This year, Crunchyroll has given fans an incredible variety of anime to watch, with every genre moving forward to deliver at least one great season over the past few months. In particular, the romance genre has taken the throne this year. In this sea of new romances, there’s a special series that’s got fans talking, but it’s not just about romance.
Skip and Loafer launched the anime on Crunchyroll in April and has built a reputation for itself. With a quirky protagonist trying his best after transferring to a prep school in Tokyo, the premise sounds unoriginal. After all, high school is a popular shojo setting and has even been featured in other romance titles this year, such as the new high school romance anime Insomniacs After School. What really sets Skip and Loafer apart from other anime in the season is the variety of characters.
Skip & Loafer’s Nao is transgender representation done right
Based on the popular manga of the same name by Misaki Takamatsu, the series has a very unique cast of characters that almost jumped off the screen. Many fans immediately associate the main character Mitsumi, as they feel like she is coded as having different nerves. Besides Mitsumi, the other characters in Skip and Loafer are equally important. Instead of having stereotypical mean girls and rivals, this series takes a closer look at all the characters and takes the time to make them feel like real, nuanced teenagers. Each character has their own problems, insecurities, and personalities. Not a single character on this show is one-dimensional.
Perhaps the most important figure when it comes to diversity is Mitsumi’s aunt, Nao-chan. Although nothing was explicitly stated at first, Nao was shown as a transgender woman and fans were really impressed with her handling of the story. First, the series introduces her as Mitsumi’s aunt, whom Mitsumi clearly adores. Their sweet relationship makes viewers automatically like Nao. While her identity isn’t an important plot point, it’s also something that follows her everywhere she goes, like most LGBTQ+ people in real life. One scene in particular is a perfect example of how to handle diversity properly. Nao decides to take the train with her niece, but it’s clear she’s a bit annoyed by the whispers. Realizing that her aunt was sad, Mitsumi reached out and took her aunt’s hand and smiled at her. The scene is short but has a great impact, faithfully depicting the daily life of transgender people. By showing this moment between aunt and granddaughter, the series perfectly captures the experiences of real people, while capturing the hearts of fans.
Fans are excited to see how each character’s story develops as the story goes on. Skip and Loafer manages to create realistic characters while maintaining the feel of an anime romantic comedy, making Crunchyroll’s Skip & Loafer a must-see for anime fans looking for something a little more varied.
