A Queer Analysis of Ninjago (theory)

Happy Pride Month!
Remember, there's a difference between queer-baiting, and queer-coding. There's also a difference between a straight character that's queer-coded, and a confirmed queer character.
My videos sometimes have swearing in them so that I can keep them out of the kids section. NOT FOR KIDS
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Timestamps
0:00 - Intro
0:28 - Cole
3:35 - Jay
5:16 - Gay is not "too mature"
6:11 - Put yourself in their shoes
7:23 - Sally
8:44 - Fugidove
10:25 - Were we queerbaited?
11:10 - Outro

[@boonAlina]

(Subtitles are now finished if you ever didn't understand me in the video) Consider subscribing and maybe giving me some ideas on my community tab. Not guaranteed that I’ll take the idea, but you know 🤷‍♀ Also, if you like MLP and angsty topics, check out my analysis video on human Twilight's PTSD: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fH22fGqgorV5g8U Or, do you want some predictions and theories for the Sonic 3 movie: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oJ_EapiXgdeXotk *Background music:* Ninjago skybround full op instrumental - The Fold Violet - Jincheng Zhang Sakae in Action - Akihiko Matsumoto Vibrant Eyes instrumental - CG5 Flamme à lunettes Instrumental - Jack and the Cockoo Clock Heart Psycho Soup - Pogo

[@goodquestion.8518]

i was a huge glaciershipper, then a huge lavashipper, now im a MASSIVE geodeshipper. I love them.

[@CrisCheese_]

okay hear me out, cole trynna fight jay for nya makes perfect sense for a queer character figuring out their sexuality

[@boonAlina]

I mean the creators on twitter literally confirmed that he doesn't like Nya and that he was confused.

[@AmethystOrlando]

I don't believe Cole was romantically interested in Nya, even during the stupid triangle. The way I see it, he only fought Jay as self-defence because Jay struck first in the junkyard.

[@josefinejepsen1748]

The fact that DR is a thing, that Geo is a thing and season 2 is a thing just cements the HC we all have for Cole. Also the person with the non-binary flag on their sleve slays

[@boonAlina]

The gay subtext in season 2 is as blunt as a bat to the face, and it's so cool that they're actually doing the subtext on purpose this time lolol Edit: Season 2 of Dragon's Rising I mean

[@ethanandluinor6993]

Lava, lava make me happy. love seeing lava. Love seeing someone say something about a lava video positively. good day.

[@EnderVixen]

LAVA LAVA YES YES OOGA BOOGA LAVA HAPPY HAPPY

[@scottscoolgayroommate]

lava is love lava is life lava is lava

[@KittyKatt420]

I had a heart attack when I realise Nadhakhan a 100+ and Nya is still a teen

[@theonesnowpeep]

Bro going to jail💀

[@GODSAVETHEQUEENTHEFACISTREGIME]

In kipo i was shooketh when Kipo said "i like you" and he said "Im gay" and put his hand on his hip and i was FLABBERGASTED!!

[@boonAlina]

I know right. I was super hyped cuz I think at the time that was the first coming out scene in a cartoon. And I showed it to my sister and she was like "Okay? Why is that so exciting?" she was very behind on the history of LGBT suppression so she didn't understand why I was so hype lol.

[@hendersierra111]

Nya: “why do they always name sea ships after women?” Cole: “maybe because it takes a lot of paint to make them look good.” Cole definitely didn’t say that to be sexist….

[@boonAlina]

😂

[@ClicheProductions]

now thats humor

[@Archiver_Studio]

Didn't he apologize for it when he saw how it upset Nya?

[@boonAlina]

​ @Archiver_Studio Well technically he said "I kid I kid, lighten up water lilly"

[@Archiver_Studio]

@@boonAlina True, but he was clearly trying to help Nya calm down when he saw how it upset Nya, so he wasn't intentionally trying to upset her

[@heatheraddison1961]

The original four ninja (jay, cole, kao, zane) are all just in one polyamourus relationship.

[@Narratorthewannabe]

I’ve fallen back into my ninjago obsession because of damn Pinterest, and for the last few days my mums in the hospital taking care of my baby sister, so I’ve just been listening to ninjago analysis to keep me busy 😂 it’s nice to see something focusing a bit more on Cole cause most videos I’ve seen so far kinda skip over him. Our pebble deserves more attention

[@boonAlina]

"Our pebble" I can't 😂

[@Narratorthewannabe]

@@boonAlina if there's a character with an earth elemental or anything like that, pebble is my go to nickname lol

[@P4ra5ite]

1:02 love triangle? yeah, the ship im choosing in this love trinagle is not colexnya or jayxnya, man im going with colexjay colexjay but also colexkai and also jayxkai so colexkaixjay

[@chispychisp1690]

Welp time to make a video about Cole and Geo Also u forgot about the gay couple under the bridge and the lesbian couple in the prime empire dance battle

[@boonAlina]

I do want to make a part two but I'd rather make it after Dragon's Rising has gotten more seasons, or at least finished for that matter. Since there's a lot to talk about and maybe more coming our way. Like the trans allegory with Sora (her colors are literally the trans flag lol). And the coming out metaphor for Bonzel. Also, for the lesbian couple dancing thing, I may not have directly addressed it but I did show a picture of a tweet talking about it at 0:16

[@user-bo8fp6to5q]

this is great, lol. I see so many comments on other videos saying "not everyone has to be queer" etc. I'm not going to elaborate, but its ridiculous. People are never going to stop shipping things that they like, and saying things like that is just fuel for the fire.

[@boonAlina]

I delete the comments that are just straight up homophobic with no actual criticism

[@user-iz1dv6xo5n]

Cole is gay. That's all we need to know.

[@user-iz1dv6xo5n]

@@ricardocoming1983 yes.

[@boonAlina]

@carnothekarelian6395 I'm gonna say this once, so this is your only warning, but if you say anymore repulsive, downright homophobic, and douchebag behavior stuff like this on my channel again? I'll have you permanently removed.

[@boomgirlbucko]

​ @boonAlina Well hot dayum!

[@boonAlina]

@@GaryTheStormtrooper1 I'll give you 10 seconds to explain without pissing me off

[@Archiver_Studio]

@@boonAlina I think they meant that Cole JUST being known for being gae was sad

[@torialpin4651]

of course the first character you talk about is cole XD

[@boonAlina]

You know it baby ;)

[@shootingstarbit]

1:18 bisexuality gets left out of conversations like that a lot, attraction is a spectrum

[@corysilver2132]

Jumpscared by the Vibrant eyes instrumental in the background lol. Anyways that’s for the analysis (lava my beloved)

[@boonAlina]

YAS! I'm surprised someone actually noticed lol

[@Angsty-Bag]

I think Lloyd’s pansexual. This is probably a stretch, but during season 8 or 9, Harumi says something along the lines of “You failed because u trust everyone” or something like that (I really can’t remember)… ok yeah that’s a stretch. Love Llokita tho, we need more Akita

[@vegano5062]

I totally agree with you,but he could also be aroace

[@theonesnowpeep]

Sorry to tell you this but I'm pretty sure akita died😔

[@jamieberry9390]

OKAY GUYS WITH DRAGONS RISING PT 2 COLE AND GEO ARE DEF A THING🗣️🗣️🗣️

[@boonAlina]

He for real said "The reason I never told you was cuz I was afraid you wouldn't need me anymore and you'd leave"

[@boomgirlbucko]

Sshhh spoilers!!

[@ricardocoming1983]

you can’t be serious?

[@ricardocoming1983]

@@boonAlinabecause the land of lost things needed someone to protect it , Cole leaving would put it in danger from that monster.

[@boonAlina]

@@ricardocoming1983 Indeed, I'm the type that needs more evidence to think characters are attracted to each other but I'll just hope.

[@BluestJayy]

They kinda did the same thing they did with Sally in Dragons Rising Except it was an even more minor character They were like A bg character- I don't remember if they even had any lines or not But they had the LGBT flag and the Non-binary flag (I believe they were on their jacket)

[@BluestJayy]

I liked it tho bc I saw them and was like "hmmmmm they give me enby vibes"

[@boonAlina]

Wait really? Do you remember what episode?

[@BluestJayy]

@@boonAlina I do not They're on of the people the ninja were protecting from that crab monster thingy tho nskepw

[@BluestJayy]

@@boonAlina You should be able to find them by searching "LGBT character Dragons Rising"

[@theonesnowpeep]

​@@boonAlinashe even had a "LGTV" flag on her car

[@saturn352]

My favourite cannon ship is Zane and PIXEL (they're literally the cutest. I remember making playlists of songs that reminded me of them) but Cole ans Kai is definitely my favourite head cannon ship.

[@satan_from_hell]

playlists you say? do you remember any songs you had on them? (asking for a friend) (i’m definitely not too attached to pixane)

[@Angsty-Bag]

Love this video, I can see all the work put into it ❤ And I think the writers have dropped very subtle hints in the show, to maybe go over children’s heads, but they totally need to add an actual character or characters that are canonically, and proudly, gay, lesbian, or something like that. I’m happy that they added a non-binary character in the background for Dragons rising Part 2, in “Gangs of the Sea,” but they were only seen for like, a minute or two at best. Iwant the writers to confirm Geode shipping (Cole x Geo) canonically in the show so bad 😭Maybe if they kissed in the background or something? Held hands? Idk maybe that’s too much. Seriously tho, great video ❤

[@Archiver_Studio]

That would make the queers explode like nuclear reactors They got shipped literally MOMENTS after they were seen interacting

[@DexilejJ]

I love you /p I agree with literally everything you said in this vid, you worded it so concisely and just ashdhah I’m gonna be rewatching this forever lmao, these are exactly my thoughts. On the love triangle (and Cole): I’m lgbt and Cole’s ambiguous, ‘not-rly-sure-what-to-do’ reaction to Nya’s affection is almost a direct mirror to my own experiences (minus the ‘competition’ part lol). When in the confused/closeted stage, it feels like ‘oh geez, I have to act like the straightest straight who ever straighted, if I reject one person I’ll out myself as being equally uninterested in all people of the same gender, *they’re onto me* ‘. Like- Cole in s3 is unironically one of the most relatable things I’ve watched as an lgbt person. And ah yes. Fugi Dove. “Feel the warmth of my winggss~ feeel ittt~~”. Not to mention the Safe Haven episode…. Like as a lavashipper myself, that ep was….. many things.

[@boonAlina]

Aww thank you

[@boonAlina]

Oh, btw, on one of your rewatches, you can now turn on subtitles just in case there were any moments where I was hard to understand.

[@QuinCaidWrites]

I laughed all the way through this XD (also, can confirm from my own videos that ninjago fans are either super gay or super homophobic lol)

[@boonAlina]

There's never an in-between lol

[@karinasdreamworld]

Just wanted to drop in and say that you summed up my thoughts entirely by mentioning that it's okay to have your preferred ships (within reason---and by that I'm talking huge age gaps and...y'know), but claiming that a confirmed non-canon pairing is canon and getting mad at other people who don't feel the same is not cool :)

[@boonAlina]

Exactly, up top ✋

[@El_martillo_de_cole_555.]

Cole is my favorite ninja, and if they make him gay, then no way, he will always be the best Ninja for me. And I could consider Cole to be bisexual, but the way he behaves around Geo,I could assure you that Cole is gay.

[@moon7shinev150]

I think Cole is bisexual since when Cole leave's Nya to go after Wu's ghost someone pointed out the colors of the fog around him are bisexual colors

[@Bric_kproduction]

I’m not LGBTQ but I have a friend that is and he also watches ninjago and I’m okay with LGBTQ in ninjago shit I’m happy that Arin is black because I’m black and it’s 2024 so let’s try to put more LGBTQ and minorities in ninjago just don’t have them having babies same with straight characters.

[@boonAlina]

A lot of people headcanon Cole as black cuz of how his hair is shaped (and cuz... he's the "black" ninja pfft, but I think that's a little cliche lol)

[@Xeorboom]

what are you talking about, Arin is yellow

[@master-waterfall]

In my eyes Coles seems to be more on the aroace(aromantic asexual) spec but could also be gay(if don't understand look up split attraction stuff) also love how you brought up cake in the video as its a vailed point as an aroace I love cake than again could be biased as I am Aroace

[@coolboispidermanfan9903]

I think this might be what the creators want to be doing with LGBT, they want a main character to be gay/bisexual and what better character than Cole? I mean: he has no love interest, he's never had a crush on anyone (NO Nya and Vania do not count), and he's also super close with Kai in many moments of the show when the focus is put on someone else that you won't be focusing on him, I do think they may be afraid to directly show this and approach it face first, I do think they are trying to HINT AT IT or CONNECT THE DOTS or PUT THE PIECES TOGETHER, so overall, I think he's gay, no questions asked.

[@boomgirlbucko]

Yeah, they're trying to give signals to the queer community but still hide it from the homophobic community

[@carnooo_vr]

I don’t think making him gay would be good, keeping him straight would be better for the show and lore

[@boomgirlbucko]

@@carnooo_vr How does his sexuality have anything to do with the lore??

[@carnooo_vr]

@@boomgirlbucko it’s just going to make him different and it will be annoying as this is a kids show why do we have to gay-ify everything these days

[@boomgirlbucko]

​ @carnothekarelian6395 Oh my goodness... We found another ignorant one, people. Did you even watch the video?? A gay character, is the LEAST of kids problems. The show already has tons of other stuff that's much darker and way more not-so kid friendly like death, violence, torture, slavery, dictatorship, child abandonment, etc. But sure, let's have a temper tantrum over a character just liking the same gender. Maybe grow up and educate yourself before talking about something you don't know anything about.

[@doomus_]

i also think jay is bi or pan! i assume the only reason he was all "WERE SAVING A GIRL? is she hot?" type personality was more of a thing he was forcing into his personality due to his parents saying "didja find a girlfriend yet son?" (which im pretty sure theyve said before, if not something along the lines of it.) n' because he knew he also liked guys he had to really drive home the fact that hes into girls so nobody would guess, thats a dead giveaway though TRUST ME ive done it. i mean i get it after seeing that in THAT era of ninjago you could be made fun of for just wearing a pink apron as a dude

[@azalea_1803]

I feel like it’s also unanimously agreed upon that Kai is a bisexual too lmao

[@zanewithdasideye]

Does it make me homophobic if I actively dislike GREENFLAME and bruise and glacier. But I can ship lava cause I don't see skylor in Dr

[@NicoDiAngelo021]

Nah it doesn't you don't have to ship every gay couple if you don't want to but as long as you don't hate on lgbtq+ then you're not homophobic

[@adalinnnad8960]

I have no clue how the Cole stuff flew over my head on rewatch 💀 Anyways your average lava fan and Cole enthusiast here

[@adalinnnad8960]

😟 no really. IM queer. How did I miss the most blatant coming out metaphor

[@boomgirlbucko]

Well it is an old episode. Maybe you just watched it when you were younger and didn’t know about that stuff

[@boonAlina]

@@adalinnnad8960 I honestly don't think they did it on purpose, cuz it seems like they didn't even know what LGBT was until 2016. But still, after season 8 it really seemed like they were trying to code Cole as gay or ace.

[@I-do-not-have-pockets]

Nice little essay, discussion? I don’t know. And I’m just a tad bit surprised that you didn’t fully touch on Jay and Cole’s dynamic, cause oh boy if fudgi-dove was writing some enemies to lovers then it may as well be them after season 3 and before their fight in season 4. And unsurprisingly, I like Jay and Cole as a ship. Again, nice video and have you considered a demisexual Cole, cause by what you said it may fit into your view of him.

[@BlurroBlue]

Geo type beat 💯

[@boonAlina]

??

[@BlurroBlue]

@@boonAlina 🙏

[@данила_палитра]

i don't like how creators make queer characters just by putting on them rainbow flags 😭😭😭😭we have sally with bright rainbow flag on her guitar and parents' car and now we also have nb character in dr in rusty clothes but with bright and clean nb flag on their sleeve and rainbow flag on their back. is this the only way to canonically describe characters as a queer?

[@burner555]

That's the best they can do without putting romance

[@XPLR_OneDirection]

I feel like Cole is gay and Kai is bi (could just be a theory)

[@lloydi191]

8:23 realest shit ive ever seen 😭. either a close minded twelve year old or an adult homosexual.

[@Nightscaede]

I just love the show so there’s no need to overthink characters sexuality (at least to me) still useful to know that, however I mainly came here to get more Evidence for Cole being gay because I didn’t believe it at first but now I think it’s a good idea and should be cannon

[@ArthurElliott-lu5ie]

The best ships for coal are Coal x Kai And coal x cake

[@boonAlina]

Yeah, I really wish Dragon's Rising leaned more toward lava but geode is still cute. And I guess it definitely is the safer option to give Cole a love interest with a new character than have him with a character who has been established to like girls (it'd probably make the homophobic fans super angry and the creators wanna be safe I guess)

[@GODSAVETHEQUEENTHEFACISTREGIME]

I love ninjago and i watch lots of videos on Cole and his sexuality. Great video.

[@jellyfox7710]

I ship colexgeo and the hand holding in dragons rising season two you cant convince me there isnt anything between them

[@regularminecraftbedrockpla2994]

s9 cole being “ asexual “ or “ queer coded “ just sounds like a late bloomer lol. I dont really like people and try to avoid relationship stuff but that doesnt mean im asexual or gay.

[@boonAlina]

I mean who knows? You could be aromantic. I'm still figuring out my sexuality. Like, all my life I never cared for being chummy or romantic with anyone but I still had sexual feelings. So I eventually figured out that I'm on the aro/ace spectrum and bisexual (Sorry, I know you didn't ask but I just wanted to say it anyway lol)

[@regularminecraftbedrockpla2994]

@@boonAlina im straight but i just try not to get into this kind of stuff since when i was like 7 or something my family would tease me whenever i would look at a girl or accuse me of having a crush ( im a guy )

[@regularminecraftbedrockpla2994]

also people here are kinda mid also i try not to develop feelings for someone since it would cause a disaster ive seen those girls who obsess over guys that they like and i dont wanna act like that around a girl💀 its not like i never wanna be in a relationship or get married but rn i just dont wanna get into things like that since im still in school and i dont wanna cause a disaster

[@IsThisJd]

An absolutely amazing analysis. You earned a new subscriber

[@curedreamfandubz4116]

2:14 TDI REBOOT PFP SPOTTEDDDD

[@boonAlina]

@LeafCube

[@parasee2316]

I do not believe Jay is bisexual or finds any attraction to guys, I think him "accepting Kai's proposal" was just him being "yes that's how I wanna do it", and Jay kinda being "bi" the way you described him is probably just him being a non-toxic masculine dude, Cole however does seem to posses "traits" that may depict him as gay or bisexual (I think bi is more fitting) especially lava, which has a lot of strong evidence that shows he may possibly like Kai (especially in the later seasons) but I don't know 🤷‍♂️I do believe Cole is the only ninja in the show that is lgbt, ever since I watched the episode with him trying to hide being "a ninja" from his dad I never believed he was straight at all after that, however I've been very suspicious of how Kai is super touchy with Cole and I find it possible Kai could also possibly be bi without realizing it, but Cole has more going for him

[@boonAlina]

Yeah that’s fair. It is pretty rare to have a straight male character that’s just comfortable with their sexuality. But I mostly think Jay is at least a little bit Bi because he was attracted to Nadakhan’s voice. But idk, maybe Nadakhan just has an enchanting voice

[@babetfens5309]

Lavashippers👇

[@dumflame]

Nah, Cole X Cake 4 life Also, LGBTQ stuff is filled with politics, I think that’s why I think they’ll show other mature topics more, but not LGBTQ cause they don’t want any trouble for that

[@boonAlina]

Yeah that makes sense. But Ninjago isn't even all that well known. It literally shows only on Netflix, so I don't think it'd be taking that much of a risk

[@simonjoy2991]

​@@boonAlinaninjago is actually more popular than you think. So they would actually be taking a risk

[@DarkShadow-hy6iq]

In the newer seasons (s10 and up) Lava, is what they're "aCcIdEnTlY sHiPpInG" in the backgrounds and when the focus is out on someone else that people won't be paying attention to them 👀

[@boonAlina]

How do you “accidentally ship” something? /gen

[@DarkShadow-hy6iq]

​​@@boonAlinaexactly, they clearly know what they're doing

[@boomgirlbucko]

I've only seen clip compilations, so it's nice to see an actual analysis on it. Just like that one for ROTTMNT's queer-coding.

[@just_a_fan602]

Lava Ship

[@Xeorboom]

thank you, Google Translate!

[@Xeorboom]

I always imagined Cole was bisexual and I do not believe thst Fugidove is any of these, mo homophobia I just think S16 ruined Fujidove by making him too prominent

[@boonAlina]

I wouldn't really call a single episode "too prominent"

[@Xeorboom]

@@boonAlina look, I don't know I just hated him so much more in S16! he was great in S11 and should've stayed a joke

[@KingMLK1]

2:17 yeah I agree, but some people shouldn't be allowed to watch shows

[@boonAlina]

I'm confused but okay

[@KingMLK1]

@@boonAlina Sorry, I meant some people make crazy theories about whats gonna happen

[@montyyy1]

i dont like the idea of lgbtq being added onto the main characters bcuz theres no point, new characters fine

[@boonAlina]

Yeah but out of all the main characters, Cole would be the best choice. Cuz he's the only one of the male ninja who never got a female love interest

[@montyyy1]

@@boonAlina agreed

[@burner555]

​@@boonAlina what about Arin? Or is he too new?

[@dumflame]

⁠​⁠@@burner555i don’t think Arin’s even planned to have a love interest yet

[@honestimack1061]

Yes

[@nostalgic_capsule]

Cola isn't gay. He has L rizz

[@Bill-Cipher]

“Cola”

[@boonAlina]

I love how this comment implies that only people with W rizz can be gay 😂

[@jakeplayzyt5220]

Fungi- dove is a comic relief side character he’s so unimportant to force onto him a sexuality on him. He’s a pyschopath

[@boonAlina]

Your point being..?

[@jakeplayzyt5220]

@@boonAlina why should he be gay for acting like a sociopath around Jay?

[@boonAlina]

​@@jakeplayzyt5220Ever heard of Jeffrey Dahmer?

[@jakeplayzyt5220]

0:30 Cole is not gay. It is a forced perspective on him only serving to ship him with other characters. He is to an extent gay coded but I think he is still define straight. I got a banned on a dc serve for not shipping Cole and Kai like for gods sake the fandom is so toxic.

[@boonAlina]

You know what else is a forced perspective? Making him straight. "Cole is gay" being my opinion is just as valid as any other opinion on who he likes. Leave it alone.

[@jakeplayzyt5220]

@@boonAlina k. Maybe Cole can just be aero ace then

[@boonAlina]

​​@@jakeplayzyt5220 If that's _your_ headcanon then fine.