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She-Ra's Co-Creator JMS on Noelle Stevenson's Revamp for Dreamworks/Netflix

Published Thu, 19 Jul 2018 09:15:54 -0500

Last updated Fri, 20 Jul 2018 07:02:08 -0500

She-Ra is the latest kids show from the '80s/'90s to be reinvented for a new young audience and for rage to be expressed by certain corners of the internet for the way it looks. Thundercats was one. And She-Ra is the latest, being showrun by comic book creator Noelle Stevenson, better known for Nimona and Lumberjanes, for Netflix and DreamWorks as She-Ra and the Princesses of Power.

Much of the criticism seems to stem around the idea that, just as He-Man was meant to be the ideal man, She-Ra was meant to be the ideal woman. And the images seen so far don't match some people's ideas of what that is meant to be. And they're not happy about the changes.

It is not widely known that one of the two co-creators of She-Ra and the character's world was a certain Joe Michael Straczynski, now better known as the creator of Babylon 5 and Sense8.

And he had some thoughts.

1/ As the guy who co-created the character of She-Ra and her universe alongside Larry DiTillio (though Mattel named her), a few thoughts. (Note: I am in no way connected with the current show, so I'm speaking both as an outsider to what is and an insider to what was intended). https://t.co/NVm3vqOoXQ

— J. Michael Straczynski (@straczynski) July 19, 2018

2/ We never considered or wrote for She-Ra as "the ideal woman." I don't think that phrase appeared anywhere in the bible we wrote, and certainly never in our discussions. We spoke, and wrote of, and considered her a warrior, first and foremost.

— J. Michael Straczynski (@straczynski) July 19, 2018

3/ So I think anyone who is looking back at She-Ra (or Adora) as the "ideal woman" is doing so through the lens of prepubescent (since it was aimed at kids) interest and kind of, understandably, imprinted on her like baby ducks. I get it. But that wasn't the creative *intent*.

— J. Michael Straczynski (@straczynski) July 19, 2018

4/ To the whole "idealized person" discussion, I would add that there is a significant distinction to be made in terms of how a character like She-Ra is discussed or seen versus how male characters are seen both in shows like this and in super-hero books in general.

— J. Michael Straczynski (@straczynski) July 19, 2018

5/ Yes, male characters tend to be idealized in form and proportion; but female characters tend to be objectified. There is a profound difference between those two, and failing to perceive that distinction is pernicious. That's why you'll rarely see a male superhero without pants

— J. Michael Straczynski (@straczynski) July 19, 2018

6/ By that I don't mean naked, I mean without leggings of some kind. But that's absolutely the rule for female characters (I say this as the guy who put Wonder Woman in pants during his run because seriously it's hard to fight otherwise). No leg hair for guy heroes.

— J. Michael Straczynski (@straczynski) July 19, 2018

7/ Anyway, just wanted to add some possible clarity to the discussion. If you're looking for writers to create your "ideal woman" that wasn't the intent, this ain't it, and we don't know you well enough to guess, and be aware that idealization does not equal objectification.

— J. Michael Straczynski (@straczynski) July 19, 2018

8/ That perspective is something I've always tried to bring to bear in my work, from so-creating She-Ra's personality to Delenn, Ivanova, Lyta and others on Babylon 5, all the way to Riley, Sun, Kala, Nomi and Amanita on Sense8. It's all about strength, smarts and wit.

— J. Michael Straczynski (@straczynski) July 19, 2018

As for Noelle, she's getting on with promoting the show, enjoying the love, and crediting the contributors.

She-Ra/Adora, Bow, Glimmer, and Catra were designed by Keiko Murayama @berryshortcakeo and Jisoo Kim @jisooK, with early previs by Xanthe Bouma @xoxobouma!

— Noelle Stevenson (@Gingerhazing) July 17, 2018

Couldn't ask for a more skilled, passionate, and kind crew. I have been very, very lucky to work with everyone involved!

— Noelle Stevenson (@Gingerhazing) July 17, 2018

Coming November 16th.

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