The role our parents play in our lives is a big theme across Disney’s Amphibia. The show’s three heroines - Anne Boonchuy, Sasha Waybright, and Marcy Wu - all come from vastly different backgrounds. Anne has a loving family with an enriched culture, while Marcy is dealing with the dilemma of moving away and leaving her friends behind, and Sasha is a child of divorce despite doing everything she can to keep her loved ones together.
How these characters behave around one another and react to emergent situations is reflective of their individual upbringings, whether by projecting trauma onto how certain moments are dealt with or doing all in their power to keep those close to them safe. I grew up in a time when compelling lead female characters were a rare breed in animation, but now we have three distinct characters each with their own flaws and motivations in a single show. It’s something special, with the third and final season expanding upon them like never before.
The Calamity Trio has grown so much over the past three seasons as they’ve matured, being forced to take on the burdens of responsibility long before any of them are old enough to comprehend the weight of the losses they’ve felt. Yet here they are, ready to usher in the show’s finale as three of the most memorable heroines in Disney TVA History.
Creator Matt Braly told me in a previous interview that the original pitch for Amphibia intended for Anne, Marcy, and Sasha to be a few years older. They were aged down to 13 in order to be more appealing to a younger demographic, yet many of their personal struggles remain and feel like they belong to the souls of older teenagers. All three of them seem relatively independent, and are able to craft a new life across Amphibia in spite of the obstacles that befall them. Anne becomes a surrogate daughter of the Planters, Sasha becomes the commander of an army alongside Captain Grime, while Marcy becomes a vital servant to the Newtopian crown. I know it’s a cartoon, but being separated from your family at 13 with no way home as you’re forced to adapt to a foreign land is a very big deal.
So when Anne Boonchuy returned to Earth for the first time at the start of season three following the apparent death of Marcy and the rise of King Andreas’ Empire, she had a lot of baggage to deal with. Yet she now also resides in a place of comfort, a crowded city she was raised in that she understands, believes in, and calls home. When she approaches her family abode for the first time in five months and sees her parents looking back at her, it feels like her life has meaning again. The family she never intended to leave behind embraces her in a tearful reunion that lets them all know that, at least for now, everything is going to be okay. We will likely see them return in the upcoming season finale as they fight alongside Anne and her allies from Amphibia, which will be especially exciting given the show has already given these parental figures room to grow over the course of several episodes.
Parents in cartoons are often distant, appearing as objects of authority for main characters as a way to keep them grounded, or acting as couriers of consequence when something goes awry. In many cartoons we never see the parents’ faces, constantly framed with just their legs. Amphibia, however, gives Mr. and Mrs. Boonchuy more pronounced roles, showcasing how they’ve been feeling in the absence of a daughter they had otherwise convinced themselves would never be returning. Goodbyes might have already been spoken, but part of me believes they never gave up hope. Mrs. Boonchuy turns an entire room into a temporary shrine for her estranged daughter, constructing mannequins to mimic her appearance as she counts down the days to getting her back. Anne’s father is somewhat more withdrawn but no less caring, audibly crying when she returns and knowing they can now finally catch up for lost time. Animated shows aren’t always willing to broach upon hefty themes of loss and grief, but Amphibia explores them masterfully.
Being able to spend time with Anne’s parents as they become key supporting characters for several episodes is so valuable, partly because it contextualises so many of Anne’s existing habits while showcasing how much she’s managed to grow. No longer is she spoiled and expectant, unwilling to work or do her chores because she knows her doting parents will walk around after her. Instead she takes responsibility for the Planters while never once stopping her pursuit of a portal to reach Amphibia and put a stop to Andreas’ plans. Her friends are either missing or presumed dead, so all she can do is keep trying so their sacrifices aren’t in vain. We see her burn out, and instead of dismissing her fantastical musings the Boonchuys embrace them, joining Anne on a journey to the end. I suppose when a bunch of sentient frogs show up in your house you won’t need much convincing.
Mrs. Boonchuy is also voiced by Matt Braly’s mother, and puts in a surprisingly strong performance given her lack of acting experience. She’s authentic, expressing the Thai culture that underpins this family with an aura of love and authority that always manages to shine through. I admire how even though Anne has been through so much, her parents try to inject normality back into her routine. She visits the dentist, goes shopping, and binges cheesy movies with her family, all while deconstructing the trauma she has experienced over the past several months in a way that seldom discounts what she’s been through.
Marcy and Sasha’s parents are only ever referred to off-screen - at least thus far - so their backgrounds have been the object of multiple fan theories and speculation. Anne is the main protagonist and receives the most attention, but the fact she comes from a relatively sheltered family only allows her privilege to stand out, and showcase the importance of her parents and how wonderful a job they’ve done in raising a daughter who can stand on her own. Like I said before, our three heroines are direct products of their upbringing, but in fighting for a common goal we’re able to compare how their parents have cared for them, failed them, and act as cornerstones in the people they have grown up to be.
Pour one out for Mr. and Mrs. Boonchuy, they’ve been through so much and still stand strong in the face of it all.