Pixar Reportedly Set To Feature First Transgender Character
Pixar is perhaps currently the most preeminent name in children’s entertainment, having been a mainstay at the Oscars for more than two decades. At this year’s Oscars, Pixar developed two of the five movies nominated for Best Animated Feature Film. “Soul” took home the award, becoming the 11th such Pixar property to do so.
Their recent success is not the only reason they are in the news today.
Pixar is reportedly looking to cast someone to voice the character Jess in an upcoming project. The said character is described as someone who is “compassionate, funny, and always has your back.” They are looking for a 12–17-year-old who is “enthusiastic, outgoing, funny, and energetic” who also feels “comfortable acting in front of a microphone” and can “authentically portray a 14-year-old transgender girl.”
If that last part caught you by surprise, that’s kind of the point.
As at yet, it is unclear what the character’s role will be, the size of the said part, or even if the project will be a feature-length or short film. What is clear though is that when it airs, Jess will become the first openly transgender character in a Pixar project. And while the company started heading in this direction by including the first openly homosexual character in Onward last year—a cyclops cop named Officer Specter— it’s still a big step that has caught many by surprise.
How do you feel about this?
