Why are alot of the trans here anime freaks/japanese obsessed?

[BridgetBby]

seems to be a reoccurring theme im noticing...
why is that?

[Devyn]

Obsessed is a strong word.

Besides, I haven't noticed that.

If you think we're "obsessed", go to an anime convention. Just saying.

[LordKAT]

I don't  like it much at all. I doubt I'm the only one and I haven't noticed it to be any kind of trend.

[Espenoah]

I think obsessed is the wrong word. :/ And not all fans that go to conventions are obsessed either.... *cough*me*cough* But I have noticed that more anime fans are trans than the general population. I think it's because the fandom is a generally very accepting group that are exposed to more alternative lifestyles than most (Not saying being trans is a lifestyle, just couldn't think of a different word.)

I have also met plenty of girls at conventions that say they are trans because they love yaoi (anime centered on men on men relationships if anyone didn't know). These girls tend to change their mind later on when they realize being gay trans males isn't so glamorous as anime makes it seem. Not all yaoi fans who are trans are like this (again, me >.>), but I have definitely seen it happen.

[Shang]

I think obsessed is the wrong word. :/ And not all fans that go to conventions are obsessed either.... *cough*me*cough* But I have noticed that more anime fans are trans than the general population. I think it's because the fandom is a generally very accepting group that are exposed to more alternative lifestyles than most (Not saying being trans is a lifestyle, just couldn't think of a different word.)

I have also met plenty of girls at conventions that say they are trans because they love yaoi (anime centered on men on men relationships if anyone didn't know). These girls tend to change their mind later on when they realize being gay trans males isn't so glamorous as anime makes it seem. Not all yaoi fans who are trans are like this (again, me >.>), but I have definitely seen it happen.

I'm going to agree.

Anyway, I've met more non-trans anime fans than I have trans anime fans.  Anime and a like of Japan seems to be the "in" thing so lots of people are watching it and thinking about going to the place.

[VeryGnawty]

The answer is so simple.  It's called:  bishounen.

I mean, seriously.  What is more appealing than some prettyboy with long hair fighting some overly macho dude while the both of them jump around fighting while blasting each other with unrealistic powers and abilities?  Don't say Superman, because Superman has nothing on half of the anime series ever made.

Yeah, I'm a complete sucker for anime.  I admit it.  I watch Dragonball Z (oh the shame!) and I like most of the anime I have seen, although most of them will get "old" after the first season or two.

I also have the first season of Bleach on DVD, because the first season of Bleach is awesome.

[E]

Here's me reporting in - I don't care for anime at all, but I'm studying Japanese. The reason for that is Japan's unique history as the only non-European colonial power. Rather geeky, I admit, but then again I'm a geek.

[rar]

Japanese: it's pretty
Anime: fantastic comic timing

I don't think I'd count as obsessed, though. Avid, maybe.

[PixieBoy]

I only like certain anime, so I wouldn't count myself as a fan of it. I'm obsessed with the works of Jhonen Vasquez, but not anime/manga, hehe.

[toxicblue]

I like anime a lot, but I'm definitely not obsessed with it, nor do I want to be too associated too strongly with the anime culture.  This is mainly because so many people who are into it get so hyped up on hormones and either watch/read boy on boy anime/manga, or shows with as much female fanservice as possible, all the while getting involved in stupid fantasies and being sheltered from real life.  Of course, not everyone is like that, but there's enough out there like that to really annoy me.  The reason I like anime is because I can respect the quality and uniqueness that so many shows offer that you can hardly find anywhere else, while avoiding shows that only have a sole purpose of turning people on.

[Tamaki]

Mostly, it's just the hot things right now.

My interest in anime came after my interest in traditional Japanese gardens. I've even gone a garden tour in Kyoto which has sparked my interest in Japanese food. It's a vicious cycle.

Bishounen and Yaoi are not my thing, at all. I fact my terrible secret are some of the more Shojo anime like kimi no todoke and the very occasional mahou shoujo.

[Rock_chick]

Yay for inaccurate stereotypes

[spacial]

I would love to see some decent, online anime, especially dealing with transgender issues. But without exception, every anime site I've been on has left me some nasty or other which slows my computer and takes ages to get rid of.

My avitar is from anime, but I found it on a site with aviatrs and chose it because it's so positive. To be honest, I thought it was a girl, but someone here told me, ages ago, it's a boy and even said his name.

Now that was an anime fan!!

[Wraith]

Don't say Superman, because Superman has nothing on half of the anime series ever made.

Superman doesn't count as a prettyboy to begin with, he's just a dork, so..


I don't really have much interest in anime anymore, but I used to watch a lot of it a couple of years back. For me it was great because I had a hard time relating to real people at the time. Plus, I love animation and art in general.

[Arctic Kat]

I would love to see some decent, online anime, especially dealing with transgender issues. But without exception, every anime site I've been on has left me some nasty or other which slows my computer and takes ages to get rid of.

My avitar is from anime, but I found it on a site with aviatrs and chose it because it's so positive. To be honest, I thought it was a girl, but someone here told me, ages ago, it's a boy and even said his name.

Now that was an anime fan!!

I recognized your avatar right away -- it's Sailor Venus, a character from Sailor Moon. (I am a huge Sailor Moon nerd...)

I don't really know where the idea that she's a boy came from. She's a girl... Her secret identity is Minako Aino.
She's a heroine who fights for love and justice, one of nine guardians who protects Earth from evil forces....

I could go on and on, but I digress.


Carrying on...
I was heavily into anime from 1999 until about 2003, my high school years. I've long since grown out of my geeky phase, but I'm an artist and my style of drawing is still influenced by anime -- it's part of who I am, a residual part of my lifestyle.
Anime was part of my adolescence, and I can't see myself letting go of it.

[spacial]

I recognized your avatar right away -- it's Sailor Venus, a character from Sailor Moon. (I am a huge Sailor Moon nerd...)

I don't really know where the idea that she's a boy came from. She's a girl... Her secret identity is Minako Aino.
She's a heroine who fights for love and justice, one of nine guardians who protects Earth from evil forces....

That makes me feel a lot better.

Thank you so much. She's just the sort of heroine I would want to associate with. 

[Miniar]

yeah,... no...
Not a big anime fan.
Never seen a show I "liked".
Don't generally like manga either.
Though I lol'd reading one a while back, mostly cause it was so stupid it was funny.

[Fuji]

I don't know what would make anyone think "a lot" of people here are anime obsessed.  I've seen a few people with anime avatars and a handful of us talk about trans anime on the TV board, but it's a significant minority, as far as I can tell.  Maybe there's a secret trans anime-fan underbelly I have yet to meet.

I'm an fan, but I'm certainly not obsessed.  I started out watching 2nd gen anime with lesbian and gender-bending themes (Sailor Moon has Sailor Uranus, who dresses and presents as a man (later, a villain named FishEye who presents as female, and three men who magically transform into women); Revolutionary Girl Utena has a girl who wants to be a "prince" and another girl who is a pants-wearing lesbian).

I think the nature of anime to address more complicated themes has attracted gender deviants to it.

Now there are even a few anime that have trans characters in them.  It makes sense to me- when was the last time you saw a western cartoon about a transsexual?  I'm not the type that thinks japanese animation is "better" than western animation (some are way good, some are so bad it hurts!), but because of the history of the country and the medium, animation has a different role in Japan, and the things that make it different allow for the formation of a niche group of fans.

[toxicblue]

I would love to see some decent, online anime, especially dealing with transgender issues. But without exception, every anime site I've been on has left me some nasty or other which slows my computer and takes ages to get rid of.

Check out the show Wandering Son on crunchyroll.com.  Firstly, the site is completely 100% safe and legal (but that means you'll have commercials) and secondly, the show is about two middle school students dealing with transgender issues.  It's very realistic, but very good.  It's still airing in Japan though so they only have four free episodes up right now.  And yes, it's subtitled.

[Elijah3291]

eh honestly i HATE anime, this guy came over to my house and kept trying to get me to watch his stupid animie game, i think its annoying

i used to be into manga, back in high school, because it was a fun hobby and more interesting then reading, dont do it anymore, and i wasnt a HUGE fan of it even then, it was just something i enjoyed reading