Pixar’s Lightyear Rated NC16 In Singapore For Same-Sex Kissing Scene

Lightyear has been given an NC16 rating by Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authoirty (IMDA) —  making it the first Pixar title to receive such a classification that restricts audiences under 16.

The movie —  about space ranger Buzz Lightyear (voiced by Chris Evans) that inspired the eponymous plaything in the Toy Story series — is passed clean with no cuts and is rated NC16 for “Some Mature Content”.

Animated features produced by Pixar — such as The Incredibles, Cars, and the recent Turning Red — are usually rated either G or PG.  

“The film contains depictions of a female lead character and her same-gender partner starting a family and going through different milestones of their lives,” the IMDA explains on its website. “This is shown mainly through a montage sequence which is interspersed with other visuals of the protagonist, Buzz Lightyear, going on his various missions. In the montage, there is also a brief depiction of the two women kissing.

“One of the key guiding principles in the Classification Guidelines is content should be sensitive to social norms and values that are generally acceptable to members of the public. In line with the Classification Guidelines, the depictions of the character’s alternative sexuality and relationship, while brief, are more appropriate for viewers 16 years and above."

IMDA added that it sought the views of its advisory committees before arriving at the classification decision.

The scene in question involves lesbian space ranger Alisha (Uzo Aduba) and her partner and was originally cut from the film by Disney. It was later reinstated when Pixar animators spoke out against Disney in an open letter, saying that Disney had demanded cuts, censoring “overtly gay affection” and in protest against Disney CEO Bob Chapek’s handling of Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill.

Because of the same-gender kiss, Lightyear has been banned in 14 Middle Eastern and Asian countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Lebanon, Kuwait, Malaysia, and Indonesia. The movie is unlikely to open in China as well, per South China Morning Post.

Disney previously ran into censorship issues in some of these countries with Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, which included a gay character; Eternals, which contained a same-sex kiss, and West Side Story, which featured a transgender character. (FYI: In Singapore, these three films were released uncut — Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and West Side Story were handed a PG13 rating while Eternals was rated M18.)

When asked to weigh in on Lightyear’s LGBTQ issues during the film’s press junket tour, Evans told Variety: “I mean, it’s great. As great as it is — and you know, I’ve been asked the question a few times — it’s nice, and it’s wonderful, it makes me happy. It’s tough to not be a little frustrated that it even has to be a topic of discussion. That it is this kind of ‘news’.

“The goal is that we can get to a point where it is the norm, and that this doesn’t have to be some uncharted waters, that eventually this is just the way it is. That representation across the board is how we make films. Look, it’s an honour to be a part of something that is taking those steps, but the goal is to look back on this time and just be shocked that it took us this long to get there.”

Lightyear (NC16) opens in cinemas this Thursday.

Photo: TPG News/Click Photos