“It is not necessary to normalize the normal. It is just like that”
While ‘Strange World’, the new Disney film, explores, inspired by the universe created by Jules Verne, a fantastic environment full of mysterious creatures and plants, including flying fish and walking columns of rocks, the action-adventure film also includes a first for Walt Disney Animation Studios: a gay teen romance.
The animated film introduces viewers to Ethan Clade, an openly gay teenager who is drunk by another character, Diazo. “He never broke down like that. It was all more organic,” director Don Hall said of the character’s identity. “I have a biracial family, so it was something I relatable to very easily, to have two people from very different backgrounds fall in love,” said co-director and writer Qui Nguyen. “And now my son walks those lines of us—that he’s as Asian as he is Jewish, and that was something I inherently understood.”
“His homosexuality is a part of him. He’s also bold and tremendously empathetic, which is why he becomes something of a conservationist in our movie.“Added Hall. “Plus, he’s impulsive like teenagers are. So to us, he was just a whole, flesh-and-blood character, and I think we can’t wait for the world to embrace him like we did.”
The plot of ‘Strange World’, its original title follows the Clades, a family of explorers who embark on a mission in the underworld of Avalonia. The voice cast in the original version includes Jake Gyllenhaal, Dennis Quaid, Gabrielle Union, Lucy Liu, and Jaboukie Young-White..
“People keep using the word ‘normalize’ and there is no need to normalize the normal. It’s just like that“You have to see a loving family that was incredibly supportive of their son’s identity, and their version of trying to get him to safety or guiding him is more in terms of his occupation, and the path he’s going to take in life,” Union explained. “.
“I was really glad the script didn’t point it outQuaid said, referring to Ethan’s sexuality.It wasn’t explained by this or that, or having to go through the coming out thing, and that’s okay. I think we’re past that as a culture.“.
Young-White, who voices Ethan and comes from a multiracial background, also noted that her character resembled him a bit: “I thought it was cool, just for the fact that Don and Qui, the creators, are really committed to reflecting what our world looks like and what reality looks like, in a way that’s not heavy-handed or forced, it’s just like that. how is ityesAlthough the cast did not film any scenes together, they praised Hall and Nguyen’s dedication to capturing the nuance and chemistry between their characters.
This is the second Disney movie this year to include an LGBTQ character in its plot. Pixar’s ‘Lightyear’ was released last June and very briefly featured a gay character.
On November 25 ‘Strange World’ arrives in theaters.
Source: Fotogramas
Camila Luna is a writer at Gossipify, where she covers the latest movies and television series. With a passion for all things entertainment, Camila brings her unique perspective to her writing and offers readers an inside look at the industry. Camila is a graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a degree in English and is also a avid movie watcher.
