Warning: Light spoilers for The Mitchells vs. The Machines ahead.
The Mitchells vs. The Machines is out, and so is one of its lead characters.
Katie Mitchell, the daughter in a family fighting to save the world from evil robots, is queer -- a milestone for family entertainment. Moreover, she is voiced by Abbi Jacobson, a queer actress of Broad City fame.
In an interview with Pride, The Advocate's sister publication, Jacobson celebrated this milestone in the animated film, which was produced by Sony Pictures Animation and distributed by Netflix.
"I love that Katie's queer," Jacobson said. "I'm queer, so it was so refreshing to get to play a teen queer girl in an animated movie. That's not something I've done before, and I haven't really seen that that much. I definitely didn't grow up with that. I think it's so important for young people to see that."
"The [movie] is about a fracture in a family, and it has nothing to do with fact that Katie is queer, it's just something that's only celebrated and accepted in her family," she added. "I think it's so rad for kids to see it. Maybe even more rad for parents to see it. So I was really, really excited to be a part of that story."
Maya Rudolph, who portrays Katie's mother, Linda, also stressed the importance of parents seeing this message of acceptance, which is exemplified in her character. "I love Linda's unwavering belief in her family and in each individual. I think we would be so lucky to have a family member like that or anyone in our lives, really, whether they're a parent or not," Rudolph said.
"She will take you any way you come. She loves you more than anything in the world ... It's such a joyful place to be and such a beautiful message," she added.
The Mitchells vs. The Machines can now be streamed on Netflix. Other voice actors include Danny McBride, Mike Rianda, Beck Bennett, Eric Andre, Olivia Colman, Fred Armisen, John Legend, Chrissy Teigen, Blake Griffin, and Conan O'Brien.
Watch the cast interview with Pride below.
