The upcoming film “Onward,” which will be in theaters on March 6, will feature a self-identified lesbian heroine with a girlfriend, the first-ever animated LGBT character in the Disney-Pixar universe.
Unlike previous Pixar characters suspected of being LGBTQ by audiences, Waithe’s character — a purple unicorn named Officer Spector in the upcoming film “Onward” — clearly states that she’s in a lesbian relationship.
“My girlfriend’s daughter got me pulling my hair out,” the female-presenting character tells her partner, a character that is voiced by comedian Ali Wong, at one point in the film, Slate reports. Despite being a headline moment, the statement is not the focus of the scene and is quite easily missed, according to those who’ve seen advance screenings.
Previously, animated film fans speculated a couple in 2016’s “Finding Dory” were lesbians, but the filmmakers wouldn’t confirm. In 2017, a live-action remake of “Beauty and the Beast,” had the first openly gay character in a Disney film. (Pixar is a subsidiary of Disney.)
“Onward,” set to hit theaters March 6, is an animated fantasy reuniting “Avengers: Endgame” stars Tom Holland and Chris Pratt as modern-day elf brothers resurrecting their dead dad’s lower torso with a magical staff, according to a trailer released in October. Octavia Spencer, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and John Ratzenberger also voice characters in the metaphysical animated comedy.
Waithe, 35, is also among new cast additions to the upcoming third season of “Westworld.” The “Queen & Slim” screenwriter reportedly broke up with longtime girlfriend Alana Mayo in January, just two months after quietly tying the knot with her at the San Francisco courthouse.
