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Luz Noceda

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Luz Noceda
The Owl House character
First appearance"A Lying Witch and a Warden" (2020)
Created byDana Terrace
Voiced bySarah-Nicole Robles
In-universe information
SpeciesHuman
GenderFemale
Family
  • Camila Noceda (mother)
  • Unnamed father (deceased)
Significant otherAmity Blight (girlfriend)
HomeGravesfield, Connecticut
NationalityDominican-American
Abilities
  • Magic (via glyphs)
    • Light magic
    • Ice magic
    • Plant magic
    • Fire magic
    • Temporary Invisibility
    • Safety Hovering

Luz Noceda is a fictional character who serves as the main protagonist of the Disney Channel animated series The Owl House. She is voiced by Sarah-Nicole Robles.[1][2] Luz is confirmed to be bisexual by show creator Dana Terrace,[3] some calling her the "first bisexual lead character" on a Disney Channel show.[4] In April 2021, the show’s creator also revealed that Luz Noceda is neurodivergent.[5]

Creation

According to series creator Dana Terrace, Luz is named after her Dominican-American roommate, Luz Batista, a story artist and consultant for the show.[6][7] Terrace also said that Luz's character evolved from conversations she had with Luz Batista, who later became her best friend.[8] Later, Nancy Kanter, EVP, Content and Creative Strategy of Disney Channels Worldwide explained that while they loved the "combination of magic and mystery in this other world" of The Owl House, they really "fell in love with the main character Luz," leading them to green-light the show itself.[9] This connected with Terrace's hope that audiences are "entertained by Luz’s world and her off-the-wall adventures."[8]

On July 7, 2020, when responding to a fan who posted a still of Amity putting her hands on Luz's shoulder,[10] from a promotion for the upcoming episode "Enchanting Grom Fright" on Twitter, Terrace said that there is no heterosexual explanation for the moment.[11] Later, on August 10, Terrace confirmed on Twitter that the episode features a bisexual character,[12] but didn't confirm whether this was Amity, Luz, or both, but many fans assumed this referred to Luz.[13][14] On September 2, during a Reddit AMA, Dana Terrace confirmed that Amity is intended to be a lesbian and that Luz is bisexual.[3] She also stated that the relationship between Amity and Luz would be explored in Season 2 and that Luz is "oblivious to some things in front of her," including Amity's crush on her.[15] In the same AMA, Terrace stated that Luz was Amity's first crush[16] and that she was thrilled to see people connect to the show's characters, like Luz and Amity.[17]

Character

Luz Noceda is a 14-year-old Afro-[18]Dominican-American girl[19][20] from Gravesfield, Connecticut.[21][22] She has short dark brown hair, brown eyes, and typically wears a cat-ear hooded indigo-and-white t-shirt, denim shorts, black leggings, and white shoes.

Luz is very quirky, outgoing, and unpredictable. She is a fan of the novel series The Good Witch Azura. She loves fantasy to the point of being detached from reality and has a hard time making friends.[23] However she still does have a heart and good intentions. In the first episode of the series her mother sends her to a reality-check camp, but she accidentally ends up going to the Boiling Isles instead through a portal in a nearby house.[24][25] Due to her love of all things fantasy and magical, she wants to become a witch.[26] She soon becomes a friend of an old witch named Eda and a small wolf-like demon with a skull-like head named King. [27] Later, Luz enters Hexside Academy as a new exchange student.

Fictional character biography

Season 1

Luz Noceda is a young girl who has a strong love for fantasy. So strong, in fact, that it gets her into trouble. After failing her book report at school due to her outlandish presentation, her mother decides to send her to "Reality Check Summer Camp" to help her focus more on reality. To show confirmation towards her mother's wishes, she throws her copy of The Good Witch Azura book in the trash. As soon as her mother leaves, however, she fishes for it, only to see it being carried away, along with other garbage, by a diminutive owl and follows it into a dilapidated house. Luz suddenly gets transported to the magical world of the Boiling Isles, specifically a town called Bonesborough. Luz is immediately taken in by a notorious witch named Eda Clawthorne and her small "roommate" King and begins to live with them at the Owl House, the series' namesake. Realizing that her life back home would be unfulfilling, she decides to stay in Bonesborough to train under Eda and become a witch, despite the fact that she herself is incapable of performing magic.[28] Shortly afterward, she befriends two young witches named Willow Park and Gus Porter who attend Hexside, a school that Luz begins vying to attend. She also meets Amity Blight, a snooty student who initially looks down on Luz and her friends. [29] During her time in Bonesborough, Luz slowly learns that she can perform magic through drawing symbols on paper. Her first symbol, a magic orb that produces light, stuns Eda. In a Coven Convention, Luz challenges Amity to a witch duel, which she accepts. Amity is disqualified as she is found to have been cheating, and leaves, ridiculed. Luz finds her and offers her her friendship, and Amity, reluctant at first, allows Luz to continue her magic studies.

She discovers that Eda had been cursed as a child and wants to help her try to remove it.[30] Her relationship with Amity begins to improve when she realizes that she genuinely cares for her well-being and end up having a shared love for The Good Witch Azura series.[31] Through the actions of Eda, and a little from Gus, Luz finally gets accepted into Hexside and,[32] contrary to the initial rules, is allowed to learn from every track after she saves the school from a Greater Basilisk.[33] She helps Willow regain her confidence on school, and, by entering her mind, manages to discover the roots of her troubled past with Amity. She helps them both start over again their relationship. On Grom night, Luz offers to fight Grometheus, a monster that manifests as the fighter's deepest fears, instead of Amity, who was originally chosen. When she is overpowered, Amity comes to her help. They dance together while casting multiple magic spells, defeating Grometheus. Despite having an increased confidence and security about herself, Willow keeps getting bullied by Boscha and her friends, to which Luz, Gus, and Amity decide to help. They challenge Boscha to a Grudgby match, in which, while they lose, they gain the respect and sympathy of Boscha's teammates. Luz cares for Amity in the Owl House, as she suffered a broken leg during the match.

Luz attends a field trip to the Emperor's Coven and plans to steal an item to cure Eda. She ends up getting discovered by Lilith, Eda's sister who has been trying to capture her, and kidnaps Luz to lure Eda out. They collectively learn that she had been the one who cursed Eda and has been trying to capture her, not just to cure Eda's curse, but to also have her join the coven, something Eda had long detested. Luz ends up getting sent back home after Eda gives herself up willingly to save her.[34] Luz and King head back to rescue her from the Emperor's Coven and reluctantly teams up with Lilith after she admits that Emperor Belos plans to kill Eda, rather than cure her. Luz faces off against the Emperor who will only let Eda go if she gives him the key to the real world, which Eda used when Luz first came to the Boiling Isles. However, Luz uses her magic to destroy it and she rescues her friends before fleeing. Lilith uses her magic to share the curse between herself and Eda, and Luz decides to help them reclaim their magic after theirs diminish.[35]

Season 2

Luz, now more adept and skilled with her glyph magic, decides to teach it to Eda and Lilith, to cope with their newfound weakness due to their curse. Eda, sensing Luz's guilt for the recent events, tell her that her life has been better with her in it, and she feels better the situation. Luz, Willow, and Gus are expelled from Hexside, by virtue of Amity's powerful parents. Luz, attempting to help her friends be admitted back into Hexside, offers herself to the Blights as a test subject for their new product. She is saved by Amity, and their relationship continues to improve. Luz, along with her friends, are accepted back to Hexside.

She learns from Eda's mother that she was not the first human on the Boiling Isles, and heads to the library, where she learns that Philip Wittebane managed to arrive to the Isles in the 1600s. For further information, she seeks Philip's diary, which can only be accessed with Amity's help. They secretly search for the diary, with Amity showing interest in visiting the Human Realm. They find the diary, but its contents have been eaten by a mouse, angering Luz. Her outpour blows their cover, and Amity is fired by the master librarian, Malphas. Feeling upset for what happened, Luz undergoes multiple trials and challenges, and manages to get Amity's library card back. When she goes to her house to give it back to her, she discovers Amity has dyed her hair purple. The mouse, who hitched a ride in Luz's leg, turns out to be an Echo Mouse, and Amity teaches Luz that the contents of the diary that the mouse has eaten can be replayed and seen. Amity thanks Luz for returning her card, and, as a gesture, kisses her on the cheek. Luz is rendered speechless, which prompts Amity to flee the scene in embarrassment.

On Palisman Adoption Day, Luz can't create a connection with any of the Palismen, as she is skeptical about her future and her aspirations. She decides to spend the night in the nest, hoping to bond with a Palisman. The nest is stolen by the Golden Guard, who seeks to deliver them to Emperor Belos, who needs them to hold back a curse he suffers. She learns that his name is Hunter, and that he, like herself, does not have magic on his own, relying on a staff to create spells. She manages to get him to do the right thing, and Hunter reluctantly surrenders the Palismen. She returns the nest to the school, and back at the Owl House, Eda and King giver her a log of palistrum wood, for her to carve her own Palisman. After what happened at Amity's house, Luz is now more confident of the feelings she has for her, and wishes to ask her out in the best way possible. Hooty tries to help her, by kidnapping Amity, and placing both of them in a tunnel of love. As they traverse the river, Luz feels embarrassed at the tunnel's romantic messages, without realizing that Amity is flattered. When more messages start to appear, Luz destroys them to prevent Amity from seeing them, as she believes she will be made fun of. However, Amity mistakenly believes that Luz is uninterested in her, and turns to leave, heartbroken. Hooty, upset at being unable to help Luz, Eda, and King with their respective troubles, lashes out, wreaking havoc in the House. Luz tells Eda that she wants to ask out Amity, so Eda and King repel Hooty from them. Luz explains to Amity that while she does not know what will happen in her future, she does know that she does want her to be in it. Excitedly, they both verbally ask each other out, and begin dating. Luz continues to study the contents of the Echo Mouse, with the help of Amity.

Luz discovers from the Echo Mouse that one of the components for creating a portal back home is Titan's Blood, which can be found in Eclipse Lake. Eda, King offer to get it for her, as she is sick. Amity tags along, wanting to prove to Luz that she is a good girlfriend for her. Luz worries for their well-being, and when they return from their perilous mission, Luz joyfully embraces Amity, happy that she is safe. With the Blood recovered at the mission, Eda and King create a temporary portal for Luz to check on her mother, Camila, back in Gravesfield. Luz discovers that a shape-shifting Basilisk, named Vee, has been living her life back on the Human Realm, as Camila was kind and loving to her. Luz learns that Vee escaped the Boiling Isles, as her species was being experimented upon by the Emperor's Coven. With the help of Camila, Luz rescues Vee from a demon-crazed curator, and Camila allows her to stay. Luz reveals that staying in the Boiling Isles was her own choice, deeply upsetting Camila, who believes she was pushing Luz away from her. The portal weakens, and before being pulled back by Eda and King, Luz promises Camila to stay in the Human Realm, once she manages another way to come back.

Reception

Luz's character was received positively. She was described by some as a teen who "aligns herself with a witch and a demon" to fulfill her dream to become a witch,[36] and praised her character, with some calling her a "fantasy-loving human."[37][38] Others praised the plotlines of episodes where Luz explored the magic school and met other witches of the same age,[39] and the growing romantic relationship between Luz and Amity.[40]

In the season 1 episode "Enchanting Grom Fright," Luz and Amity dance together for the first time.[41] Spencer Wan says that he's "never been prouder of any other board."[42] Alex Hirsch (voice of King, creator of Gravity Falls, and Terrace's partner) was very proud of Disney for including this scene in an episode.[43] After it was confirmed that Luz was bisexual, actress Lili Reinhart, who plays Grace in Chemical Hearts, welcomed the development, saying that often people have told her that being bisexual is "a phase," and felt validated by Luz's character.[44]

References

  1. ^ "Owl House: S1 Fact Sheet". Disney ABC Press. November 21, 2019. Archived from the original on December 19, 2019. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  2. ^ "Official Trailer | The Owl House | Disney Channel". YouTube. Disney Channel. November 21, 2019. Archived from the original on August 18, 2020.
  3. ^ a b Desborough, Jenny (August 17, 2021). "Pansexual Meaning As Mae Whitman Opens Up on Sexuality". Newsweek. Archived from the original on August 17, 2021. Retrieved November 26, 2021. Original Reddit thread here
  4. ^ Porter, Rick (August 21, 2020). "How Children's Shows Lead the Way in Diversity on TV". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on August 24, 2020. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  5. ^ Rose, Rebecca (April 8, 2021). Interview With Dana Terrace and Matt Braly. YouTube (Interview). Event occurs at 1:07:26. (Dana Terrace:) It was absolutely my intention to make Luz neurodivergent.
  6. ^ Brown, Tracy (January 10, 2020). "For its creator, Disney's 'The Owl House' is the best revenge". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on February 1, 2020. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  7. ^ Elderkin, Beth (October 17, 2019). "The Personal Story Behind Owl House's Magical New Disney Heroine". Gizmodo. Archived from the original on August 12, 2020. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  8. ^ a b Zahed, Ramid (December 24, 2019). "Disney Channel's 'The Owl House': It's a Hoot!". Animation Magazine. Archived from the original on April 8, 2020. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  9. ^ Lang, Jamie (June 12, 2018). "Disney Announces 'Vikingskool,' Shares Exclusive First Images of 'The Rocketeer,' 'Owl House'". Variety. Archived from the original on June 6, 2020. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  10. ^ ArtisticAngel [@angellucas136] (July 7, 2020). "There is no Heterosexual explanation for this" (Tweet). Archived from the original on July 8, 2020. Retrieved August 9, 2020 – via Twitter.
  11. ^ Terrace, Dana [@DanaTerrace] (July 7, 2020). "There really isn't" (Tweet). Archived from the original on July 8, 2020. Retrieved August 9, 2020 – via Twitter.
  12. ^ Terrace, Dana [@DanaTerrace] (August 8, 2020). "I'm bi! I want to write a bi character, dammit! Luckily my stubbornness paid off and now I am VERY supported by current Disney leadership. (Thank you @NashRiskin and team!) Not to mention the amazingness of this crew" (Tweet). Archived from the original on August 9, 2020. Retrieved September 5, 2020 – via Twitter.
  13. ^ FNR Tigg (August 16, 2020). "Disney Channel Will Debut Its First Lead Bisexual Character in 'The Owl House'". Complex. Archived from the original on September 5, 2020. Retrieved September 5, 2020. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; September 6, 2020 suggested (help)
  14. ^ Smith, Reiss (August 10, 2020). "Disney finally makes queer history with long-awaited bisexual lead". PinkNews. Archived from the original on August 12, 2020. Retrieved August 12, 2020. Luz (Sarah-Nicole Robles) has previously shown interest in guys, but in recent weeks fans have noticed her growing closer and closer to her once-enemy Amity (Mae Whitman)...Though Terrace didn't confirm whether she was talking about Luz or Amity (or both) as the bisexual character, most fans have assumed her words to be about Luz given the numerous hints that have been dropped, and the fact that she's the show's protagonist.
  15. ^ Terrace, Dana (September 2, 2020). "Luz is a little bit of a bonehead. Very relatable. That being said Luz has been so distracted with Eda's curse it makes it hard to see what's right in front of her". Reddit. Archived from the original on September 3, 2020. Retrieved September 3, 2020.
  16. ^ Terrace, Dana (September 2, 2020). "I definitely think Luz is her first crush (or at least her first big crush). That's why it's so overwhelming haha". Reddit. Archived from the original on September 3, 2020. Retrieved September 3, 2020.
  17. ^ Terrace, Dana (September 2, 2020). "Not at all! No, the main focus of the series will never be on any romantic thread but that doesn't mean those threads aren't important. And I'm thrilled that people connect to our characters! It just means that audiences are invested and that's a wonderful thing. World building and lore is only as important as it relates to our characters, in my opinion". Reddit. Archived from the original on September 3, 2020. Retrieved September 3, 2020.
  18. ^ Terrace, Dana (September 16, 2020). Drawing Cartoons to Save Democracy (Livestream). [Archived by nanopulga098 on Youtube on September 17, 2020]. Twitch. Event occurs at 1:17:40. Retrieved 9 February 2022. {{cite AV media}}: |archive-date= requires |archive-url= (help)
  19. ^ Elderkin, Beth (October 17, 2019). "The Personal Story Behind Owl House's Magical New Disney Heroine". io9. Archived from the original on October 18, 2019. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  20. ^ Nolan, L.D. (January 9, 2020). "The Owl House Stars Hirsch, Robles Reveal Their Hopes For the Show". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on January 10, 2020. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  21. ^ Underwood, Bridget (director); Dana Terrace (writer) (July 17, 2021). "Hunting Palisman". The Owl House. Season 2. Episode 6. Disney Channel.
  22. ^ Coburn, Bosook "Bo" (director); Molly Ostertag and Dana Terrace (writer) (August 14, 2021). "Yesterday's Lie". The Owl House. Season 2. Episode 10. Disney Channel.
  23. ^ Kirichanskaya, Michele (August 5, 2020). "Will The Owl House Finally Present Disney's First Confirmed LGBTQ+ Protagonist?". The Mary Sue. Archived from the original on August 5, 2020. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  24. ^ "Disney Channel Launching Toon Series 'Amphibia' & 'The Owl House', Renews 'Star Vs. The Forces Of Evil' For Season 4". Deadline Hollywood. February 23, 2018. Archived from the original on July 24, 2020. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
  25. ^ Hipes, Patrick (September 5, 2019). "Disney Channel's 'The Owl House' Sets Voice Cast, Secures New York Comic Con Berth". Deadline. Archived from the original on September 5, 2019. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  26. ^ Nordyke, Kimberly (November 21, 2019). "Disney Channel's 'The Owl House' Gets Season 2 Order Ahead of Series Premiere (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on June 15, 2020. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  27. ^ Princess Weekes (November 21, 2019). "Owl House's Luz Noceda Confirmed to Be the First Bisexual Lead Character on Disney Channel". The Mary Sue. Archived from the original on August 20, 2020. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  28. ^ Sandoval, Stephen (director); Dana Terrace and Rachel Vine (writer) (January 10, 2020). "A Lying Witch and a Warden". The Owl House. Season 1. Episode 1. Disney Channel.
  29. ^ Sandoval, Stephen (director); John Bailey Owen and Dana Terrace (writer) (January 24, 2020). "I Was a Teenage Abomination". The Owl House. Season 1. Episode 3. Disney Channel.
  30. ^ Livingston, Stu (director); Manuel Jesse Nieto Jr., Dana Terrace and Rachel Vine (writer) (January 31, 2020). "The Intruder". The Owl House. Season 1. Episode 4. Disney Channel.
  31. ^ Dhaliwal, Aminder (director); Zach Marcus, Dana Terrace and Rachel Vine (writer) (February 28, 2020). "Lost in Language". The Owl House. Season 1. Episode 7. Disney Channel.
  32. ^ Cotugno, Sabrina (director); Zach Marcus (writer) (March 13, 2020). "Something Ventured, Someone Framed". The Owl House. Season 1. Episode 9. Disney Channel.
  33. ^ Cotugno, Sabrina (director); Zach Marcus, John Bailey Owen, Dana Terrace and Rachel Vine (writer) (July 25, 2020). "The First Day". The Owl House. Season 1. Episode 13. Disney Channel.
  34. ^ Dhaliwal, Aminder (director); John Bailey Owen (writer) (August 22, 2020). "Agony of a Witch". The Owl House. Season 1. Episode 18. Disney Channel.
  35. ^ Sandoval, Stephen (director); Dana Terrace and Rachel Vine (writer) (August 29, 2020). "Young Blood, Old Souls". The Owl House. Season 1. Episode 19. Disney Channel.
  36. ^ Ashby, Emily (January 10, 2020). "The Owl House TV Review". Common Sense Media. Archived from the original on February 25, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
  37. ^ "TV Review: "The Owl House" Brings the Demon Realm to Disney Channel". LaughingPlace.com. January 9, 2020. Archived from the original on August 18, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
  38. ^ Trumbore, Dave (January 8, 2020). "'The Owl House' Review: Magic, Mythology & the Most Intriguing Lore Since 'Gravity Falls'". Collider. Archived from the original on January 11, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
  39. ^ Brown, Tracy (August 10, 2020). "The five TV shows you should be watching this week - "The Owl House" (Disney Channel)". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on August 12, 2020. Retrieved August 12, 2020. For me, "The Owl House" has found its stride as Luz has started exploring magic school and meeting other teen witches. The latest episode was prom-themed and featured a memorable dance/fight sequence; its revelation that one of the show's main characters is bisexual was a bonus, and a significant milestone for LGBTQ representation on a Disney show.
  40. ^ Adams, Tim (August 9, 2020). "The Owl House: Disney Animated Series' LGBTQ+ Relationship is No Longer Subtext". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on August 10, 2020. Retrieved August 10, 2020. Luz and Amity began as rivals, but The Owl House has slowly built up a friendship between the two girls. Once Luz learned that they share many of the same interests, she has tried to befriend Amity. Since then, their relationship has continued to grow, with more clues being dropped that feelings could be brewing. While fans are aware of Amity's feelings for Luz, they will have to wait and see if and when Luz makes her feelings known as well.
  41. ^ Bollinger, Alex (August 17, 2020). "Disney's new animated series "The Owl House" stars an out bisexual girl". LGBT Nation. Archived from the original on August 21, 2020. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  42. ^ Wan, Spencer [@SpencerWan] (August 9, 2020). "The storyboards for the dance. This was a collaboration between Hayley Foster and myself. At some point I got carried away and timed it to Veo Lu Sluice by Kumi Tanioka. This was my first time getting to do anything even remotely queer, and I've never been prouder of any other board" (Tweet). Archived from the original on August 9, 2020. Retrieved August 10, 2020 – via Twitter. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; August 10, 2020 suggested (help)
  43. ^ Hirsch, Alex [@_AlexHirsch] (August 9, 2020). "Back when I made GF Disney FORBADE me from any explicit LGBTQ+ rep. Apparently "happiest place on earth" meant "straightest" But as of today, thanks to @DanaTerrace & team there are explicitly queer ANIMATED MAIN CHARACTERS on DISNEY TV. Im so proud & happy to say that #OwlHouse" (Tweet). Archived from the original on August 9, 2020. Retrieved August 9, 2020 – via Twitter.
  44. ^ Jones, Emma (August 21, 2020). "Lili Reinhart: Being bisexual is not just 'a phase'". BBC. Archived from the original on August 21, 2020. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
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