Pixar Animation Studios, a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Company best known for producing computer-animated films such as Toy Story, has released a casting notice for its first transgender character in an upcoming project.
According to Screen Rant, the casting notice was posted on Twitter by the transgender advocacy group Trans March.
The casting call seeks actresses 12-17 years old who can play a character known as Jess, a 14-year-old transgender girl who is "compassionate, funny, and always has your back."
Pixar's casting noticed did not provide further details on the upcoming project, such as a title nor synopsis.
People who seek to audition must be "enthusiastic, outgoing, funny, and energetic' as well as feeling "comfortable acting in front of a microphone." In fitting the role of Jess, one must "authentically portray a 14-year-old transgender girl."
We have confirmed this is legit, so share away! pic.twitter.com/oKLFzyjXIL
— Trans March (@transmarch) April 20, 2021
Trans March asserted that the casting notice was legitimate after the casting director sent them the flyer.
"Sorry folks, we should have been more specific with how we know this is real. We talked to the casting director and they sent us this flyer," the group wrote. "They're reaching out to other orgs as well, but we got the sense we're the first to post about it."
Sorry folks, we should have been more specific with how we know this is real. We talked to the casting director and they sent us this flyer. They're reaching out to other orgs as well, but we got the sense we're the first to post about it.
— Trans March (@transmarch) April 20, 2021
While the project will be Pixar's first in casting a transgender character, it is not the first time the computer animation company has sought to include LGBT characters in their films.
Last March, Disney/Pixar made history in releasing the animated children's film Onward, which featured its first-ever openly gay character voiced by openly gay actress Lena Waithe.
Disney also made history for casting its first transgender actress, Patti Harrison, in the recent film Raya and the Last Dragon.
Last May, as Christian Headlines previously reported, the streaming platform Disney plus debuted a Pixar short film, Out, featuring a man who shares a kiss with his partner.
Related:
Disney Plus Debuts Pixar Short, Out, about a Gay Man Coming out to His Parents
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Vladimir Vladimirov
Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributing writer for CrosswalkHeadlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.
