cartoon And story both have made some best example of LGBTQ+ characters in modern media. While the medium is indeed problematic in terms of representation, there have been many notable examples throughout the years that positively portray members of the LGBTQ+ community. There are countless examples of these characters being loved by audiences and considered by LGBTQ+ people to be one of the best examples of who they are in fiction.
Interestingly, though, anime and manga can also expand their representation with queer encoding. Queue encoding is when a character or story is represented in one way but encoded through their story and theme to make them more interactive with the LGBTQ+ message. Queue encryption has been around for decades, especially in anime and manga, so they can tell the stories of those in the community without the risk of the story being drawn in by conservative voices. than. With these in mind, here are the ten best LGBTQ+ characters in anime and manga whether they’re labeled as weird in the first place or coded that way.
10 Najimi (Komi can’t communicate)
Najimi is a character from the popular Netflix series Komi who cannot communicate. They become Komi’s second friends after an encounter with a stalker that Komi accidentally stops. Najimi is a character who has no qualms about how their gender is portrayed as they arrive at school in their male and female school uniforms. Although not confirmed, it implies a lot that they are gender fluid, that is gender identity that shows a person changing their gender expression on a daily basis depending on inner feeling their. What makes Najimi a pretty positive depiction of the gay community is how sociable they are at school. People in the school view Najimi for who they are and their social life thrives on it, which is rare for LGBTQ+ reps as they can mostly be presented as outcasts and lonely.
Joining Najimi in non-binary representation is Envy from the critically acclaimed FullMetal Alchemist: Brotherhood series. Unlike their other siblings in the Seven Deadly Sins, Envy was never explicitly gendered. Their expression is purely androgynous, but this is never questioned by their enemies or allies. Their gender identity is only part of them while they act as a rather interesting villain with the ability to transform. Fans of the non-binary series themselves have expressed their love for the character over the years as one of the best depictions of a non-binary character still in existence. to this day in an already great show.
8 Haruhi Fujioka (Ouran High School Owner Club)
Haruhi from Ouran High School Host Club is an interesting case here as they really fit into being an LGBTQ+ character in so many ways. Perhaps the most remarkable thing fans know about them is how fluid their gender representation is. The reason why they were even assigned to work at the host club in the first place was because others mistook them for boys as well as their short hair and ambiguous attitude about their gender. . This has fans speculating that Haruhi is not bisexual, but there are also opinions that they could be asexual as well. This is because they show little interest in romantic or sexual attraction even as the Host Club moves forward trying to capture their hearts.
7 Chiaki (Makeover)
Launched last year, To Strip the Flesh is a manga series by Oto Toda that revolves around a Transgender man as he navigates his transition while on a good path set by his father’s disapproval. few accept. It’s rare for transgender men to be at the center of a story, so it’s reassuring to see a character like Chiaki. His story is a fascinating character study that explores the many points in his life before, during, and after his transition as he takes steps to become his true self. This made To Strip the Flesh one of the best new comics to hit shelves last year as it brought a huge step forward for transgender representation.
6 Dio (Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure)
Dio from JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is famous for being hermaphrodite according to the principle of the series’ author, Hirohiko Araki. Dio’s weirdness has impressed fans since he first appeared in the series. While Dio is easily JoJo’s most evil villain, his flair has made him an absolute icon and beloved by viewers of the show. Plus, the way he talks to his enemies makes him an absolute threat to be reckoned with by the series’ heroes. Years later, Dio is still considered one of the best villains in anime with some of his lines becoming ubiquitous on the internet, including the infamous “It’s me, Dio!”
5 Lily Hoshikawa (Ghost Land Saga)
Lily is a compelling example of LGBTQ+ representation because revealing her gender identity has really made waves among members of the Transgender community. Not only has she spoken openly about it in the series in lieu of the roundabout show and made fans question if it’s true, but she’s also been accepted by her Idol team members. receive such. This is a huge step forward in representing the Transgender community in any medium, not just anime, because they don’t mind addressing the topic directly. Plus, Lily is a lovely character to boot that pulls the band together like the heart and soul of the Idol.
4 Yuri K. & Victor (Yuri On Ice)
When Yuri on Ice first premiered in 2016, it was a huge topic of conversation among anime fans. Not only is this a gripping sports anime focusing on figure skating, but it also offers a fascinating gay relationship between Yuri and his instructor Victor. The chemistry between the two is adorable as they work together to help Yuri bring home the gold medal. In the end, although Yuri K. finished second, the final night was still up with a satisfied kiss between him and Victor. These two characters are as sane as it gets.
3 Shuichi & Yoshino (The Wandering Child)
Takako Shimura’s gender-exploring masterpiece The Wandering Son focuses on two kids named Shuichi and Yoshino with one thing in common: they’re both Transgender… or at least questioning their identity. . This led to the two experimenting with their presentations together as they found their true selves and developed a close friendship. What makes these characters work is turning them into a Transgender girl and a Transgender boy to represent different experiences between the two. Yoshino can get away with being more manly while Shuichi needs to hide his feelings, but this doesn’t mean life is easy for Yoshino or impossible for Shuichi. Plus, the friendship between the two is handled very well as they work together to reveal their inner self.
2 Sailor Uranus & Neptune (Sailor Moon)
The relationship between Sailor Moon and Uranus has become well known to fans for the way American censors try to hide the truth behind their affections. In order to hide the fact that these two women are in love, the English translation made them infamously cousins and spared no shortage of moments that showed their romantic feelings. However, when it comes to how their dialogue should be seen, Uranus and Neptune are an adorable pair. The two are completely smitten with each other and use each other’s powers to become excellent fighters as they protect the world from evil alongside other Sailor Scouts. The romance between these two may be mired in humorous controversies, but that doesn’t stop them from becoming one of the media’s best representations of lesbian love. pine.
1 Ranma (Ranma 1/2)
At the top of this list is a character who has awakened many people to their ability to explore their gender identity. Ranma is a boy who is cursed to turn into a girl when cold water is poured on him. The movie revolves around his predicament with a comedic mind, but it also explores Ranma’s feminine side whenever they’re in girl form. In fact, one episode in the anime did indeed examine what his life would be like if they decided to remain a girl after losing his memory while in this form. Ranma is a character that has become an icon for the Trans community and is ultimately one of the best LGBTQ+ characters from anime and manga.