Movies in the Park: Strange World (2024)

FAQs

Does Strange World have LGBTQ? ›

AP: 'Strange World' plot is more than a 'gay moment'

"There's also the not-insignificant fact that Ethan has a same-sex crush. This has led some to call the film the first Disney animated gay teen romance.

The story has positive messages about the environment, diplomatic relations, and honest communication between parents and children, whether they're teens or adults. Teenage Ethan Clade (voiced by Jaboukie Young-White) is openly gay (although the word is never said) and has a crush on another boy.

So why wasn't there much advertising for Strange World? Sure, Disney put out trailers and promoted the film a bit, but for an original title and concept like this, there weren't as many elements of marketing we're used to seeing. According to Salon, “the studio did the bare minimum” to promote Strange World.

Experts offer loads of reasons, from a poor marketing push to Disney's historical troubles with animated sci-fi flicks to the struggles of animated films in general. But clearly animated movies can still make a buck at the box office.

Diazo is a laid back teenage boy who speaks softly, but shows some slight confidence. He is especially kind towards Ethan who has a crush on him and it is implied that Diazo is well aware.

Strange World SEX/NUDITY 1

– A husband and his wife kiss and hug in a few scenes and their teenage son complains about seeing them.

Strange World has some nudity and sexual activity.

The second very clever message from Strange World is that everything in our world is connected. Searcher and Ethan literally travel to the ends of the (presumed) earth to find out why pando is dying. They end up travelling into the core of their world, where pando is all connected through one major root system.

“It was important that the world of Avalonia reflected the world we actually live in. The story wasn't about diversity and inclusion, but the diversity and inclusion were integral to the metaphor that it is our world that is in danger, not just this made-up one.”

Released in 2022, "Strange World" follows a family of explorers who travel through various jungles and other "uncharted" land. "Strange World" attracted backlash from conservatives after its release because one of the characters is Disney's first openly LGBTQ lead.

Why do people not like the Strange World? ›

While the film is visually stunning, the film has received some criticism due to some major flaws in its characters and writing. The film takes some risks, trying to tell a grand adventure while focusing on family dynamics and mending broken bonds, something that Disney has included more in its recent stories.

The film received generally positive reviews but grossed only $73.6 million with a projected loss of $197 million for Disney, making it one of the biggest box-office bombs of all time.

The film tells the story of the Clades, a legendary explorer family of explorers with generational differences. Upon farmer Searcher Clade needing to restore their plantation resource called Pando, he must set aside his differences with his father Jaeger and embark on a journey to a mysterious surreal landscape.

Heading into an uncertain U.S. presidential campaign, Florida governor Ron DeSantis branded the Walt Disney Company a "woke" corporation producing films that pursue a politically correct, LGBTQ+ agenda.

Don Hall says the creatures that the characters, includes those voiced by Jake Gyllenhaal, Dennis Quaid and Jaboukie Young-White, meet in this world “are all based on real immune system cells and their functions within that system and how they react to antigens.”

Strange World, which was released on November 23, 2022, features Ethan Clade, who is the first gay lead character in a Disney animated film. Ethan Clade is voiced by gay comedian Jaboukie Young-White.

Each gay Disney character is first in their category. LeFou in Beauty and the Beast had Disney's "first gay moment," apparently referring to him dancing with a man at the end. Ethan Clade in Strange World was Walt Disney Animation Studios' first gay main character.

Life is Strange is a pivotal queer game that mirrors the journey many young people go through in figuring out their identities. Square Enix's handling of LGBTQ+ representation in the game shows a focus on profit over authentic storytelling.

The Dr. Strange film features the character America Chavez, a lesbian hero who first appeared in Marvel Comics in 2011 — Chavez's character is being played by Xochitl Gomez.