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Why She's #13
Julia ranks last not because she is the least important character — her introduction is arguably the most culturally significant character debut in the show's history since the original 1969 cast. She ranks #13 because she is the newest, with the shortest body of work.
Give her time. She belongs here.
Character Profile
Julia is a four-year-old monster with bright orange hair, big green eyes, and a stuffed bunny named Fluffster. She was diagnosed with autism, and the show depicts her autism with specificity and care — she sometimes doesn't respond when spoken to, has sensory sensitivities, and approaches the world differently than her friends.
Crucially, the show depicts her differences not as problems to be solved but as aspects of who she is. Her friends — Elmo, Abby — adapt to her. The street meets her where she is.
Educational Function
Julia teaches:
Autism awareness and acceptance — depicting autistic experience from the inside
Inclusion as practice — modeling how to be a friend to someone who communicates differently
Neurodiversity — expanding children's understanding of how different minds work
Performer Stacey Gordon, whose son is autistic, has spoken about the impact of Julia's presence: "Had my son's classmates been exposed to a character like Julia, he might have been treated differently."
Development History
Julia first appeared in Sesame Street digital and print content in 2015 before joining the television cast in Season 47. The two-year gap was used to develop the character in collaboration with autism researchers, educators, and families — the most rigorously consulted character introduction in the show's history.
Cultural Legacy
Her debut was covered by every major American news outlet as a landmark moment in children's media representation
Sparked renewed conversation about autism representation across all children's programming
The Autism Society of America called her introduction "a watershed moment"
Listal Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ (4.5/5)
The most important new character introduction in decades. The show at its best: using a beloved platform to make invisible children visible.
CultureTechLens | Sesame Street Characters Ranked
