Ask John: Can You Explain “Gender-Bending” in Anime?

Question:
Why are shounen-ai, lesbians, and “gender-bending” so frequent in anime?

Answer:
Once again, I make no claim of expertise in this area, so I can only guess on the reason for the frequency of homosexuality and gender-bending in anime. What I say here is my own, personal interpretation. I suspect that the rationale for homosexuality, effeminate men and strong, empowered women in anime is all part of the ultimate, collective fantasy of anime. It’s all wrapped up in the presentation of beauty and widening of experience. It could be said that homosexuality in anime is an attempt to present the ultimate couple: pure love, free of the conventions and limitations of heterosexuality. Bi-sexuality, homosexuality and especially effeminate men have, in anime, an air of experience and culture. In exploring the frontiers of fantasy through anime, creators create characters that are not enveloped within the bonds of conventionalism. Maron Glaces of Sorcerer Hunters, Lucifer of Demon City Shinjuku and Ladios Sopp of Five Star Stories all seem to be more knowledgeable, wise and composed than their compatriots, perhaps because they are more in touch with both the anima and animus sides of their personality.

Shonen-ai (boy love) should rightfully be distinguished between actual homosexuality and non-romantic spiritual bonding. Kaoru and Shinji share a spiritual bond in Evangelion without any physical relationship. Kamui obviously has a strong affection for Fuma, as depicted by the conclusion of the X movie, but once again, their relationship is not one of lovers. The men of Utena, especially during the Akio Ohtori saga, seem to take great pleasure in each other’s company and in each other’s physical beauty, but their relationships, again, never appear to be that of lovers. In many cases, physical homosexual relationships are often created for female readers and viewers, often by females themselves. One need only consider the wealth of yaoi fan fiction, and shonen-ai doujinshi created for Gundam Wing and St. Seiya. Even so, though, homosexual men can still be given some of the same credit that feminine male characters deserve. For example, either through implication or direct statement, in Earthian, Evangelion and Tenshi ni Narumon, the homosexual men are literally angels.

The concept of homosexual characters knowing more than other characters, or being more experienced or more powerful applies to female characters as well. The bi-sexual Anthy Himemiya is at once the most complacent and most pivitol of all characters in Utena. The lesbian Sailors Uranus and Neptune are the older, more responsible, almost mentor-like role models to the inner senshi of Sailor Moon.

The theme of females that dress and live as males also appears relatively frequently in anime, often through females raised in a patriarchy to become a male heir, for example: Oscar of Rose of Versailles, Rapier of Maze, Luu of Midnight Panther, and Fubukimaru of Crayon Shin-chan: Unkokusai’s Ambition. These examples, along with Utena Tenjou’s decision to dress in a boy’s school uniform to become a prince, can all be viewed as women’s attempt to gain power, equality and both physical and intellectual freedom within a patriarchal dominated society. These roles serve as both feminist role models and as a practical selling point for a show: females with strong male characterizations are attractive to both girl and boy viewers.

Of course, I’d be remiss if I didn’t admit that homosexuality and cross-genderism are often presented for low-brow or commercial reasons. Lesbianism is often presented in anime simply because it sells copies. Gourry of Slayers being disguised as a female, Gokudo of Gokudo-kun Manyuko being magically transformed into a female, the recurring gay couple in Miami Guns that always turns up at unexpected times, the cross-dressing team of thieves in Burn-Up X and Ranma Saotome constantly transforming into a girl aren’t intentional or even serious comments on gender equality, they are simply catalysts for situational comedy. In other cases, such as Mary of Project A-ko, gender-bending is done as intentional parody. And in Dirty Pair, Kei always wears masculine clothes and Yuri the feminine attire to emphasize the dominant character of their personalities.