Best Gender-Bender Manga

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As a reader who has journeyed through many realms of literature, I must say that the tales of gender-bending have always intrigued me, not just for their fantastical elements, but also for the profound insights they provide into human experience.

Over the past few decades, life has not been easy for transgender individuals, non-binary people, and others who don’t identify as cisgender. However, the last few years have been particularly challenging, with some who claim to support them actually acting against their interests, withdrawing their support, and treating their identities as a fleeting trend. Yet, stories of people transitioning or discarding gender labels date back to ancient times, such as myths about Caneus and Tiresias in Greek mythology, or the lives of historical figures like Chevalier D’Eon.

Despite the harsh environment, an abundance of stories across various media – movies, TV shows, books, plays, comics, and manga – explore the concept of characters transcending traditional gender roles. These narratives range from comedic instances of mistaken identity, whimsical escapades, to profound explorations of how one’s gender identity (or lack thereof) influences personal experiences. Here are some top picks for engaging gender-bender manga that readers might find interesting.

10. The Day I Became Her

MyAnimeList Score: 7.32

  • Japanese Title: Kanojo ni Naru Hi (‘The Day I Became Her/Becoming a Girl One Day).
  • Creator: Akane Ogura.
  • 4 Volumes, 20 Chapters.
  • Fan Translations only.

In the universe of “The Day I Became Her,” there’s a peculiar quality. It resembles contemporary Japan, but it incorporates an unusual system that keeps the number of men and women balanced. This results in individuals transforming from male to female or vice versa during their lifetimes, as depicted by Nao Mamiya’s personal journey.

Growing up, I shared a friendly competition with my companion, Kyosuke, in academics, sports, and other areas. However, when Nao reached seventeen, an illness transformed him into a girl. Though Nao accepted this transformation quickly, Kyosuke struggled, for he harbored a deep-seated fear of women. Now, this new development stands as my toughest test yet, as the nature of our friendship alters along with it.

9. The Gender of Mona Lisa

MyAnimeList Score: 7.37

  • Japanese Title: Seibetsu “Mona Lisa” no Kimi e (‘Your Gender is Like Mona Lisa/Just Like Mona Lisa’).
  • Creator: Tsumuji Yoshihara.
  • 10 Volumes, 53 Chapters.
  • Available in English via Square-Enix, and digitally via Comikey and Manga UP!

Scholars have examined Leonardo da Vinci’s painting, the Mona Lisa, from various perspectives, noting that its subject appears more gender-neutral compared to typical Renaissance portraits. This ambiguity served as inspiration for Tsumuji Yoshihara in his work titled “The Gender of Mona Lisa“. In this narrative, individuals are born without a defined gender until they reach the age of 12. At this point, each person is free to undergo whichever puberty they choose, regardless of their genetic makeup.

At 18 years old, Hinase continues to identify as gender-neutral, something they’ve been comfortable with due to the understanding and acceptance from friends Ritsu and Shiori. However, when both express their feelings for Hinase, a dilemma arises. Do they choose a specific gender to appease one friend and explore romantic love, or is it feasible to remain agender, asexual, and aromantic in a world where such identities are less common? This internal struggle now becomes a question of self-discovery and acceptance.

8. Boku Girl

MyAnimeList Score: 7.40

  • Japanese Title: Boku Girl (‘I, Girl’).
  • Creator: Akira Sugito.
  • 11 Volumes, 107 Chapters.
  • Fan Translations only.

In Japanese, the concept of ‘I/me/myself’ can be expressed in various ways to reflect a person’s gender, social status, or background, which might surprise those who criticize English for its limited pronoun options. Just like English pronouns, these variations can stir debate, as shown when fans of the game ‘Undertale’ objected to Sans using the term ‘Oira’ instead of other, more sophisticated pronouns.

In the manga titled “Boku Girl”, the character Suzushiro employs ‘boku’, a term typically used by young boys for self-reference, to highlight his androgynous appearance that he finds less appealing than desired. Men often express affection towards him, while women consider him one of their own. Although it can be frustrating, Suzushiro manages to cope with the situation until the mischievous deity Loki intervenes by transforming him into a woman overnight. With no immediate solution in sight, Suzushiro now faces the challenge of adapting to being among women, which is proving to be no small feat.

7. Life with an Ordinary Guy Who Reincarnated into a Total Fantasy Knockout

MyAnimeList Score: 7.49

  • Japanese Title: Isekai Bishoujo Juniku Oji-san to (‘With an Ordinary Guy’s Reincarnation as a Fantasy Beauty’).
  • Creator: Yu Tsurusaki (story) and Chibimaru (art).
  • 13+ Volumes, 203+ Chapters.
  • Available in English via Seven Seas Entertainment.

In reality, Tachibana found it challenging to attract women due to his friend Jinguji’s presence. It’s not that he intentionally stirs up problems; rather, women seem more drawn to Jinguji’s towering height and handsome looks compared to Tachibana’s slighter build. After a few drinks and feeling disheartened, he yearned for the chance to be noticed – even if it meant being a woman in this world. Unfortunately for him, the Goddess of Love and Attractiveness was eavesdropping on his thoughts.

She made the choice to fulfill his desire by whisking them away into a dreamland. By transforming Jinguji into a powerful, muscular hero, and Tachibana into an overwhelmingly attractive beauty, she sets up a challenge for them to utilize their fresh abilities to vanquish its demonic overlord. This is why the series is titled “Life with an Average Joe Who Got Reborn into an Incredible Fantasy Goddess“. However, this is just the beginning of their struggles, as Tachibana’s new charms start to captivate Jinguji and the inhabitants of the world alike, and Tachibana also begins to view Jinguji in a different light.

6. Shishunki Bitter Challenge

MyAnimeList Score: 7.67

  • Japanese Title: Shishunki Bitter Challenge (Puberty Bitter Challenge).
  • Creator: Masayoshi.
  • 9 Volumes, 67 Chapters.
  • Fan Translations only.

Many stories featuring gender-swapping often involve body swaps, where male and female characters, regardless of their relationship, experience life from each other’s perspectives before returning to their original forms. These tales are common in sweet romantic comedies. However, what if the swap didn’t get reversed? This is where the story “Shishunki Bitter Challenge” takes an interesting turn.

Yuuta accidentally fell out of a tree onto Yui when they were kids, which caused them to swap minds and bodies. They both kept it a secret in case it just fixed itself. But they’re still stuck years later, and they’re beginning to start puberty. By playing the premise for drama, the manga ends up showing off how grim gender dysphoria can feel in terms everyone can understand; cis, trans, or otherwise.

5. Until I Become Me

MyAnimeList Score: 7.77

  • Japanese Title: Ore ga Watashi ni Naru Made (Until I Become Me)
  • Creator: Hatsuki Satou.
  • 5+ Volumes, 67+ Chapters.
  • Fan Translations only.

Discovering Self: A Transformative Journey – In my passion for the unique world of manga, I’ve come to appreciate that characters don’t always need to trade bodies to learn life lessons. For me, this story is about Becoming Akira, a boy who was infamous for bullying girls at his school. One day, he found himself in an extraordinary situation – waking up as a girl. He believed it to be a fleeting moment, thinking “I’ll be a boy again soon.” But little did he know, this transformation would set him on a path of self-discovery.

However, days morph into weeks, then weeks into months, and yet Akira remains a young girl. Throughout this period, she experiences firsthand the pain of being the recipient of the mistreatment he once inflicted. Besides, there are other peculiar aspects of growing up female that confuse her emotions. It seems her unusual punishment could enlighten her in more than one aspect.

4. Onimai: I’m Now Your Sister!

MyAnimeList Score: 7.83

  • Japanese Title: Oniichan wa Oshimai! (Big Brother is Done For! or Onimai for short).
  • Creator: Nekotoufu.
  • 9+ Volumes, 94+ Chapters.
  • Available in English digitally via Kodansha Comics USA.

Manga doesn’t need to be as intense or deep as “Shishunki Bitter Challenge” or “The Gender of Mona Lisa” to convey a compelling story. For those who prefer something more light-hearted, there’s enjoyment to be found in “Onimai: I’m Now Your Sister!”. This manga follows the tale of Mahiro, a reclusive otaku, who undergoes a life-altering journey due to his scientifically gifted sister, Mihari.

In my latest scientific endeavor, I unwittingly transformed my dear big brother into a sister overnight – a twist I’m far from thrilled about. Mahiro, my brother, is now undergoing a myriad of changes that I can’t help but scrutinize, yet the prospect of delving deeper into this transformation holds little appeal for me. Regardless of gender, Mahiro yearns for normalcy, seeking refuge in her room, gaming, and maintaining an ordinary life. Alas, things are about to take a turn for the bizarre!

3. Ranma ½

MyAnimeList Score: 7.99

  • Japanese Title: Ranma ½.
  • Creator: Rumiko Takahashi.
  • 38 Volumes, 407 Chapters.
  • Available in English via Viz Media’s Shōnen Sunday imprint.

Leaving this collection incomplete would be a miss, as Ranma ½ is undeniably one of the standout mangas exploring gender-swapping themes. For many, it was an introduction to the subject matter, whether through its original late ’80s anime or the more recent adaptations that have gained traction with contemporary viewers. The story revolves around the Tendo sisters grappling with the possibility of marrying to preserve their martial arts school.

They’re not particularly interested until they discover that Ranma Saotome is their potential match. He has a unique condition that came about when he fell into a magical spring. When doused with cold water, he transforms into a woman named ‘Ranko’, and reverts to his male form upon contact with hot water. This peculiar ability can turn rivals into suitors, suitors into rivals, and already complicated situations even more problematic.

2. The Saga of Tanya the Evil

MyAnimeList Score: 8.37

  • Japanese Title: Youjo Senki (The Military Chronicles of a Little Girl).
  • Creators: Chika Toujou, based on the original light novel by Carlo Zen and Shinobu Shinotsuki.
  • 30+ Volumes, 103+ Chapters.
  • Available in English via Yen Press.

In recent times, there has been a surge in stories about reincarnation that often involve characters switching genders. This gender-swapping phenomenon can present unique challenges. For instance, in the series “The Saga of Tanya the Evil“, an individual finds himself reborn as a girl named Tanya in an alternate World War I Germany. This character’s challenge is to disprove a godlike being who had punished him for his lack of faith by reincarnating him.

In my observation, if Tanya persists in her unfaithful ways without seeking redemption, she may find herself in a place of torment. However, X’s efforts to guide Tanya towards the right path seem to have backfired, leading Tanya to devise cunning strategies within Germany’s military ranks. This unexpected outcome has transformed her from a mere figure of darkness into an even more malevolent presence than anyone could have anticipated.

1. Ouran High School Host Club

MyAnimeList Score: 8.50

  • Japanese Title: Ouran Koukou Host Club.
  • Creator: Bisco Hatori.
  • 18 Volumes, 87 Chapters.
  • Available in English via Viz Media’s Shojo Beat imprint.

In many transformative narratives, there’s a prevalence of stories involving males transitioning into females, with instances of intersex or non-binary characters occasionally appearing, such as in “The Gender of Mona Lisa”. Stories that explore female-to-male transitions are less common, which can be disappointing for trans male readers. They often have to settle for tales about girls temporarily assuming male identities, but these stories don’t fully capture the experience and are more akin to cross-dressing scenarios rather than genuine transgender narratives. However, these stories do offer some thought-provoking perspectives.

At Ouran High School’s Host Club, Haruhi is initially mistaken as a male student, leading her to join the club. Here, she learns the art of charming other women, eventually gaining the attention of the club leader, Tamaki. In a surprising or intentional manner, and with results that may be beneficial or detrimental, one individual challenging societal norms can broaden perspectives.

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2024-12-27 07:34