sanctuary :: delight :: tg anime

Transgendered Anime
May 1997. Revised October 1999
One of the cool things about Anime (and Manga) is the nonchalant presence of characters from sexual and gender minorities. Gay characters abound, but there are also models for us transpeople.
The most well-known mascot for the transgendered is Ranma Saotome of Ranma 1/2. Ranma is a teenage martial arts expert who lives with a curse: when he is doused with cold water, he turns into a girl. Only a splash of hot water will make him revert to male form. The original manga by one of Japan's most popular cartoonists, Rumiko Takahashi, is played for laughs. Ranma 1/2 became a popular animated TV series and spawned several movies. Dubbed and subtitled videotapes are available in the U.S. from Viz Video.
A character similar in predicament to Ranma is Shimeru Futaba of the manga Futaba-kun Change. Instead of water being the catalyst, emotion is what triggers the transformation. Futaba-kun changes into a girl whenever he gets excited. In the process of dealing with his newfound femme self, Futaba-kun manages to become a singing idol. For a more complete description of this manga, see the Futaba-kun Homepage. Futaba-kun Change is available in the United States through Studio Ironcat.
Another intriguing character is Nuriko, one of the warrior seishi in the Fushigi Yuugi (Mysterious Play) TV series. Fushigi Yuugi is an extremely entertaining adventure / drama / romance / comedy which takes place in a land much like Imperial China. For several episodes, we are led to believe that Nuriko is a beautiful woman of special power, but eventually we find out that Nuriko is really a man. As with Ranma 1/2, there are dozens of Fushigi Yuugi websites, but there are at least a couple dedicated to Nuriko. Nuriko's Folder provides a good overview of the character. (Note: this site contains large graphics files, so it is slow to download.) Fushigi Yuugi is released in the United States by Pioneer Entertainment.
I'm quite fond of Shun Kisaragi from Koko wa Greenwood (Here is Greenwood or This is Greenwood). Greenwood is a manga and a 6-episode made-for-video animated series about a boys' school. Shun plays a minor role in the story, but his distinguishing characteristic is his appearance -- he looks just like a pretty, teenage girl -- long, pink hair, delicate features, big eyes, short stature. The fact that he can (and does) play both sides of the gender fence anytime, anywhere is a treat for us gender outlaws. A couple of Greenwood web sites are: the Greenwood Home Page and the Unofficial Koko wa Greenwood Anime Page. Here is Greenwood subtitled (and dubbed) videotapes and bilingual laserdiscs are distributed in the U.S. by Software Sculptors
My favorite transgendered character is Aoi Futaba, policewoman in Kosuke Fujishima's Taiho Shichauzo (You're Under Arrest) manga and anime. Aoi-chan is actually a policeman who dressed as a woman for hazardous vice squad missions, trapping muggers and molesters. Over time, Aoi found he liked being a woman and has assumed the role permanently, even in her personal life. The other officers in the precinct are aware of Aoi-chan's situation and treat her every bit as a fellow policewoman.

You're Under Arrest manga is published by Dark Horse Comics. The You're Under Arrest OAV (original animation video) series is available from Animeigo. Aoi-chan does not appear in the OAV, but she is in the You're Under Arrest television series, which is not yet available in the United States.
(There are many more shows which feature transgendered characters, and this page is long overdue for an update.)

Anime is great fun in general, but it's also an arena where the transgendered are welcome and visible. It is this sort of daring and sophistication which places Japanese Animation far above its U.S. counterpart. Anime characters are always fascinating, and they live in a world many of us would enjoy visiting.
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Copyright 1997 - 2004 Amy K. Sakurai