Susan's Place Transgender Resources

I used to enjoy a lot of Manga. I remember one cartoon where there was a character that turned into a girl when he got wet.

Does anyone frequently read any transgender on-line comic strips. Can you recommend any?

Is it just me, Japanese cartoonists seem particularly interested in breaking gender and sexual boundaries. Is this a product of Japanese pop culture? I think they are fascinating in that I believe the country has very ridged gender roles, yet in their pop culture they often break down many of these boundaries. Any thoughts?

Quote from: NickSister on October 04, 2007, 06:07:30 PM
I used to enjoy a lot of Manga. I remember one cartoon where there was a character that turned into a girl when he got wet.

Does anyone frequently read any transgender on-line comic strips. Can you recommend any?

Is it just me, Japanese cartoonists seem particularly interested in breaking gender and sexual boundaries. Is this a product of Japanese pop culture? I think they are fascinating in that I believe the country has very ridged gender roles, yet in their pop culture they often break down many of these boundaries. Any thoughts?

The manga you are thinking of is Ranma 1/2. And yes, Japanese art, like manga, tends towards breaking these gender boundaries rather than reinforcing them. At least, that is what I see.

My older daughter would really be the one to ask that question of.  She is really into gender violating manga.  Right now she's into Alice 19th and Ceres Celestial Legend.  Pretty much all of those themes seem to be in shoujo manga. 

Quote from: no_id on October 05, 2007, 06:28:06 AM
Last but not least; as for Why Japanese seem more lenient when it comes to breaking sexual and gender boundaries in the creative culture I'm tended to say; "Where there are rules there is fantasy..."

And one of the main themes in manga of all styles is the hero who is the rule-breaker.  Japanese culture is so intense on conformity that there is great love for nonconforming characters in literature.

Jana's TG Manga And Anime Pages (http://personal.telefonica.terra.es/web/tmap/index.htm) have a long list of manga more or less related to the topic.

I remember my daughter devouring Naruto.  Her all-time favorite was Fushigi Yuugi.  I also remember her reading Sailor Moon, Boku No Futasu, Shoujo Shounen, Maho Shonen Yuuki, and Under The Crescent Moon.  She used to read One Piece until it got too weird for her.

As someone who used to be the manga expert for a local Borders...this thread made me very happy!!!!!!!!!!!  In fact, there's only one place to sit in my apartment because everything else is covered in manga.

Here are the ones I like (there are some repeats) for this particular topic (keep in mind that they are fiction stories and things rarely work out this well) (if I were at home the list would probably be much longer...but I can't remember everything)

-Day of Revolution
-Angel Sanctuary (WARNING...it's a love story between a brother and a sister, so if you can't get past the incest, don't read it...That being said, it's one of my favorite manga ever and Kaori Yuki is an amazing artist)
-Until the Full Moon
-Gentleman's Alliance (there's a boy who crossdresses)
-Kashimashi
-Kedamono Damono
-IS (NOT the Shonen Jump IS)--It is about people who are intersexed...you can download it from The Evil Empire...I think it's in the yaoi section.
-Fushigi Yuugi (though Yuu Watase isn't for everyone...this one is particularly dramatic...and long...but Nuriko is my favorite character!)
-Ouran High School Host Club--I mention this one because the main character is female, but even in the beginning she mentions (she's a commoner at a rich school) that she doesn't really appreciate the perceived differences between the sexes...she wore old hand-me-downs and they thought she was a boy...mostly, it's a silly story, but the main character is not your typical 'japanese school girl' heroine...in fact, anti-heroine is probably the best way to describe her.
-Yellow
-Gravitation and Gravitation EX Yoshiki is a transexual

Another good website is www.animecornerstore.com. You can order just about any manga/anime that's currently in print from them.

Those are the only ones that I could think of (off the top of my head) that deal specifically with gender-bending issues (not just crossdressing for love/money...that happens a lot too)...however, relationships in yaoi (boys love) manga are often 'based' on the fact that a person can fall in love with anybody, regardless of gender...well, I say 'based', but mostly it's just that their characters aren't always gay, they just happen to fall in love with men...it's a plot device...when there is a plot...there's a lot of smut too...what does that say about me?  >:D 

I do think that manga artists push the envelope, but then again, they are still restricted by what is culturally acceptable in Japan.  In most yaoi, the main characters almost always mention that they date women too, so they aren't gay, they just happen to like some men.  I guess that makes it okay... ???

Maybe I'll think of more when I go back home...If anyone has any questions about manga, whether it be suggestions or appropriateness for kids, etc, feel free to contact me!

http://forums.animesuki.com/archive/index.php/t-14611.html

Quote from: NickSister on October 04, 2007, 06:07:30 PM
Does anyone frequently read any transgender on-line comic strips. Can you recommend any?

No. but i do recommend that you watch the anime Serial Experiments Lain. it was so great, i believe it changed my thinking.

Quote from: NickSister on October 04, 2007, 06:07:30 PM
Does anyone frequently read any transgender on-line comic strips. Can you recommend any?

Not manga, but Misfile (http://www.misfile.com/) is pretty cool and has been going on for a while (today's installment is page 833). If you don't want a continuing story line, Transe-Generation (http://www.transe-generation.com/) is quite funny, usually even if you remember that most of the strips are based on real life. Both have 'Links' sections that poin to others.

  Nfr

Quote from: Seshatneferw on October 08, 2007, 04:37:02 AM

Quote from: NickSister on October 04, 2007, 06:07:30 PM
Does anyone frequently read any transgender on-line comic strips. Can you recommend any?

Not manga, but Misfile (http://www.misfile.com/) is pretty cool and has been going on for a while (today's installment is page 833). If you don't want a continuing story line, Transe-Generation (http://www.transe-generation.com/) is quite funny, usually even if you remember that most of the strips are based on real life. Both have 'Links' sections that poin to others.

  Nfr

Niiiice.

-Goes to read-

TOO MANY CARS.

Cars=ewwww.

Quote from: NickSister on October 04, 2007, 06:07:30 PM
Does anyone frequently read any transgender on-line comic strips. Can you recommend any?

How about Venus Envy (http://venusenvy.comicgenesis.com/d/20011201.html), by Erin Lindsey?

Karen

Quote from: Karen on October 08, 2007, 11:46:07 AM

Quote from: NickSister on October 04, 2007, 06:07:30 PM
Does anyone frequently read any transgender on-line comic strips. Can you recommend any?

How about Venus Envy (http://venusenvy.comicgenesis.com/d/20011201.html), by Erin Lindsey?

Karen

Thanks Karen, really enjoyed these.

I loved the one where the parants are having a chat
Mum " Do you know what your son just told me Robert? Apparently he thinks he's a girl"
Dad " Thank God! I was afraid he was gay"

I also liked Friction, thanks no-id.

Misfile is an AMAZING comic.
Seriously, that was a good one.
I wanna wake up as a girl though... :-\

Hi no_id

Here is an old tune that I remember from my teens. The video is made over with Japanese characters which really enhances the little tune.

It's a really neat little tune, and so is the video. Have fun, enjoy. ;D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHLFh2uAeDg

Cindy

 

Quote from: cindybc on October 15, 2007, 04:44:15 AM
Hi no_id

Here is an old tune that I remember from my teens. The video is made over with Japanese characters which really enhances the little tune.

It's a really neat little tune, and so is the video. Have fun, enjoy. ;D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHLFh2uAeDg

Cindy

 

HI MOMMY!!!
You need to send me some more emails>.>

ANYWAYS.

That video was amazing.

And I ADORE Azumanga Daioh, which is the anime it's based off of.  It's got to be the CUTEST thing in the world, even cuter than Hamtaro!

Posted on: October 15, 2007, 07:15:03 AM

---

Strawberry Eggs is good, btw.
Watching it now.

Quote from: Jaimey on October 05, 2007, 04:00:44 PM
I do think that manga artists push the envelope, but then again, they are still restricted by what is culturally acceptable in Japan.  In most yaoi, the main characters almost always mention that they date women too, so they aren't gay, they just happen to like some men.  I guess that makes it okay... ???

Gay is not acceptable (anymore) in Japan? OMG, say it ain't so. I read Hagakure: Book of the Samurai, and it was totally acceptable to them. wonder when it changed? hey, if it's good enough for a samurai, it's good enough for me.

I like these cartoons although I didn't know about them until I was on You Tube and brought up the Pop goes the World, a favorite from when I was a kid. I use to draw cartoons, still probably could.

Cindy

Quote from: cindybc on October 18, 2007, 08:54:59 PM
I like these cartoons although I didn't know about them until I was on You Tube and brought up the Pop goes the World, a favorite from when I was a kid. I use to draw cartoons, still probably could.

Cindy

Uh oh!

your cartoons could give even a post op MtF a boner:-p

You could be surprised Honey what experiences and different things a 62 year old hippy ->-bleeped-<- has experienced in her life including smoking dope and drinking herself silly on moon shine and traveled half the Eastern US had my feet in both the Atlantic ocean and the Pacific across Canada and now 7 years full time and 4 years post op. Wanna learn anything else  young un?

Cindy 

Quote from: cindybc on October 18, 2007, 09:15:33 PM
You could be surprised Honey what experiences and different things a 62 year old hippy ->-bleeped-<- has experienced in her life including smoking dope and drinking herself silly on moon shine and traveled half the Eastern US had my feet in both the Atlantic ocean and the Pacific across Canada and now 7 years full time and 4 years post op. Wanna learn anything else  young un?

Cindy 

Yes.
What's the color of your nose hair?!!!

hahah, j/k

I know, I know, we know, you're old!

But we'll still luffles you, just we'll guard our bodies... wouldn' want some kid like you stuck in that body tryign to steal one of our youthful ones.
haha, I could see it now, you stealing Micheal Jordan's bod and transitioning, or someone buff like him.
FLEX WHEELER in a bra, omg.

Quote from: ell on October 18, 2007, 08:24:41 PM

Quote from: Jaimey on October 05, 2007, 04:00:44 PM
I do think that manga artists push the envelope, but then again, they are still restricted by what is culturally acceptable in Japan.  In most yaoi, the main characters almost always mention that they date women too, so they aren't gay, they just happen to like some men.  I guess that makes it okay... ???

Gay is not acceptable (anymore) in Japan? OMG, say it ain't so. I read Hagakure: Book of the Samurai, and it was totally acceptable to them. wonder when it changed? hey, if it's good enough for a samurai, it's good enough for me.

That comes up in the anime Samurai Champloo...the dude from Holland who came to Japan because he thought that gay love was acceptable there.  From what I understand, it was outside influence (most likely from China...Confucianism and all that) that changed Japanese society.  Japanese society is pretty complicated from an outsider's point of view.  Women are still expected to stay at home and raise the children while men work, etc.  In many ways, it's still a very traditional society.  Of course, in many places in the US, there are still very traditional beliefs (which have unfortunately gotten, well, louder if not stronger since you-know-who became president). 

I do think that things are changing in Japan just as they are changing in the US.  But it's hard to change the mentality of an entire country.  It would be nice if there were a person from Japan on this forum who could comment on this. 

CREEPY.
In strawberry eggs there's a love affair between a 20+ year old crossdresser dude and his 13 yr old under developed student>.>

I kinda hope they hook up though, which is even worse!!!

Forgive me for quoting myself again, but, along time ago I said something quite poignant regarding this very subject.

"The Japanese are weird bastards."

Words that I find become truer and truer as time goes on.

~ BB

Quote from: Blair on October 23, 2007, 01:43:24 PM
Forgive me for quoting myself again, but, along time ago I said something quite poignant regarding this very subject.

"The Japanese are weird bastards."

Words that I find become truer and truer as time goes on.

~ BB

They're normal.

We're weird!

Quote from: Blair on October 23, 2007, 01:43:24 PM
Forgive me for quoting myself again, but, along time ago I said something quite poignant regarding this very subject.

"The Japanese are weird bastards."

Words that I find become truer and truer as time goes on.

~ BB

The things you find in manga are rebellion against Japanese culture.  Just like the things you find in American comic books are rebellion against American culture.

If you think I, My, Me, Strawberry Eggs is weird...you should read some yaoi.  There are things in there that make ME blush, and that is saying something. 

The whole teacher/student thing is pretty popular and I guess I can see how some people might enjoy that...but what I don't understand is why does incest keep popping up?  I can dismiss it once, I mean, I did read Angel Sanctuary and it's actually one of my favorite series, but ever since I read it, incest just keeps making it's way into books.  The author of Angel Sanctuary, Kaori Yuki, did write in one of the side bars that all of her friends told her how disgusting that was and that she was an only child, but still...

Quote from: Lisbeth on October 23, 2007, 03:29:37 PM

Quote from: Blair on October 23, 2007, 01:43:24 PM
Forgive me for quoting myself again, but, along time ago I said something quite poignant regarding this very subject.

"The Japanese are weird bastards."

Words that I find become truer and truer as time goes on.

~ BB

The things you find in manga are rebellion against Japanese culture.  Just like the things you find in American comic books are rebellion against American culture.

The harder you try to press it all down, the more concentrated it becomes.

And I think anyone who has dipped their head into the inky depths of the subject in question can agree that this stuff is rich in full-flavored perversion and general strangeness.

It's spectacular!

~ BB

Quote from: Blair on October 23, 2007, 05:01:08 PM

Quote from: Lisbeth on October 23, 2007, 03:29:37 PM
The things you find in manga are rebellion against Japanese culture.  Just like the things you find in American comic books are rebellion against American culture.

The harder you try to press it all down, the more concentrated it becomes.

An excellent way to put it.

My GF just introduced me to this online-comic that I have already fallen in love with.  It's not anime or manga, just a really good comic where, incidentally, all the characters are gay.  Plus it has, as Serra puts it, "a smexy transgendered girl".

<a href="http://www.khaoskomix.com/home.html">This</a> link will take you to the comic; it's called Khaos Komix.  Very very good :)


~Rachael

The last Anime I watched was Princess Princess and they looked so hot when they cross dressed!

Quote from: OtokoSuki on December 25, 2007, 04:59:07 PM
The last Anime I watched was Princess Princess and they looked so hot when they cross dressed!

I LOVE Princess Princess!!!  The last book came out in November...have you ever read/seen Kashimashi?  Also, Love.com has a transgendered mtf in book 2.  Another recommendation (I'm sure I've already mentioned this before, but oh well) Day of Revolution (It's about Princess Princess's Mikoto's girlfriend). 

I love gender-bending manga/anime!

Hey Jaimey,
speaking of Princess Princess, have you seen the J-drama version( Princess Princess D)? 

When you ride the train in Tokyo, and see al those middle aged men buying manga's an reading them on the train and most of the heroins are very young scantily cald and secualised girls, you have to wonder what's wrong with japanese culture! I spent a month there in 2002 and still haven't a clue.
For an outsider, its impenetrable unless marying in and spending LOTS of time there; like an acquaintance did. Gender roles are very defined and men seem to be caught in bad place where they're roles and expectations are crushing them.  Many young people try to rebel, but there is really no social countermovement (like there was in the US) to unite them. They all rebel in their own special way, wheter it is to be shuttins or for girls to dress like an overgrown chld and head for or shibuya crossings or some other of those spots.

Quote from: OtokoSuki on December 30, 2007, 09:09:06 PM
Hey Jaimey,
speaking of Princess Princess, have you seen the J-drama version( Princess Princess D)? 

I saw about four episodes of it...I couldn't get through it, which is surprising because I LOVE j-drama!  I think the actor for Sakamoto did it in for me...he just wasn't Sakamoto!   :'(  I was sad.  heh.

I highly recommend Akihabara@Deep (about Otaku fighting back...it's great...especially Box-kun), Nodame Cantabile (there's an anime and manga for it, but I like the drama best!), Hana Kimi (different than the manga, but still good...Nakatsu is also Box-kun...he's such a good comedic actor), and Yamada Taro Monagatari...those are all pretty awesome!  I get mine from www.veoh.com.

Noir.
Rocks.
Not realy transgender, but great.
Just amazing.
Ghost in the Shell is my all time greatest film ever film.
It is fantastic.
There is no comparison.
The series is also easily one of the best.
All of the Miyazaki films are good.
Spirited Away is probably the best. It was his masterpiece and you can feel it.
Porco Rosso was his favorite. It is fun.
And of course Princess Mononoke and Nausica.
They are all good.

There is a lot of androgynous stuff in anime.

Hentai deals directly with a lot of gender bending stuff.
I've seen more than one where some girl sprouted a dik to do some girl.
Realy strange stuff. But -Ok.

Sara

I like Matt Nishii's funnies at www.transe-generation.com

I adore anime but 'm pretty disappointed with the way trans issues are treated there so I've stopped looking for a good, informed portrayal. There's mostly gender-bending, crossdressing and the like but it's no more than gender play for the outlandish reasons of always (taking sister's place, hiding, curses, evil medical procedures or worse of all, to bed men). There's also always the feeling that the characters cannot escape their (usually male) birth sex... and yeah they are either guys "magically" in female bodies or the bishonen type who is so fem he "might as well be a girl". The Japanese may be ok with gender play but they are freaked out by transsexuals.
Bah.

Hi Soldierjane, the link doesn't work.

Cindy

Quote from: cindybc on March 30, 2008, 02:13:13 AM
Hi Soldierjane, the link doesn't work.

Cindy

Yeah he's down for some reason, I hope not for a long time.

Try "Lean on me" (http://jadaze.comicgenesis.com/) while you wait :D

Hi Soldierjane, Thank you so much hon. I just love these anims or animations, what ever they call them.

Cindy

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi11.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fa191%2Fcynthiag932%2FNewPicture2.jpg&hash=5eb861448237d614bb99626f2de3003843c1b75a)