A recent episode of Disney Junior’s animated series T.O.T.S.—a sweet show about friends and families—included a two-mom couple.
T.O.T.S., aimed at ages 2 to 7, focuses on the adventures of best friends Pip and Freddy, a tenacious penguin and a kind-hearted flamingo. The two are the only non-stork delivery birds in training at Tiny Ones Transport Service (T.O.T.S.), which gently brings baby animals from the T.O.T.S. nursery—situated in a mini-city in the sky—to their forever families around the world. These new junior flyers are eager to prove themselves, and in each episode, must work together to overcome challenges and navigate adventures.
In Episode 23b, “Seas the Day,” Pip and Freddy must make their first underwater delivery, transporting a baby dolphin. Freddy is better at flying than swimming, but Pip figures out how to help his friend—who then helps him later when they must wend their way through a puzzling maze. When they arrive at their destination, two mother dolphins are there to welcome their little one with kisses and love.
The moms are only onscreen for about 30 seconds and the episodic nature of the show means they’re unlikely to come back as part of a longer story arc—but Disney deserves praise for including them in a series built around the idea of family formation. Let’s just hope they’re one of many varied family types the show eventually includes. (I’ll also note that while Pip and Freddy are too young to be parents themselves, penguins and flamingos are two of the animal species most known for same-sex parenting—and a group of flamingos is known as a “flamboyance.”)
Disney says the series is designed “to communicate themes of friendship, nurturing, perseverance and accepting other’s differences” while highlighting the use of “creative thinking, teamwork and problem solving.” There’s also a new original song in every episode, in addition to the recurring delivery tune “Bringing This Baby Home.” The fun and warm show might use a myth to explain how families form, but if children ask questions about it, that simply offers parents an opportunity to discuss (perhaps with the aid of some of these books) how things really work.
The series is only one of several recent shows for very young children to depict same-sex couples—see my long piece on LGBTQ inclusion in children’s media from a few weeks ago. Bravo, Disney. May we soon see even more LGBTQ parents across the spectrum.