I actually really liked Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu despite myself, but more on that later.
Look carefully.
Hideyoshi’s Gender is Hideyoshi. Think for a while about what that means.
You probably won’t get anything. Sure, it’s an androgynous character. Wow Ningyo, we haven’t seen those before. But Hideyoshi is the most recent, and thus the most striking. You only start thinking about things if you’ve been reminded of it multiple times.
More than he is androgynous, Hideyoshi is the most popular character in Baka to Test, period. He has the most images on the boorus, he’s featured on the magazine pinups, he’s the only one with a henshin sequence in the pilot episode. Even the developers know he’s popular, and they know how to push that. What contributes to a character’s popularity? One would assume that is usually along the lines of an original design or an outrageous personality, neither of which I can say Hideyoshi possesses.
At this point, do you even see a male?
What’s the most distinguishing feature about him? Being androgynous. That’s it, no joke. The unique manner of speech is the cherry on top, because if speech were the deciding factor everyone in Ladies versus Butlers would be an instant winner. The crowd loves him because he lacks sexual characteristics.
NOTICE THAT THERE IS NO PENIS /theelephantintheroom
The question is then, why? Because his nature is attractive to the viewers? You’d think male viewers would be more inclined to look in the big-breasted, soft-spoken Himeji Mizuki’s direction, and females in that of the macho Sakamoto Yuuji. Alright, some might prefer gentler boys with softer features, but certainly not one to the point of looking like a female *Ningyo is naïve*? Is it because he’s a unique, fresh design? That’s not quite it either, because we’ve seen plenty of such types in the past; hopefully some of you recall GUESS WUT! 05, where near every character appeared female but was in fact male (Hideyoshi was there, too).
The only possible reason I can arrive at is that the prospect of an androgynous character is exciting; a forbidden amalgam of both male and female traits that appears largely female, the beauteous sex. It’s the unconscious realization that a hermaphroditic being is the most beautiful, made concrete by the anime collective.
What pOnOs? What male?! Screw all that! *rips off shirt*
I was going to say it was akin to incest, something ridiculous one would never consider yet still tickles with the sweetness of forbidden fruit, but I realized that it’s one analogy I shouldn’t ever make.
But then, where does that leave the anifans that have decided that Hideyoshi is the most lovable character? Are they all closet homosexuals? I don’t think that’s quite it. Does it pertain to forbidden fruit, then? What does this say about anime fans? Of all the rather likable character-types presented in Baka to Test, most of which are less ambiguous, why Kinoshita Hideyoshi?
What are your thoughts?
Ningyo
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January 7th, 2010 at 7:40 am
I’m not sure why, but I’ve always really loved androgyny. I guess it is partly because of a sense of mystery and partly because it feels like it combines the best of both worlds.
But really, I’m not quite sure why I love it.
January 7th, 2010 at 5:07 pm
I like effeminate boy and cross-dresser boy to girl but never come across androgyny as far as i know. (or maybe i was fooled, hard)
Don’t know what to think of it really …
That’s an interesting devellopement as you always do and i keep enjoying your post.
January 7th, 2010 at 5:27 pm
man, i stopped watching anime in like forever, BUT somehow i can still answer this.
Typically since i never watched one of these types of animes, i would never know how it feels at first hand. So the idea of androgyny creeps me out. Wouldn’t it just be better if they just stated the person is a transexual or homosexul/cross dresser? Possibly it might be the cute looks that gets ppl to adore this char. If no one ever told me that the char is an andro… then i wouldve thought it was a girl.
I guess what i’;m trying to say is that without ppl telling you, you would never know what to expect. Because if someone did tell you, then you would create a bias or some point of perspective.
January 7th, 2010 at 7:19 pm
@Yi
Ahaha, even you’re unsure? It seems the ambiguity of androgyny translates to we fans’ confusion at our own taste in characters…
I wouldn’t know about ‘the best of both worlds’ though, because I still haven’t taken a stance on hermaphroditism – And really, thinking over it, I haven’t a clear-cut stance on any of this.
@Katsura-chan
Ah, but androgyny isn’t strictly limited to hermaphroditism – the person doesn’t necessarily need to be male and female at the same time. Hideyoshi is exactly that, effeminate.
Yes, I really asked because I’m not quite sure what to think either.
And I always enjoy your comments. First and foremost I want to spark thoughts and discussion, but entertainment really is the big second reason.
@mat
Ehehe, thanks for trying anyways. I’m actually surprised that you were able to say something, as opposed to shaking your head and turning away.
Basically, I was thinking that by not stating such an alignment clearly, the resulting ambiguity is what attracts the fans so – hence, forbidden fruit.
I’d like it if their reasons were just as pure as simply because of his ‘cute looks’, but imagine that not being the case.
Certainly, another’s opinions are capable of altering our own – that’s the way it is. I generally try to be as unbiased as possible, but it really doesn’t take much to change my opinion.
January 8th, 2010 at 5:46 am
Trap trap trap… Hmm… it’s definitely fun, I mean I look up some of them like Brigitte, and that one from IdolMaster DS. It works very well on paper/2D… but I don’t think it does in 3D. That’s part of the charm because it’s much better in 2D since it’s part of the fantasy. I mean Pico for example… I’d like to know who else is gay for Pico after seeing him dress in a sexy girl ensemble? Saigado’s art definitely makes it worth liking traps. I won’t go further than that though…
Plus I still haven’t seen BakaTest yet…
January 8th, 2010 at 4:27 pm
As much as i love romance and shoujo manga with the normal pattern boy/girl, i also love Yûri (Strawberry Panic) and cross-dressing shows (Otome wa boku ni koishiteru).
I think animes and mangas succeeded to represent those particular behavior in a beautiful, charming and loving way.
In many many other situation i just dislike it because of the displayed protrude vulgarity.
Oh and thanks :) You point at very interesting topics and i’m glad to comment on it.
January 8th, 2010 at 6:31 pm
Ya know, it’s mind boggling how a trap, who clearly states his gender, can be so attractive to people. It’s like everyone wants to hit that, and think they’re penetrating pussy. >_>
ldehfcljsdhjkldfhkljas
January 8th, 2010 at 11:16 pm
Welllllllllll I haven’t see Baka Test (I’m still assuming this character’s from the aforementioned show), but this character seems interesting…DEFINITELY a LOT more interesting than Vampire Bund put altogether. Jeezz…I couldn’t write enough in the review.
Anyways, the only thing I worry about this show is that it’ll turn into your average magical school anime, then eventually a pathetic harem, then completely turn into an inverse Maburaho. Meh, whatever.
But in any case…no matter how attractive, I just can’t be attracted to someone I know is a guy. Like Bridget from Guilty Gear. Because he’s so “confused” normally, genderswap pics with him are not my favorite.
January 9th, 2010 at 1:04 am
Among other reasons, his likeliness to a certain lost love rekindled all sorts of emotions…
January 9th, 2010 at 6:04 am
There was once a great blog I’d read by a woman who works as a clerk in an adult store. Unfortunately I can’t remember the name, but she wrote a little bit about the mysterious appeal of “shemale” porn.
Her pet hypothesis: Men are baffled by women, especially their lady parts. By discovering that a girl has a penis (or, as the case may be, discovering a boy so feminine that he may as well be a girl), suddenly everything is UNDERSTANDABLE. Men already know how a penis works, so making this “woman” feel good is going to be easy. Physical intimacy, that crucial ingredient of love, is no longer a mystery.
And, well, when we look at it that way, it’s almost kind of sweet.
January 9th, 2010 at 7:48 pm
@rob
Yes, it is one of those things that only work on paper. At least, I hope that’s what all the fans think as well. I think the main reason for that is simply because this androgynous beauty can only be captured in the aesthetically pleasing anime-styled art – such an amalgam may look slightly frightening in life…
Bridget really is the pioneer trap; none had quite gotten as big as he did back then. I remember how long my friends and I thought he was actually a girl when we first played GG >.<
@Katsura-chan
Yeah, that's near exactly what I just thought about. See, you say you have troubles, but I think you're voicing yourself splendidly in English :)
Anime-styled art does manage to pull it off because it can make any character appear beautiful; with large eyes, symmetrical faces and blemishless skin… It wouldn't work elsewhere.
@Jubbz
It's exactly because of that mind-bogglingness that I wrote this post to ask the masses. I rather like Hideyoshi myself, and I think my 'forbidden-fruit' reason pretty much covers myself. Not thinking of 'penetrating' him anytime soon though.
@FaS
And I still have to get around to Vampire Bund. Rachel is going to bite my head off for this (though it'll probably be Nago doing the dirty work).
It's interesting summoning device should disallow it from sinking to those lows, but I'll touch wood for saying that and hope for the best.
Whoa, genderswapped traps… That hurts my head a little. Still better than genderswapped reverse-traps though.
@Shin
All of which are illustrated quite vibrantly by your post on Hideyoshi ^^;
That's certainly a reason I hadn't thought about. It won't apply to the majority, but it certainly is a unique one.
May Hideyoshi serve to fill the gap.
@2DT
I think I've actually heard that hypothesis before… At any rate, that is very interesting take, albeit a saddening one as well. It suggests that men, or at least these men, haven't the bravery to explore the unknown… Though it's true there exists all sorts of types.
The hypothesis itself does make a lot of sense though. Still, it seems very analyzed – if it actually applies, then it's still more on a subconscious level. I for one didn't think of anything like that when I found Hideyoshi to be an interesting character. Sweet, maybe, but I got more of that feeling that causes one to rub one’s temples and chuckle nervously from it.
January 24th, 2010 at 8:48 pm
I think part of it could be the “beauty is only skin deep” sort of thing (you know, all the holes are the same in the dark and all that).
I mean, he’s a reason why I’m planning on watching Baka to Test, and he’s probably going to be my favorite character in the show. Among other things. :P