LGBTQ+ representation animation has been on the rise in recent years, but it’s not nearly as accepted as we hope it would be, at least where certain major studios are concerned. Indeed, television movies, independent animators, and Japanese movies based on Mangas, for example, have mostly been the ones to provide space for strange voices to hear and tell stories.
That said, Disney and Pixar have taken a step forward in recent years by including more queer characters and allowing them to display intimacy in the same way straight characters do. Still, when compiling this list, there wasn’t that much to choose from, but let’s take a look at 20 LGBTQ+ Animated Movies You Should Watch Next.
20 Queer Duck: The Movie (2006)
Based on the web series odd man out, Queer Duck: The Movie was the first film to be broadcast on the gay channel Logo. The adult animated film is set in the 1960s, when queerness was still a crime. It focuses on the titular Queer Duck, who wakes up one day and realizes that being gay isn’t worth it when everyone is so against it. He falls in love with a Broadway actress, but on his journey he meets several characters who are part of the gay rights movement: drag queen Rex, his lover Openly Gator, a homophobic bigoted priest, Conan O’Brien, Bi-Polar Beer. Eventually Queer Duck realizes he is gay to stay.
19 Harmony (2015)
Directed by Michael Arias and Takashi Nakamura for Studio 4°C, Harmony is a Japanese animated science fiction film. Set in a futuristic world where, after many civil wars, peace has finally been established, there is no personal autonomy as society is tightly controlled. Three young women fight this idea by committing suicide together. Two of them survive, and when they meet after many years, they learn the truth about this so-called ‘perfect world’. The mild lesbian sensuality makes Harmony all more tragic.
18 Out (2020)
As the first short film from both Disney and Pixar to feature a gay main character, Out is a nine minute short film. It follows a man who has not yet come out to his parents. But once he accidentally exchanges thoughts with a dog, things get a little easier for him. It was shortlisted for the Oscar for Best Animated Short Film at the 93rd Academy Awards.
17 Storks (2016)
storks is a 3D computer-animated adventure comedy film centered on a former stork company that was in charge of delivering babies to families. The company now acts as a package delivery company, but that soon changes when they accidentally make a baby and are forced to take it home. Although it’s a “blink-and-you’ll-miss-it” moment, the movie features both a lesbian and gay couple in the ending sequence. This was a big step in the right direction because it shows queer people as parents, which used to be frowned upon in animation.
16 Strange World (2022)
As the years go by, we can see more vibrant queer representation in animation. In this way, Strange world introduces Walt Disney Animation Studios’ first openly LGBTQ+ main character, Ethan Clade. As Disney’s seventh sci-fi film, the film follows three generations of a family who must overcome their differences to save a wonder planet. Strange world offers a multicultural embrace in an exotic setting.
15 Light Year (2022)
Instead of being set in the Toy Story fictional universe, Light year was previously introduced as a movie that the Toy Story characters themselves. It follows Buzz Lightyear as a human as he and his crew try to find their way back home from a deserted planet. Alisha Hawthorne’s character, Buzz’s boyfriend, shares a kiss with her female partner at the end of the movie, making the movie banned in many countries. What a stir a simple kiss can cause…
14 South Park: The Movie (1999)
Based on the animated sitcom south park, the plot of South Park: The Movie follows four friends who sneak into the movie theater to watch an R-rated Canadian movie, after which they start swearing profusely. It causes uproar and moral panic against Canada’s influence. The film satirizes themes of censorship and scapegoating, as well as the Disney Renaissance. South Park was already known for normalizing the gay community, but with this movie they put a funny spin on it by pairing Satan and Saddam Hussein.
13 Wendell & Wild (2022)
Directed by Henry Selick from a screenplay by both Selick and Jordan Peele, Wendell & Wild is a stop-motion horror comedy. It tells the story of two cunning demon brothers, who have to fight their nemesis. When a girl named Kat accidentally summons the brothers, chaos ensues. Kat’s best friend is the very first trans character in a stop motion: Raúl, an artistic Latino trans boy.
12 Sausage Party (2016)
A computer-animated black comedy for adults about a supermarket’s food items, who realize they eventually become a meal? Sign us up. Sausage feast sees how these characters try to come up with a plan to escape their terrible fate. The film features a lesbian character, Teresa Taco, who openly displays her affection for Brenda Bunson. It also explores bisexuality realistically as Brenda slowly explores her sexuality.
11 Daria: Is it fall already? (2000)
As the first of two movie installments for MTV’s animated series, Daria, is it fall yet? describes the summer vacation of two main characters: Daria and Jane. The film explores heteronormativity and the idea of being afraid to step out of those boxes. Once Jane does, she becomes disappointed when the character who went after her ends up with someone else.
10 ParaNorman (2012)
As the first stop motion film to use a 3D color printer to create character faces, ParaNorman revolves around Norman Babcock, who can talk to ghosts and is tasked with saving his city from a curse with his crew. It comes as a surprise when the jock character, Mitch, openly admits to having a boyfriend, making him the first openly gay character in animation film.
Considered by many to be one of the most influential anime films ever made, Ninja scroll follows a mercenary swordsman fighting a team of ninjas called the Eight Devils of Kimon. The film depicts strong female characters as well as a monogamous gay relationship, which differs from the common practice of feudal lords having sexual affairs with their male servants.
8 In a Heartbeat (2017)
In the blink of an eye took the internet by storm when it was released on YouTube in 2017. The computer-animated short, produced by Ringling College of Art and Design, follows a closeted boy Sherwin who has a crush on his male classmate. His heart actively longs to be with him.
7 My Dog Tulip (2009)
Based on the 1956 memoir of the same name, My dog tulip is an independently animated feature film. It tells the story of Ackerley’s 15-year relationship with his Alsatian dog Queenie. The memoir was written by an openly gay writer, who envisioned the dog as his best friend who was hard to find in the 1950s because of his sexuality.
6 Godfathers of Tokyo (2003)
Plot heavily grounded in realism, Godfathers of Tokyo is a tragicomedy that follows three homeless people: a middle-aged alcoholic, teenage runaway and a former drag queen. These individuals accidentally find a baby in the trash and decide to take care of it as a family.
5 Rocko’s Modern Life: Static Cling (2018)
As a continuation of Joe Murray’s Nickelodeon series Rocko’s Modern Life, Static adhesion is a television special about Rocko and his friends returning to a 2010 O-Town with modern technologies. Rocko doesn’t like the 21st century vibe, so he embarks on a journey to bring back his favorite old show. The story features a prominent trans storyline, with one of the characters Ralph returning as Rachel in the special.
4 The Breadwinner (2017)
Based on the bestseller by Deborah Ellis, The breadwinner is an animated film for adults. It tells the story of an 11-year-old girl living under Taliban rule in Kabul. After her father is arrested and the family has no means to support herself, Parvana cuts her hair and dresses like a boy to help her family. It explores the idea of gender bending.
3 The Mitchells vs. the Machines (2021)
Produced by Sony Pictures Animation, The Mitchells vs. the Machines is a computer-animated science fiction comedy. It is about a dysfunctional family who must fight against a robot apocalypse during their long-awaited road trip. It was praised for its humor, screenplay and LGBTQ+ portrayal as the main character, an aspiring filmmaker Kate Mitchell, is openly queer.
2 Flights (2021)
To flee is an animated adult documentary, which follows the story of a man under the alias Amin Nawabi, who shares his 20-year secret that could potentially ruin his and his husband’s life. It is the secret of his hidden past of flights from Afghanistan to Denmark.
1 Steven Universe: The Movie (2019)
Last but not least, we can’t forget about the animated musical television movie Steven Universe: The Movie based on the television series of the same name. It takes place two years after the events of the series, as Steven and his friends try to save all organic life on Earth. The series, as well as the movie, has always included a number of queer and non-binary characters, as well as a same-sex proposal and wedding.