Though it is not as common as fans would prefer, the television industry is including a varied array of non-binary and gender-nonconforming characters and actors in their shows. Some portrayals of this are better than others, such as Klaus in a well-deserved moment of respect in the comics through his father Odin.
In recent years animated television that both adults and children can enjoy has come a long way in the of LGBTQ+ characters, especially in the inclusion of non-binary and gender-nonconforming characters. While animation has the opportunity to easily present just androgynous characters, it instead shows a diverse range of gender-nonconformity.
Raine Whispers - The Owl House
One of the most recent and fan-favorite non-binary characters in animation is Raine Whispers from Disney's The Owl House. They are the head witch of the Bard Coven and use they/them pronouns. Voiced by Avi Roque, a non-binary and Latinx actor. In a massive leap for LGBTQ+ representation, Raine is Disney's first non-binary character.
After years of being a Coven Head, Raine becomes a rebel and works against defeating the silver-tongued Emperor Belos. When they were thought to have become an enemy, they were a double agent working to protect their love interest and main character Eda Clawthorne (Wendie Malick). They are lovable and relatable character who happens to be non-binary and has become the next step for Disney's much-needed help with representation.
Nathan Seymour - Tiger & Bunny
Nathan Seymour, also known as the superhero Fire Emblem is a canonical agender and queer POC character from the 2011 anime Tiger & Bunny that was recently revived with a second season on Netflix. While they seem to be a 2-dimensional stereotypical androgynous character, their personality develops through the series.
They have an advanced level of control over their pyrokinetic abilities. In the 2012 film The Rising, it is revealed that Nathan struggled with their sexuality and gender during their childhood. They faced homophobic bullying and it is implied that their parents disowned them over their gender identity. However, they realize that they're happy with who they are; being "gender free" is their strength and makes them feel invincible.
Stevonnie - Steven Universe
Rebecca Sugar Steven Universe has been credited with Pose actor Indya Moore, none are quite so beloved as Steven and his best friend Connie who fuse to become Stevonnie.
Stevonnie is intersex and non-binary as well as being 25% Gem and 75% human but are really "an experience" that challenges gender norms, objectification, and the complex feelings surrounding puberty. Sugar's creation of non-binary female Gems helped them express their own gender identity and has been attributed to the trend of more LGBTQ+ characters appearing in animation since the 2010s.
Hange Zoë - Attack On Titan
While originally referred to as female in the English translation of the manga, Hange's gender is intentionally left ambiguous. Before anything, they are a scientist fascinated with Titans who ravage Paradis Island. Initially, they are a Section Commander of the Scouting Regiment until others are killed and Hange is promoted.
They are a brilliant inventor and tactician but know when enough's enough and tries to put a stop to Eren's plans to use The Rumbling to stop the war. Hange's gender is "better left unstated" and reprints have removed all gender-specific nouns to their character. Whether her fate is the same in Part 3 of the anime as it is in the manga, Hange is a true hero and an iconic non-binary character.
Fred - Ridley Jones
Ridley Jones is an animated preschool streaming series following the titular character who becomes the protector of the museum when it comes to life at night, much like the adored film franchise Night At The Museum. One of the main characters and of Ridley's team is Fred the non-binary bison museum model.
Fred is the first non-binary character in a Netflix kids series and is also voiced by Iris Menas - a non-binary actor whose pronouns are zie/hir. Menas also voices Odee Elliot a non-binary okapi in Madagascar: A Little Wild. Fred is described as an adorable bison who combs their fur into horns and likes to think they're the toughest around. The inclusion in this preschool show is nothing short of iconic.
Osana Najimi - Komi Can't Communicate
The childhood friend of the main character Tadano, Najimi is described as having an ambiguous or unknown gender/sex as well as being the titular character Komi Shouko's polar opposite. Going by he/him and she/her, they are androgynous and genderfluid. Najimi likes wearing parts of both the girls' (namely the skirt) and boys' uniforms, such as the tie.
The show is brilliant for its representation of selectively mute and autistic characters such as Shouko. While she has difficulty communicating, Najimi is brilliant at it, and with Tadano, they help Shouko make more friends at school - which Najimi is also great at. While they like to wear mostly non-gendered clothing outside school, they do prefer the feminine suffix "-chan" in Japanese but often went by the masculine "-kun" in middle school.
Double Trouble - She-Ra And The Princesses Of Power
Created by transmasculine and bigender cartoonist and producer ND Stevenson, Double Trouble is a non-binary and gay shape-shifting mercenary from the Crimson Waste. Going by they/them unless in-character, Double Trouble sees their shape-shifting gifts as the ultimate acting skill.
Voiced by Jacob Tobia is genderqueer and uses they singular pronouns, Double Trouble takes their acting craft extremely seriously but also uses their talents to mock others - namely Adora and her hair poof. While their true form is unknown, they often take a reptilian elf-like physique and wears black leotard. While they are committed to chaos and mischief, their true love is theater.
Kino - Kino's Journey
The titular character of the 2003 underrated anime series Kino explores countries with unique customs alongside a talking motorcycle named Hermes in this adventure/philosophy/science-fiction show. The protagonist is an AFAB transmasculine character with an androgynous persona.
They alternate between she/her and he/him and often resist people pinning them down as a "girl" or a "boy". She likes to travel around the mysterious world but never stays in a place longer than three days because she says it's all he needs to learn about a place and that he's scared she'll settle down. She is an adventurous wanderlust-filled genderfluid character who knows how to handle themself with the many weapons he carries.
Violet Harper/Halo - Young Justice
ing in season 3 and nicknamed "Halo" by Tigress, they are initially thought to be an amnesiac meta-human but learn they are the spirit of a dissected Mother Box (sentient portable supercomputers) which revives the body of Quarci refugee Gabrielle Daou. Seeing themself as another individual to the body they're inhabiting, Halo adopts the name of Violet Harper.
Discovering their origin, Violet no longer sees themself as "boy" or "girl" and in season 4 comes out as non-binary with they/them pronouns. While they were previously dating Prince Brion Markov (also known as Geo-Force) since the season 4 finale Halo starts a relationship with Harper Row. Their pursuit of exploring Daou's connection to Islam and their own non-human identity has made them one of Young Justice's breakout and most beloved characters.
Fujioka Haruhi - Ouran High School Host Club
For many, the protagonist Haruhi in this very progressive 2000s anime is considered to be an LGBTQ+ icon. Biologically female, they present as male to the host club's clientele and their classmates. They said it doesn't matter if people "recognize them as a guy or a girl" and that it's more important to be "recognized for who they are rather than what sex they are".
Not only is Haruhi loved for their down-to-earth personality and disregard for societal gender roles but their groundbreaking LGBTQ+ dad is a genderqueer drag queen. Seen as genderfluid and bisexual by fans, Haruhi has helped many understand their sexuality and gender identity.