- #Name a transgender or gay anime characters series#
- #Name a transgender or gay anime characters free#
That outline holds an obvious potential for queer allegory, and indeed many Pixar fans tracking the film’s development quickly labeled Luca as the studio’s “gay movie”-a coming-out story to be placed on Pixar’s mantle alongside its meditations on grief, artistic expression, loneliness, Ayn Rand-ian objectivism, and parenting. Luca and Alberto share an intense, defining, and world-cracking-open bond, but must hide who they really are in the presence of judgmental, fearful others.
#Name a transgender or gay anime characters free#
If they make their way onto land, they magically transform-in appearance, at least-into humans, free to interact with the landlubbers of a small fishing town populated with whimsical characters.
The film is about two kids, Luca ( Jacob Tremblay) and Alberto ( Jack Dylan Grazer), who spend most of their time as gilled and finned creatures living under the sparklingly wine-dark Ligurian Sea. That may sound roughly like the plot of Luca Guadagnino’s 2017 film Call Me By Your Name, but it is also the story of the perhaps coincidentally named Luca, the latest bittersweet animated film from Disney and Pixar (on Disney+ June 18). The show then uses this subplot to give Yuu space to address their identity in their own words.In a dazzling Italy some decades ago, two young men meet and experience a sweeping, happy-sad summer of self-realization together. Just as importantly, Yuu themselves suggests crossdressing as a solution-they are not dragged into it or singled out as someone who should crossdress because of their suspected sexual identity. Yuu, who has made their ability for data-gathering known at this point, is the best person for the cause and would probably be well-served by having an extra lookout. Mitsue admits that while she could spy alone, she doesn’t know enough about soft tennis to get the intel the team needs. Critically, this storyline arises because the narrative necessitates it. Yuu and Maki must crossdress to get intel on Joy, a star player from another school while the school has banned outside spectators, Joy’s fangirls still find a way to watch.
#Name a transgender or gay anime characters series#
The final arc of Yuu’s character development in the series as it exists directly addresses Yuu’s LGBTQ+ identity, while yet again subverting an anime trope that is commonly used for laughs: crossdressing. Support! Your! Friends! Protect them! From! Dumbasses! Stars Align lets Yuu speak for and define themselves With one notable exception, their sexual orientation is not discussed or dwelled upon at all in episodes 3 through 7. Notably, Mitsue’s interactions with Yuu are not used to desexualize Yuu, change Yuu, or otherwise comment on Yuu’s sexual orientation. The show communicates Yuu’s status as a member of the team visually and interpersonally: Yuu gets a tracksuit, a clipboard, a reasonable degree of authority over eight boys who might not otherwise know what day of the week it is, screentime with people who are not Yuu’s crush, and eventually a new friend-slash-charge in Mitsue Kanako, another classmate who is subject to bullying for being “gloomy” and an otaku. What defines Yuu’s character most over the course of the series is Yuu’s relationship to the team. While many series would make this the primary focus of Yuu’s arc, Stars Align takes a step back to allow viewers to become attached to Yuu as a person while also building on the tension created by the two scenes discussed above. The next episodes feature a surprising development of Yuu’s character, because they drop the subject of their sexual orientation entirely. Maki is a 100% jeweler-certified gem of a friend. Instead, Stars Align gives Yuu supportive and open friends and defines Yuu by their relationship to the team-the fundamental unit of a sports anime. Like whoever you want.” Maki then cuts to his real ask-for Yuu to be the team’s manager.īy putting these scenes in the same episode, Stars Align avoids locking Yuu in a narrative arc that depends on them being bullied and pigeonholes Yuu as a victim. When Yuu protests, Maki waves it off: “It’s fine. Yuu refuses, and Maki realizes (and says outright) that Yuu likes Touma. Later in the episode, after noticing that Yuu often watches the team, transfer student and team ace Katsuragi Maki asks Yuu if they want to join. Luckily, Shinjou Touma, the captain of the soft tennis team, steps in.
“We might turn gay if we get too close,” one bully sneers.
Episode 2 opens with Yuu at the center of a ring of bullies. Stars Align formally introduces Yuu in a way that likely comes across as alarming for most LGBTQ+ viewers. Stars Align introduces Yuu by subverting a tired LGBTQ+ narrative