One of the most popular genres of anime involves stories in which drama is created when a character’s gender changes. Anime has always had a long tradition of telling stories that challenge us to think in new ways about how people of both sexes interact with each other, whether it’s the “cousins with benefits” in Sailor Moon or watching the French Revolution unfold through the eyes of Oscar, a girl who was raised as a boy by her father. In this post we’ll examine the most important genderswap anime, and why they’re so popular.
The fetish of male-to-female-body-transformation is known as 女体化 nyotaika. Most of us guys grew up curious about the female body and how everything fits together and would jump at the chance to try it for a few days. That elemental attraction of getting to experience life as a girl is something these anime series tap into.
What are the Best Genderswap Anime? Let’s Find Out!
The genre of “gender bender” anime is a popular one, and there are no less than three shows in the current anime season that specifically deal with boy-to-girl body changes. Could the genderswap anime genre be taking over, like idol or isekai anime did in the past?
Note that in this post, we’re talking about actual biological body and gender transformations through scientific, magical or other means. Related anime about otokonoko cross-dressing or characters pretending to be a gender they aren’t won’t be covered here.
The currently airing Oniichan wa Oshimai! is the best example of the genderswap genre I can think of. It’s fun, has characters who we like to follow and cheer for, and really takes a stab at making us think what it would be like to “live life on the other side.”
Another popular genderswap anime from the current anime season is Ayakashi Triangle, about a male ninja who gets changed into a girl by a cat demon, with sexy results. The censorship for this show is super annoying, but I’ll be watching once the Blu-rays are released! (And we’ll certainly be offering them on J-List.)
If you have both a fetish for gender-bender anime as well as twintail hair, then Ore, Twintail ni Narimasu is the magical girl genderswap anime you should watch.
Who are the best twintail anime girls? We’ve got a blog post for you here!
I love the trend in dark and experimental magical girl series we got after Madoka Magica. One of the best was Magical Girl Raising Project in which several contestants used a phone app to become magical girls. Koyuki’s childhood friend Souta was even chosen, even though he’s a boy.
Some men would like to become girls so they can see how the “plumbing” works. Others, like Tanya from Youjo Senki, just want to wage war and destruction in cute female bodies.
Interspecies Reviewers. It’s natural that a show dedicated to exploring the various fetishes that can be experienced with monster girl prostitutes would have an episode in which the male characters change their bodies through magic, and experience sex as females. Wouldn’t you love to try this?
If your best friend suddenly became a girl, would your reaction be to want to have sex with him? If so, then you should watch the Kuro Gal ni Natta kara Shinyuu to Yattemita hentai anime. And we’ve got the Blu-ray for the series in stock on J-List!
Speaking of hentai, if you prefer your gender-bending in visual novel form instead of anime, we’ve got the HD Remasters of the first three X-Change visual novels available digitally from JAST USA, or you can preorder the X-Change Trilogy limited edition box here and get the digital version sent to for free. Read my detailed review of the new remastered X-Change Trilogy here!
Sometimes anime uses genderswap themes to create comedic situations, and other times, to explore how boys and girls can perhaps understand each other a little better. To Love-Ru uses gender-bending themes so the girls can have sexy fun with Rito in his female form for our entertainment.
One well-regarded genderswap anime is Kashimashi: Girl Meets Girl. When Hazumu is accidentally killed by aliens, they kindly resurrect him…but as a girl. Will Hazumi be able to get closer to his crush Yasuna this way?
Next up is the super fun Kokoro Connect, about five students who start swapping bodies with each other. What the hell is going on?
One of the most well-known films in the genderswap genre has to be Your Name, the story of Mitsuha and Taki, who traverse gender as well as time together.
Finally, the great Ranma 1/2 by Rumiko Takahashi. One of the early breakout anime shows that you could show to your “normie” friends, it had hilarious situations involving Ranma changing sex at just the wrong moment.
Thanks for reading this blog post about the best anime that use gender changes to tell a great story. What’s your favorite? Tell us below, or reply to us on Twitter!
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