Netflix have announced they will be rebooting 1980s anime series She-Ra, and the first photos of the newly designed lead character have got some men very upset.
For those unfamiliar with the original series, the character – Hee Man’s twin sister – is a warrior with long blonde hair, a very short skirt and prominent breasts. The redesign, however, features a desexualised She-Ra, with the show focussing on her ability and courage rather than her cleavage.
Now male fans of the original have taken to Twitter to complain that the new animation isn’t sexy enough for them. Yes, really.
The character is 16 in the series, and since this is a series that is being made for kids, we are pretty confused about why men are angry about the protagonist’s desexualisation.
In response to the patriarchal backlash, many users jumped to the defence of the reboot.
The male creator of the original She-Ra, J. Michael Straczynski, also released a series of tweets addressing the matter. He explains that She-Ra was always a warrior first and foremost, and that her body had nothing to do with it.
The importance of young women having positive female role models that reflect what they look like cannot be underestimated, and the desexualisation of She-Ra will inevitably be celebrated by parents of the children who will enjoy the show when it’s released.
She-ra and the Princesses of Power will be released on Netflix later this year.
Top Comments
I am a straight woman and I think the new version is plain, ugly and boring. I will not be watching it. Do we have to uglify everything in the world now? Can’t women be beautiful and strong and brave? Do we have to be subjected to plain mannish women from now on? If so, it is only fair that all super heroes undergo the same makeunder. Replace Superman and Batman’s chiseled jawline and rippling muscles with jowels, tuck shop arms and beer bellies. Put black panther in a muumuu and give Spider-Man a goitre.
Question: Are we still allowed to refer to these characters as man? Or are we supposed to be using Superperson, Batperson and Spider Person? I am soooo confused these days?
And what about WOMEN who dislike/criticize the new design? But of course it has to be supporters of the new look vs awful men...
Nothing wrong with a "regular girl" type of role model btw. Why not make an original character like that instead of taking an established one and trying to turn it into something different?
Anyway, the art style is a huge NO for me. The 2002 reboot of He-Man got it right.
Because original ideas are really hard to get made. Which is why reboots happen, people want something they are familiar with.
And, the art style is what new cartoons look like. I felt the same about TMNT, until I realised that a) I was an adult and it was really for 21st century kids, who are use to this style and b) it was pretty good.