Two characters in today’s new episode of Cartoon Network kids’ show We Baby Bears are shown to use they/them pronouns. Watch a trailer here!
The episode “Polly’s New Crew” involves the three protagonists, Baby Grizz, Baby Panda (Pan Pan), and Baby Ice Bear, meeting up on the ship of their old friend, Pirate Parrot Polly, after being transported there via Box, their magical teleporting carton.
When one of Polly’s new crew members, Winnie, introduces herself with she/her pronouns, Baby Panda says, “Our crew also has a new addition. Meet Box! They use they/them pronouns and they make an exceptionally good quiche!” (Box only speaks in high-pitched sounds, not understandable words, which explains why they didn’t introduce themself.)
“Yarrr, well met, Box! I use they/them pronouns as well,” replies Captain Polly.
The We Baby Bears team told GLAAD that the representation was inspired by nonbinary production crew members and “We felt that it was important to reflect that in the show.”
Box is an ongoing character, and Polly was previously seen in last year’s episode “The Pirate Parrot Polly.” I love that at least one of the nonbinary characters (Box) is a regular, and there’s a chance that the other (Polly) could recur again as well. I also appreciate that there are two of them (unlike in some other shows, where there is only one), perhaps trying to convey to nonbinary kids that they are not alone in their identities.
At the same time, Box is, well, a box. Are nonbinary kids really going to see themselves in them? Or even in a parrot? That an open question (and it’s not my place as a cis person to say), but perhaps the simple fact of seeing characters who use they/them pronouns will be affirming in some way—and for them and their peers (and adults), it may help normalize such linguistic usage. (If you want some additional resources about pronouns, check out the new song and book I wrote about yesterday.)
Nonbinary characters in kids’ animated shows are happily becoming more common. They include current and recent characters Double Trouble on She-Ra and the Princesses of Power; Tai on Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur (Disney); Ember on Eureka! (Disney); Raine Whispers, The Collector, and Masha on The Owl House (Disney); Stevonnie, Shep, and many of the sentient gems on Steven Universe (Cartoon Network); Angel Jose on Craig of the Creek (Cartoon Network); Nightshade on Transformers: EarthSpark (Paramount+), Fred on Ridley Jones (Netflix), Odee on Madagascar: A Little Wild; and (on the big screen), Lake Ripple in Elemental (Disney). I’m glad to see another show joining the list.
Commonsense Media rates We Baby Bears as being for ages 6+, and notes, “While the bears themselves are babies, the show is intended for older grade school kids,” mostly because of some slapstick violence.
Here’s a trailer for the episode, showing the key scene. It premieres in full today at 10 a.m. ET/PT on Cartoon Network.
If you’re looking for nonbinary characters in children’s books, check out my Database of LGBTQ Family Books, where you can filter by age and by tags for nonbinary kids or nonbinary adults. Add the “Incidental queerness” tag if you want books that aren’t “about” being nonbinary per se.