Netflix’s Most Controversial Animated Series Will Be Gone Next Year

Netflix has announced that She-Ra and the Princesses of Power will be leaving the platform on February 21, 2026, according to What’s On Netflix.

The animated reboot, which first premiered in 2018, attracted both praise and controversy for its modern take on the classic 1985 series. Fans debated the redesign of She-Ra, with some claiming she no longer looked as glamorous or traditionally “beautiful” as the original character, while others applauded the update for promoting body positivity and avoiding s******* in a children’s show.

J. Michael Straczynski, co-creator of the original series, explained the creative intent behind the character, saying, “[She-Ra] was written as a warrior, first and foremost. Anyone who is looking back at [her] as the ‘ideal woman’ is doing so through the lens of prepubescent … interest and kind of, understandably, imprinted on her like baby ducks. I get it. But that wasn’t the creative intent.”

The show earned strong critical acclaim. Rotten Tomatoes reported a 100% approval rating for the first season based on 25 reviews, with an average score of 7.7 out of 10. The site noted, “By the grace of Greyskull, [the first season of] She-Ra and the Princesses of Power packs a powerful visual punch that hits even harder thanks to layered writing and multidimensional characters – the perfect show for seasoned fans and little ones alike.”

Fans responded to the redesign with creative artwork celebrating She-Ra’s updated look. Scholars have praised the series for its approach to gender and s******. Paul Thomas noted that the show “queers normative understandings of heroic gender and s******,” while Diana Burgos compared it to series like The Legend of Korra and Sailor Moon for helping audiences navigate complex ideas about identity.

The series is also recognized for its LGBTQ representation. Vox described it as one of the “most LGBTQ-inclusive and diverse shows on television.”

Creator Noelle Stevenson expressed hope that the series would continue to explore relationships and romances consistently without sacrificing story tension. Climate activist Jamie Margolin, in a New York Times profile, said she binge-watched all five seasons in three days and added, “I was like, I hate the real world. I want to live on Etheria.”

With its departure from Netflix next year, the future of She-Ra and the Princesses of Power remains uncertain. Fans who haven’t watched it yet may want to catch up before it leaves the streaming service.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!