EyeOnAnime Forum

IanC · Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2007 11:37 am Post subject: LGBT characters in anime

(LGBT means Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender - its just far easier to fit the acronym into the title)

Anyway, one thing ive noticed in anime (or at least what i have seen) is that outside of specific genres (like Shoujo-ai and Shonen-ai) theres a lack of LGBT charecters in anime.

So what i come to ask is - what reasons to do people think this is? And also what titles do indeed feature LGBT characters portrayed in a normal manner?

I know that Madlax, for example, has a definte lesbian undertone between some of the characters in the show. Its only ever hinted at, but its there and (this is clutching at straws a bit) Le Chevalier D'on handles the real life D'ons transgenderness by having it explained as his (fictional) sisters soul taking over his body.

As for why - IMO its because even in Japan the sterotypical anime fan is though of as either young(ish) children, or a single, geeky, straight male, aged between late teens and early 30s

Would they really want to care about a LGBT charecter (expect for the shits and giggles of a lesbian love scene for example)? Probably not.....

(and sorry to anyone who fulls under that stereotype i mentioned above - i know i mostly do, cept for one difference)
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Toraman · Shinigami Joined: 08 Aug 2006 Posts: 2099 Location: London

I'll throw in a few random examples that I can think of, no idea what it'll add to the thread though. Not many central characters here so I don't remember al the names:
Macross II - The main character's stylist

Speed Grapher - I think you know the one I mean. He's meant to be funny, but it could be seen as a fairly offensive stereotype.

Utena - Akio. No thing explicit, but it's implied that he pretty much sleeps with 99% of the central cast regardless of their gender or sexual orientation.

3x3 Eyes - Main characters starts off working in a transvestite bar. Not a sexual thing, but unusual for a shonen series especially as it's not depicted negatively like it often is.

I don't think these perceptions are exclusive to anime, you don't exactly get many non-straight characters in mainstream Hollywood films either. It's interesting to note that Shonen-ai is aimed specifically for straight audiences as well. I'm sure there is a gay market out there, but same as over here it's a minority thing.

Damo · Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2007 12:55 pm Post subject:

Chibs · Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2007 12:59 pm Post subject:

Ouran High School Host Club is one where I can think of a good example.

The twins, Hikaru and Kaoru, are quite obviously portrayed as having a relationship even though it's all fake for the girls they entertain. This is probably poking fun at the fact that yaoi (shonen-ai) is HUGE in Japan, especially amongst teenage, straight girls.

Even if a show (such as DN Angel) is full of completely straight relationships, there is still that one character that could swing one way or another, and that is mainly aimed at a straight, female audience.

However, in terms of lesbian relationships this is quite rare. Usually any yuri fan who spots something even remotely clingy in 2 girls would brand the show as having "shojo-ai" content, at least in my experiences anyway.

Gawyn · Elite Poster Joined: 09 Aug 2006 Posts: 568

Cardcaptor Sakura. Sakura's best friend, Tomoyo Daidoji, is absolutely in love with Sakura, Shao Ran Li (male for those who don't know) is in love with Sakura's crush, Yukito Tsukishiro (also male) and there is a strong hint of a relationship between Sakura's brother, Toya and Yukito. Plenty of shounen-ai and shoujo-ai going on there all on its own.

Not anime but Japanese, Survive Style 5+ with the gay guy who is really in love with his best friend.

Contrary to what you say I often see veiled references to gay and lesbian relationships in anime but they are often treated as completely normal and aren't really brought to the fore so they don't seem quite so in-your-face and can easily go unnoticed. I can't think of any specific cases but I often notice small hints of it as I am watching.

botmaster2005 · Ninja In Training Joined: 08 Aug 2006 Posts: 860

i like the fact they dont make a gig deal about Daley Wongs sexual orientation in BGC, plus he's not that annoying camp stereotype that you often get.

IanC · Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2007 9:29 pm Post subject:

Chibs · Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2007 9:30 am Post subject:

[quote="IanC"]

IanC · Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2007 4:58 pm Post subject:

Toraman · Shinigami Joined: 08 Aug 2006 Posts: 2099 Location: London

The ideas must have been churning away at the back og my mind as another title just popped into my head. El Hazard - It's a really nice show, a bit of an old-school favourite of mine from the mid-90s.

The story's about a guy who is made to imporsonate a lesbian princess. Having to dress in drag, he looks just like her. Her girlfriend gets a bit of a shock when she finds out the truth in bed! Laughing

It's nowhere near as dirty as it sounds (if memory serves, there's a lesbian kiss in the second OVA series which was only a PG). It's a lot of fun and very light-hearted. The gay theme is taken head-on and isn't condemnatory in any way from what I can remember. Pretty much all the cast are crazy one way or the other so no one gets special treatment...

IanC · Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2007 12:26 pm Post subject:

Toraman · Shinigami Joined: 08 Aug 2006 Posts: 2099 Location: London

IanC · Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2007 5:05 pm Post subject:

PaleBlack · Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2007 5:06 pm Post subject:

Descendents of Darkness (Yami no Matsuei) has lots of implied shounen-ai and some less so...

Card Captor Sakura there is definitely implied, lesbian and gay though nothing actually ever happens. Ouran High School Host Club has implied gay incest but it's just a front to attract popularity.

And in Cowboy Bebop there is a semi-hermaphrodite (well a man that grew breasts after drug abuse)- slightly off the topic - but still relevant in minorities - and it portrays him quite well.

That's pretty much all I can think of, and most of them have been said by everybody else.