Julián Is a Mermaid Celebrates Gender Diversity in Mainstream Animation

Julián Is a Mermaid adapts Jessica Love’s bestselling children’s book and is directed by Louise Bagnall. The movie was created by Cartoon Saloon – the studio behind The Secret of Kells, Wolfwalkers and The Breadwinner – and was reviewed at its North American premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Instead of the usual 3‑D CGI, the film uses a painterly watercolor and marker style that feels hand‑drawn, giving each frame a warm, vibrant look that matches the story’s imagination.

The plot follows a Dominican‑American boy living in Brooklyn with his abuela. Over a summer he discovers a love for the ocean, meets a group of girls preparing for Coney Island’s annual Mermaid Parade, and eventually joins the parade himself.

During the parade, the boy encounters a trio of queer‑coded mermaids who help him, highlighting a community that embraces difference. The film shows how gender expectations can limit a child, but love and acceptance can break those limits.

By placing a young, gender‑nonconforming protagonist at the centre of a mainstream animated feature, Julián Is a Mermaid demonstrates that inclusive storytelling can reach wide audiences and celebrate queer identities without preaching.

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