Honesty and Respect- Surprising Representation in a Whimsical Cartoon
Because my chronic illnesses onset in my teens, I have spent much of my adulthood watching animated content from the comfort of my couch. Cartoons are accessible on days when other media is too nauseating or complicated to follow, while just engaging enough to distract from pain or PTSD.
One series that surprised me with its relevance was Disney’s “The Owl House.” I came to it expecting neurodivergent whimsy in the setting of a mystical land- and it certainly hit those points. What I did not expect was the honest, respectful representations of chronic illness and trauma.
Fairly early in season one, we are introduced to Eda’s “curse”. This curse onset suddenly and mysteriously in her teens, and has impacted her life by literally changing her body. The first conversation happens in Season 1, episode 4, when Edalyn’s loved ones pressure her to overexert. This results in her body literally changing, and her mind shifting to defensive, instinctual survival as she becomes “the owl beast”. Those of us with chronic illness can quickly recognize this as a “flare up”. The episode ends with Edalyn saying this: “No one likes having a curse, but if you take the right steps it’s manageable…. And as long as no one steals my elixir, …then I’m fine!”
Alongside these nuanced conversations about disability, medical treatment, misinformation, and boundaries, is a delicately woven story about developmental trauma. As a teen, Edalyn’s “curse” is set off by her sister, Lilith, who wanted to hurt her but did not understand the lifelong impact of her actions. This reflects how latent genetic disease can be triggered by a traumatic experience. Eda’s curse accelerates as her mother aggressively seeks a cure against Edalyn’s own wishes. These attempts to cure Eda are ultimately what push her to leaving her family altogether.
After over a decade, Eda reconciles with Lilith. Lilith, having finally broken away from an abusive workplace and accepted the impact she has had on Eda, begins processing her own traumas. It is at this point that Lilith begins to share Eda’s curse- and not just in a supportive sort of way. She begins showing physical signs like fatigue and rapid aging, and “deformities” like feathers. Her low battery t-shirt is iconic. But the way her curse develops reflects how genetic disease can be triggered at different times for different family members, with stress and trauma as the most common triggers. Lilith’s arc also reflects what burnout looks like for neurodivergent people who spend too many years masking- a form of trauma that often results in chronic health issues.
Alongside the Clawthorne family arc, we observe Amity’s relationship with her own family. Amity is the prodigy daughter in a respected family, just as Eda was. In both cases we observe the mother being restrictive, controlling, and dismissive of her child’s emotions. Eda lacked a support system, so she pushed away her family and her partner, Rain, because she did not believe they could love her as she was. Amity begins this way- bullying Willow, her childhood best friend, and keeping her walls up even with her friends. Ultimately, we see that Amity is able to build a support system with the help of her siblings and new friends. However, her mother never becomes supportive of her. Her mother’s toxicity escalates to a level where even Amity’s father does not feel safe with her anymore.
These parallel stories show how restriction, emotional neglect, and control impact a developing mind. It shows what is necessary to reconcile after the damage is done, and what it looks like when reconciliation isn’t safe. It is interlaced with healthy examples of what it looks like to love and support a person going through fatigue, chronic pain, and familial estrangement.
This series can be a great tool to bridge gaps in understanding about the culture of chronic illness- and somehow manages to do so while being cute, fun, and whimsical. I highly recommend Owl House to any member of the chronic illness community- after all, “us weirdos have to stick together!”