Senpai wa Otokonoko plans to be a proper look on LGBTQ+ issues.
“Otokonoko” is a rather difficult term to translate — so Crunchyroll did not.
We hope this show will approach the subject respectfully.
On November 18th, we’ve received great news — the upcoming anime adaptation of Senpai is an Otokonoko (Senpai wa Otokonoko) will be streamed on Crunchyroll:
Otokonoko?
“Otokonoko” is a term that came into being in the 2000s. Its literal translation is ”male daughter”/”male girl”, and over the years it’s been used to describe individuals who were assigned male at birth and dress or present themselves in a feminine way. This term could be rather loaded, especially in otaku culture, where many anime fans use “crossdresser” and “transgender” interchangeably, often mixing in “trap” and other derogatory terms — in fact, some unofficial translations have already dubbed the show as “Senpai is a Crossdresser”.
The story of Senpai is Otokonoko features Hanaoka Makoto who, from the point of view of a classmate, is described to us as a “boy who dresses up as a girl” — and given how this story is intending to be a serious look into various LGBTQ+ issues, this might mean anything from Makoto being transgender, to any non-binary identity (including lack of a gender identity), to simply gender non-conforming (for example yes, “someone who’s both a guy and is comfortable wearing dresses''). So it is no wonder that Crunchyroll decided to leave “Otokonoko” in the title untranslated.
LGBTQ+ in anime
Discussions of LGBTQ+ issues in anime are not a new thing. From the classic Revolutionary Girl Utena (Shoujo Kakumei Utena) and Stop!! Hibari Kun!, to more modern instances like Yuri!!! On Ice, I'm in Love with the Villainess (Watashi no Oshi wa Akuyaku Reijou)
and Wandering Son (Hourou Musuko), there have been many stories that explored sexuality and gender.
There were even more stories that simply (and respectfully) include LGBTQ+ characters as a part of their cast — like Ghost in the Shell (Motoko Kusanagi is either lesbian or bisexual, which was shown in rather excessively graphic detail in the official manga), Zombieland Saga (Lily Hoshikawa is trans, which is openly discussed in the first season) and Sailor Moon (despite what old English dub might tell you, Sailor Neptune and Sailor Uranus are lovers, not cousins). Hell, once it got over using drag queens for comedy, even One Piece introduced us to two transgender characters in Kikunojo (trans woman) and Yamato (trans man)!
Hopefully, Senpai is an Otokonoko will indeed be a genuine exploration of LGBTQ+ themes similar to Wandering Son — or maybe do somewhat similar to what O Maidens in Your Savage Season (Araburu Kisetsu no Otome-domo yo.) did in exploring how puberty affects teenage girls. That’d be fantastic.
We really hope it will!
Summary:
Senpai wa Otokonoko plans to be a proper look on LGBTQ+ issues.
“Otokonoko” is a rather difficult term to translate — so Crunchyroll did not.
We hope this show will approach the subject respectfully.
On November 18th, we’ve received great news — the upcoming anime adaptation of Senpai is an Otokonoko (Senpai wa Otokonoko) will be streamed on Crunchyroll:
Otokonoko?
“Otokonoko” is a term that came into being in the 2000s. Its literal translation is ”male daughter”/”male girl”, and over the years it’s been used to describe individuals who were assigned male at birth and dress or present themselves in a feminine way. This term could be rather loaded, especially in otaku culture, where many anime fans use “crossdresser” and “transgender” interchangeably, often mixing in “trap” and other derogatory terms — in fact, some unofficial translations have already dubbed the show as “Senpai is a Crossdresser”.
The story of Senpai is Otokonoko features Hanaoka Makoto who, from the point of view of a classmate, is described to us as a “boy who dresses up as a girl” — and given how this story is intending to be a serious look into various LGBTQ+ issues, this might mean anything from Makoto being transgender, to any non-binary identity (including lack of a gender identity), to simply gender non-conforming (for example yes, “someone who’s both a guy and is comfortable wearing dresses''). So it is no wonder that Crunchyroll decided to leave “Otokonoko” in the title untranslated.
LGBTQ+ in anime
Discussions of LGBTQ+ issues in anime are not a new thing. From the classic Revolutionary Girl Utena (Shoujo Kakumei Utena) and Stop!! Hibari Kun!, to more modern instances like Yuri!!! On Ice, I'm in Love with the Villainess (Watashi no Oshi wa Akuyaku Reijou)
and Wandering Son (Hourou Musuko), there have been many stories that explored sexuality and gender.
There were even more stories that simply (and respectfully) include LGBTQ+ characters as a part of their cast — like Ghost in the Shell (Motoko Kusanagi is either lesbian or bisexual, which was shown in rather excessively graphic detail in the official manga), Zombieland Saga (Lily Hoshikawa is trans, which is openly discussed in the first season) and Sailor Moon (despite what old English dub might tell you, Sailor Neptune and Sailor Uranus are lovers, not cousins). Hell, once it got over using drag queens for comedy, even One Piece introduced us to two transgender characters in Kikunojo (trans woman) and Yamato (trans man)!
Hopefully, Senpai is an Otokonoko will indeed be a genuine exploration of LGBTQ+ themes similar to Wandering Son — or maybe do somewhat similar to what O Maidens in Your Savage Season (Araburu Kisetsu no Otome-domo yo.) did in exploring how puberty affects teenage girls. That’d be fantastic.
