Top 9 Must-Watch Anime Featuring Trans Characters You Can’t Miss!

Summary

“Simoun” challenges gender norms with characters choosing their sex at 17, creating a world where trans men and cis women pilot mech ships.
“Wonder Egg Priority” explores trauma through magical girls, including the story of an androgynous character seeking to revive a friend.
“Wandering Son” offers a realistic depiction of growing up trans, focusing on the struggles of two friends navigating complex feelings.

Once more, we’re celebrating Pride Month, but it’s seldom been an easy period for individuals identifying as LGBTQ+. Lately, it seems that expressing one’s identity or supporting queer friends has shifted from a celebration to a resistance movement, given the ongoing attempts by some groups to roll back LGBTQ+ rights.

Regardless of their involvement in politics or everyday struggles, people inevitably require relaxation, and immersing oneself in a television series is an effective method for unwinding. For anime enthusiasts, there’s a wealth of BL (Boy’s Love) and GL (Girl’s Love) shows to delve into. Some series even incorporate magical or technological elements to transform characters’ genders. However, which productions tackle love, gender identity, and related themes from a transgender perspective? Here are some notable examples that gained widespread popularity.

This version aims to maintain the original meaning while using more accessible language and simplifying some structures for easier reading.

9. Simoun

How a Yuri Show Got More Queer Than Anticipated

Studio: Studio Deen
1 Season, 26 Episodes
Available on DVD only

At first glance, Simoun appears to be an enticing mecha yuri anime where the spirited newcomer, Aer, seeks to team up with the seasoned combatant, Neviril. However, Neviril is hesitant to return to action due to her lingering sorrow over Amuria, her late partner who perished during an attempt at a challenging aerial stunt. With their land caught in a three-way conflict, it seems like a simple story about dealing with grief while battling.

In the realm of Simoun, things become captivating due to its unique world creation. Here, all beings are born appearing female and live as such until they turn 17. At this point, they perform a ceremony at a spring, deciding their permanent gender. This could be seen as a contrivance for telling a teenage yuri story, but in practice, it has led to a world where trans men pilot mech aircraft alongside cis women before their transition. The boundaries between genders are less clear-cut than they initially seem.

8. Cheeky Angel

When Genderbending Becomes a One-Way Trip

Many stories that involve gender-swap themes, such as “Ranma Â½,” primarily revolve around a cisgender character being afflicted by an unwanted condition, rather than portraying a transgender experience. These tales are not intended to be criticized; they simply belong in a separate category. On the other hand, “Cheeky Angel” more accurately represents the topic at hand. It explores what life would be like if Ranma were permanently stuck as Ranko, regardless of the water they encounter.

The story revolves around Megumi, a boy who discovers a mystical book housing a genie. The genie grants his wish to transform into a manly figure, but instead he is transformed into a woman. Enraged, Megumi discards the book on the riverbank, forfeiting any chance of reversing the transformation when the book floats away. Now, with Miki’s assistance, Megumi navigates life as a girl while searching for a method to reverse the change. However, her tomboyish behaviors lead her to acquire both rivals and suitors, making it more challenging than anticipated.

7. Wonder Egg Priority

Taking On Trauma With the Power of Magic

In Wonder Egg Priority, when Ai Ohto wins a mysterious egg from a gacha machine, she’s transported to an enchanting yet perilous dream world. Here, the egg hatches to reveal individuals whom she must safeguard from monstrous entities known as ‘Seeno Evils.’ A cryptic voice hints that by collecting more eggs and guarding them, she may revive her deceased friend Koito in the process. This sets the stage for Wonder Egg Priority, a captivating yet grim spin on the magical girl genre.

In this series, Momoe, not just AI, shares the goal of resurrecting a cherished friend. This particular friend was one of the few who treated her kindly when others did not, as if she were a girl. Previously, Momoe undertook a mission to shield a transgender boy from a beast representing his harrowing encounter with his P.E. teacher. The show is praised for its handling of delicate themes, but it’s by no means an easy watch.

6. They Were Eleven

Letting Shojo Get Serious

Studio: Magic Bus
Runtime: 91 Minutes
Available in English on YouTube

The Manga “They Were Eleven”, crafted by the Year 24 collective – a band of female manga artists aiming for intricate narratives – stood out. In this particular work, it delved into a challenging sci-fi narrative, where the crew of the Esperanza, initially conceived as a team of ten, had to identify the secret 11th member who was an impostor among them. The Y24 Group’s creations often explored intricate themes such as love, romance, and gender roles.

In the world of TWE, Frol is an alien with a feminine appearance who doesn’t mature into a specific gender until adulthood, while Knu identifies as non-binary. Both the manga and its 1986 film version have an edgy, raw quality. Topics like women attending university, which were groundbreaking in the 70s Japan, are common nowadays. However, when they were first released, they were remarkably progressive for their era.

5. Zombie Land Saga

Telling TERFs to Shut Up Since 2018

Zombie Land Saga maintains a generally cheerful and lively tone even though its main characters are undead. It centers around a band of girls resurrected by their producer, who assemble to form Franchouchou, an idol group made up of zombies.

The sixth member of the group is Lily Hoshikawa, a former child star who identified as trans. Sadly, she passed away due to the strain of maturing during puberty. As an undead entity, she no longer has to grow up or experience the complications of incorrect puberty, which she views as a benefit. Her tale resonated deeply with both fans and critics, making her a prominent symbol in pro-trans movements. Frequently, her image is used in memes countering anti-trans sentiments.

4. Stop!! Hibari-kun

Styling on Transphobes Since 1983

Studio: Toei Animation
1 Season, 35 Episodes
Available in English (subbed) via the Internet Archive

Hold it! The story, Hibari-kun, revolves around Kosaku, a high school student who finds himself under the roof of a yakuza leader following his mother’s demise. Intriguingly, he develops feelings for Hibari, the most beautiful daughter of the yakuza boss. There’s mutual interest between them, but there’s a hidden truth known only to her family: she’s transgender. He maintains her secret and keeps his distance, yet over time, she subtly influences him.

1980s romantic comedy featuring a trans character, the humor in this film may now seem outdated. However, Hibari is not portrayed as a stereotype. Instead, she’s presented as a stylish girl with an unique trait, and she’s demonstrated to be wiser than those who try to underestimate her intelligence. Comparatively speaking, it was quite progressive for its time, and even many works produced after it failed to match its forward-thinking approach.

3. Senpai is an Otokonoko

Crossdressing Leads to Cross Purposes

The contemporary and mature adaptation of “Stop!! Hibari-kun” is thematically centered around the character Senpai, who is a cross-dressing high school student, referred to as an Otokonoko in this context. Unlike the protagonist Hibari, Makoto isn’t preoccupied with romantic feelings, but finds himself unexpectedly entangled in love when he encounters Saki. She is a bisexual classmate who, initially mistaking Makoto for a female, remains undeterred upon discovering his true gender.

On the contrary, Ryuji, Makoto’s friend, is aware of his crossdressing and has accepted it. However, he has been developing feelings for him. Although the show doesn’t strictly revolve around a transgender individual, it resonates with audiences due to its balanced portrayal of gender fluidity. It avoids being overly dramatic or superficial in dealing with this topic, which is often sensationalized.

2. Tokyo Godfathers

How a Homeless Trans Woman Briefly Became a Foster Mother

In some productions, it’s nice for audiences to focus on people being individuals first, rather than making them a topic of discussion, especially when it comes to trans characters. Tokyo Godfathers, for instance, explores themes like loss, family, rediscovering connections, and the vibrancy of cities and their communities. One of its main characters is transgender, but this aspect is woven into a larger narrative tapestry that the creators carefully crafted.

Hana freely discusses her queer history, the relationships it fostered, and the sorrows it caused. She dismissively handles any criticisms regarding her being trans (but not about her maturing years). Nevertheless, this doesn’t deter the film from portraying her as a nurturing presence within the trio, responsible for caring for the baby they discover while transporting them in their quest to find the child’s biological mother. Just like the other characters in the baby’s newly formed family, she is equally complex and fascinating.

1. Wandering Son

The Trials and Tribulations of Growing Up Trans

Wandering Son has emerged as the leading anime series that focuses on transgender characters. When it comes to portraying a transgender childhood in a genuine manner, few can match its authenticity. The story follows the journey of two friends, Shuichi and Yoshino, who struggle with their identities, as they were assigned male and female at birth but don’t fully identify with those genders.

They grow closer through their shared experiences and eventually establish a group of friends who embrace their unique qualities. However, they encounter fresh hurdles during their maturation process, meeting new individuals and experiencing emotions that add complexity to their lives. The show may not be perfect, as it offers a more profound exploration of trans-female experiences compared to trans-male ones. Still, it remains a moving and intellectually stimulating anime focused on the transgender community.

2025-05-25 21:49