Effeminate characters in manga / animes

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Darren J

New member
Just me or is the way they create effeminate characters in mangas and animes really differ than in western animation?

Characters like Yumichika (Bleach), Zoisite (Sailor Moon), or even RhondoKnightmon (Digimon), you don't see too many of them in western animaion. Effeminate characters that think highly of their beauty, often carry a rose with themselves but can still fight. And some of them it is not automatic they are gay.

In western animation, any effeminate character is automaticly gay, they are wimps that can't fight, no suttled at all, and enforce a stereotype.

Why is that, is Japan more progressive in that category?
 
Don't you know? The feminine types are badasses in disguise. It's been a trope since Shin in Hokuto no Ken.

In seriousness, I'd think it has to do with Japan's fairly broad view on effeminate-acting men in general. I mean, we also normally question why there are so many effiminate types in anime in the first place. My only conclusion is that it is because they are treated as characters just as much as the main ones and that may or may not be a concept that American cartoons haven't completely grasped yet.

(By the way, if you're talking about bishounen badass pretty-boys who carry a rose, I can't believe you forgot Kurama in that list)
 
Well it is not really a list thread, just used some examples but yeah, it is a general discussion compairing Japan animation to western animaion on this subject.

But as far as your overal point, when watching a action series and an effeminate character is introduced I take them as seriously as I would anybody else as far as being a creatable fighter.
 
Kurama is actually really only feminine in his appearance and his choice of weaponry. Other than that, he doesn't really carry any of the other qualities of effeminate male characters in most other manga/anime series, in terms of his personality. He never once seemed to care about his own looks, and he's actually also the most vicious and merciless character of the main 4 characters from YYH, when it comes down to it (just look at the enRAB of his his battles with Roto or Elder Toguro to be reminded of why he's not the type that should be pissed off ). So, I've never really seen him as an effeminate character, but instead as a character with the bishounen look but not the personality (which makes him an awesome character in my book ).

I've always considered effeminate male characters to be those who show both clear and direct feminine qualities in their look and in their personality, together. I personally consider Kurapika from HXH to be a good example of this. Sure, he has many similarities to Kurama from YYH (I guess Togashi just needed a character like that in any other works he made ), but he also does show some clear feminine qualities in his personality as well (not to mention that he even dresses up as a woman, at one point in time in the series ).

Now, as far as Western animation goes (or at least American animation, as far as I know), its true that these types of characters being portrayed in a serious manner is a rarity in cartoons over here, as they are instead usually portrayed as stereotypical comic-relief characters, instead. However, that's basically just because a lot of American cartoons don't put as much significance on having characters like that, whereas Japan is probably much more open-minded to such types of characters. However, to be fair, there are tons of character types in Western animation that you won't see portrayed the same way in Japanese cartoons, or which you won't even see portrayed often at all. So, factors like this can really differ between various countries, honestly, based on the cultural influences and the standarRAB of each country.
 
/obligatory phw appearance at the mention of KuramaAnd wouldn't you know that Kurama became my favorite character after the Roto fight
 
Oh darn, I forgot that there was effeminate discussion.

Yeah, I didn't mean Kurama was effimanite. I just figured he fit the bill a bit. Though I still think he's a badass.

Ah, now I know how to summon you when necessary.
 
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