Best Transgender Anime Characters

It is quite plausible that there are more transgender characters in anime compared to Western media, which has generally avoided or vilified such topics in the past. For the sake of clarity, the term transgender refers to someone whose gender identity or expression differs from the sex assigned at birth.

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As with anything introduced into mainstream media, it's impossible to keep every fan happy, and there may be some LGBTQ+ members who are offended by certain transgender representations. The following list focuses on the good intentions behind the characters in question and whether their portrayals cast the transgender community in an overall positive light. Creating awareness is the first step toward acceptance, and LGBTQ+ representation has improved substantially over the years. A few mistakes cannot compare to the abhorrent discrimination that defouled the LGBTQ+ narrative in the past.

Updated October 4, 2024, by C.M Edwards: Anime is for everyone. The world is filled with an endless amount of people of different types, identities, and ethnicities. It is only natural for anime to include as many types of individuals as possible and that improves upon their stories. Anime has always pushed the boundaries and expanded on their worlds with the types of characters they introduce. Each series that debuts is filled with wonderful characters of various backgrounds and personalities that reach out to fans and allow them to connect with the show and story. It's vital that, in terms of story telling, many types of characters are made important so the story feels natural. While not all series excel in the realm of representation, there are quite a few that understand the significance of inclusion and diversity. Here are more of some of the best transgender characters in anime.

14 Alice (Chivalry Of A Failed Knight)

Ruthless But Kind

• Number Of Episodes: 12
• Studio: Silver Link
• Streaming On: Crunchyroll

Alice is portrayed in multiple ways in Chivalry of a Failed Knight, as she appears kind hearted and sweet early on in the series but hides a dark secret. Alice is seen saving orphans from gang members in her past, but when pushed to the edge, slaughters all of the gang members without remorse. The coy smile and shining disposition she has fades and her true self emurges, revealing a cruel and unfeeling individual.

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Alice is nicknamed Black Sonia for her ruthless persona. However, Alice's character development is well done as she grows a lot through the story and learns to understand her emotions better. Alice is one of the best side characters in the series and has a very well written arc from start to finish.

13 Isabella (Paradise Kiss)

A Beautiful Soul And Talented Individual

Born into wealth, but struggled with her identity, Isabella grew into a graceful and kind woman even with all her hardships. She is a close friend of Joji Koizumi, who directly aided her in finding her true self and pushed her into the world of fashion and design. Isabella is one of the main characters of the Paradise Kiss series and the second that Yukari meets in the first episode. Isabella is treated with respect and humanity in her writing and compliments the show's cast of characters wonderfully. Even Isabella's desing fits her persona as someone who has finally been allowed ot be seen the way they intend to be perceived.

12 Seiko (Lovely Complex)

Original And Well Written

Lovely Complex does a wonderful job of portraying the complexity of the transgender identity with Seiko Kotobuki, as from the very beginning she is depicted as a difficult person to understand, even for herself. As a romance rival of one of the main characters, she is seen as aggressive, impulsive, and somewhat fueled by jealousy when things don't go her way.

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However, beneath her overshadowing traits, she struggles with her own confidence and need to be accepted. The layered writing of Seiko's character adds to the Lovely Complex series greatly, adding not just variety but touching on important experiences that different types of people have which explain their personalities.

11 Hana (Tokyo Godfathers)

Genuine And Thoughtful

• Streaming On: N/A
• Number Of Episodes: 1
• Studio: Madhouse

Hana is perhaps the shining star of Tokyo Godfathers, being the motherly member of the trio. A tall and slender woman, Hana performed as a singer at a local bar before she wound up on the street after a negative altercation with a patron.

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In the film, Hana is portrayed as responsible but focuses on others' care instead of her own. Her story tugs at the heartstrings from beginning to end, making her incredibly well-written and vital to the story. Assigned male at birth, she now embodies her true identity as a woman. Tokyo Godfathers is a wonderful film that any anime fan should give a chance.

10 Grell (Black Butler)

Chaotic Neutral At Its Finest

Black Butler is a mix of supernatural and comedic chaos and has recently met a resurgence with a new season being released this year, which its dedicated fandom is overjoyed to have. Grail goes from antagonist to protagonist in the series and is portrayed as a manic ball of chaos who won't hesitate to turn to violence to get their point across.

Grail is also a Grim Reaper and an incredibly capable fighter. Unfortunately, she gives in to her inner desires and becomes more of a hindrance to Sebastian's daily life rather than any aid. Though she was assigned male at birth, she now refers to herself using female terms and dislikes when she is referred to as "he."

9 Ryuji Ayakawa (Blue Period)

More Than Just Her Talent

• Streaming On: Netflix
• Number Of Episodes: 12
• Studio: Seven Arcs

Blue Period is a series that went under the radar of many anime fans with its first season debuting on Netflix. It is a slice-of-life series focusing on an aimless teen, Yatora Yaguchi, who is searching for meaning and has been captured by the act of painting. Ryuji is a fellow classmate of Yaguchi who pushes him to join the art club at their school.

Yaguchi is also a transgender girl, and her story is explored. This brings the adverse circumstances of her home life to light and reveals the struggles she goes through to live the life she wishes. Ryuji is an amazing character filled with flaws and virtues that many fans will be able to connect with.

8 Desmond (Carole & Tuesday)

Gentle And Graceful

• Streaming On: Netflix
• Number Of Episodes: 24
• Studio: Bones

Unfortunately, Netflix's Carole & Tuesday is a hit-and-miss when it comes to positive LGBTQ+ representation, but Mermaid Sisters aside, it's not all bad. Desmond is arguably the show's saving grace, adding a unique sci-fi twist to the transgender experience.

Desmond was born male, but due to the radiation levels on Mars, they began to experience drastic hormonal changes. Although this transition is not voluntary, Desmond's situation opens their eyes regarding the irrelevance of gender norms and attempting to fulfill these expectations. This superstar is one of the most celebrated and respected musicians in the industry and seems to have the meaning of life all figured out. Desmond is a role model through and through.

7 Tiger and Magne (My Hero Academia)

Confidently Unique

The Wild, Wild Pussycats is arguably one of the cutest and most fashionable Hero teams of the lot, and Yawara Chatora wears his uniform with pride. Being a transgender male clearly hasn't deflated his self-esteem, as Tiger pulls off his Magic Girl attire with suave and grace and still manages to show off his remarkably muscular physique and incredible flexibility.

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Arguably the most awesome element of Magne's transition is the fact that her gender-specific Quirk makes the change right along with her. This superpower assigns men and women with different magnetic properties and seamlessly categorizes Magne among her fellow females. Kenji Hikiishi was a beloved member of the League of Villains, always ready to defend her teammates, even if that meant sacrificing her own life to do so.

6 Astolfo and Jack (Fate/Apocrypha)

High Spirited Positivity

Astolfo loves nothing more than to express his feminine charm, and so, it is a great shock to most to discover The Rider of Black is male by birth. He doesn't mind being referred to with male pronouns, so long as his head-turning beauty is highlighted in the process. Astolfo follows his own heart and can rarely be forced into anything, despite being sworn into servitude. He is an admirable and entertaining addition to the Great Holy Grail War's combatants.

Similarly, Fate's version of Jack the Ripper is also as cute as could be, providing the notorious serial killer with a Loli-esque form. And while the Assassin of Black is far from admirable, they are certainly memorable. Jack's brutality is offset by their deep-seated longing to be loved, providing yet another complex character dynamic to the Fate mix.

5 Najimi Osana (Komi Can't Communicate)

Hilariously Devilish

Tadano might be wary of Najimi's all-new girly appearance, but as far as everyone else is concerned, this pink-haired socialite is a ball of fun. The girls accept Najimi as one of their own without hesitation and only break away when situations of nudity are concerned (such as changing rooms and bathhouses). The boys, on the other hand, place Najimi in high regard in terms of girlfriend material and aren't phased by silly things like assigned gender.

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Najimi appears to get a kick out of being vague with their gender identity and does not outright declare to be transgender. For someone who loves to make a scene, they surprisingly didn't feel it necessary to sensationalize this aspect of their life. This decision is possibly why everyone wholeheartedly accepts Najimi as-is with no questions asked.