Hey, hey! Kyra Kyle here. Today, our classic three lists of three post returns. We haven’t done one of these in almost two years. The last one took a lot out of me, and I wanted to retire the format for a while. But it’s back. Three lists of three posts allow Geekly to explore a topic from multiple angles, maybe even some angles we would seldom cover in a solo post. Today’s topic is transgender representation in media.
Geekly started an ongoing series of transgender representation in media. Typically, that series follows television (occasionally) and movies, but let’s discuss other media. And some smaller transgender roles in television, while we’re at it. This is Geekly’s 3 Lists of 3 Trans Representation, Take One.
Trans Representation in Video Games
Video games have a longer history of transgender representation than one might think. More than one character has become a trans icon. Video games, as a medium, also allow players to embody the characters. This can be a great way to express a lived experience.
Tyler Ronan (Tell Me Why)
Dontnod Entertainment, the same Dontnod that created Life is Strange, had a follow-up, episodic adventure game named Tell Me Why. Armed with supernatural powers, twins Tyler and Alyson unravel the truth about their childhood. Tyler is a transgender man, and Dontnod worked with GLAAD and Tyler’s trans voice actor to ensure Tyler’s lived experience mirrored a trans man’s.
I love Dontnod Entertainment. Typically, their games include small moments that get at the heart of the character. We saw that with Chloe and Max. Tell Me Why includes moments where Tyler takes daily testosterone and uses a binder. Tell Me Why may include one of the best representations of a trans man’s experience, regardless of medium. If you liked Life is Strange, you should check out Tell Me Why.
Vivian (Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door)
We talked about Birdo—her chosen name is Birdie, by the way—in a previous post. She may be the trans video game icon others thought of in this section’s introduction, but another Mario character claims this spot as a better trans representation: Vivian. In the original Japanese version of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, Vivian was portrayed as a trans woman. Vivian’s sister would frequently misgender her. Gamers would take Vivian’s side.
Some American versions of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door cut references to Vivian’s transition, but the majority of Japanese and English translations clearly present Vivian’s transgender backstory. Her journey toward acceptance can inspire. We love Birdo, I mean, Birdie, at Geekly. But Vivian needs some love.
Claire Russell (Cyberpunk 2077)
Cyberpunk 2077 featured numerous gender identities and sexualities for players to explore. For that reason, it was groundbreaking. It should come as no surprise that Cyberpunk 2077 would have an entry on this list. But there’s a chance some players don’t even know Claire Russell, bartender at the Afterlife, is even trans. Uh oh. Cyberpunk 2077 chose subtlety.
Claire’s truck sports a transgender flag. If you know the flag, your trans-dar may have tingled. Eventually, after a race, Claire can mention her gender identity. Not every player will hear this dialogue. You’ll need to gain her trust. Claire doesn’t share her gender identity with just anyone. Not everyone needs to know. And Claire’s transness isn’t used as a tragic backstory. She’s just a trans girl navigating the world the best she can. This makes Claire relatable. She’s authentic.
Trans Representation in TV Shows
We have covered trans characters in television shows in previous trans representation posts. But characters like Hunter Schafer’s Jules in Euphoria are main characters. This segment allows us to cover characters who appear briefly in television shows, and they did a good job of capturing the trans experience.
Teri (Baby Reindeer)
Baby Reindeer is a fabulous Netflix series. We may cover Baby Reindeer in a future trans representation post. We’ll see. The series, based on a true story, follows a struggling comic named Donny Dunn. Donny becomes the target of a stalker named Martha. Martha sexually assaults and harasses Donny. Baby Reindeer shatters gender roles and concepts CisHet people take as givens. So, of course, Baby Reindeer includes trans actress Nava Mau as Teri, a trans woman.
As you can surmise, Donny Dunn’s life is chaotic. Teri calms the storm. She saves Donny from a path of destruction. Teri represents the first loving and respectful relationship Donny had ever had up to that point. Eventually, their relationship falters because Donny doesn’t know who he is. Teri knows who she is. Baby Reindeer makes it a point to show the audience she knows who she is. You can’t help but fall in love with Teri. She’s a real one.
Natalie (Big Mouth)
Big Mouth is known for its unflinching look at puberty. Hilarious, moving, and awkward, Big Mouth has always shown queer stories. A couple of the main cast are queer. It makes sense that Big Mouth would eventually introduce a transgender character. That happened in season four with the foul-mouthed eighth grader, Natalie, portrayed by trans actor Josie Totah. You’ve gotta love it. Big Mouth does a great job showing how some people react whenever they hear someone is trans. The boys want to know what’s in Natalie’s pants. To her credit, she tells them to f*** off. The girls go out of their way to befriend Natalie, but they can be as tone-deaf and insensitive as the boys. They’re just more subtle.
My favorite Big Mouth episode with Natalie is her second one. She enters into a brief situationship with Seth Goldberg, voiced by Seth Rogen. Several of these scenes play out like any others about young love. Natalie’s identity as a trans woman doesn’t factor into these scenes. Seth genuinely cares for Natalie. But then we see him hide the relationship and downright deny it. Seth doesn’t want to be seen as weird. The two part ways, but in the end, you can tell Seth regrets what he’s done. He acknowledges that Natalie was the bigger person.
Mae (Feel Good)
Wow! Netflix earns a clean sweep with this segment. Feel Good is the semi-autobiographical story of nonbinary actor and comic Mae Martin. Mae struggles with romance, substance abuse, and gender. I don’t know of many mainstream representations of a nonbinary character having steamy love scenes. Woo hoo!
Feel Good can be moving, obviously steamy, and funny. After all, Martin is a stand-up comedian. We catch a glimpse of a few of their stand-up routines in Feel Good. This may be another series we may need to revisit in long form.
Trans Representation in Anime
Anime has a longer history with trans representation than people may think. This segment could be as long as three dozen, but here are three anime trans representation standouts.
Asuka Yuu (Stars Align)
We’re going back-to-back nonbinary characters on this list. Stars Align follows the members of a middle school boys’ soft tennis club. The stories center around the challenges they face as a team, and we get a fair share of personal struggles. Asuka Yuu is the manager of the soft tennis club, and they happen to be nonbinary.
Most of the boys in the soft tennis club don’t understand what nonbinary means, and Asuka Yuu’s story revolves around their feelings of uneasiness and uncertainty with their identity. Stars Align centers on middle school-aged children. Yuu has just embarked on their journey to find out who they are. Stars Align may include one of the most respectful representations of the nonbinary experience.
Alluka Zoldyck (Hunter x Hunter)
Hunter x Hunter is a long-running anime. The manga has seen multiple anime adaptations by Nippon Animation and Madhouse. Chances are that most anime fans think of Alluka Zoldyck when they think of transgender anime characters. Alluka Zoldyck is the second youngest in the Zoldyck family of assassins. She’s the youngest sister of Killua Zoldyck (one of Hunter x Hunter’s main characters) and has lived as a woman for a long time. Despite this, everyone in her family—except for Killua—misgenders her. Is it any wonder why Alluka joins her brother’s journey?
Yamato (One Piece)
In terms of long-running animes, Hunter x Hunter has nothing on One Piece, and One Piece has its own trans representation: Yamato. Yamato is the son of Kaidou, an antagonist of the series, and wants to join the Straw Hat Pirates. Yamato doesn’t present as a typically masculine person, but he earns respect and is treated as his gender. And even though his father is an antagonist, Kaidou still respects his son’s Yamato’s pronouns.
One Piece is one of the most read mangas and watched animes. I love how people can get introduced to what it means to be transgender through Yamato. Gender identity and gender expression do not need to coincide. These are separate concepts. And I love how the “villain” still respects his son. That’s a great touch.
That concludes Geekly’s three list of three for transgender representation. Did any of your favorites make the list? Would you add anyone else? This is the first in a potential series. Let us know your favorite transgender characters in the comments. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.
