PicoBlog

My 9-year-old and I recently began rewatching Battle Kitty, a truly unhinged animated show on Netflix that has a deeply disturbing preoccupation with butts. Beyond the butts, the show is actually about a kitty with dreams of being a great warrior. Together, he and his sidekick—Orc—make their way through the battle royale-like challenges on Battle Island.

During our recent rewatch, I googled info on the show’s origins and stumbled upon some controversy over the show’s age rating. While Netflix has rated the show as suitable for kids ages 7 and up, some are scandalized by the “sexualized” content. Angry reviews mention, especially, the characters’ outfits (bondage chic?) and the focus on butts.

Whether or not you consider Battle Kitty appropriate for your child (Em finds the butt humor hilarious, and is oblivious to any sexual undertones that may or may not exist), I’m fond of the show’s complete disregard for gender norms (Kitty is a male cat who wears a massive, pink bow) and for its simple acknowledgment that gay people exist (Orc is a male orc with massive crush on another male warrior).

I mean, at a time when legislators are making it illegal to live out loud as anything other than white, cisgender, and heterosexual, we need children’s media that embraces the humanity of anyone who is not white, cisgender, or heterosexual.

As the child of a journalist who focuses on sexuality education, Em is obviously drowning in sex ed books. But I know that, at this point, she’d prefer her teachable moments come from outlets that are not overtly educational. I imagine your kiddos are the same.

God knows Battle Kitty isn’t for everyone. But I would like to mention other films, shows, and graphic novels we’ve enjoyed together that showcase a diversity of experiences.

She-Ra and the Princesses of Power

This Netflix reboot of an eighties classic was done by cartoonist ND Stevenson, whose work appears on this list a whole bunch. Beyond having a racially diverse cast, She-Ra boasts a neurodivergent character, a nonbinary character, and many other characters who are varying shades of LGBTQ+. The story itself deals with important themes like healthy vs. unhealthy relationships, abuse, and leaning on your friends. Netflix rates this show as appropriate for kids ages 7 and up.

Star vs. the Forces of Evil

OK. I didn’t think I could love any animated show more than I loved She-Ra, but this kids’ show on Disney+ gave me all the feels. The series follows Star, a princess from another dimension who’s sent to Earth as a transfer student. She becomes BFFs with Marco Diaz and, together, they do magic, battle monsters, travel across dimensions, enjoy burritos, and more. Friendship… love… the way we treat those we see as Other... the show carries a lot of weight for something so fun. It’s rated as appropriate for kids ages 7 and up.

The Owl House

Another Disney+ show that ended too soon, The Owl House is an animated fantasy series about a teenage Afro-Latina human who’s obsessed with magic and witches. She's about to be sent off to a summer camp that’s intended to help her fit in with her peers and is super bummed about it. So when she accidentally stumbles upon a portal to the Boiling Isles, located in the Demon Realm, it seems that fate has provided her with an alternate path. What I love most about this show is its diverse cast of characters, which gives strong representation across race, gender, sexuality, and ability. It also contains important lessons about friendship, making mistakes, asking for help, and the importance of being yourself. I’ve written more about it here. It’s rated as appropriate for kids ages 7 and up.

Nimona

Based upon the graphic novel by—again—ND Stevenson, this Netflix Original flick is about a shapeshifter who bullies a man who’s been branded a villain into allowing her to be his sidekick. Nimona—who defies identification (“What are you?” asks Lord Ballister Blackheart. “I’m Nimona!” she continues to insist)—provides interesting commentary on gender identity, and also on the impacts of being othered. As for Blackheart, he’s tortured not by the fact that he’s been forced into hiding, but by his belief that he was betrayed by the man he loves. The film is rated PG for violence and action, thematic elements, and some language and rude humor.

Lumberjanes by ND Stevenson et al.

This long-running comic series (from—who else?—ND Stevenson) was one of my first forays into comics, and I was immediately smitten. Lumberjanes is an all-ages comic (recommended for those ages 8-12) about a group of besties at a sleepaway camp for hardcore lady types who happen to regularly find themselves in supernatural situations. It also happens to be queer AF.

The Cardboard Kingdom by Chad Sell

We absolutely adored this series of vignettes about a neighborhood full of kids who, over the course of a summer, create whole worlds and characters using not much more than cardboard and tape. It speaks so well to the powers of imagination both to entertain and to bring kids together, but also touches upon deeper themes of gender and sexual identity, death, divorce, belonging, and more. It’s recommended for those ages 6-10.

Snapdragon by Kat Leyh

Snapdragon is about a young girl—the eponymous Snapdragon—who befriends her town’s witch, managing to find herself along the way. Snapdragon herself is a young Black tween who lives with her single mom and an adorable dog named GB. When GB goes missing one day, Snapdragon tracks him through the woods, all the way to the home of an older woman reputed to be a witch. An unlikely friendship blooms. This book weaves in so many diverse viewpoints, from the single mom who’s worried about placing too much pressure on her young daughter to the best friend who’s exploring her gender identity to the androgynous older lesbian who gave up on love long ago. It's a sweet and fun story about friendship and magic and finding not only your people but your self. Recommended for kids ages 8-12.

I could go on, but this email is getting super long, and I haven’t even gotten to links and stuff.

But you tell me: What are you watching with your kids? What are you reading with them? And how does the media you choose lead naturally to those sweet, sweet teachable moments?

Considering the focus of today’s newsletter, I want to shout out Leah Jewett’s site Outspoken Sex Ed, which does an amazing job of suggesting talking points around various television shows, movies, books, news items, and more.

It’s so important for parents to get clear on their own values around sex. Which is why I love this new Sex Letters Project initiative by the folks behind Pleasure Pie, a sexual justice organization based in Boston. They're asking that you write a letter to your teenage self, telling them everything you wish you knew about sex when you were a teenager. These may eventually be collected into a zine. Read more here!

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