screenshot by K. Reyes, March 2021
Bibliographic Information:
- Title: She-Ra and the Princesses of Power
- Episode 1: The Sword, part 1
- Episode 2: The Sword, part 2
- Episode 3: Razz
- Creator & Executive Producer: Noelle Stevenson
- Pilot Release Date: May 2018 ~ season 5 (ended May 2020)
- Production Company: Dreamworks Animation
- Distributed by: Netflix
- Running time: 24 minutes/episode
Genre [Format of the Title]:
- Animation, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Action/Adventure, Dystopia [Television show]
Awards or Honors:
- 10 nominations for various Awards including:
- 2021 GLAAD Media Award Nominee for Outstanding Kid and Family Programming
- 2021 Nominee for Image Awards (NAACP) for Outstanding Animated Series (IMDb.com 2021b).
- 2021 GLAAD Media Award Nominee for Outstanding Kid and Family Programming
Interest Level:
- Appropriate for youth 8+ according to Common Sense Media.
Plot Summary:
Teenager Adora and her friends are cadets, training to fight for the Horde. Adora and her friend Catra sneak out one night and end up in the Whispering Forest where Adora falls on the forest floor after she and Catra fight for control of their flying transporter. She finds a sword which awakens something in her that she didn’t know existed.
Meanwhile, in another part of the planet Etheria, Glimmer, a princess and her friend Bow are having their own adventure in the same forest, having escaped her castle. Princess Glimmer is salty that her mom grounded her for not using her powers properly. Glimmer can teleport and she takes her friend Bow back to the forest where they encounter Adora whom they identified as a sworn enemy based on her uniform. The three get attacked by a giant insect-looking robot and only Adora’s sword, in her hands, transforms her into a superheroine with powers that subdue the deadly robot.
Teenager Adora and her friends are cadets, training to fight for the Horde. Adora and her friend Catra sneak out one night and end up in the Whispering Forest where Adora falls on the forest floor after she and Catra fight for control of their flying transporter. She finds a sword which awakens something in her that she didn’t know existed.
Meanwhile, in another part of the planet Etheria, Glimmer, a princess and her friend Bow are having their own adventure in the same forest, having escaped her castle. Princess Glimmer is salty that her mom grounded her for not using her powers properly. Glimmer can teleport and she takes her friend Bow back to the forest where they encounter Adora whom they identified as a sworn enemy based on her uniform. The three get attacked by a giant insect-looking robot and only Adora’s sword, in her hands, transforms her into a superheroine with powers that subdue the deadly robot.
Trailer for Season 1 (She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, 2018).
Writer/Director Background:
Noelle Stevenson attended Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) and is a cartoonist/graphic novelist known for his graphic novel, Nimona (Brown, 2019). He also collaborated with other cartoonists on another award-winning graphic novel series, Lumberjanes. He often writes characters who are gender fluid and he was inspired by an virtually unknown character in Star Trek, a bounty hunter named Zam Wessel (Brown, 2019). Noelle is married to fellow cartoonist Molly Ostertag, (IMDb, 2021a). More recently, he underwent top surgery and shared his recovery on Twitter and Instagram (Rude, 2021).
Noelle Stevenson attended Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) and is a cartoonist/graphic novelist known for his graphic novel, Nimona (Brown, 2019). He also collaborated with other cartoonists on another award-winning graphic novel series, Lumberjanes. He often writes characters who are gender fluid and he was inspired by an virtually unknown character in Star Trek, a bounty hunter named Zam Wessel (Brown, 2019). Noelle is married to fellow cartoonist Molly Ostertag, (IMDb, 2021a). More recently, he underwent top surgery and shared his recovery on Twitter and Instagram (Rude, 2021).
screenshot by K. Reyes 3/2021
Critical Evaluation:
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power appeals to adults for nostalgia reasons but this is not the She-Ra/He-Man show of the ‘80s. This cartoon TV show appeals to children and teens alike for the solidly developed characters who are all types of skin tones, personalities, gender identities, and body types. It is inclusive without trying too hard. One just buys into the story because each character is multi-faceted and so human and the situations they find themselves in are often humorous despite the seriousness of the situation. For example, when we meet Glimmer in the first episode she is being reprimanded by her commander, Rebellion Leader and Queen of Bright Moon, her mom. Their interaction parallels She-Ra and her “adoptive mom” who grooms Adora to be a soldier for the Horde. One suspects that there is a larger secret behind this adoption and Adora is shocked to learn that there’s anything evil about her duty (you know, Evil Horde? Says Bow to Adora in one of many witty repartees) .
Vibrant and shimmery cartoon colors define the world of Bright Moon and Etheria where Glimmer lives, while darker, more subdued tones define the Horde world where Adora grows up. Each is led to believe the other is evil. The first episode surprised me with the presence of a princess who looked like a normal sized person, rather than an exaggerated super heroine or typical Disney cartoon-type princess with unnaturally narrow waist and willowy body. Additionally, her best friend Bow is likely queer, and there is a subtle hint that Catra and Adora are headed towards more than just friends. All these are subtle, inclusive, and effective in portraying a world where all kinds of people can coexist and create a community.
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power appeals to adults for nostalgia reasons but this is not the She-Ra/He-Man show of the ‘80s. This cartoon TV show appeals to children and teens alike for the solidly developed characters who are all types of skin tones, personalities, gender identities, and body types. It is inclusive without trying too hard. One just buys into the story because each character is multi-faceted and so human and the situations they find themselves in are often humorous despite the seriousness of the situation. For example, when we meet Glimmer in the first episode she is being reprimanded by her commander, Rebellion Leader and Queen of Bright Moon, her mom. Their interaction parallels She-Ra and her “adoptive mom” who grooms Adora to be a soldier for the Horde. One suspects that there is a larger secret behind this adoption and Adora is shocked to learn that there’s anything evil about her duty (you know, Evil Horde? Says Bow to Adora in one of many witty repartees) .
Vibrant and shimmery cartoon colors define the world of Bright Moon and Etheria where Glimmer lives, while darker, more subdued tones define the Horde world where Adora grows up. Each is led to believe the other is evil. The first episode surprised me with the presence of a princess who looked like a normal sized person, rather than an exaggerated super heroine or typical Disney cartoon-type princess with unnaturally narrow waist and willowy body. Additionally, her best friend Bow is likely queer, and there is a subtle hint that Catra and Adora are headed towards more than just friends. All these are subtle, inclusive, and effective in portraying a world where all kinds of people can coexist and create a community.
Creative Use for a Library Program:
A super-hero themed week for Homecoming with all corresponding superhero graphic novel books out on full-on display.
A super-hero themed week for Homecoming with all corresponding superhero graphic novel books out on full-on display.
Short TV Teaser:
Princesses of all shapes, sizes, and identities unite! Watch the adventure of She-Ra, Glimmer, and Bow as they battle the Horde and their own minor demons. Witness their friendship grow and enjoy the fun graphics while you’re at it.
Princesses of all shapes, sizes, and identities unite! Watch the adventure of She-Ra, Glimmer, and Bow as they battle the Horde and their own minor demons. Witness their friendship grow and enjoy the fun graphics while you’re at it.
Potential Challenge Issues and Defense Preparation:
Some parents might object to the LGBTQ inclusiveness of the show but overall, the show’s language is clean, the interactions between characters are not sexual, and the violence is nothing graphic or visually shocking or disturbing. It is very kid-friendly while tackling teen issues like asserting independence, falling in love/like, self-loathing and guilt.
Some parents might object to the LGBTQ inclusiveness of the show but overall, the show’s language is clean, the interactions between characters are not sexual, and the violence is nothing graphic or visually shocking or disturbing. It is very kid-friendly while tackling teen issues like asserting independence, falling in love/like, self-loathing and guilt.
Reason for Inclusion:
I wanted to include a show that has universal appeal and still interesting to teenagers. This show surprised me because I thought it was more for very young kids at first but as I kept watching, I found myself thinking that many of the subjects it tackles are quite Young Adult rather than young kid realm.
I wanted to include a show that has universal appeal and still interesting to teenagers. This show surprised me because I thought it was more for very young kids at first but as I kept watching, I found myself thinking that many of the subjects it tackles are quite Young Adult rather than young kid realm.
REFERENCES
Brown, T. (2020, May 18). 'She-Ra' rewrote the script for TV's queer love stories. Here's why it matters. Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2020-05-18/netflix-she-ra-series-finale-queer-love-wins
Brown, T. (2019, November 6). In Netflix's 'She-Ra,' even villains respect nonbinary pronouns. Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2019-11-05/netflix-she-ra-princesses-power-nonbinary-double-trouble
IMDb.com. (2021). Noelle Stevenson. IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6343559/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
IMDb.com (2021b). Awards. IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7745956/awards
Rude, M. (2021, January 14). 'She-Ra' Creator Noelle Stevenson explains importance of top surgery. Out. https://www.out.com/celebs/2021/1/13/she-ra-creator-noelle-stevenson-explains-importance-top-surgery
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power. (2018, October 4). Season 1 Trailer [Video file]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/GsGMkAWB6lY
Stevenson, N. (2020). How are you I'm fine thanks. How Are You I'm Fine Thanks. https://gingerhaze.tumblr.com/
Brown, T. (2019, November 6). In Netflix's 'She-Ra,' even villains respect nonbinary pronouns. Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2019-11-05/netflix-she-ra-princesses-power-nonbinary-double-trouble
IMDb.com. (2021). Noelle Stevenson. IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6343559/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
IMDb.com (2021b). Awards. IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7745956/awards
Rude, M. (2021, January 14). 'She-Ra' Creator Noelle Stevenson explains importance of top surgery. Out. https://www.out.com/celebs/2021/1/13/she-ra-creator-noelle-stevenson-explains-importance-top-surgery
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power. (2018, October 4). Season 1 Trailer [Video file]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/GsGMkAWB6lY
Stevenson, N. (2020). How are you I'm fine thanks. How Are You I'm Fine Thanks. https://gingerhaze.tumblr.com/
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