Whatever age you might be, there’s always room to enjoy an animated series, especially if it’s one as remarkable as The Owl House.
It follows Dominican-American teen, Luz Noceda, who accidentally stumbles into the Demon Realm. Adventure, hilarity, and friendship go hand-in-hand when the very human Luz decides that she wants to be a witch, too!
A show like The Owl House shouldn’t have its journey cut just after three short seasons. So, let’s shed some light on the situation.
Disney canceled The Owl House after S3, which aired on October 15, 2022. Creator Dana Terrance stated that this decision was made because it “did not fit the Disney brand.” As of now, no other network or streaming platform has picked up the show.
Why was The Owl House Canceled?
The Owl House has won quite a few awards, gained critical acclaim, and currently enjoys a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. On top of this, it was applauded for its unambiguous LGBTQ+ depiction on a Disney platform.
While S1 and S2 enjoyed full runs, the early-renewed Season 3 comprised only three special episodes. After this, it was announced that The Owl House would not be renewed for any more seasons.
During a Reddit Ask Me Anything, Terrace stated that the content being queer-adjacent was not the reason the show got axed. This was despite the fact that The Owl House was not allowed to air in certain countries due to LGBTQ+ censorship.
She goes on to state that it was neither viewership ratings nor budget restraints that could’ve brought the axe done.
Ultimately, she was simply told that the show did not fit Disney’s brand, without being given a chance to present a case for an additional season or ask for the exact reason it was canceled.
The brand in question could be The Owl House’s setting which explores gods, demons, witchcraft, and everything in between. The company may have not wanted to invite criticism about the same from their more conservative (parent) audience.
Another possible reason that Terrace stated was the fact that the show’s content was serialized. That is, the plot continued cohesively with every consecutive episode rather than the episodes being standalones. Apparently, Disney did not think their (kid) audiences would keep enjoying such a format.
Will The Owl House be renewed?
No, The Owl House will not be renewed beyond Season 3.
While S3 only recently aired in October, Terrace and the crew were aware of the cancelation a year or so in advance. This is what allowed them to write S3 in a way that gave the show a proper ending.
It seems unlikely that Disney will renew The Owl House even if it’s for the streaming platform instead of cable TV. Similarly, no other platform has struck any deals to bring the show back.
While it had a small run, The Owl House holds a special place in many people’s hearts. If you’re one of them, you can rewatch the episodes on Disney+ and support creators like Terrace to bring more animated series to life.
About The Owl House
The Owl House is an American animated fantasy television series created by Dana Terrace that premiered on Disney Channel on January 10, 2020. The series stars the voices of Sarah-Nicole Robles, Wendie Malick, and Alex Hirsch.
Luz Noceda is a teenage human girl who accidentally stumbles upon a portal to another world instead of going to a juvenile detention summer camp. She arrives on an archipelago known as the Boiling Isles, formed from the remains of a dead Titan, and befriends the rebellious witch Eda Clawthorne (alias “The Owl Lady”) and her adorable demon roommate King.
Despite not having magical abilities, Luz pursues her dream of becoming a witch by serving as Eda’s apprentice at the Owl House and ultimately finds a new family in an unlikely setting.
The second season, directly following the events of the first season finale, will follow the main protagonists working together to return Luz to the Human Realm, help Eda confront her inner demons, and search for the truth about King’s past.
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