A short time ago, Peter (Your Friend in Japan) discussed why we love genderswap anime. While he gave a good rundown of examples of top-tier genderswap anime, I thought it best to list specific series that cultured fans of cool guys becoming cute girls can go out and watch.
1. Mahiro Oyama — Oniichan wa Oshimai!
Peter discussed this series at length and listed it as one of the best recent genderswap anime. Oniichan wa Oshimai! (Onimai: I’m Now Your Sister!) began as a manga series written and illustrated by Nekotofu that started in 2017. Mahiro Oyama is a shut-in who has not left the house for quite some time. He spends all of his time playing eroge. His brilliant sister Mihari has a plan to “rescue” him from such a listless life: she turns him into a girl. Shock turns to awe, and he seems taken with the idea.
2. Natsuru Senou — Kämpfer
Kämpfer began as a light novel series written by Toshihiko Tsukiji and illustrated by Senmu. The series follows a guy named Natsuru Senou, attending a school segregated by gender. Natsuru awakens to discover that he has become a girl. His sentient stuffed tiger Harakiri Tora explains that he has become a powerful female fighter known as a Kämpfer (German: Fighter). There’s plenty of action in the series and plenty of fanservice.
How many people here would be willing to genderswap for superpowers? Be honest.
3. Terry Bogard — SNK Heroines Tag Team Frenzy
A more famous example of genderbending is Terry Bogard when he enters the ring in SNK Heroines Tag Team Frenzy. Terry becomes a busty and cute fighter, giving even Mai Shiranui, who likes him, a run for her money. The game also genderswapped Iori Yagami (naming her Miss X) and Skullomania.
Those interested in holding the best version of Terry Bogard can preorder her figure at J-List.
4. Naruko Uzumaki — Naruto
When Naruto first used his Sexy Technique (Oiroke no Jutsu), everyone went wild. It was a sexy blond with fox marks, covered only by convenient smoke. He further improved the technique with variations, such as the Harem Technique. Sadly, he doesn’t put the jutsu to more use outside of fan works, but that’s why we have fan works, to begin with.
Naruto began as a manga series written and illustrated by Masashi Kishimoto. Shueisha published the series from September 21st, 1999, to November 10th, 2014, in 72 volumes. There were numerous adaptations for fans to enjoy. We don’t talk about Boruto in this house, though.
5. Ranko Saotome — Ranma 1/2
Look. Of course, we wouldn’t go through a whole genderswap article without mentioning Ranko. No genderswap article is complete without the pigtailed redhead herself. Ranma Saotome was submerged in the “Spring of Drowned Girl,” and after, whenever he’s doused with cold water, he changes from a boy to a young female. This girl form has been dubbed “Ranko” by the fans. Ranma is straight and shows no interest in using his girl side to have fun. Although he’s not above using feminine wiles to mess with people like Naruko. As with Naruko from Naruto, fan works exist for a reason.
Ranma 1/2 began as a manga series written and illustrated by the legendary Rumiko Takahashi. Shogakukan published the series between August 19th, 1987, to March 6th, 1996, reaching 38 volumes. Ranma had various adventures in different mediums, from anime to live-action to video games.
6. Bowsette — Super Mario Bros.
Bowsette isn’t canon, though Nintendo flirted with the idea before artist Haniwa got the idea to put the Super Crown on Bowser.
The Super Crown usually transforms Toadette into Peachette. Haniwa used it to turn Bowser into Bowsette, and the internet ran with it to create Booette, Chompette, Goombette, and even Bowsette Jr.
7. Riko Yuusaki — To Love-Ru
Rito Yuusaki uses (or is the victim of) Lala’s alien device, the Pai-Pai Rocket-Kun, that turns him into a girl, an alternate form they dubbed “Riko.” The Koro Koro Danjo-Kun changes him back into his less busty shape. Rito uses this form for various comedic reasons, and he doesn’t seem inclined to have any real fun with it. Though again, fan works exist for a reason.
To Love-Ru began as a manga series written by Saki Hasemi and illustrated by Kentaro Yabuki. Shueisha published the series from April 24th, 2006, to August 31st, 2009, in eighteen volumes.
8. Hideyoshi Kinoshita — Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu
Technically this isn’t a genderswap because Hideyoshi Kinoshita’s gender is labeled as H I D E Y O S H I. When Hideyoshi looks like a boy in boy clothes and looks like a girl in girl clothes, fans win either way, regardless of how this H I D E Y O S H I dresses.
Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu (Idiots, Tests, and Summoned Beasts) began as a light novel series written by Kenji Inoue and illustrated by Yui Haga. Enterbrain published the series from January 29th, 2007, to March 30th, 2015, in eighteen volumes. It received numerous adaptations, including an anime series, a manga, and a video game.
If you’re interested in more otokonoko goodness, J-List’s shop has a whole section for you.
9. Cybersix — Cybersix
The titular Cybersix is an artificial human with super strength and agility. She is part of a series of Cyber units, in which her original designation was Cyber-6. Unlike the rest of this list, Cybersix disguises herself as a man named Adrian Seidelman, a schoolteacher and Lucas Amato’s best friend. To make things complicated, Cybersix and Lucas have a romantic connection. Lori Anderson, a student of Adrian’s, is infatuated with him, making things even more convoluted.
Cybersix began as an Argentinian comic written by Carlos Trillo and illustrated by Carlos Meglia. The comic was published from May 1991 to January 1999. TMS Entertainment adapted the series from September 6th through October 23rd, 1999, for a thirteen-episode season. This makes Cybersix an anime based on an Argentinian comic made for America and Canada.
10. Hayato Jumonji — Ore to Hero to Mahou Shoujo
Like Natsuru in Kämpfer, Hayato gains superpowers when transformed into a girl. Unlike Natsuru, he doesn’t like it. Hayato is a tall, buff guy, but when he uses a Hero Drive, he transforms into Luminous Girl, a short magical girl with superpowers. Despite his discomfort with the form, he changes to save the day each time.
I ask again, would you change genders for superpowers?
Ore To Hero To Mahou Shoujo is written and illustrated by Sogou Kudan. Comic Polaris published the series from June 12th, 2014, to January 17th, 2019.
What is your favorite genderswap girl? Would you genderswap with or without superpowers? Let us know in the comments below.
Do you plan to pick up the Terry Bogard figure at J-List? Please also show us the collection you plan to add her to in the comments. If you can’t wait for her release, please look at our Best Sellers section in the J-List store.
