49 TV Shows and Movies That Celebrate Diverse Non-Traditional Families

Everyone deserves to be part of a family.

Did you know that the traditional nuclear family only makes up around 20% of all households in the US? That's right - there are many non-traditional families out there with different structures, including adoptive, single parent households, blended families, and same sex relations. Representing these alternative family models matters for both kids in those types of families and society at large.

What can we do to bring representation into our homes?

Well one powerful way is to make sure non-traditional family structures are represented on TV shows or movies that kids watch. There are some fantastic programmes and films out there with positive examples of love and acceptance across different types of diverse family units. These provide essential values such as love, compassion and acceptance which will stay with children as they grow up into adults - plus they're fun too!

We Made A List... A Big List! With a Bonus List at the End!

To help get you started (check it out below!) – so don’t forget to add more titles featuring your favorite characters from non-traditional families! Let's keep this list growing!
At the end of the list we put in a short list of Super Heros who were adopted.

With this kind of representation comes greater understanding between people with different backgrounds; furthering our appreciation for each other no matter what form our familial structure takes. Do your part by helping make sure every type of relationship is included!

Movies and Shows Rated G

1. Tarzan G Disney's animated classic tells the story of a man who was raised by gorillas in the jungle. The movie includes a subplot about Tarzan's adoptive gorilla family, who he considers his true family.
2. Finding Nemo G This Pixar animated movie follows a clownfish named Marlin who sets out to find his son, Nemo, who has been captured by a diver. Along the way, Marlin meets Dory, a blue tang fish with short-term memory loss, and they form a non-traditional family.
3. Pollyanna G Movie Based on the classic novel, this live-action film tells the story of an orphaned girl who brings joy and positivity to her new community. It emphasizes the importance of kindness, empathy, and the impact one person can have on a community.
4. The Tigger Movie G The adoption issues of loss and identity are prevalent in The Tigger Movie. Tigger has often sung that the most wonderful thing about Tiggers is I’m the only one. Now he realizes a sadder side of being the only one. Owl suggests that Tigger can find his family by first finding his family tree. Tigger shows a range of, fantasies, expectations, and fears when he starts pursuing his family. He expects his family tree to be a literal tree. He dreams about being surrounded by people well, tigers who look and act like him. He expects that his family will show up unannounced, and when they do not come, Tigger worries that they have been caught in a dangerous storm. Tigger never finds other Tiggers. Thankfully, he does not renounce his efforts to find other Tiggers, but he does accept his friends as his family
5. Raising Dion TV-G This superhero drama series follows a single mother raising her son, Dion, who possesses special abilities. It explores themes of family, resilience, and the unconditional love between a parent and child.
6. The Baby-Sitters Club TV-G show Based on the book series, this live-action series depicts a group of friends who start a babysitting business. It includes diverse families, has including single-parent and two mom households and blended families, and emphasizes friendship, responsibility, and problem-solving.
7. Rio G This animated film tells the story of a domesticated macaw named Blu who embarks on an adventure in Rio de Janeiro. It explores the themes of family, self-discovery, and the importance of embracing one's uniqueness.
8. Andi Mack TV-G This coming-of-age series revolves around a teenage girl named Andi, who discovers that her older sister is, in fact, her mother. It explores the challenges of a non-traditional family structure and emphasizes love and acceptance.
9. The Princess and the Frog G This Disney film introduces Tiana, a young woman who aspires to open her own restaurant. The story includes a single-parent household and emphasizes the importa
10. Meet the Robinsons G. This animated film follows a young orphan named Lewis as he travels to the future to meet his wacky and loving adoptive family. The film promotes themes of resilience, family, and creativity. nce of pursuing dreams and finding true love.
11. Jessie TV-G This Disney Channel series follows a young girl who moves to New York City to become a nanny for a wealthy family. The show includes themes of blended families, as the family she works for includes adopted and foster children.
12. The Peanuts Movie G There are no direct adoption or foster care elements to the story. The Little Red Haired Girl is a new kid in school, which is a familiar experience to many kids, but perhaps especially to foster kids, and in this film everyone is excited to meet her. One character in Snoopy’s imagination is temporarily taken away; there’s no correlation to foster care or adoption in the story, but it might be a trigger for kids who are scared of being taken away. It’s not referred to in this film, but Snoopy was adopted from the Daisy Hill Puppy Farm, and he has brothers who live far away from him that he does keep in contact with. He sees them for a brief social visit in this film.
13. Doc McStuffins TV-G This animated series follows a young girl named Doc, who can fix toys with her magical stethoscope. Doc McStuffins is black female leading character with a stay-at-home father, and a mother in the medical field. She is the perfect example of a modern family with non-traditional expressions of gender. Doc has a diverse group of friends. Disney Junior’s Doc McStuffins ran a five-episode storyline where the McStuffins family brought a new baby into their home, through adoption.
14. Fuller House TV-G show A sequel to the popular series Full House, this sitcom follows the grown-up Tanner sisters and their families. The show portrays a single-parent household and the support provided by extended family and friends.

Shows Rated TV-Y Programming Appropriate for All Ages

1. Clifford the Big Red Dog TV-Y This animated series centers around the adventures of Emily Elizabeth and her oversized red dog, Clifford. It portrays a single-parent household and emphasizes loyalty, kindness, and the joy of having a pet.
2. Sofia the First TV-Y In this animated series, Sofia becomes a princess after her mother marries a king. The show explores the challenges of adjusting to a blended family and promotes kindness, bravery, and inclusivity.
3. Sesame Street TV-Y A long-running children's program, Sesame Street features diverse characters and families, including single-parent households, blended families, and characters who represent various cultures and backgrounds. It teaches important life lessons and promotes inclusivity.
4. Rugrats TV-Y This classic animated series follows the adventures of a group of toddlers and features diverse families, including single-parent households, blended families, and friendships that create a sense of belonging.
5. The Magic School Bus TV-Y show This educational animated series follows Ms. Frizzle and her class on science-filled adventures. It includes diverse characters and occasionally touches upon themes of non-traditional families and different family dynamics.
6. Mona the Vampire TV-Y This animated series follows Mona, a young girl with an active imagination who believes she is a vampire detective. It portrays a single-parent household and encourages imagination, problem-solving, and the power of family support.
7. DuckTales TV-Y Season three Introduces gay dads. This animated series follows the adventures of Scrooge McDuck and his grandnephews, Huey, Dewey, and Louie. It
8. Arthur TV-Y show This long-running animated series features diverse characters and addresses various family structures, including adoptive families, single-parent households, and blended families. It promotes empathy, friendship, and understanding.
9. Just Add Magic TV-Y show This series presents many different kinds of families, including Zoe's and Leo’s blended family and Ish's multigenerational one.This fantasy series follows three friends who discover a magical cookbook. It emphasizes friendship, teamwork, and the power of love and support.
10. Dinosaur Train TV-Y Show has a surprisingly positive adoption storyline here. Buddy notices that he is a different kind of dinosaur than his family, and notes that the differences will be particularly important when he is grown. His mother assures him that this will always be his family, but his parents also acknowledge his need to understand what it means to be a Tyrannosaurus, and so they set off on a big trip to a frightening city to help him meet this need.
11. Creative galaxy TV-Y There is a character who has two dads. It also features children with diverse faith backgrounds and family types.
12. Pete the Cat TV-Y There is a character with two dads.This groovy cat shows us that no matter what life may throw our way, we can always choose to look for the good in ourselves and in every situation.
13. Miss Spider's Sunny Patch Friends TV-Y This animated series follows a spider family and their insect friends as they learn life lessons in their meadow home. The show includes themes of adoption, as Miss Spider and her husband adopt several bug children.
14. Clifford the Big Red Dog (Reboot) TV-Y The new show offers more diversity among the humans and includes a a character who has two moms Dr. Mulberry and Ms. Mulberry who appear in several episodes
15. Hey Duggee! TV-Y This animated series features a crocodile adopted by an elephant without making fuss about it. The implication is that the family is just different, that’s all.This understatement is a big loud shout that different families are relevant and part of everyday life. All families are welcome, with no questions asked.

TV-Y7 Programming Appropriate for Ages 7 and older

1. Spirit Riding Free TV-Y7 This animated series tells the story of Lucky, a young girl who befriends a wild mustang named Spirit. It showcases the bond between Lucky and her adoptive father and highlights the importance of love and trust.
2. Hilda TV-Y-7 show This animated series follows the adventures of a fearless girl named Hilda being raised by her single mom in a world full of mythical creatures. It explores themes of friendship, inclusivity, and the importance of a strong support system.
3. Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts TV-Y7 TV show Set in a post-apocalyptic world, this animated series features a diverse group of characters, Kipo, herself, is mixed-raced her father is Black, and her mother is Asian. The show features a diverse cast of characters, including a character with two dads and Wolf serious and intelligent girl with major trust issues stemming from early childhood adoption trauma. The series includes single-parent families and LGBTQ+ representation. It emphasizes friendship, teamwork, and the importance of found families.
4. Spiderman TV-Y7 This animated series follows the adventures of Peter Parker as he fights crime as Spiderman. The show includes a storyline about Peter's best friend, Harry Osborn, dealing with the loss of his father and being raised by his single mother.
5. Batman TV-Y7 This animated series follows the Dark Knight as he fights crime in Gotham City. The show includes a storyline about Dick Grayson, also known as Robin, who is orphaned when his parents are killed and is then taken in by Bruce Wayne/Batman.
6. The Loud House TV-Y7 This animated series big on inclusion and diversity. It revolves around an 11-year-old boy named Lincoln, who lives in a house with ten sisters and his loving parents.Lincoln’s best friend, is an eleven-year-old African American boy who lives with his two fathers who are also an interracial couple. The Loud House teaches children that every family is unique, and that every family is not the same.The Loud House includes characters of different ethnicities.
7. Owl House TV-Y7 This animated series follows a teenage girl named Luz who discovers a magical world and befriends a diverse cast of characters, including a witch and a non-binary demon. The show promotes themes of self-discovery, LGBTQ+ representation, friends and found family, and acceptance.
8. Craig of the Creek TV-Y-7 show This animated series follows the imaginative adventures of a young boy named Craig and his friends in a neighborhood creek. The show features a diverse range of ethnicities and family structures (Craig is Black with a traditional “nuclear family,” Kelsey is Jewish, and both her and JP are from one-parent households) It features diverse characters and celebrates friendship, creativity, and the joy of community.

Movies and Shows Rated PG Some Content Not Suitable for Kids Under age 8

1. Coco PG This Pixar film follows the story of Miguel, a young boy who dreams of becoming a musician. The movie celebrates Mexican culture and showcases the importance of family, including both biological and extended relatives.
2. Steven Universe TV-PG This animated series features a diverse cast of characters, including same-sex couples and non-traditional families. It promotes love, acceptance, and the power of chosen families
3. Modern Family TV-PG Although primarily aimed at older audiences, this comedy series features a diverse range of families, including a same-sex couple raising an adopted child. It portrays the complexities and humor of modern family life.
4. Onward PG This Pixar animated movie follows two elf brothers who embark on a quest to spend one more day with their father, who died before they were born. The movie features a same-sex couple in a brief cameo.
5. Lilo & Stitch PG This heartwarming Disney film tells the story of a young girl named Lilo who forms a bond with an alien creature named Stitch. The movie explores themes of family, adoption, and the power of unconditional love.
6. Annie PG This classic musical follows the story of a young orphan who finds a new home with a wealthy businessman. It highlights the importance of love, kindness, and the notion that families can be created in different ways.
7. Kung Fu Panda PG Movie series In this animated film franchise, Po, the lovable panda, embarks on martial arts adventures. Po is raised by his adoptive father, Mr. Ping, highlighting the power of love and family bonds that extend beyond blood relations.
8. The Little Prince PG 2015 Movie Based on the beloved book, A little girl lives in a very grown-up world with her mother, who tries to prepare her for it. Her neighbor, the Aviator, introduces the girl to an extraordinary world where anything is possible, the world of the Little Prince. It explores themes of friendship, imagination, and the complexity of relationships.
9. The Book of Life PG Set during the Day of the Dead celebration, this animated film tells the story of Manolo, who embarks on a journey to be with the woman he loves. It portrays a supportive and understanding family dynamic.
10. Home PG Movie In this animated film, a young girl befriends an alien named Oh and helps him find his lost species. The story touches upon themes of friendship, belonging, and the importance of chosen families.
11. Anne with an E TV-PG A reimagining of the classic novel Anne of Green Gables, this series follows the journey of an orphan named Anne as she finds love and acceptance in a new home. It addresses the significance of chosen families and personal growth.
12. Stuart Little PG This live-action/animated film follows the story of a mouse named Stuart who is adopted by a human family. It explores themes of acceptance, belonging, and the meaning of family.
13. Hotel Transylvania PG Movie series This animated film franchise features a family of monsters led by Dracula, who is a single father raising his daughter. It emphasizes the importance of love, acceptance, and embracing individuality.
14. The Proud Family Louder and Prouder TV-PG This animated sitcom introduces two new kids Maya and KG, who are raised by two dads. The show centers around the Proud family, an African-American family with diverse relationships and dynamics and includes diversity and inclusion. The show addresses themes of friendship, cultural identity, and self-expression.
15. Paddington PG Based on the beloved character, this live-action/animated film follows the adventures of a polite and lovable bear named Paddington who finds a home with the Brown family. It emphasizes acceptance, kindness, and the beauty of different families.
16. Big Hero 6 PG Hiro is familiar with loss in his family. Both of parents died before the movie, and he and Tadashi are being raised by Aunt Cass, the single sister of one of their parents who lives above her coffee shop. When Tadashi dies, Aunt Cass is the only family that Hiro has, until he eventually finds a connection with Tadashi through Baymax’s programming.
17. When Marnie Was There PG The film follows Anna Sasaki while she stays with her relatives in a town in the Kushiro wetlands in Hokkaido. Anna comes across a nearby abandoned mansion, where she meets Marnie, a mysterious girl who asks her to promise to keep their secrets from everyone. As summer progresses, Anna spends more time with Marnie and learns the truth about her family and foster care.
18. Martian Child PG This film is a picture of foster care adoption going right. Dennis is around ten years old, and is actively waiting for an adoptive family. He lives at a group home, and has largely isolated himself from staff and residents. He is ultimately adopted by a single man, who pursues the adoption in spite of raised eyebrows from social workers and his own family, who doubt that a single man can successfully adopt a child. But David does it; he sticks with Dennis through a very trying adjustment, and he and Dennis become a family.
19. Heartland TV-PG This Canadian TV show follows a young girl named Amy Fleming as she helps her family run their horse ranch. The show portrays a blended family, as Amy's mother marries a man with two children of his own. It also explores themes of grief and loss.
20. Modern Family TV-PG This popular sitcom follows the lives of a diverse, blended family and their quirky adventures. The show revolves around three different types of families a gay couple,, and their adopted daughter, a straight couple, and their three children, and a multicultural family. The show tells us anybody can be your family no matter what kind of background you come from. As long as you keep an open mind and be loving and accepting.
21. Despicable Me PG This animated movie follows a supervillain named Gru as he adopts three young girls as part of a scheme to steal a shrink ray. The movie includes themes of adoption and the bond between a parent figure and child. Maturity rating PG.
22. Luca PG This movie is not about non-traditional families yet it offers an allegory about identity, passing, and the way people fear others who are not like them.This Pixar animated movie follows two young sea monsters who venture onto land and disguise themselves as humans. The movie features a diverse cast of characters and has been praised for its themes of friendship and acceptance.
23. Inside Out PG This Pixar film explores the emotions inside a young girl's mind and touches upon themes of family. It teaches kids to acknowledge and understand their emotions in a positive way.While Riley does stay with her parents, she is moved from a familiar environment into a new, foreign, and uncomfortable one. The move is a very hard one for her, and for a time it looks as though she has lost her joy – and even her personality. Kids who have been in foster care may relate to her experience and how it impacts her. I’m also hopeful that adults who serve as foster or foster-adoptive parents might find the movie as a helpful way of conceptualizing what’s going on when their kid acts out. Most behaviors do make sense within at least one context, and Inside Out invites us to meet the context in which they make sense.
24. Adventure Time: Escape from the Citadel TV-PG This episode could be helpful for some kids who have experienced abuse or neglect. It could give them permission to acknowledge their love for the parent who abused them, their sadness at that parent’s absence, and the wrongness of the parent’s actions. For some kids in foster care – and for some foster families and adoptive families - the episode could reinforce fears and overly negative stereotypes of birthparents – and particularly of birth fathers. Preview to see if it’s appropriate.

Shows and Movies Rated PG 13 and TV-14 some content not suited for kids under the age of 13 and 14.

1. Dumplin' PG-13 This coming-of-age film follows a plus-size teenager named Willowdean who enters a beauty pageant to honor her late mother. The film features a diverse cast of characters and promotes themes of self-acceptance, friendship, and body positivity. Maturity rating PG-13.
2. Instant Family PG-13.This heartwarming comedy-drama follows a couple who decides to become foster parents and ultimately adopt three siblings. The film features a diverse cast of characters and promotes themes of love, family, and acceptance.
3. Brooklyn Nine-Nine TV-14 show While primarily targeted at older viewers, this comedy series includes a subplot about one of the main characters, Captain Holt, and his same-sex relationship with his husband. It showcases a positive and loving LGBTQ+ couple.
4. The Fosters TV-14 This drama series follows a multi-ethnic family consisting of a lesbian couple, one of whom is a police officer, and their biological, adopted, and foster children. It explores themes of love, acceptance, and resilience.
5. The Mandalorian TV-14 This Star Wars spin-off follows a bounty hunter who becomes the protector of a young child. While the show doesn't explicitly focus on non-traditional families, it does explore themes of found family and the bond between a parent figure and child.
6. This Is Us TV-14 This popular TV drama follows the lives of the Pearson family, exploring their relationships and struggles over several decades. The show includes a storyline about a couple adopting a child and the challenges they face.
7. To All the Boys I've Loved Before TV-14 This romantic comedy film follows a high school student named Lara Jean as she navigates her first serious relationship. The film features a biracial family and promotes themes of love, family, and self-discovery. Maturity rating.
8. Supernatural TV-14 This long-running fantasy series follows two brothers who hunt supernatural creatures and protect the world from evil. While it does not explicitly feature non-traditional families, it does a lot with the idea of found family.
9. From Scratch not yet rated This upcoming Netflix series follows a woman who moves to Italy and falls in love with a man with children. The show explores themes of blended families and step-parenting.

Shows and movies with R-Rating. Restricted-Under 17. Requires accompanying parent or adult guardian

1. Little Miss Sunshine R Movie In this comedy-drama, a dysfunctional family takes a road trip to support their daughter in a beauty pageant. It’s not necessarily about a Non-traditional family many realistic aspects allow the audience to see themselves and their struggles in the Hoover family and share in their experiences.It portrays the complexities of family relationships and celebrates uniqueness and resilience.

BONUS LIST: Super Heros

Wikipedia lists 79 superheroes who are adopted, were not going to list them all, but there's definitely someting going on with superpowers and adoption.

We've got the Disney adoptees — Cinderella, Peter Pan, and Snow White and the world of Hogwart’s where both Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort are adopted. Plus All of the young characters in the 2015 iteration of the Star Wars myth, The Force Awakens, are orphaned or adopted: Rey’s family abandoned her on Jakku, Finn was taken from his real family and raised by the First Order, and Kylo Ren, son of Han Solo (orphaned at a young age) and Princess Leia (also adopted), is raised by Supreme Leader Snoke.

We’ve added a few superheroes to get you started. I know when I tell my kiddo that a character we’re watching is adopted she perks up and really pays attention. Each Super Hero or character she sees that is adopted validates her experience.

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles They are adopted children of a rat from Japan. They’re being raised by a single dad who isn’t even the same species as they are and who has his own history and baggage but came to N.Y. and is trying to build a life for his children.

Black Widow (2021) the film focuses on her sister, Yelena Belova, who was adopted.

Loki This storyline explores the complicated emotions that can arise from a closed adoption wherein an adoptee is not told the truth about their own adoption and background. While an evil villain like Loki is not the shining example of adoption that children should look up to, his tale can be used to explain why open adoption is so important and how valuable it is to know and understand your roots.

Iron man Superhero Tony Stark is adopted.

Quicksilver is the twin brother of Scarlet Witch, and therefore was adopted with his sister.

Scarlet Witch and her brother are left in the care of their adoptive Romani parents and she is raised as Wanda Maximoff (later known as Wanda Frank).

Kara Zor-El, better known as Supergirl, is Superman’s cousin. She takes on the identity of Linda Lee, an orphan who disguises herself with a brunette wig and helps the world by saving one person at a time.For a time, while she is powerless due to a scheming villain, Linda is adopted by engineer and rocket scientist Fred Danvers and his wife, Edna. Eventually, Linda reveals her superhero identity to her adoptive parents, and this happens on the same day her cousin, Superman, introduces her to the world.

Spiderman Peter Parker grew up with his Aunt May and Uncle Ben looking after him in New York City.

1. As the classic comic goes, baby Kal-El comes crashing down to Earth from the planet Krypton like a meteor. His parents, Jonathan and Martha Kent, discover him, adopt him, and name him Clark.