10 Asexual Icons in Animated TV Shows | Screen Rant
Season 7 of Legends of Tomorrow saw main character Esperanza 'Spooner' Cruz become the first Arrowverse superhero to come out as asexual - a major leap for an already very LGBTQ+ positive TV show. Asexuality, for those unfamiliar with the terminology, is a lack of sexual attraction or desire for sexual activity - this can range from little to no attraction.
It's sad to say that asexuality is an underrepresented orientation in fiction and media. However, the visibility of the ace spectrum is slowly increasing thanks to some iconic characters who have paved the way- whether they were asexual or just ace-coded. From characters who were one-time stars like Hazbin Hotel's Alastor and those thoroughly explored like Todd Chavez.
BoJack Horseman's Todd Chavez is easily the most well-known example of asexuality on television. The character is goofy, lovable and is able to get more jobs than the average person. Todd's entire personality is shown through the quote - "my whole life is just a series of loosely related, wacky misadventures."
In season 3, Todd came out as "nothing" when his high-school ex-girlfriend Emily questioned his sexuality. From there, Todd went on a journey of self-discovery and found comfort in the term ace. While the depiction isn't a perfect one, it was still a canonical and positive representation of an asexual main character using the terminology for one of the first times in TV history.
Several characters from the feminist, anime-inspired web series RWBY have been perceived by many as appearing on the asexual spectrum. Mostly because they're too busy protecting the world from monsters to be fussed with relationships. The characters include Ruby, Blake, and Penny. Penny, in particular, an android-with-a-soul turned human, like many robotic/technodexterous characters.
Penny is often shipped with Ruby because of their close friendship and is also considered by some as a symbolic transgender character - created from the soul of a man and wanting to be a 'real' girl. Penny is often thought to be homoromantic, panromantic, demiromantic or aromantic asexual and appeals to various people in the community for her amiable curiosity and lack of social skills.
As well as being one of the funniest ATLA characters, Toph from Avatar: The Last Airbender is one of the strongest female characters in any animated TV show. She is tough, determined, and confident. She also does not have a confirmed love interest in the franchise, which is why numerous people in the asexual community have an affinity with the powerful Earthbender.
While she does have daughters in the sequel series Legend of Korra, their existence does not negate her potential asexuality - especially since she did not settle down with either of their fathers. Toph is too interested in focusing on her craft to have or want any kind of romantic interest. She does not need a relationship to define her and has helped swarms of people uncover their own sexualities - as such many see her as an asexual and/or aromantic icon.
Entrapta, the skilled and often reckless inventor from She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, is more interested in tech than anything else, including people - something many asexual characters have in common. She displays no signs of romantic or sexual attraction with anyone other than the spaceship Darla.
Written as autistic by ND Stevenson, as explained by Comic Book Resources, there is often a wonderful crossover (without cause) between autism and asexual spectrums that deserves further exploration. Viewers of She-Ra see the progressively intersectional character appearing on varying levels of the ace spectrum from biromantic asexual, to greysexual, to ace/aro as well as numerous interpretations of her relationship with Hordak. Whatever Entrapta's sexuality may be, she is truly an icon for the ace community.
Gaara, a villain-turned-friend from Naruto, may not be canonically asexual, but people in the ace community certainly see him as such. As Naruto's reversed mirror image, Gaara has endured a deluge of trauma and abuse which made him a formidable and powerful Naruto villain but thanks to the titular character he was able to turn his life around.
His friendship with Naruto is admirable and profound - some consider him to be in love with Naruto, some see Gaara as asexual and/or aromantic. Especially considering that in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations he is single with an adopted son, proving that he does not need a romantic partner to be whole - a lifestyle choice of which society needs to become more accepting.
Luffy or Straw Hat from One Piece is considered one of the most iconic asexual characters on TV. The lovable, happy-go-lucky character is too focused on his next meal and becoming king of the pirates to be caught in relationship drama. His true love is adventure.
Luffy has stated his disinterest in marriage and is canonically immune to the powers of Boa Hancock, the Queen of the Amazons and most beautiful woman in the world. While some think he is just pure of heart, others see him as aromantic asexual - an orientation that is inadequately represented in fiction. As it is still an ongoing franchise, fans only hope that it will be made official and that the iconic Luffy will become the aro/ace hero the community deserves.
Peridot from the LGBT+ positive children's animated Steven Universe is canonically asexual and aromantic. Another tech-savvy character whose only interaction, before their meeting with Jasper and Crystal gems in season 1, was likely with robots, Peridot is a hilarious fan-favorite Steven Universe character.
Ace/aro storyboard artist Maya Petersen said on Twitter that Peridot is "not about fusion" and their only interest in romance is anthropologically speaking. Peridot's character arc of villain to Crystal Gem is brilliant, their constant use of "clod" is iconic, and their close relationship with Lapis Lazuli is breath-taking - whether fans view it as platonic or romantic, it is still another win for the ace community.
The post-apocalyptic and anachronistic stone world of Dr. Stone truly highlights the genius of its protagonist Senku Ishigami. He is a logical and frank character who is only interested in his passion for science - it's all he thinks about. Unlike other characters in the anime series (such as his best friend Taiju), Senku seems completely uninterested in romance, relationships, or any matter of sexual attraction.
This has led many fans to speculate that the brilliant genius is ace/aro. He focuses on familial and platonic relationships and has strong bonds with several characters. Senku has quickly become an icon in the asexual community for furthering the point that protagonists do not need relationships or romantic storylines to be engaging and interesting characters.
Being a high-school student with various psychic abilities would bring a whole lot of trouble for anyone, hearing things you wouldn't normally want to. For someone who appears ace/aro, this is a nightmare. Saiki Kusuo avoids romance like the plague and actively avoids characters who are interested in him.
Kusuo has stated specifically that, after having seen it a lot, he does not see the appeal in the naked form but feels aesthetic attraction as he calls Teruhashi "pretty." Some also see him as a transgender, intersex, or genderfluid character as Kusuo used his powers to transform into a male fetus in the womb. While the writers have not made it official, fans of this anime certainly see the character as an aromantic asexual icon who has helped others understand and accept their own sexuality and gender as well.
Everyone's favorite cartoon character that lives in a pineapple under the sea is canonically asexual. Real-life sea sponges reproduce asexually which is the inspiration for Nickelodeon star's sexual orientation as well.
As explained by Digital Spy, the creator of SpongeBob SquarePants initially affirmed the character as asexual in 2002. In 2020, Nickelodeon added the pants-wearing sponge alongside established queer characters Schwoz Schwartz from Henry Danger and Legend of Korra's eponymous character. Having a long-established and beloved childhood cartoon character confirmed as ace is a phenomenal step in the depiction of asexuality on television.