Here are several reputable papers and articles covering these themes: Academic & Scholarly Papers
: A detailed piece from The Artifice that breaks down characters who identify as women despite being misgendered by others, such as Lily Hoshikawa from Zombieland Saga . she male anime
: An exploration on Sabukaru Online of how Japanese media allows for a wider range of character archetypes and "gender spicing" compared to Western media. Important Terminological Note Here are several reputable papers and articles covering
While the specific phrasing you used is often associated with adult or derogatory slang, there are several high-quality academic and analytical papers that explore the representation of characters in anime from a scholarly perspective. : This capstone project from CSU Monterey Bay
: This capstone project from CSU Monterey Bay uses Queer Theory to analyze how diverse identities are depicted in both Japanese and American animation. In-Depth Critical Analysis
: This paper, available on ResearchGate, examines gender transitioning in anime and argues that some subgenres may reinforce binary gender concepts rather than being purely progressive.
In academic and respectful fan discourse, the term you mentioned is generally avoided. Instead, scholars typically use , Gender-nonconforming (GNC) , or Otokonoko (a specific Japanese term for boys who dress as girls). Using these terms in your research will help you find more credible, high-quality sources. Transfeminine Representation in Anime - The Artifice
