Netflix’s new animated series Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts features a beautiful coming out moment

LGBTQ Entertainment News

Netflix’s latest animated series Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts is getting a lot of praise for a beautiful queer moment.

The all-ages DreamWorks cartoon, which debuted on Netflix on Tuesday, follows teenager Kipo travelling across a post-apocalyptic world with her band of friends, encountering mutant animals along the way.

The show also includes some quiet LGBT+ representation among its leads, with teen DJ Benson, played by Coy Stewart, casually coming out partway through the series.

Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts features low-key coming out scene

In the sixth episode, Kipo confesses a crush on Benson, who does not reciprocate her feelings.

Kipo says: “You like me as a friend.”

Benson replies: “Yes. Because, I’m gay.”

Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts character Benson comes out as gay
Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts character Benson comes out as gay (Netflix)

Polygon praised the “profound” moment, noting: “Kipo accepts this right away, a bit embarrassed, but otherwise unhurt.

“The interaction is short, and in a landscape where more and more animated shows are finding room for inclusivity, not that significant at first glance.

“But this particular scene is a first for all-ages animation: Benson actually says that he’s gay.”

Viewers praise animated show for going beyond subtext and saying ‘gay’

Queer people on Twitter praised the storyline for the unambiguous representation – while other cartoons have largely relied on subtext to tell LGBT+ stories.

One viewer wrote: “Started watching ‘Kipo and the Age of the Wonderbeasts’ and I’m so in love with it.. it’s so fun and colourful and creative and we’ve already got a confirmed in show gay male character that isn’t white, sexualised, or a gay stereotype 😭👌”

Another added: “hearing kipo and the age of wonderbeasts say the word ‘gay’ so casually and in a positive way makes me so happy. if i can hear a show like that say the l-word then i’ll actually burst into tears probably.”

Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts writer Bill Wolkoff tweeted of the warm response: “This makes me proud. I wrote the episode this piece refers to but the storyline was guided by our entire writing staff.

“All voices weighed in on this moment & how we saw it through.”

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