25+ Trans Anime Characters with Good Representation

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Popular anime characters who are canonically or implied to be trans
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There hasn’t always been a lot of trans representation in anime, but thankfully, that’s begun to change. Positive trans representation is important because it allows trans people to see themselves in their favorite media and helps others educate themselves about the community. We’ve compiled a list of popular anime characters who are canonically transgender, nonbinary, or gender-nonconforming, as well as characters who are strongly implied or headcanoned to be. Let’s dive in!

Popular Transgender Anime Characters

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An illustration of popular trans characters from various anime.

There are several anime characters who are canonically transgender. Some of the most popular include Lily Hoshikawa from Zombie Land Saga, Nao from Skip and Loafer, and Yamato and Kikunojo from One Piece. These characters live as their authentic selves, and the other characters respect their gender identities.

1

Lily Hoshikawa (Zombie Land Saga)

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  1. In Zombie Land Saga, Lily Hoshikawa is a young trans girl who was raised from the dead and now performs in an idol group as a zombie. She actually died from a heart attack that was partially caused by the stress her gender dysphoria caused. Her death was actually a good thing, as she can now exist as a young girl forever without having to worry about going through male puberty.[1]
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2

Nao (Skip and Loafer)

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  1. Skip and Loafer is often celebrated for its trans representation. Nao is the aunt of Mitsumi Iwakura, the series’s protagonist. She’s a positive adult figure who is secure in her identity, but also sometimes worries about how others see her, which many consider to be a realistic representation of what it’s like to be trans.[2]
3

Yamato (One Piece)

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  1. Anime and manga expert Mel Mascarenhas explains that Yamato was born female but identifies as Oden, a male samurai: “Yamato feels like they inherited the will of Oden to protect Wano after Oden died. There are some [manga] panels that indicate that Yamato may feel closer and more akin to a man, despite bodily looking like a woman… In a specific scene, you see Yamato in the men’s bath, bathing with all the men, and they seem very unbothered.”[3] Fans often debate Yamato’s gender, but he uses he/him pronouns, suggesting that he is a trans man.
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4

Fire Emblem (Tiger and Bunny)

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  1. Fire Emblem, or Nathan Seymour, is canonically non-binary, which falls under the trans umbrella. Nathan was assigned male at birth, typically dresses more femininely, and identifies as gender-free. They’re a great example that non-binary people don’t have to be totally androgynous to be considered non-binary.[4]
5

Bridget (Guilty Gear Strive: Dual Rulers)

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  1. Bridget is a popular, canonically trans character in both the games and anime adaptation of Guilty Gear Strive. Dual Rulers specifically explores her backstory and how she was afraid to be her true self because of her desire to please her parents. Bridget doesn’t play a large role in the anime, but fans enjoy watching her come to terms with her gender identity.[5]
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6

Desmond (Carole and Tuesday)

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  1. Because of the radiation on Mars, Desmond’s body began displaying both male and female characteristics, so in our world, they might be considered intersex. This isn’t the same as being trans, but because Desmond embraces both aspects, they might be gender-nonconforming, which sometimes falls under the trans umbrella.[6]
7

Tsubaki (Wind Breaker)

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  1. Tsubaki identifies as male, his assigned gender at birth, but he enjoys dressing femininely, leading many fans to view him as gender-nonconforming, which can fall under the trans umbrella. He loves wearing heels and skirts, and he’s not afraid to be his true self.[7]
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8

Seiko Kotobuki (Lovely Complex)

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  1. Seiko Kotobuki is one of the most feminine characters in Lovely Complex, which is a great way to combat the false stereotype that transwomen are masculine. She’s a happy, cheerful person, but like everyone, she has her insecurities—especially those that relate to her gender identity.[8]
9

Asuka Yuu (Stars Align)

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  1. Asuka Yuu is a great representation of what it’s like to be non-binary. Their story focuses on Asuka exploring their identity and learning who they truly are, all while managing a middle school boys’ soft tennis club. Many fans agree that Asuka’s story is respectful and realistic.[9]
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10

Makoto Hanaoka (Senpai is an Otokonoko)

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  1. Makoto isn’t canonically trans, but many fans headcanon that he’s a trans woman. Even if he isn’t officially trans, he is gender-nonconforming, often dressing up and presenting as female. He’s happy when he’s perceived as female, which is why some fans think he may be trans and hasn’t realized yet. The good thing is his love interest, Saki Aoi, is bisexual, so she likes him regardless of his gender.[10]
11

Isabella Yamamoto (Paradise Kiss)

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  1. Isabella Yamamoto is a canonical transwoman. As a child, she wanted to present as female and was finally able to do so when she became an adult—and a model at that. She loves fashion and acts as the “mom friend” in her group. In return, her friends shower her with love and support.[11]
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12

Grell Sutcliff (Black Butler)

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  1. Grell may be an antagonist, but she’s also an extremely popular character. Though she isn’t explicitly stated to be trans, she uses feminine pronouns and is described as a “self-proclaimed lady” in the 2009 character guide.[12]
13

Yawara Chatora (My Hero Academia)

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  1. Better known by his hero name, Tiger, Yawara Chatora is a transman and the only male member of the superhero group the Wild, Wild Pussycats. His character bio confirms that he’s trans and that he started his transition in Thailand.[13]
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14

Sailor Starlights (Sailor Moon)

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  1. The Sailor Starlights are a team of Sailor Soldiers who disguise themselves as men while searching for Princess Kakyuu on Earth. The interesting thing about their identities is that they transform into biological men while in disguise and into biological women in their Sailor Guardian forms. They aren’t canonically trans, but some may headcanon them as bigender (someone who identifies as two distinct genders) or genderfluid.[14]
15

Nagi “Alice” Arisuin (Chivalry of a Failed Knight)

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  1. Nagi isn’t explicitly stated to be trans, but it’s heavily implied. She’s described as being biologically male but having “the heart of a maiden,” and she uses a feminine name and pronouns. She presents masculinely, but the other characters all respect her identity.[15]
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16

Ruby Moon (Card Captor Sakura)

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  1. Ruby Moon may use feminine pronouns, but that doesn’t change the fact that she is canonically agender. She’s one of Eriol Hiiragizawa’s guardians who disguises herself as a human when interacting with people.[16]
17

Alluka Zoldyck (Hunter x Hunter)

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  1. Alluka Zoldyck is Killua Zoldyck’s sister, who unfortunately faces the same reality as many trans people in real life. While her brother sees her as a girl and addresses her as such, the rest of her family misgenders her. When she’s with Killua, her true, affectionate personality shines through.[17]
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18

Kikunojo (One Piece)

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  1. Though she’s known for being a legendary male samurai, Kikunojo describes herself as “a woman at heart,” and is a transwoman. She presents as a woman, and her gender identity is never the butt of the joke. She’s beautiful, confident, nurturing, and a strong warrior.[18]
19

Najimi Osana (Komi Can’t Communicate)

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  1. Najimi Osana is an interesting character because no one knows their biological sex. They wear both male and female uniforms and use masculine and feminine pronouns at different times. This doesn’t bother anyone, though, as Najimi is great at communicating and makes friends easily.[19]
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20

Kaoru Anesagi (IDOLiSH7)

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  1. Kaoru Anesagi may not have transitioned physically, but the other IDOLiSH7 characters fully respect her identity as a transwoman. As the idol group TRIGGER’s manager, she is hard-working and strong-willed, and her identity is never made the butt of the joke.[20]
21

Shuichi Nitori (Wandering Son)

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  1. Wandering Son actually includes a ton of representation, as the plot focuses on the struggles of trans teens as they come to terms with their gender identity. The main character, however, is Shuichi Nitori, who begins as a young child dreaming of being a girl. The story follows her into adulthood as she learns to accept and love herself for who she is.[21]
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22

Aoi Futaba (You’re Under Arrest)

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  1. The ‘90s anime You’re Under Arrest is one of the first to positively depict a trans character. When the characters first meet Aoi Futaba, she’s believed to be a ciswoman, but it’s then revealed that she’s actually a transwoman. Though the characters’ reactions haven’t aged well, Aoi’s colleagues respect her and view her as a woman. That may be the bare minimum these days, but it was pretty significant back then.[22]
23

Prince Sapphire (Princess Knight)

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  1. Though not explicitly stated, many Princess Knight fans think Sapphire is a great example of non-binary or genderfluid representation. She uses feminine pronouns, but she was born with two hearts, a pink one for a girl and a blue one for a boy. She constantly embraces both her femininity and masculinity.[23]
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24

Hana (Tokyo Godfathers)

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  1. Hana’s story is heartbreaking, but it’s an unfortunate reminder of the reality for many transgender people. She’s a transwoman and a former drag queen who lost her job after attacking a customer. She was then forced to live on the streets. Despite all the sadness she’s faced, Hana remains caring and dreams of being a mother.[24]
25

Haruka Tenou (Sailor Moon)

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  1. Sailor Moon doesn’t shy away from LGBTQ+ representation, and Haruka Tenou is just one example. She uses she/her pronouns, but she’s described as being “both a man and a woman,” which many fans understand to mean she’s non-binary. Haruka typically presents as more masculine, but presents as female when she transforms into Sailor Uranus.[25]
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26

Hibari Oozora (Stop!! Hibari-kun!)

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  1. Stop!! Hibari-kun! is from the ‘80s and has definitely aged poorly, but it actually has some decent trans representation for its time. Hibari Oozora is a trans girl who also happens to be the prettiest daughter in a yakuza family. Not all of the characters respect her identity, but the struggles she faces are fairly realistic, especially since this is a gag comedy anime.[26]
27

Crona (Soul Eater)

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  1. Crona is canonically stated to be genderless, which could mean they’re agender or fall under the non-binary umbrella. Though English translations often give them gendered pronouns, Crona uses androgynous pronouns in the Japanese version.[27]
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28

Miyuki Hebinuma (Kowloon Generic Romance)

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  1. Miyuki Hebinuma is intersex, not transgender, but he experiences a lot of struggles that trans people can relate to, such as gender dysphoria and being confused about what his gender is. He has both male and female anatomy, but identifies as a gay man.[28]

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References

  1. ↑ https://screenrant.com/transgender-characters-anime-manga-great-represntation/
  2. ↑ https://otakukart.com/top-23-most-loved-trans-characters-in-anime-of-all-time/
  3. ↑ Mel Mascarenhas. Anime and Manga Expert. Expert Interview
  4. ↑ https://tigerbunny.fandom.com/wiki/Fire_Emblem
  5. ↑ https://guiltygear.wiki.gg/wiki/Bridget
  6. ↑ https://caroleandtuesday.fandom.com/wiki/Desmond
  7. ↑ https://wind-breaker.fandom.com/wiki/Tasuku_Tsubakino
  8. ↑ https://screenrant.com/transgender-characters-anime-manga-great-represntation/
  9. ↑ https://stars-align.fandom.com/wiki/Yuta_Asuka
  1. ↑ https://senpaiisanotokonoko.fandom.com/wiki/Makoto_Hanaoka
  2. ↑ https://otakukart.com/top-23-most-loved-trans-characters-in-anime-of-all-time/
  3. ↑ https://lgbtqia-characters.fandom.com/wiki/Grell_Sutcliffe
  4. ↑ https://screenrant.com/transgender-characters-anime-manga-great-represntation/
  5. ↑ https://sailormoon.fandom.com/wiki/Sailor_Starlights
  6. ↑ https://rakudai-kishi.fandom.com/wiki/Nagi_Arisuin
  7. ↑ https://ccsakura.fandom.com/wiki/Ruby_Moon
  8. ↑ https://screenrant.com/transgender-characters-anime-manga-great-represntation/
  9. ↑ https://otakukart.com/top-23-most-loved-trans-characters-in-anime-of-all-time/
  10. ↑ https://komisan.fandom.com/wiki/Najimi_Osana
  11. ↑ https://idolish7.miraheze.org/wiki/Kaoru_Anesagi
  12. ↑ https://screenrant.com/transgender-characters-anime-manga-great-represntation/
  13. ↑ https://otakukart.com/top-23-most-loved-trans-characters-in-anime-of-all-time/
  14. ↑ https://astroboy.fandom.com/wiki/Sapphire
  15. ↑ https://screenrant.com/transgender-characters-anime-manga-great-represntation/
  16. ↑ https://sailormoon.fandom.com/wiki/Haruka_Tenou_/_Sailor_Uranus_(manga)
  17. ↑ https://otakukart.com/top-23-most-loved-trans-characters-in-anime-of-all-time/
  18. ↑ https://otakukart.com/top-23-most-loved-trans-characters-in-anime-of-all-time/
  19. ↑ https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Characters/KowloonGenericRomance

About This Article

Mel Mascarenhas
Co-authored by:
Mel Mascarenhas
Anime and Manga Expert
This article was co-authored by Mel Mascarenhas and by wikiHow staff writer, Raven Minyard, BA. Mel Mascarenhas is an anime and manga expert based in New Jersey. As a lifelong lover of anime, Mel has been watching anime for nearly 30 years and reading manga for nearly 10 years. She is known as AniMel online, providing anime recommendations, analysis, reviews, and more on YouTube. Mel first discovered anime through Sailor Moon and Dragon Ball Z, and genuinely developed her love for anime after watching Bleach. Her channel offers deep dives into the world of anime, everything from nostalgic titles to fresh new favorites through primarily longform content. This article has been viewed 4,240 times.
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