7 noteworthy transgender characters in cartoons
There are a number of transgender characters in comics and animation. Unsurprisingly, comics have a much greater number of trans characters than animation, though the latter's slowly improving. Below is a look at some noteworthy trans characters in cartoons.
Rachel Bighead (“Rocko’s Modern Life: Static Cling”)
“Rocko’s Modern Life: Static Cling,” a 2019 made-for-TV movie, brought back the various characters from 90s Nickelodeon series “Rocko’s Modern Life.” Among the cast include the Bigheads’ daughter, Rachel, the creator of Rocko’s favorite TV show “The Fatheads.”
Barney Guttman (“Dead End: Paranormal Park”)
Barney is one of the main protagonists of “Dead End: Paranormal Park,” a Netflix series based on a comic. In the series, Barney gets a job at a Dollywood-esque theme park, where he (and his pet dog Pugsley) get involved in the park’s supernatural goings-on. He also starts dating Logan “Logs” Nguyen, a coworker.
Beckett (“The Backstagers”)
In “The Backstagers” series of graphic novels and prose books, Beckett’s the lights technician for the school theater. Beckett tends to be extremely proud (and protective) of the complicated lights setup he’s created.
Beckett also tends to be somewhat more cynical than his fellow “backstagers.” This extends to his views on Valentine’s Day. Beckett once turned the crew’s backstage hangout into a “no Valentine’s Day zone,” with banners/signs everywhere warning the others about such. (Especially fellow stagehands and lovebirds Jory and Hunter.) As such, Beckett normally spends the holiday watching ludicrously-titled gory horror films. He’s also put up a few similar strongly worded “do not touch” signs on his lights equipment, most of them aimed at Sasha, the least mature member of the backstage crew.
Despite all of the above, Beckett has a poorly concealed crush on Bailey, a girl who goes to an all-girls’ school across town.
Beckett also loves drinking Diet Coke… or its generic in-universe equivalent in the comics. (However, the prose young adult novels call it by its brand name.)
Beckett’s loosely based on “The Backstagers”’s artist, Rian Sygh.
Claire Augustus (“Questionable Content”)
Claire is a library sciences grad student who's also dating Marten, one of the strip‘s main characters. She’s the sister of Clinton, a character who’s obsessed with robots/AIs.
Claire also likes puns, despite few other characters in the strip enjoying them. (One big exception’s Brun, a bartender.)
Jo (“Lumberjanes”)
Jo is the scientifically minded member of the main group of campers. As such, her skills come in useful, even in spite of the supernaturally-driven nature of the camp (and its surrounding forest).
Jo’s also got two fathers, who’re an interracial couple.
Ken Shiga (Koi Boi, “Squirrel Girl”)
Koi Boi (real name: Ken Shiga) is not only a superhero, but also a computer science student and classmate of Doreen “Squirrel Girl” Green. Both attend New York’s fictional Empire State University.
Ken’s powers are basically those of Aquaman’s: the ability to swim fast, breathe underwater, and communicate with sea creatures. Ken treats his superhero career seriously, though he’s also fond of making fish-related puns.
Aunt Roz (“AJ & Magnus”)
Roz is a secondary character in the webcomic “AJ & Magnus.” While not related, Roz is a close friend of Dad and Pop, and AJ’s honorary aunt. Like the others, Roz also enjoys cosplay; she dressed up as Captain Marvel when taking AJ to see said movie. Roz also has a sarcastic and blunt personality, which we saw when dealing with the man who discriminated against Pop.
Other sources
Here’s a few sources listing other transgender characters in cartoons: