Running Time: 87 Minutes
Certification: 15
Starring: Shabana Azeez, Gemma Chua Tran, Bernie Van Tiel, Aunty Donna, Richard Roxburgh, Jordan Raskopolous, Madeleine Sami, Kween Kong
Time and time again, animation is misunderstood as a genre whose sole existence is for children's enjoyment. In actuality, it is a medium that can realise stories with boundless imagination for many ages. This is clear with how adults can get much out of Bluey, but South Park cannot be recommended to children. It is through this imaginative medium that writer/director duo Leela Varghese and Emma Hough Hobbs make their feature debut with Lesbian Space Princess.
Within the Gay-laxy is Clitopolis, a famously hard to find planet where lesbians live under rainbow skies, ruled over by flamboyant Queens who love to party, and have their own royal pussy (not a cat.) The Queens' introverted daughter, Princess Saira (Shabana Azeez), finds herself heartbroken when she is dumped by her bounty hunter girlfriend, Kiki (Bernie Van Tiel), for being too needy.
It is an unfortunate way for Saira to spend her birthday, which involves another failure to summon her royal labrys - the most powerful weapon known to lesbian-kind. When Kiki is kidnapped by forgotten incels known as the Straight White Maliens (voiced by comedy group Aunty Donna), they demand Saira deliver her royal labrys within 24 hours to save Kiki's life. Determined to save the day and hopefully reignite their relationship, Saira leaves the comforts of gay space on a problematic spaceship (Richard Roxburgh) for a journey of self-discovery.
This film exists thanks to the Film Lab: New Voices initiative, where mentoring and funding is offered courtesy of the South Australian Film Corporation and Adelaide Film Festival (with 2023's terrific Monolith being a previous winner.) It is fantastic that the initiative resulted in not just considerable queer representation, but also an imaginative work brought alive with stellar animation and good comedic timing.
Between the animation style, the sense of humour, and the original songs made up of melodic guitar strumming, this feels very inspired by 2010s works such as Rick and Morty and Adventure Time. It is not breaking new ground, particularly when the sense of humour becomes crude, but it all fits together rather well. There is no escaping the juvenility in seeing a phallic ship shooting white ammunition, but it works as an imposing sight threatening the lesbian lead, like the unwanted threat that it is.
From early on, it is clear that Saira has a low opinion of herself. She just wants to perform magic tricks and show off her sleight of hand skills, but everybody instead piles pressure onto her. Whether it is for not summoning her labrys, being single, or not wanting to party like her beloved mothers, nobody in Clitopolis seems interested in the princess being herself. As a result, she is constantly apologising.
Part of the reason she latches onto Kiki is because how everyone said the princess was lucky to be in that relationship - including Saira's self-obsessed ex. The combination of external validation and unresolved feelings leaves the princess hoping for a reconnection, resulting in her unintentionally continuing the cycle of hurt. Such moments help capture the messiness of relationships and life effectively.
Aiding the protagonist is Willow, an upbeat goth who aspires to write songs which express how they are feeling. The pair travel within a problematic ship, as seen with his dismissive views on women drivers, and questioning lesbians about the sex scene from Blue is the Warmest Color. However, there is a fantastic growth as the ship becomes an ally, with the time shared in each-other's company leading the ship to view Saira as a person deserving of love, instead of his initial perception of her as an "other."
Serving as the antagonists are the Straight White Maliens, a trio of former rulers that live in a man-cave, complaining about how life should be easier for them instead of understanding another's perspective. Key to this is how they cannot comprehend treating women with decency, so instead lure a woman out of her safe space to fulfil their plan. It's an interesting critique on incels, while also allowing Aunty Donna to entertainingly riff off each other without outstaying their welcome. A stand-out moment involves a misunderstanding between the words lesbian and thespian.
An intergalactic tale about seeing your own worth and loving yourself, Lesbian Space Princess is an unabashedly queer story full of heart. If you can, do yourself a favour and check out this excellent work for Pride month.
Lesbian Space Princess is available now in UK Cinemas
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