Animé discussion: Is gender bending an overused gimmick in animé series?

Crossdressers, transformations, serums, curses, and rebirth are just a few examples of this heavily used trope and there seems to be no shortage of animé that use this trope on at least one support character.

This trope started in the 50's in live action and western slapstick comedy, but wasn't used until the late 70's in animé series, but wasn't very popular at the time. However, since Ranma 1/2 aired in the 90's the gender bending sub-genre has exploded in popularity to the point that it seems to be a very popular plot gimmick.

I feel that this gimmick is overused and is a very sexist trope, since it's almost always used in a male to female change and in most cases the males are idiots that use their looks or transformation to take advantage of females at least once.

If there were more female to male examples of this trope and the abuse of their situation plot was used less frequently then I would feel differently about the genre.

I think the gender bending genre is funny and sometimes even kawaii

Gender bending can be funny depending on how it's used in the story. I don't think there are as many gender bending anime as you think there are.

Yes, but only because the majority of gender benders are about boys crossdressing as girls.

...no comment...

Umm...

LordOtakWiiU wrote:Umm...

My thoughts exactly....I don't even know how to respond to this thread.

What a strange topic.
@Rukiafan I know really!

It's not exactly a strange topic, but it's a difficult one to respond to without people misunderstanding your viewpoints, in other words it's a sensitive topic to discuss. Thankfully we don't have trolls around here who would turn this thread into a flaming war-zone.

As for myself I have little interest in the genre, besides Ranma 1/2 which was funny seeing poor Ranma changing back and forth at awkward times, but that's just my personal opinion.

Ranma 1/2 was funny because it never took its plot very seriously.

I really don't get the point of gender bending to be quite honest.