☛ Cette critique est aussi disponible en français [➦]
Translated by Florence Bois-Villeneuve.
“We gotta find every bit of strength that we have and never let it go1.”
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power is a remake of She-Ra: Princess of Power, a cartoon created in 1985. As opposed to the original series, which featured adult characters with a fairly homogenous physical appearance (white skin and muscular bodies), this version features children and teenage characters who are more representative of human diversity.
The series takes place on Etheria, a planet invaded by a malevolent organization called the Horde. We follow the story of Adora, a former soldier of this organization, who finds a magic sword and becomes She-Ra, the Princess of Power. She joins the other princesses and allies of the Rebellion to fight the Horde. As the adventure unfolds, we follow the evolution of the characters through this long revolution, which brings them to question their conception of right and wrong.
As a fan of the original series, Noelle Stevenson2 jumped at the offer when Dreamworks mentioned its interest in bringing back She-Ra. They were best known for their comic strip Nimona, for which they won several prizes, including the Eisner Award. As a queer person, Stevenson was determined to make the series more diverse, with LGBTQ+ characters and relationships at the heart of the story.
One of the revolutionary aspects of the series is certainly its depiction of Double Trouble, a non-binary character. This type of representation is extremely rare in cartoons. In addition, the other characters use the pronoun “they” naturally and without questions. Noelle Stevenson and Jacob Tobia, the English voice of Double Trouble, are both non-binary, which results in a much more authentic portrayal of this community, rarely seen in TV series. The author has also confirmed that another character, Entrapta, is on the autism spectrum, and was written in collaboration with an autistic creator.
This series represents a major step forward in the history of television and cartoons. Representation is truly essential when you’re a child: something as simple as recognizing yourself in a character can greatly impact your life. Every aspect of this series features remarkable diversity: neurodiversity, cultural diversity, gender and sexual diversity, and many more—allowing viewers not only to connect with the characters, but to truly feel seen and respected.
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power is a groundbreaking series that will inspire adults and children alike. Like Steven Universe, The Legend of Korra and The Owl House, it emerges as a cartoon that successfully challenges stereotypes and celebrates sexual and gender diversity on television. It conveys a message of hope in a world where darkness can be overwhelming.
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1 Quote from the opening credits of She-Ra and the Princesses of Power.
2 Noelle Stevenson uses the English pronouns he/she/they in alternation.
Reference
Director/creator: Noelle Stevenson
Title: She-Ra et les princesses au pouvoir / She-Ra and the Princesses of Power
Date of publication: 2018–2020
Available on Netflix