She-Ra and the Princesses of Power wrapped up its acclaimed run on Netflix in 2020. Though plans for more of the series remain unknown at this point, there are plenty of other animated and live-action shows like She-Ra that may provide some of the content and themes fans are looking for.
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power was a very progressive take on the original 80s cartoon and Mattel toy line, with a diverse cast and profound themes like found family. Many other shows feature similar qualities and might scratch the itch of fans who at least for now are left wanting more of the series.
Updated on July 31st, 2021 by Darby Harn: Though She-Ra and the Princesses of Power has been off the air for over a year now, its impact remains acute among fans. Fortunately there continue to be new and older shows coming to a variety of streaming series that might appeal to fans of the series. The landscape of both animation and live-action is changing, thanks in part to streaming as well as greater awareness of diversity and representation. As such, there is a much broader range of content for fans of the series to dive into while they wait to find out if there will be any more She-Ra.
Loki
● Available on Disney+
Loki might not seem like a show like She-Ra at first glance, but in fact, the two series share a lot in common. There is a great sense of found family between Loki and Sylvie, and there is finally an acknowledgment of Loki's sexuality and gender fluidity.
These themes will likely resonate with fans of She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, who found similar themes in that series. They will likely enjoy all the Easter eggs in Loki as they did in She-Ra, including hidden details in Sylvie's screen costume.
Cleopatra In Space
● Available on Peacock
Cleopatra In Space is just what it sounds like. Cleopatra from antiquity is transported 30,000 years in the future and has to acclimatize to a ver advanced future and space travel. It's not at all unlike Adora, who is similarly cast into another world (at least in her original mythology from the 80s).
Cleopatra makes friends with a number of characters, including talking cats, giving the show a fun vibe that is very similar to She-Ra, especially as she joins an academy called P.Y.R.A.M.I.D. to become the fabled chosen one.
Masters Of The Universe: Revelation
● Available on Netflix
Fans of the Eternal mythology and sci-fi/fantasy aesthetic of She-Ra and the Princesses of Power are likely to be intrigued by the new Netflix series Masters Of The Universe: Revelation. This sequel to the original Filmation 80s cartoon brings a lot more maturity to the story, as well as some more modern updates.
There is the slightest suggestion of a relationship between Teela and Andra, and the sense of found family among friends - even if it's strained in the first season - is similar to the dynamic in She-Ra.
Star Wars: Rebels
● Available on Disney+
Found family is at the very center of Star Wars Rebels. The disparate crew of the Ghost comes together from many backgrounds to fight in the common purpose of liberating Lothal from the forces of the Empire. Some of the best episodes of the series involve Ezra Bridger, who has lost his real family, becoming closer with his adoptive family on the Ghost.
The crew is diverse and its approach to the characters is nuanced, perhaps best realized in Agent Kallus. He was an Imperial agent who ultimately defected to the Rebellion.
Marvel Rising
● Available on Disney+
Marvel Rising is a series of animated shorts on Disney+ that will likely appeal to fans of She-Ra and the Princesses of Power. This 2018 series focuses on the Secret Warriors, a team of teen heroes composed of a diverse cast of characters like Squirrel Girl. The team becomes close, like the heroes in She-Ra, and work together to tackle super villains and everyday problems.
The show also had a spin-off comic book featuring many of the same characters. Many characters like America Chavez and Patriot are members of the Young Avengers in the comics and have already been established in the MCU or about to be, making the team likely in the future of the live-action franchise.
Avatar: The Last Airbender
● Available on Netflix
Many call Avatar: The Last Airbender one of the best shows of all time. It expertly combines styles from both Japanese anime and American cartoons and explored many concepts that were unexplored by cartoons of its time like genocide, imperialism, and colonialism.
Avatar is a show like She-Ra and the Princesses of Power as it also explores these themes. It also has a big redemption arc for Zuko, one of its main villains, much like Catra. Catra starts off as She-Ra's enemy as part of the Horde but eventually joins her on the side of good.
Steven Universe
● Available on Hulu
Steven Universe is a cartoon that in some ways made She-Ra and the Princesses of Power possible. Its positive portrayals of LGBTQ+ characters in what is generally considered children's animation may have helped pave the way for the great LGBTQ representation in She-Ra and for Bow to have a gay couple as parents.
The show has far more in common with She-Ra than just that though. Redemption arcs are aplenty, most of the characters other than Steven are women, and it mixes the genres of fantasy and science fiction.
Adventure Time
● Available on Hulu
Adventure Time is a show with a big fandom and quite a legacy in terms of its range of influence. Its sci-fi and fantasy world is pretty amazing, as it has everything from a candy kingdom to vampires and princesses of every sort. The visual flair makes it appealing as a show like She-Ra.
It is a little more on the scale of humor and absurdist situations than She-Ra, but the world and characters are similar in their thoughtfulness and wonder. Also, powerful princesses are a pretty cool common ground.
The Owl House
● Available on Disney+
The Owl House is pretty recent but is already known for its LGBTQ+ representation. It is not science fiction, but a story of fantasy in which a female lead, Luz Noceda, trains to be a witch. Like She-Ra, there is a lot of diversity in the show's world that is attractive to fans of fantasy. Its other similarity is in the number of genuine character relationships.
Luz is trapped in a magical realm and trying to get back, and dependent on her new friends for support and encouragement. For She-Ra fans who are looking for a new and fresh show to hop onto, this one is a good choice.
The Legend Of Korra
● Available on Netflix
The Legend of Korra in many ways is much more a show like She-Ra than its predecessor, Avatar: The Last Airbender. In fact, the main character, Korra, is a lot like Adora in terms of her stubborn and action-oriented personality.
The series also did something quite similar to She-Ra in terms of Catra and Adora becoming a couple at the end, as The Legend of Korra made Korra and Asami as a romantic couple in the final episode. Their relationship is explored in much more detail in comic books that have come out since the show ended.
The Dragon Prince
● Available on Netflix
Like The Owl House, The Dragon Prince is another currently running show that has similarities with She-Ra. The story follows a pair of half brothers trying to end a magical war which is tearing their world apart.
There is LGBTQ+ representation in the cast as well as similar themes that fans of She-Ra are likely to find appealing. The story is much more of a fantasy than She-Ra, focusing on elves, and it won Outstanding Children's Animated Series at the 2020 Daytime Emmy Awards.
Star Vs. The Forces Of Evil
● Available on Disney+
Fans who liked She-Ra for its female lead, action, and humor will likely think of Star vs. The Forces of Evil as a good choice for the next show to get into. There is a lot of overlap in the characters, their names, and stories. Star Butterfly is heir to the throne of Mewni, not unlike Glimmer in She-Ra, but she's a bit reckless and headstrong like She-Ra.
The story has heavy anime influence from Sailor Moon and Dragon Ball Z. The show had four seasons in all, but they each had more episodes than She-Ra's five seasons.
Infinity Train
● Available on HBO Max
Infinity Train is a little special because it's an anthology with three seasons. Each season is set on a mythical train, but each one has a different cast of characters. A major thematic link in the series and with shows like She-Ra is that the series typically deals head-on with issues like trauma.
Characters are able to leave the train once they resolve their issues, representing a healthy and positive way of dealing with complex problems via a metaphor that works on many levels.
Trollhunters: Rise Of The Titans
● Available on Netflix
Trollhunters: Rise Of The Titans is a science-fiction fantasy series made by writer and director Guillermo del Toro for Netflix. The show focuses on a number of young characters like the hero Jim who come together to fight evil. It's very reminiscent of She-Ra and leans heavily into elements of fantasy.
It's likely to appeal also to fans of the MCU, as this series is actually an Avengers: Endgame style crossover between a number of previous series set in the same world, building on a larger mythology as She-Ra also does.
Over The Garden Wall
● Available on Prime Video
Fans in the mood for a show that is shorter than She-Ra but will provide the same amount of wonder and entertainment will likely enjoy Over the Garden Wall. This 2014 series features a pair of half-brothers, Wirt and Greg, who get lost in a magical forest that isn't exactly what it seems.
They are forced to work together with the inhabitants of the forest to get back home. The show only ran for one season but like all great children's stories, there is a lot to go back to again and again.