| Before I started figuring out my gender and sexuality, I read a lot of yaoi and slash (male/male fiction). I didn't really know why, but I thought it was really interesting. I was really into Cardcaptor Sakura... I didn't even read it in order, but one of the volumes that my sister had was the one where Touya and Yukito hold hands, and I read it over and over again. I was captivated. I felt kind of bad, like I was being voyeuristic or weird somehow, caring so much. I didn't even realize they were actually a couple, but that moment of intimacy made me feel like there was a big, empty space somewhere in my head or in my chest. Haha, I really liked FAKE and Petshop of Horrors, too. Horrible Large Men, that was my genre of choice. Well, I also liked Eerie Queerie. I love ghosts. I wanna watch this Kdrama that's coming out, Oh My Ghostess? It's not gay or anything, but it looks fun. I was really into gender-bender. That was appealing to me - the idea that you could just change. 1/2 Prince, and Kill Me Kiss Me, and Your And My Secret. Did anyone else have a lot of formative experiences with anime/manga/other medid before realizing they were (whatever)? |
| Hello! Cool topic idea. Around the time that I started to realize I was basically a trans girl(during middle school) but kinda refused to admit it (I used Jungian psychology as an excuse back then, if I recall), I was just starting to get into manga. I'd seen Miyazaki's films as a kid, loved Castle in the Sky. But I was just beginning to branch into more non-Ghibli works. I think my first were Fullmetal Alchemist (which I got a good ways through and then stalled), Black Butler (which I kinda liked but also didn't care enough to buy the second novel), and Death Note (which I thought was OK but I decided to not read because people hype it so much). I have a bizarrely formative relationship with Puella Magi Madoka Magica. While I've come to doubt it's actual nature as a FEMINIST MASTERPIECE (luckily that hype has died down) since it doesn't make much sense judging by the director and the studio he's working with. However, before I watched it I was in a kinda aimless state,I checked out the first couple of episodes and was like "Eh, it's cool." Later, when I started watching from episode 3 or 4 I was going through a period of both stress, increased questioning of my relationship with masculinity, closeting of differences, and spiritual rejuvenation. (I'm Jewish, but I was with my family visiting Christian relatives over Christmas as a yearly tradition. Christian relatives who're into sports.) Basically, what I'm working up to, is that the Japanes Animes turned me into a young woman! (I still took awhile to figure out what was going on, since I was using Jungian psych as an excuse for a while, really until I learned about non-binary genders.) (Also, I'm just going to say that I was turned into a girl by Revolutionary Girl Utena by-proxy, since I wish I'd seen that instead back then. Also, they're weirdly similar. I'll need to make a chart eventually. And I still have lingering feelings of betrayal about PMMMs marketing and baiting, which is probably why I get so salty. Anyways, soapbox over.) Ive only been recently getting into more stuff like Utena or Rayearth. |
| @103rdWhatever Ah, Fullmetal Alchemist. One of the first anime shows I watched. My dad ordered the DVDs off Netflix. (Also: A Little Snow Fairy Sugar.) I loved the first couple episodes, in my small child atheist phase. This was before Brotherhood came out. Brotherhood is technically better, I guess, but the 2003 anime holds a special place in my heart. I'm not a big Death Note fan tbh. Cool concept but the plot is just... really boring to me. I like the reapers. The Shinigami, those folks. Yeah. I read Black Butler for a bit, but in retrospect it creeps me out. Ahhhhh, Castle in the Sky is so good! Madoka and Utena are really amazingly emotionally effective queer stories, for having been produced so... weirdly. Like, they're kind of fucked up and hostile but so meaningful anyway? Madoka moreso than Utena, as far as hostility goes. As far as I know - I'm just going off of knowledge absorbed from acquaintances in fandom. I think a lot of the themes of, disconnection, and transformation really resonate with young queer viewers who feel kind of bad and confused and maybe an imminent sense of doom. Utena turns into a car or something, right? Now that's what I call trans representation. I'm Jewish too btw! Oh hey Rayearth! Good stuff! You ever watch Vision of Escaflowne? (edited for style) |
satanminajSep 9, 2015 1:35 PM
| Yeah, the thing about hostility of the stories I think is apt. Madoka was more brutally emotional, while I got the feeling that Utena was more precise in it's attacks, but was stifled a bit in how much it was saying? In terms of LGBT themes and such. I never really felt that Madoka was ever planned to have more than it does, but that doesn't really discount how much of an impact it's had on people (me included). Overall, I'd prefer stuff like that, which can leave a potentially healthy emotional impact for younger viewers, than a lot of the cartoons made for-kids nowadays. Well, "younger" is a bit of a general statement, I'd say more around the early teens at the youngest for that kind of content, but it surely beets most other things intended for that audience. (Also, I was talking about the TV series of Utena, she turns into a car in the movie. Ironically, the story actually could be interpreted as going into trans issues depending on the angle you take on the whole "wanna be a prince" thing. It's kinda clumsy if you look at it from that direction, but it's thereish.) I haven't heard of VoE before. Looks interesting. |
| Cool thread idea! I was thinking about nostalgic anime and I think Ranma 1/2 was what started cluing me in on genderfluidity and my own identity. If only I too could find a magical spring that could change my physiology back and forth lol |
| "Listen up, I don’t care what you punks do around the universe. But with this, my sword … anywhere it can reach, is part of my country! Asses who blunder in and violate my things … whether it be a Shogun, whether it be space pirates, whether it be a meteorite, I’ll destroy them!" - Sakata Gintoki (Gintama) |
| I love this thread too ^.^ I watched a lot of "gender-benders" before I came out as trans. Stuff like Ouran High School Host Club and I My Me Strawberry Eggs. I also read a lot of manga of similar themes like Kashimashi and Yubisake Milk Tea. I actually got a job at the local library when I was in high school, that way I could buy the manga I wanted to read without my parents figuring me out. I remember one time I was walking by as some kids were reading the backs of the manga volumes, and one kid said, "Geez, this library has a ton of gay manga. What's up with that?" I was so proud of myself ^.^ |
 |
| I read a lot of romance manga before, and when I was a little bit older I started to read Shoujo Ai manga and other books with lesbian relationships. And then later I found out I was into girls so I got a girlfriend in secretly, and came out as lesbian to my friends and family when I was 17 years old. (I'm 22 years old now) BTW: Feel free to add me :D :D :D |
| The Devilman franchise. I was (and still am) really attached to Ryo for reasons I didn't really get then. Now I realise its most likely due |
 |
| Also Greek mythology, because of the large amount of ancient Greek heroes who were bi. |
|
More topics from this board
Poll: » What really attracts you?Frezlaj - Sep 23, 2015 |
12 |
by removed-user
»»
Aug 29, 2022 4:17 PM |
|
» Who would you cosplay as (same sex couple)?Voki - Apr 18, 2015 |
14 |
by removed-user
»»
Aug 29, 2022 4:13 PM |
|
Poll: » Are you in a relationship?Voki - Mar 14, 2015 |
29 |
by seasidepeach
»»
Aug 5, 2022 8:04 PM |
|
» Anime with trans/tgnb themes?DyedRed - Jul 12, 2022 |
3 |
by seasidepeach
»»
Aug 5, 2022 8:02 PM |
|
» Trans Anime and Manga Recommendationssatanminaj - Mar 6, 2016 |
6 |
by JKKH
»»
Jul 21, 2022 7:23 PM |