Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts - Season 1
From Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts

Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts - Season 1

tvTV-Y7Season 1
January 14, 2020
Available on:
Netflix
6Mixed
Analysis Score6/10
Agree?

TL;DR Verdict

Kipo S1 features a fully POC-voiced cast and prominent gay coming-out arc normalized for kids, amid adventure-focused plot without heavy preaching—moderate wokeness (6/10).

Detailed Analysis

Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts Season 1 features a main cast of young protagonists voiced entirely by actors of color, including biracial lead Kipo (voiced by Karen Fukuhara with Black father voiced by Sterling K. Brown), Black Wolf (Sydney Mikayla), and Black Benson (Coy Stewart), emphasizing racial diversity from the outset. A significant subplot centers on Benson's character arc where he develops a crush on Kipo before realizing and explicitly coming out to her as gay in a direct, casual manner, portrayed without drama but highlighted as a key moment of queer self-discovery. This representation is prominent enough to draw widespread praise from outlets like Autostraddle as the 'best queer animated series' and for leading youth animation rep, with X posts celebrating the rare explicit 'I'm gay' line in a kids' show. While the core premise revolves around post-apocalyptic adventure, survival among mutant beasts, friendship, and perseverance—devoid of overt political lectures per reviews—these identity-focused elements influence main character development and reception. As preschool/children's media targeting impressionable audiences, the normalized LGBTQ+ arc and heavy diversity in casting warrant heightened scrutiny, embedding progressive inclusivity noticeably into the narrative fabric without dominating the entertainment-driven plot.

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