This article is about the character Ethan from Strange World. For other characters, see Ethan.
Ethan Clade is the tritagonist of Disney's 2022 animated feature film, Strange World. He is Searcher and Meridian’s 16-year-old son, who longs for adventure beyond his father's farm, while also navigating a school crush, Diazo.
Background[]
Official Description[]
- “Ethan Clade is a typical teenager who rolls his eyes when his parents smooch, lights up when his friends visit and gets completely tongue-tied when his crush, Diazo, is around. The 16-year-old longs for the kind of adventure that echoes that of the grandfather he's never met, so when his dad heads off on a crucial mission aboard the airship Venture—Ethan stows away... He certainly embraces his father and can feel the love that Searcher has for him, but something is missing for him in the quiet farm life he's living.”
- ―Roy Conli describing Ethan[1]
Personality[]
Ethan is a compassionate, kind-hearted sixteen year old boy who loves both his parents, despite getting embarrassed by them. Though Ethan does love his family and his life on his family's farm, he wishes to experience life and be his own individual away from the farm. However, because of his father unintentionally ignoring his needs and putting a lot of faith in him, Ethan feels pressured to make Searcher proud of him while living up to his legacy. Ethan does seem to admire his grandfather, Jaeger for being explorer and does quickly bond with him, despite being uncomfortable with the former's cautious and rash behavior.
Because Ethan grew up on a farm, he has a soft spot for all living things, including animals. In addition to his family being explorers, Ethan possesses a level of curiosity and determined when venturing into the world beneath Avalonia. His curiosity and love for animals also draws him to Splat whom he would form a friendship with after the creature became moved by Ethan's kindness when he treated a burn on one of his tentacles. And when the expedition team started to kill the bizarre creatures with Pando, Ethan is hesitant to harm them as he felt it wasn't right; something which was proven to be valid when discovering the creatures' true purpose and how Pando is the real threat.
In addition, Ethan is quite intelligent for his age; quickly figuring out the new world he ventured into was the inner body parts of the giant turtle creature and the creatures inside of it were actually part of the turtle's immune system. This knowledge and revelation helps Ethan and his family recognize Pando is the real threat, leading them to destroy it and save Avalonia.
After revealing to his father he did not want to grow up like him, Ethan quickly forgives Searcher for pressuring him and ignoring his needs, showing Ethan has a forgiving heart. A year later, Ethan maintains a strong relationship with his father while finally being able to live a life away from his farm and have a chance of start building his own legacy.
Physical appearance[]
Ethan wears in one scene an long white shirt, an hat purple and an orange neck warmer: for throughout the film he wears a pink long-sleeved shirt with short-sleeved blue jacket with pockets, green shorts, pink socks and blue boots. He resembles his mother Meridian as they both have dark skin and thin curly dark hair, hoop golden earrings and his neck warmer is yellow. Like his mother he wears 8 bracelets on his wrist, but Ethan has them on his right wrist unlike Meridian.
Appearances[]
Strange World[]
Ethan was born in Avalonia with his father Searcher and mother Meridian, he gets embarrassed whenever Searcher tries talking to his crush, Diazo. One day, Ethan meets Callisto Mal, the assistant leader of Avalonia, arrives at the Clades' home in a giant flying ship called the Venture. She informs the Clades that the Pando is losing its power and that they need Searcher to help find the cause, and that is how her founder and great leader Captain Calypso Khan appoints them to join a new expedition team on their quest. Later, Ethan and Legend stowaway to join with the crew later he and searcher got separated. Meanwhile, the group tries to prepare the ship, but Ethan sneaks away to find Searcher and discovers Splat, who tries taking him to his father. They end up getting attacked by creatures called Reapers, but reunite with Searcher and Jaeger. They are soon rescued by Meridian and Callisto, who outrun the creatures and return to the Venture.
During this time, Ethan realizes that Searcher and Jaeger do not see eye-to-eye and he becomes frustrated with the two of them and their opposing views. After another wild encounter, Searcher and Jaeger finally have a heart-to-heart talk with one another and realize that they do respect each other's goals in life. They finally encounter a root cluster of where the Pando is as it is being attacked by the creatures. Believing that the Pando is fighting back, they decide to try and help it. Searcher and Jaeger have another argument that ends with Ethan angrily storming off. Searcher follows him aboard a small flying vehicle, but as they are making up, they realize that they are floating above an ocean and in front of a giant eye with a mountain on top of it. The two realize that Avalonia has been on the back of a giant creature and that they have been traveling inside its body, meaning that the Pando is an illness that is slowly killing it. They head back to inform everyone about it, but they are in disbelief with an infuriated Jaeger leaving to see for himself and Callisto and her team locking up the Clades to prevent them from stopping their mission.
Luckily, Legend and Splat release the family. Ethan and Searcher head to the root cluster, which is actually the heart, while Meridian takes over the ship and finally convinces Callisto to stop the mission. Jaeger, after having a change of heart, returns and they break through the Pando. Creatures suddenly appear and bring the heart back to life, saving the land, but losing the Pando power source. Searcher and Ethan show everyone the giant creature, which is actually a turtle.
One year later, Ethan is in a relationship with Diazo as they and their friends' collect resources from the Strange World.
Once Upon a Studio[]
After the employees at the Walt Disney Animation Studios leave, Ethan and his family join all of the Disney characters to take a group photo to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Disney. Ethan and his family join in on the ensemble of singing "When You Wish Upon a Star" as the group photo is successfully taken.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Ethan is the first gay protagonist in a Walt Disney Animation Studios film.[2]
- His voice actor, Jaboukie Young-White, is openly gay in real life.
- While Disney had LGBTQ+ characters in the past, Ethan is the third Disney protagonist who is openly LGBTQ+, the first two being Luz Noceda and Amity Blight from The Owl House. Past LGBTQ+ Disney characters were either not openly LGBTQ+, or not protagonists.
- Ethan Clade being openly LGBTQ+ prompted Disney to not release Strange World in the Middle East (except Israel), Bangladesh, China, Ghana, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, the Maldives, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Tanzania, Turkey, Uganda and Vietnam over concerns of potential censorship.[3]
- The name "Ethan" is of Hebrew origin and means "firm, enduring, strong and long-lived". These traits best summarize the themes of the movie as well as the Clade family as a whole.
References[]
- ↑ Strange World: Inside Scoop On The Characters & Environments
- ↑ "‘Strange World’ To Feature First Openly Gay Teen Romance in Disney Animated Film". WDW News Today (June 17, 2022).
- ↑ "‘Strange World’ Eyes $25M Offshore Bow In Slimmed-Down Release As Disney Opts To Skip Middle East & More Over Potential Censorship". Deadline (November 21, 2022).
External links[]
- Ethan on Strange World Wiki
- Ethan on the Heroes Wiki
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