Anime: Hourou Musuko

[britt27]

I loved the manga.  Layn, perhaps you can help me remember.  Last I read of the manga, they were on a class trip to something like a summer camp and Nitori was stuck with a bunch of boys in a camphouse kinda thing.  I would love to read that manga again.

As for ppl wondering about the anime's start point vs the mangas start point.  From my recollection (granted it has been some time since I read the manga) the manga and anime start at the same point, as in that they have gotten out of grade school and are starting middle school.

However, that being said, in the manga it starts out with Nitori and Icanteverrememberhernameeventhoughshesagreatcharacter starting to realise their feelings towards their genders.  Nitori starts dressing, then they start dressing together, then his friend with glasses gets involved somehow (I can't remember how) and finds he likes it too.  There is alot that happens those first few weeks of school before they begin writing the play that the anime leaves out.

Also, the manga, while including the love stories and conflicts of friendship here and there, focused in my opinon alot more on Nitori's GID.

Wow, I really want to find a site to start reading this manga again from the beginning.

[Keaira]

Okay. Here you go.
http://www.mangareader.net/582/hourou-musuko.html
I hope you will buy the Manga too. Help support a wonderful storyteller and artist along with all the people who translate these.

[Arctic Kat]

I hope you will buy the Manga too. Help support a wonderful storyteller and artist along with all the people who translate these.

I just got my copy of volume one, and I already love it.
The book version is much classier than most mainstream manga printed in English. It's worth paying for.

[Keaira]

Excellent! 

I've yet to have time to sit down and read it myself. I suppose that's why I was watching the Anime. Basically condensing the story for later reference.

[420NEKO]

Thank you ^_^
The kimono itself is actually a teal. But it never shows up like that on camera.
And you are very welcome.
I do know where you can read it online, But I dont know if anyone would like the link?

You're welcome. Thanks for sharing the manga link, too! X3 I don't like reading manga on the computer, but this one seems like it would be worth it.

[Taka]

hourou musuko is worth reading. now it's up to 100 chapters, and is still being published on a monthly basis in japan. i hope it will go on for a long time, but it's boring to wait an entire month for the next chapter

i'll just use this chance to recommend a more lighthearted manga with the same transgender theme, family compo. it's about a boy who right before entering college finds out about his mother's family's darkest secret (japanese culture may not mind occasional crossdressing, but they're openminded enough to break family ties because of ->-bleeped-<-...) it's a comedy, but still manages to portray a pretty normal warmhearted family

[Layn]

I loved the manga.  Layn, perhaps you can help me remember.  Last I read of the manga, they were on a class trip to something like a summer camp and Nitori was stuck with a bunch of boys in a camphouse kinda thing.  I would love to read that manga again.

oh, that feels ages ago. The manga takes so long to update, it's hard to remember when everything was.

As for ppl wondering about the anime's start point vs the mangas start point.  From my recollection (granted it has been some time since I read the manga) the manga and anime start at the same point, as in that they have gotten out of grade school and are starting middle school.

No, i'm quite sure the manga starts out earlier, still in grad school. That's why the anime started out a bit confusing, with way too many characters being introduced right at the start. And that's where all of the flashbacks come from.

oh Family Compo! that's the other one i read religiously!

[Keaira]

I'm slowly creeping though the anime. I just finished Episode 9. I couldnt help but silently cheer for Nitori-chan towards the end of it. All the crying I did was worth waiting for that!

EDIT: Make that episode 11.  *sigh*

[britt27]

oh, that feels ages ago. The manga takes so long to update, it's hard to remember when everything was.No, i'm quite sure the manga starts out earlier, still in grad school. That's why the anime started out a bit confusing, with way too many characters being introduced right at the start. And that's where all of the flashbacks come from.

oh Family Compo! that's the other one i read religiously!

Hmmmm,
You could be very right on that. Like I said its been a while, for whatever reason I just remember them starting a new grade of school in the beginning.  However, I agree fully on why the anime is so confusing at first.  In the manga, most of the stuff that is reflected on as in showing the past is actually presented chronilogically (spelling?) in the manga, with much more depth.

[britt27]

Where did you see episode 11?

[Keaira]

http://www.chia-anime.com/hourou-musuko/watch-hourou-musuko-episode-11.html

This seems to be a pretty popular thread. Maybe I should post other anime and manga. lol

[420NEKO]

I think you should.  I'm always looking for more anime and manga to get into. :3

[Keaira]

Okay, well... just gender-bending/ transformation stories? or mecha? I want to know what members on here would like to see and then whittle the enormous selection down to those categories.

[420NEKO]

Gender-bending stories would be cool. Other than that, do you know of any good horror or comedy? Or anime movies/ OVAs? That is what I'd personally be interested in. Something with good animation and a story that would be easy to get into.

And if you know of anything in English, definitely something with decent voice actors. >_>;

Idk if that helps, but maybe someone else will have some good ideas. xD

[Keaira]

Most Gender bending stories use that as a gimmick and are usually not as serious as Hourou Musuko. Which in my opinion, makes it really stand out from the rest.

So, there is my personal favorite, an Aqua-Transsexual named Saotome Ranma. He is the main protagonist in this Manga/Anime series. Due to a curse, if he is splashed with cold water, he turns into a busty, red-headed version of himself. Hot water reverses the effect, but only until the next time. This should take you a while to get through.

http://www.animeultima.tv/watch/ranma-12-english-subbed-dubbed-online/

[420NEKO]

That's a little upsetting, but hopefully one day there will be more serious anime about gender issues. I've been trying to come up with ideas for a web-manga/comic that deals with those kind of issues, but it's a little hard for me. I want it to be a very complex story, but not too deep. Unfortunately my drawing skills aren't the best. xD I guess I'm good enough to get by with it though... If I had a tablet it would make things so much easier.

Sorry for rambling~ XD

Anyways, I'll check that out. It's by Rumiko Takahashi, correct? I love Inu-Yasha, but that's the only series of her's that I've watched/read.

[Keaira]

yes, same author. Later episodes of Ranma 1/2 had Ranma's voice change. THey used the same actor who voiced Inu Yasha. And I suspect Kagome was also voiced by the same actress who plays Ukyo in Ranma 1/2. If not Kagome, then Sango.

There are some very sucessful comics out there that dont feature amazing artwork. So dont worry. As long as you can keep readers interested in the story, then the artwork wont be as big a deal as you might think ^_^ SO I wish you the best of luck.

[Taka]

for manga there's of course family compo which i already mentioned. there's also one named "boku no futatsu no tsubasa" about a girl with a penis, and her struggles with romantic relationships and sex. some readers don't like the alien in it, but the girl's perfect hermaphroditism wouldn't be possible without them being involved

also "complex", a yaoi manga about two boys who get together because of or in spite of a child molester. in the beginning it looks like it will be a darks story, but turns out it portrays their entire lives after that, including 2 younger generations, and this is why i recommend it

"the day of revolution", a boy gets such a bad stomach ache that the faints on the school roof (he hangs out with the cool guys..) and when he wakes up in the hospital he gets the rather unbelievable diagnosis that nothings wrong. it's just that he's actually a girl

"level e" (also anime), the best alien comedy i've read/watched, main character being an evil genius who saves earth on a whim. it also has an episode about a transsexual, but it won't be fun if i spoil what actually happens with that person

"1/2 prince", a comedy about a girl who plays a guy in a virtual reality where it shouldn't be possible to be other than your birth sex. there are funny complications because she has to keep her real identity secret, and because her personality changes a lot in the game

"tenshi na konamaiki" (also anime), about a boy who wishes he was a 'man among men', and gets the exact opposite. not a happy girl, but good comedy material

"otomen", about a girly boy who's been forced by his mom to act manly after his father left to become a woman, and a girl who acts like the typical slightly dense (in romantic matters) shounen hero. they're not transgender, just not fitting into their expected gender roles

"bremen", the guys in the band actually accept her fully as a girl. they even save her from a father who tries to force her into a male gender role

other gender bender: ouran high school host club (also anime), girl got game, pretty face, love in the mask, otome wa boku ni koi->-bleeped-<-eiru (also anime), boku ni natta watashi, kaze hikaru, ranma 1/2, princess princess, hanazakari no kimitachi e, chameleon jail, saver

[Keaira]

Excellent list Taka. Thank you ^_^

So there you have it, a pretty comprehensive listing of titles with a trans/ gender-bending/ intersex theme.
Most of the titles I have heard of, but not looked at yet. I have a zip file with a lot of these title in it.

Oh! Another good gender change manga is Futuba-kun Change. It's about a boy who enters puberty to find he changes sex when he gets excited or aroused. He soon learns that everyone in his family changes like him.

[Taka]

that's by no means a comprehensive list. here are more gender bender titles i have read:
marugoto anju gakuen, never give up, nononono, boy of the female wolf, divine melody, akane-chan overdrive, himitsu no himegimi uwasa no ouji, idol shopping, return, tokyo crazy paradise

actually i don't really recommend any of the korean titles. no matter how many i read i'm always without fail disappointed by how weak the initially strong female lead turns out to be. but many girls seem to like them, so i can't not mention them