Kipo as a commentary on race
With all POC main characters, it makes sense that Kipo would have racial themes. And damn did they deliver.
First, that the oppressors were either white (Dr. Emilia) or literal animals (Scarlemagne). I feel like that really fits the real life narrative where white oppressors tend to act like animals.
But even as animals, Mutes have the capacity to be not racist. The Timbercats quickly ally with Kipo. Cappucino (at the diner) eventually warms up to them, even though she still has racial bias deeply conditioned into her.
Unfortunately, Kipo and friends always have to prove themselves, which is something you find in racist society. Kipo shows the Mutes that she's not entirely human (like how a lighter-skinned black person might straighten their hair to look whiter) and fosters goodwill. The group is always assumed to be bad until they save someone's life. It's disgusting that they have to constantly prove themselves, and no Mute initially believes in them.
As Kipo and Wolf react differently to this discrimination, you see different results. Kipo plays along with what her oppressors want, and then she might be able to convince them to be kind. (Sometimes they betray her, since they're still in power). Wolf, on the other hand, initially distrusts them, since on the surface you can't trust anyone. (I mean, look what happened with Emilia). That usually lands her in trouble, almost like the world is telling her that her instincts and gut feelings are wrong. It's sort of like how black people are encouraged to convince white people that they are not a threat, by referring to them respectfully and waving to them on the street, even if they don't want to. Wolf's logical distrust is taken as rudeness.
Meanwhile, you also see Kipo's arc of having to be useful, combatting the oppressor's idea that she's nothing but a lowly savage. Sure, our resident furry is fascinated by the idea of shapeshifting, but she also throws herself into mastering the Mega Jaguar, even though she's afraid of it and knows she can't control it. Kipo loves control, craves agency, usually in the form of being kind enough to someone that they'll listen to her (similar to Scarlemagne). So to lose that, and to become her oppressor, naturally scares her (even though she's also a science nerd and loves it). Yet she does it anyway, since she needs to be useful and important and valued. Makes sense, seeing as the oppressor Mutes have always told her that she's a worthless, tyrannical, savage human.
TL;DR: Kipo is a powerful commentary on many different forms of racism, without being outright racist
