LGBT-positive characters/situations in

Dec 22, 2012 4:45 PM

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Dec 2012

Gankutsuou spoilers follow, mild GITS spoiler

Alright, so I just finished watching Gankutsuou, though I was briefly tempted to stop watching after the second episode. If you've seen it, you know what I'm talking about, even if you don't agree. Our brave(and characteristically naive) hero Albert is completely into a young woman(Peppo) that he means during the Luna Carnival and, despite her luring him into a trap and almost* getting him tortured and killed, he arranges a date with her after the unpleasantness is over. But then the Count fills him in on her "secret."("男?! 男だよ?!") And then we cut to him hastily packing his briefcase while muttering that his travelling partner and childhood friend Franz(who may or may not himself be hopelessly in love with our brave hero) must be laughing at him over his attraction and near tryst with a trans woman.

Now don't get me wrong...I don't feel that Albert's behavior or words are either homophobic or transphobic. But I find it alarming that these situations keep popping up in anime(and will present a couple more). Peppo is, from the very moment she's introduced(like 2 minutes into the first episode), a very interesting character(I like most instances of that kind of kind-hearted gang member stock character). For me, her "secret" just made her all the more interesting. Almost compelling enough to stop wondering why anime that one would expect to have broad demographic aspirations(like, say, an adaptation of The Count of Monte Cristo) fixates on adolescents..almost. Err, where was I...ah right. I'd just like to briefly mention two other LGBT examples.

In GITS, the Major is shown to be in some manner of relationship with a couple other women, but the manga chips at the seriousness of this and gives her a boyfriend later on. That, and she has a bit of a Benson/Stabler thing going on with Batou.

Then there's Sword Art Online...When I read the title of the supporting guy saying 案外かわいい顔, 結構好み to the male lead, I figured my Japanese knowledge was coming up short, but I found myself really hoping to be wrong. I immediately hit (English) google and found that this was only meant as some manner of joke and was probably a great sentence for showing that "かわいい" and "cute" are not perfect synonyms.

On top of these, I've only watched a couple other series, so having just these 3 have "just kidding" presentations of LGBT-tinted language and situations makes it so the majority of the anime I've watched has these. Again, I don't think any of this constitutes homophobia or transphobia, but they've left me disappointed when suggestive language turns out to just be in jest, or worse, brotastic. Or when someone like Kusanagi is beyond a reasonable doubt queer, but the writers walk this back and decide to give her a boyfriend.

See, I think one of the greatest aspects of anime vis a vis western entertainment(until recently) was its willingness to explore more complicated relationships and motivations of the characters. The most obvious example of this was Sympathy for the Devil, explaining or even justifying the actions of the antagonist by showing(by flashback, exposition, w/e) the events that led them down the path to becoming an antagonist. This was something far rarer in western entertainment. Well, I feel that LGBT characters and situations are similar as to their potential to flavor a story. They add an extra dimension to character interactions, an interesting way to develop and and advance them. Instead, it feels like they're trapped between taboo and sideshow. Instead, with Beppo, we have the character obviously attracted to her, and then completely not. It's not like he's conflicted about it, rather it just becomes a non-issue, it ceases to be. An opportunity for an interesting quirk to their relationship is snuffed out...I understand why that kind of result is to be expected in the real world, but in fiction I would think the authors would exploit any opportunity to make the relationships between their characters more interesting. Here, what might've been colorful is now bland. The melodious made monotonous.

So I'm driven to look for recommendations of anime with more interesting(I suppose not necessarily positive) situations involving LGBT characters. Specifically anime that under other circumstances would've surprised me with the inclusion of said situations, where the typical person viewing it has no reason to expect LGBT themes(As a good Sympathy for the Devil back story should blindside the viewer as well). Thus, shonen-ai/yaoi and shoujo-ai/yuri are excluded. Something like Shinji/Kaworu comes close, except I'm looking for a bit more than subtext and undertones.

Thanks for reading, sorry for the rambling(hope I articulated well enough what I'm looking for), and thank you if you can link a fitting series.

Dec 22, 2012 8:02 PM

Roughan

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Apr 2012

303

Wandering Son is about LGBT issues, especially about transgenders.

Dec 22, 2012 9:13 PM

Krimson

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Apr 2009

869

Roughan said:
Wandering Son is about LGBT issues, especially about transgenders.

Also known as Hourou Musuko - I don't think any other title I have read takes the issue as seriously.

Bokura no Hentai shows promise but there isn't much out yet.

Past Future has more chapters out than Bokura no Hentai. It's kind of a comedy, but beneath the light heartedness is a deeper story.

If you're going to look into Hourou Musuko, then you should probably read Aoi Hana, which is by the same mangaka. Aoi Hana is Shoujo Ai, and also treats the subject with respect.

While I'm on the subject of Shoujo Ai/Yuri there are a few that are worth looking at. Girl Friends and Octave are both complete and both very much worth reading.

Sasameki Koto is over, but a few chapters near the end have yet to be translated, so it's a bit frustrating. It also has comedy elements, but the issue of love is quite serious. Beautiful story.

Prism also has some promise, but there doesn't seem to be much out yet.

Dec 23, 2012 12:04 AM

Vial

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Dec 2012

Thank you for the suggestions(and in particular I find it curious that Hourou Musuko was published in a Seinen magazine). But I'm specifically looking for interesting LGBT portrayals outside of designated LGBT series, whether it comes up for but one episode(Kaworu) or persists for an entire series(Haruka/Michiru).

Dec 23, 2012 4:34 AM

Juliette

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Apr 2008

It sounds like you want LGBT characters in non yuri/yaoi anime. Is that right ?
If so here are some anime Ive watched with lgbt characters or strong subtext.

Maintext LGBT

Bakemonogatari/Nisemonogatari has a lesbian

Sailor Moon : lesbian couple

Mawaru Penguindrum : a lesbian, and

Ano Hana : There's a male crossdresser. Not really LGBT but hey that's something.

Subtext but pretty much main

Jormungand : one of the girls is in love with the lead girl. It's more of a funny obsession thing though.

Canaan : very strong subtext between MC, another girl and a villain

Madoka Magica : if you want to see a girl getting friendzoned like a boss lol

JulietteDec 23, 2012 4:22 PM

Dec 23, 2012 8:03 AM

Krimson

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Apr 2009

869

Hourou Musuko is still worth reading, the crossdressing aspect is ultimately secondary to the story, and once you start reading it you'll understand why it's seinen.

For a regular series that has something to that effect, try Steins;Gate

Dec 23, 2012 1:11 PM

tlne

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Mar 2012

147

I second both Hourou Musuko (because it's extremely good and edit: just realized my avatar is of it) and Bokura No Hentai. The second is really, really promising, but there's only a handful of chapters out or so.

@Juliette: "and her being a lesbian is a plot twist", well it's not as if people aren't watching it (ahem, me)...keep it spoiler free please. :(

★

Dec 23, 2012 7:27 PM

Sweetpea

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Apr 2009

5194

I'm not surprised at all about it being in Gankutsuou, considering the time period the original material is from. Would be so true in that.

I have to second Wandering Son. Fabulous anime and manga.

Revolutionary Girl Utena has some lesbain subtext between the two mains, but isn't a yuri/shoujo-ai series.

Taishou Baseball Girls - not a yuri/shoujo ai series, some girls fight (subversively) over the main even though main herself isn't a lesbian. Lots of unrequited love.

Brother, Dear Brother - older series, but deals with some homosexual relationships. Hugely dramatic, but still a good series. However, does happen to be yuri/shoujo ai.

Kyou kara Maou! - debated on adding this one to this list. Not a shounen-ai/yaoi series, but does have that subtext. But I haven't seen much and can't tell you how seriously that relationship goes.

The thing is, I don't think you'll find many that do explore these relationships better than Western television, because the VAST majority of Japanese are homophobic and homosexual relationships are NOT approved of in general society. America is better about it than Japan, and that's probably not saying a whole lot. Because of this, there's a lot of comedy made at homosexual characters' expenses.

Dec 24, 2012 3:29 PM

Vial

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Dec 2012

While I guess it's kinda my point that interesting LGBT portrayals are absent outside of their demarcated areas, I don't think it's accurate to say the Japanese are homophobic or that homosexual relationships aren't approved. Rather, I think the situation is much, much more complicated than that. In the west, machismo and religion draw well-defined lines between those supportive and those opposed. Machismo and religion aren't strong factors in Japan or east asia in general, so I have no clue where uneasiness towards or opposition to same-sex relationships comes from. But I don't think that it constitutes homophobia.

Anyway, thanks for all the great recommendations. I'll be sure to check them out. And sorry about my topic spoiling an anime for someone.

Dec 24, 2012 4:26 PM

#10

Roughan

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Apr 2012

303

What Did You Eat Yesterday - realistic take on a gay couple
Longer and Slower Than a River - comedy about a guy who works in a gay bar

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