Lulu Is a Rhinoceros is a new animated special debuting on the streaming platform Apple TV+ on May 30, just in time for Pride month. The story of a spunky bulldog roaming around downtown New York was made to be inclusive of everyone and amplify diversity. Some of the queer energy is a result of several members of the cast and creatives identifying as part of the LGBTQ+ community.
Among the queer creatives involved with Lulu is Auli’i Cravalho, who voices the main character. This young bisexual star’s vocal work gained traction after she was cast in the title role of Moana at the age of 14. That gig led to more narration duties in both the sequel and Disney Channel’s animated series Hailey’s On It!
Another LGBTQ+ identifying voice attached to the Apple+ program is Tony Award winner Alex Newell, who plays Cory, a bovine friend to Lulu with an out-of-this-world singing voice. This gender-fluid, talented performer has risen to the top after the television series Glee and found solid work in New York City hit musicals.
During a recent interview about Lulu with Windy City Times, Newell described their pronouns as “everything under the map,” and, when questioned about what drew them to their Lulu role, they said, “Well, I got to be a cow wearing a heel, never a flat! This unique story of acceptance is something we all need. It’s not about what we give to other people, but what we accept about ourselves.”
In that same interview session, Cravalho added, “I am always trying to play characters that I have never played before. I had never played a rhinoceros, so I was psyched about that.”
Portraying several animals living in New York was just part of what attracted the cast to audition.
“Every character has tough times that they go through, but choosing kindness is something we can all learn from,” Cravalho said. “It’s a movie for anyone who feels different from the community around them. I love it for its central themes of acceptance and self-love. Everyone can learn from it, not just young audiences but older audience members. Hopefully, they will learn to greet people with curiosity instead of judgment. It’s one of the most important things we can do with our day.”
The animated version of Lulu is based on a book with the same title and was co-written by Jason Flom and his daughter, Alison Flom. The storyline follows a youthful spirit named Lulu who, when looking in the mirror, identifies as a rhinoceros, but was born a bulldog. This sets her on a journey of self-exploration and discovery where she finds supportive friends while learning to celebrate diversity.
Newell described Cory’s show-stopping number “Start the Day” to Windy City Times as “a nice little earworm because it gives joy. Even though I hate using that word, the song is a bop. It’s so simple that it digs its way down to the Zeitgeist and was so fun to create. I was a recording artist for so long and my biggest hits are the ones that are easy to sing in the shower!”
Newell said their approach to the singing section of the special was “diving in headfirst and praying that I still got it. I wanted to create an expansive world, and people think it’s just talent, but it boils down to musicality and the notes you hear. You may see the notes in front of you on paper, but it’s how you sing it that counts. I recorded it in a studio and we did take after take. I am not new to being in the setting, but this was different than recording for my own projects. To create something that is stretched out over time was a challenge.”
Cravalho also recorded her part in the studio starting in 2023, but did so separately from Newell. The two have not met yet in person and she explained, “That’s the magic of voiceover work. It sounded like we were in the same room, but we were not.”
Newell and Cravalho are both based in New York, where Lulu’s world is set. Cravalho performed on Broadway as Sally Bowles in Cabaret this past fall and when asked about her all-time favorite musical, she honored her Lulu castmate by saying Once on This Island. Newell played Asaka in the 2017 revival of Island and struggled when deciding on a favorite musical.
“It’s like picking my favorite child, but Dream Girls is my final answer,” Newell said. “My Tony award is holding up my iPad right now while I do this interview and it’s still in the box with my Drama Desk Award on top of it.”
Newell suggested a change in the system: “It’s time to update how awards are given in general, and how we categorize them. I think this needs to be done just so everyone feels welcome and accepted.”
When asked about what a story such as Lulu’s would have meant to Alex while growing up in Massachusetts, they stated, “I would have felt validated and it could have offered more options in life. People don’t have to be what others thrust upon them, and they can create their own path. Lulu shows people can learn to accept themselves and be who they want to be.”
With Pride on the horizon, they both spoke on their plans for June. Cravalho proudly exclaimed, “I’m living as a queer person, so I’m excited. I love Pride Month and it’s such a celebration of my community. I now live in New York City, so there’s more to do and I can’t wait to be a part of the parade as a grand marshal this year. I’m also really excited that Lulu Is a Rhinoceros is coming out at this time. I know that my friends and family will enjoy watching it.”
Newell has performed previously at many Pride festivals over the years, including the 2017 Chicago Pride Fest, but this year they would like to focus on relaxation and time off work instead of the grind.
Lulu had some queer energy behind the scenes as well. The music was written by an out-and-proud songwriter with the singular name of Leland, who was last spotted in Chicago performing at Pride Fest in 2019. He is known for creating musical montages for RuPaul’s Drag Race and has written pop songs for artists such as Selena Gomez, Sabrina Carpenter, Troye Sivan and Ariana Grande.
If a follow-up special is made one day for Lulu Is a Rhinoceros, Cravalho, as a cat owner, would like to see different animals featured. She also mentioned being an associate producer for Reef Builders, a new documentary streaming on Prime Video. Still, she hasn’t forgotten her musical theater roots: “I’ve got to be honest, I’m never too far away from a musical. You haven’t seen the last of me, don’t worry.”
Newell joked about their future goals: “I just want to marry a rich man!”
Lulu Is a Rhinoceros is now streaming on tv.apple.com and the soundtrack is available at music.apple.com.