, 2020. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  27. ^ Jones, Isiah (February 18, 2020). "The 10 Most Anticipated Comedy Anime of 2020". Comic Book Resources. Valnet Inc. Archived from the original on February 19, 2020. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  28. ^ "A Deep, Dark Something Lies Between the Living and the Dead, The Darling Angel's Lotion Explosion, and the Uncouth, Unsanctioned Reviewer Rivals Are In Their Scene!". Interspecies Reviewers. Season 1. Episode 8. March 7, 2020. AT-X.
  29. ^ ""Let Your Eyes Behold the Glory and Mysery of the Brothel with a Perfect Score! Take a Newlywed of a Horny Tutor or a Little Piggie as Your Lover! They'll Squeeze, Squeeze, Squeez It Outta Ya! Infinite Pleasure Over a Satisfying Three-Day Excursion! True Happiness Awaits!!!". Interspecies Reviewers. Episode 10. March 14, 2020. AT-X.
  30. ^ "A Hot 'n Heavy Debate About Elf and Human MILFS, An Angel Ascends at Meow Meow Paradise, Can't Get Enough of That Sensitive Birdmaid Cloaca!". Interspecies Reviewers. Episode 1. January 11, 2020. AT-X.
  31. ^ Morrisy, Kim (March 7, 2020). "Idolm@ster Voice Actor Shiki Aoki Comes Out as Transgender Man". Anime News Network. Anime News Network. Archived from the original on March 7, 2020. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  32. ^ Romano, Aja (March 2, 2020). "When it comes to transgender representation, anime has room to grow". The Daily Dot. The Daily Dot, LLC. Archived from the original on June 27, 2019. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  33. ^ Jones, Steve; Dupree, Nicholas (May 28, 2020). "The Sweet Life of Villainess Catarina Claes". Anime News Network. Anime News Network. Archived from the original on May 28, 2020. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  34. ^ "A Prince Challenged Me To a Fight...". My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom!. Episode 2. April 11, 2020. Tokyo MX.
  35. ^ "I Enrolled in the Magic Academy...". My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom!. Episode 4. April 25, 2020. Tokyo MX.
  36. ^ Beckett, James (May 27, 2020). "My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! Episode 8". Anime News Network. Anime News Network. Archived from the original on May 28, 2020. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  37. ^ Morrissy, Kim (May 27, 2020). "My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! Anime Dominates Anime Trending's Couple Polls". Anime News Network. Anime News Network. Archived from the original on May 28, 2020. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  38. ^ Anime Trending [@AniTrendz] (May 7, 2020). "Madlads, Here are your TOP 10 COUPLE-SHIPS for Week#4 of Spring 2020 🔥 Vote: http://atani.me/voteship" (Tweet). Archived from the original on May 28, 2020. Retrieved May 28, 2020 – via Twitter.
  39. ^ Specifically Maria and Catarina, Mary and Catarina, Sophia and Catarina, Keith and Catarina, Gerald and Catarina, Alan and Catarina, Nicole and Catarina.
  40. ^ Morrisy, Kim (May 27, 2020). "Voice Actor Kouichi Yamadera Kicks Off 'Drinking With Boyfriend' Video Meme". Anime News Network. Anime News Network. Archived from the original on May 28, 2020. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  41. ^ Mateo, Alex (February 14, 2020). "Tamayomi Baseball Anime's Teaser Promo Video Streamed". Anime News Network. Anime News Network. Archived from the original on February 15, 2020. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  42. ^ a b "Yuri News Update: March 2020". Yuri Reviews. March 11, 2020. Archived from the original on April 2, 2020. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  43. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (March 5, 2020). "Otherside Picnic Sci-Fi Yuri Novels Get TV Anime". Anime News Network. Anime News Network. Archived from the original on March 26, 2020. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  44. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (March 3, 2020). "Mamoru Oshii's Vladlove Anime Unveils Key Visual, Character Visuals". Anime News Network. Anime News Network. Archived from the original on March 3, 2020. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  45. ^ Sherman, Jennifer (May 8, 2020). "Mamoru Oshii's VladLove Anime Delayed Due to COVID-19". Anime News Network. Anime News Network. Archived from the original on May 13, 2020. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  46. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (March 6, 2020). "Assault Lily Bouquet Anime's 2nd Teaser Video Previews Theme Song". Anime News Network. Anime News Network. Archived from the original on March 20, 2020. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  47. ^ "Anime Spring Season 2020: First Impressions". Yuri Reviews. April 15, 2020. Archived from the original on May 11, 2020. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  48. ^ "Anime Review: Oshi ga Budoukan Ittekuretara Shinu". Yuri Reviews. April 22, 2020. Archived from the original on May 8, 2020. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  49. ^ Sherman, Jennifer (May 17, 2018). "Oshi ga Budōkan Ittekuretara Shinu Manga Gets Anime". Anime News Network. Anime News Network. Archived from the original on July 5, 2019. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  50. ^ Sherman, Jennifer (October 10, 2019). "'If My Favorite Pop Idol Made it to the Budokan, I Would Die' Anime's Video Reveals Hina Tachibana as Maina". Anime News Network. Anime News Network. Archived from the original on March 7, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  51. ^ See, for example, episodes 3, 6, 9, and 12
  52. ^ See specifically episode 2, 5, 8, and 12.
  53. ^ Reo expresses this to Sorane in episode 6, while they have a forehead kiss in episode 10, hold each other's hands in episode 11, and in episode 12, she says she loves her.
  54. ^ The full name is "Allied Air Force Magical Idols Luminous Witches" or "Renmei Kūgun Kōkū Mahō Ongakutai Luminous Witches"
  55. ^ "Yuri News Update: May 2020". Yuri Reviews. May 24, 2020. Archived from the original on May 6, 2020. Retrieved May 24, 2020. ((cite web)): |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; May 24, 2020 suggested (help)
  56. ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (April 9, 2020). "Luminous Witches Anime's Promo Video Reveals Animation Studio SHAFT". Anime News Network. Anime News Network. Archived from the original on April 12, 2020. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  57. ^ "Ratland". Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts. Episode 6. January 14, 2020. Netflix.
  58. ^ "Beyond the Valley of the Dog". Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts. Episode 10. January 14, 2020. Netflix.
  59. ^ Pulliam-Moore, Charles (January 23, 2020). "Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts' Casual Queerness Is Fantastic". io9. G/O Media. Archived from the original on January 24, 2020. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
  60. ^ Radulovic, Petrana (January 19, 2020). "Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts treats coming out like just another part of life". Polygon. Vox Media. Archived from the original on April 4, 2020. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  61. ^ Thorne, Will (April 4, 2019). "Netflix Orders Adult Animated Series 'Q-Force' From Mike Schur, Gabe Liedman". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on April 5, 2019. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
  62. ^ West, Amy (April 14, 2020). "Harley Quinn series reveals major Batman villain is queer". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Archived from the original on April 15, 2020. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  63. ^ Matadeen, Renaldo (April 13, 2020). "DC Universe's Harley Quinn Reveals a Major Batman Villain Is Gay". Comic Book Resources. Valnet Inc. Archived from the original on April 14, 2020. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  64. ^ Brown, Tracy (March 27, 2020). "'What would Steven want?' Rebecca Sugar breaks down 'Steven Universe Future' finale". TVLine. TVLine Media, LLC. Archived from the original on April 16, 2020. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  65. ^ Duffy, Nick (January 17, 2020). "Netflix's new animated series Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts features a beautiful coming out moment". PinkNews. PinkNews Group. Archived from the original on January 27, 2020. Retrieved April 22, 2020. ((cite web)): |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; January 17, 2020 suggested (help)
  66. ^ "Bismuth Casual". Steven Universe Future. Episode 12. March 6, 2020. Cartoon Network.
  67. ^ Peterson, Maya [@rrn_tweet] (March 1, 2020). "Word of Saint Paul, I know, but if it hasn't been said by now, Peridot's sendoff episode, it probably never will be said. Peridot's interest in shipping and romance is anthropological, and she's not about fusion. She's the ace and aro rep" (Tweet). Archived from the original on May 14, 2020. Retrieved April 5, 2020 – via Twitter. ((cite web)): |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; May 15, 2020 suggested (help); ((Cite tweet)): |date= / |number= mismatch (help)
  68. ^ Peterson, Maya [@rrn_tweet] (March 11, 2020). "It means whatever I say is not Word of God, the ultimate authority. As a secondary creator involved in the show, what I say is true of conversations I was in the room for and took part in, but can be negated or clarified by a higher authority" (Tweet). Archived from the original on May 14, 2020. Retrieved April 5, 2020 – via Twitter. ((cite web)): |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; May 15, 2020 suggested (help)
  69. ^ Peterson, Maya [@rr_tweet] (March 11, 2020). "I know many people read that in her, but not as far as I know. It doesn't mean she's not! Just that the topic hasn't ever come up in my period of employment. But then again, I would think it'd be an important point of discussion for this past ep" (Tweet). Archived from the original on May 14, 2020. Retrieved April 5, 2020 – via Twitter. ((cite web)): |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; May 15, 2020 suggested (help) In response to the question "Since that’s Peridot’s send off, could you plz confirm if Peridot really is coded autistic as many fans have interpreted?"
  70. ^ Baron, Reuben (March 14, 2020). "Steven Universe: A Crystal Gem Is Confirmed As Asexual". CBR. Valnet Inc. Archived from the original on March 15, 2020. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  71. ^ Alptraum, Lux (July 9, 2018). "Steven Universe's message of love is emphatically queer". Polygon. Vox Media. Archived from the original on July 31, 2018. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  72. ^ Robinson, Tasha (March 27, 2020). "The reason Rebecca Sugar made Steven Universe Future, and why it's the actual end". Polygon (website). Vox Media. Archived from the original on April 7, 2020. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  73. ^ a b Romano, Nick (March 27, 2020). "The legacy of Steven Universe: How a hidden gem changed animation forever". Entertainment Weekly. Meredith Corporation. Archived from the original on March 28, 2020. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  74. ^ Kirichanskaya, Michele (February 7, 2020). "Steven Universe, She-Ra, & Voltron: LGBTQIA+ Successes, Failures, and Hopes for the Future in Children's Animation". The Mary Sue. Abrams Media. Archived from the original on March 21, 2020. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
  75. ^ Mention, Bry'onna (Winter 2020). "Rebecca Sugar Talks "Steven Universe" Success, Queer Visibility In Children's Cartoons, and Own Non-Binary Identity". Bust (magazine). ViacomCBS Domestic Media Networks. Archived from the original on March 28, 2020. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  76. ^ Kiley, Rachel (February 26, 2020). "One Million Moms Slams Clifford the Big Red Dog For Lesbian Moms". pride.com. Here Media. Archived from the original on April 19, 2020. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  77. ^ "Xavier Riddle and the Secret Movie: I Am Madam President". Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum. Season 1. Episode TV Special. March 26, 2020. PBS Kids.
  78. ^ Bishop, Rollin (May 13, 2020). "She-Ra and the Princesses of Power: Noelle Stevenson on the Upcoming Season, Favorite Scenes, and Ending the Show". comicbook.com. ComicBook, LLC. Archived from the original on May 14, 2020. Retrieved May 13, 2020. ((cite web)): |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; May 15, 2020 suggested (help)
  79. ^ Rude, Mey [@meyrude] (May 14, 2020). "the final season of @DreamWorksSheRa premieres on netflix tonight and i am exploding with pride and joy and awe and love for noelle!!! this show is simply incredible and is changing animation, television, and lives for the better. thank you noelle and everyone who worked on it" (Tweet). Archived from the original on May 14, 2020. Retrieved May 14, 2020 – via Twitter. ((cite web)): |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; May 15, 2020 suggested (help)
  80. ^ Rude, Mey [@meyrude] (May 14, 2020). "it's not an exaggeration to say that #shera has and will continue to be the catalyst for self discovery for countless queer people. it's amazing the good work this show is doing and ALL the people who made it are doing. @Kate_Farina @RianSygh god you too i'm so proud of you!!" (Tweet). Archived from the original on May 14, 2020. Retrieved May 14, 2020 – via Twitter. ((cite web)): |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; May 15, 2020 suggested (help)
  81. ^ a b Knight, Rosie (May 15, 2020). "Noelle Stevenson on the Legacy of SHE-RA". Nerdist News. Nerdist Industries. Archived from the original on May 15, 2020. Retrieved May 16, 2020. ((cite web)): |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; May 16, 2020 suggested (help)
  82. ^ Stevenson, Noelle [@Gingerhazing] (May 18, 2020). "My hope for the future of LGBT representation is that we stop thinking of it as a race or a contest and more as a community effort to uplift voices that have not yet had their stories told. Each individual piece of media is not an endpoint, it's a broadening of horizons" (Tweet). Archived from the original on May 18, 2020. Retrieved May 18, 2020 – via Twitter. She followed this up by saying "keep talking, keep listening. I’m listening. It makes a difference."
  83. ^ a b c Brown, Tracy (May 15, 2020). "Once 'so secret,' a queer Netflix series finally puts all its cards on the table". Los Angeles Times. Nant Capital. Archived from the original on May 15, 2020. Retrieved May 16, 2020. ((cite web)): |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; May 16, 2020 suggested (help)
  84. ^ "Stranded". She-Ra and the Princesses of Power. Season 5. Episode 4. August 2, 2019. Netflix. In this episode, Scorpia tells Swift Wind that Kyle has a crush on Rogelio before cutting herself off.
  85. ^ They make a brief appearance in episode "Return to the Fright Zone" in the show's final season.
  86. ^ In the episode "Perils of Peekablue," Double Trouble reappears, posing as "Peekablue," a male prince
  87. ^ Bustle defines a slow burn as a "romance novel that focuses on a character-driven love story where that relationship takes some time to develop," with the same applying to animation.
  88. ^ a b Zachary, Brandon (May 17, 2020). "We Must Be Brave: Noelle Stevenson On She-Ra's Finale, Hordak And THAT Kiss". Comic Book Resources. Valnet Inc. Archived from the original on May 18, 2020. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  89. ^ In the A.V. Club interview she said they wanted to create a pink lion of Catra named Claudine but didn't because its design was "pretty much identical to the pink lion from Steven Universe" so they chose Melog (from the original She-Ra series) as a "therapy animal" for Catra.
  90. ^ Gomez, Patrick (May 16, 2020). ""Do I read this as platonic or romantic?": Behind the scenes of the epic She-Ra finale". The A.V. Club. G/O Media. Archived from the original on May 16, 2020. Retrieved May 16, 2020. ((cite web)): |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; May 17, 2020 suggested (help)
  91. ^ Trumbore, Dave (May 16, 2020). "'She-Ra' Season 5 Spoilers Explained by Showrunner Noelle Stevenson". Collider (website). Marc Fernandez. Archived from the original on May 16, 2020. Retrieved May 16, 2020. ((cite web)): |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; May 17, 2020 suggested (help)
  92. ^ Radulovic, Petrana (May 20, 2020). "She-Ra's final villain was modeled after real cult leaders". Polygon (website). Vox Media. Archived from the original on May 21, 2020. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  93. ^ Deerwater, Raina (May 18, 2020). "EXCLUSIVE: 'She-Ra' creator Noelle Stevenson talks to GLAAD about the final season, queer representation in animation, and watching 'Killing Eve'". GLAAD. GLAAD. Archived from the original on May 19, 2020. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  94. ^ Holub, Christian (May 20, 2020). "She-Ra showrunner answers all our burning questions about the final season". Entertainment Weekly. Meredith Corporation. Archived from the original on May 21, 2020. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  95. ^ Elderkin, Beth (May 18, 2020). "She-Ra's Noelle Stevenson Tells Us How Difficult It Was to Bring Adora and Catra Home". Gizmodo. G/O Media. Archived from the original on May 19, 2020. Retrieved May 19, 2020. ((cite web)): |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; May 20, 2020 suggested (help)
  96. ^ Maleh, Linda (May 14, 2020). "Review: 'She-Ra And The Princesses Of Power' Season 5 Delivers A Powerful Finale". Forbes. Forbes Media, LLC. Archived from the original on May 14, 2020. Retrieved May 14, 2020. ((cite web)): |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; May 15, 2020 suggested (help)
  97. ^ Miller, Shannon (May 14, 2020). "She-Ra And The Princesses Of Power finishes with more heart than ever". A.V. Club. G/O Media. Archived from the original on May 14, 2020. Retrieved May 13, 2020. ((cite web)): |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; May 15, 2020 suggested (help)
  98. ^ Weekes, Princess (May 13, 2020). "She-Ra's Final Season Delivers an Ending Filled With Love, Compassion, and Strength". The Mary Sue. Abrams Media. Archived from the original on May 14, 2020. Retrieved May 13, 2020. ((cite web)): |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; May 15, 2020 suggested (help)
  99. ^ Maurice, Emma Powys (May 15, 2020). "She-Ra returns to Netflix for its final season and – spoiler – 'everything is gay and getting gayer by the minute'". PinkNews. PinkNews Group. Archived from the original on May 15, 2020. Retrieved May 15, 2020. ((cite web)): |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; May 16, 2020 suggested (help)
  100. ^ Anne, Valerie; Jones Wall, Meg; Hogan, Heather (May 19, 2020). "She-Ra and the Princesses of Power's Final Season Gives The Gays Everything They Want". Autostraddle. The Excitant Group LLC. Archived from the original on May 19, 2020. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  101. ^ Brown, Tracy (May 18, 2020). "Commentary: 'She-Ra' rewrote the script for TV's queer love stories. Here's why it matters". Los Angeles Times. Nant Capital. Archived from the original on May 19, 2020. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  102. ^ Bacon, Thomas (May 19, 2020). "She-Ra Season 5 Makes Lesbian Relationship Canon". ScreenRant. Valnet, Inc. Archived from the original on May 20, 2020. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  103. ^ Asher-Perrin, Emmet (May 20, 2020). "Love Can't Make You a Villain: How She-Ra's Catra Helped Make Sense of My Heart". Tor.com. Macmillan Publishers. Archived from the original on May 20, 2020. Retrieved May 20, 2020. ((cite web)): |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; May 21, 2020 suggested (help)
  104. ^ Deerwater, Raina (May 21, 2020). "On She-Ra and Killing Eve, Lesbian Subtext Drops the Sub". The Advocate. Pride Media. Archived from the original on May 27, 2020. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  105. ^ "The Hollow Season 2 Trailer - Netflix Futures". YouTube. April 24, 2020. Archived from the original on May 8, 2020. Retrieved May 8, 2020. The gay flag is pictured seconds into the video.
  106. ^ Perry, Sophia (May 22, 2020). "Is Queerbaiting Finally Being Put To Bed?". Curve. Avalon Media. Archived from the original on May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  107. ^ "Arryn Zech Confirms Blake is Bi??". The ModernCamEraGuy. YouTube. May 24, 2020. Archived from the original on May 25, 2020. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  108. ^ "Rooster Teeth RWBY Interview: PAX East 2013". The ModernCamEraGuy. YouTube. March 29, 2013. Archived from the original on June 23, 2016. Retrieved May 25, 2020. See conversation beginning at 9:42 in this video. Also see the Volume 3 Directors Commentary at 2:26:40 where he is called a "crazy, abusive ex-boyfriend"
  109. ^ "Alone Together". RWBY. Season 5. Episode 8. December 9, 2017. RoosterTeeth. 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.
  110. ^ a b "Burning the Candle". RWBY. Season 2. Episode 6. September 24, 2014. RoosterTeeth. This is the episode which started the "Bumbleby" (Blake/Yang) shipping.
  111. ^ "End of the Beginning". RWBY. Season 3. Episode 12. February 14, 2016. RoosterTeeth.
  112. ^ "The Lady in the Shoe". RWBY. Season 6. Episode 11. January 12, 2019. RoosterTeeth.
  113. ^ "Seeing Red". RWBY. Season 6. Episode 12. January 19, 2019. RoosterTeeth.
  114. ^ Zoe Ruderman argues in Cosmopolitan that "the number one clue that the newlyweds are totally in love is the forehead-on-forehead contact" while others like Richard Kronick cite it as an example of connecting with a partner.
  115. ^ "Sparks". RWBY. Season 7. Episode 5. November 30, 2019. RoosterTeeth.
  116. ^ "A Night Off". RWBY. Season 7. Episode 6. December 7, 2019. RoosterTeeth.
  117. ^ "New Challengers...". RWBY. Season 3. Episode 2. October 31, 2015. RoosterTeeth.
  118. ^ "Argus Limited". RWBY. Season 6. Episode 1. October 27, 2018. RoosterTeeth.
  119. ^ Weldon, Glen (June 12, 2020). "'Kipo And The Age Of Wonderbeasts' Returns, Weirder And Warmer Than Ever". NPR. Corporation of Public Broadcasting. Archived from the original on June 12, 2020. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
  120. ^ Di Placido, Dani (June 11, 2020). "Review: Season 2 Of Netflix's 'Kipo And The Age Of Wonderbeasts' Provides Plenty Of Post-Apocalyptic Escapism". Forbes. Forbes Media, LLC. Archived from the original on June 12, 2020. Retrieved June 12, 2020. ((cite web)): |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; June 13, 2020 suggested (help)
  121. ^ Trumbore, Dave (June 9, 2020). "'Kipo' Season 2 Review: Mega Mutes, Cheese Magic, and the Best Soundtrack of 2020". Collider (website). Collider, Inc. Archived from the original on June 9, 2020. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
  122. ^ "Rad Sechrist says that Asher (in Kipo) is non-binary". Twitter. Twitter. June 16, 2020. Archived from the original on June 16, 2020. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  123. ^ Nickelodeon [@Nickelodeon] (June 13, 2020). "Celebrating #Pride with the LGBTQ+ community and their allies this month and every month Rainbow (Artist palette: by @ramzymasri)" (Tweet). Archived from the original on June 13, 2020. Retrieved June 13, 2020 – via Twitter.
  124. ^ Street, Mikelle (June 13, 2020). "This Tweet Is Why People Think SpongeBob Came Out as Gay". Out (magazine). Pride Media. Archived from the original on June 13, 2020. Retrieved June 13, 2020. ((cite web)): |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; June 14, 2020 suggested (help)
Awards
Festivals
By Country
By media
Gay literature and media
Lesbian literature and media
Transgender literature and media
Other literature and media
LGBT themes
LGBT characters
By medium
By identity
Television
and radio
By genre
Animation on
Film
History
Other
Categories