Some people were disappointed. They expected a more evident, more poignant, more didactic LGBT+ allegory. They’re not wrong. Yet Luca’s ambiguity, while avoiding the burden from haters that a more direct message would entail for corporate Disney (not that they would care so much, as the company would reap the profits from pink money), on the other hand extends the film’s reach.

Without any specific group feeling necessarily left out of the party, all outcasts can recognize themselves in Luca’s story. After all, the dilemma between differential self-assertion and coercion to socially accepted standards manifests itself in many ways, especially in adolescence. And every form of prejudice, bigotry and hatred needs to be exposed and denounced for what it is.

Luca shows sensitivity in showing the domino effect of identity pride: it takes only one person to come out of the closet (whatever it means) and raise awareness, inspiring others to do the same and starting to accept themselves as they are. It is also obviously important, given that this is a family movie, the eventual understanding by parents or other relatives –  it is well known that many cases of homophobic or gender violence take place at home.

Now, to the heart of the movie’s fabulation, the allegorical resonances come out organically – as if naturally – from the characters, the plot and the diegetic universe. All these narrative elements don’t strike us as forcibly made-up with the sole reason of teaching the audiences a hidden lesson – which is the great flaw of Pixar’s previous feature, Soul (2020), with the addition that it carries a quite questionable lesson, as described here.

The best children fables are stories that stand on their own narrative feet. The tale of the “monsters” Luca and Alberto is entertainging and meaningful as it is, without further interpretations. But, if we want to talk about hidden themes and messages (and we should always talk about that), we’ll find out that the movie is plentiful of diverse life experiences in symbolic form that many can connect to. You are not alone.