Senpai wa Otokonoko

What are gender norms.

Seriously. Is it wrong for a guy to like cute things? To seem more girly, and not manly. Can say the same case for girls too. It's quite the thought and topic for sure. Something of which doesn't come up a lot in anime, and with how serious this anime is seemingly trying to portray it from both sides of the argument, where you don't like it and think it's silly, or that you personally would support such, even if it's not your cup of tea. I know for a fact this show will step on toes for these reasons alone. But ... will it be a hit? Lets see.

Story and characters: 8
Here we have a good and fun love-polygon story with a twist that'll just add to it's watchability. Being having quite the serious topic when it relates to Gender, and what people see as what each are. When more likely people wanna like what they want to like, and be who they want to be. I really do feel like cause of this nature, and following both sides of the coin, it'll be told really well, and given the proper respect it deserves. Of course you'll find annoyances within that, but that's a natural thing to have. If everyone just out right accepted it, it wouldn't be a good show in context. It'd be nice, but if it's going for a more real vibes, then we'd need to have both the positive, and the negative side of it.

Through it's characters too, it's doing a real good job in presenting it. After all, not all of us are manly men. Or girly girl. Hell, some of us might even have hidden feelings that we could think is wrong, but really, it's more just showing how much you care for a friend, as you love your friends, they're your friends after all. Even if they have something 'weird' about them.


Art and sound: 7
There is a lot of fun with this. Really highlighting the more happy scenes with bright colours, or least seemingly more bright than usual. Then making it more tame, or darker whenever the scene is either going more serious in context, or is going in the opposite direction in terms of happiness. It's a nice touch really. Following that up with the random bits here or there, making it seem like tons of fun, despite the seriousness of the topic it's covering. Going with a good solid sound design along to boot.

Otokonoko covers quite the subject, and really does a good job at it. Will say however, this will depend your taste in the show, but for my money, for the product it has written up, it's delivering. Hopefully it keeps that up. A good show indeed.

Senpai is an Otokonoko – In the age of emerging societal issues about sexuality, this show couldn’t have come at a better time to define the current age of the fragility known as the collective human society. And I’m all here for it.

Cross-dressing and bisexuality are only some of the better-known terms when it comes to this sensitive topic that’s called sexual orientation. I’m sure that you’ve often heard terms like queer/LGBTQIA, homosexuality, and same-sex marriages all around given the rapid (and unfortunately rancid) age of the internet shoving and forcing ideals that regardless of your sexual orientation, we as humans should all be loved ... one and the same, and that we should have our own ways to deal with anything that’s outside of the norm. Case in point, the very conservative Land of the Rising Sun that is Japan, experiencing yet another boom and resurgence of the known phenomena, especially within the 21st century. In the current day and age where people are more outspoken, the majority of which comes from the younger generation, they’re quite vocal in support over the years that same-sex relationships and marriage should be constituted into the National Diet (that is Japan’s government legislation), despite the ongoing views for and against LGBT rights that continue to this very day. And despite the awful and discriminative bigotry that is the Western view on LGBTQ+, Japan hasn’t had an issue with said term for decades now, which is seen throughout its culture, most especially in the AniManga industry where Yaoi and Yuri a.k.a Boys and Girls’ Love works are rampant, thereby creating an even deeper subculture of the infatuation of people who are sticklers to same-sex relationships and marriages to this day.

From the many Yaoi and Yuri works that are out and about in the AniManga industry, one such series stands out. And the surprising bit? It’s not even categorized as either genre. This is mangaka Pom’s Senpai wa Otokonoko a.k.a Senpai is an Otokonoko (or This is Him), a deconstruction of the LGBT genre, and simultaneously a coming-of-age story of accepting who you are regardless of gender norms, and its creation is quite the unique story of fascination. All of this was enough to win the hearts of its readers, thus increasing its popularity, as well as being well received by critics for its writing and characters, taking 3rd place in the web manga category of Kadokawa and Niconico’s Next Manga Award (of which its winner was mangaka Naoya Matsumoto’s Kaiju No. 8), as well as being Line Manga’s 3rd most read Webtoon series, all in 2021 alone.

Senpai wa Otokonoko: My Crossdressing Senpai tells the story of 2nd year student Makoto Hanaoka, a young man…who’s not really what he seems to be. His physique may be the fact that he’s a born-bred boy, but everything else is as otherwise. He’s best described as a tomgirl: someone who fancies the feminine side of things that girls often dress themselves with, to the point that he even wears his school’s standard female sailor uniform, despite from being shunned by everyone around him, to getting used to seeing him as such: a crossdressing boy. And that captures the attention of 1st year student Saki Aoi, who falls in love with him at first sight, thinking that he’s a girl, until the eventual reveal that he’s not, leaving her rejected. But she’s fine with whatever orientation he is anyway since she’s bisexual, being able to love both his heterosexual traits all the same in the hopes that she will become his first love, even though Makoto doesn’t reciprocate as much, even sometimes to the point of being judged by hanging out with a cross-dresser. And then there’s Ryuji Taiga, Makoto’s childhood friend who has been through the way with him since kindergarten, but his sexual orientation forces him to constantly question if he’s alright going all-in with the childhood friend-to-lovers trope, being that he’s secretly gay and in love with Makoto since their childhood days. This is quite the unusual love triangle as Makoto, Aoi, and Ryuji dig deep into their hearts into trying to understand and support each other as people who are unorthodox to their typical sexual orientations, and the drama in this anime does reveal a similar likeness of real-world discussions on what it means to be homosexual.

What started off as a manga draft for a lesbian romance, as both writer and illustrator, Pom had difficulties drawing male characters, and had to receive advice from an acquaintance on drawing a series where a boy dresses up as a girl, even if that meant that she was at times unhappy with her presentation of Makoto as a bona-fide boy. This is especially in Japanese high school culture where male students crossdress as female students and wearing the school’s female sailor uniforms does occur, though the school in her series is fictionalized and not based off of real-life high schools, down to the specifics. Pom also conceptualized the series in a way that instead of making a gag-based comedy (of which the manga, and now the anime, does have elements of it), she chose to tackle the theme of not obfuscating one’s sexuality when it comes to human relationships – the diversity of love and romance regardless of gender; being forward about liking feminine things as someone of the opposite sex and taking care of oneself. To note, however, this is NEVER the subject of litigation against people who try to defy gender norms, balancing the dark elements with lighter ones, and this is one of the key reasons why the mangaka herself kept the cast to as few characters as possible, stating her dissent when character-driven stories outpace the bigger picture of the actual story itself.

Regarding the love triangle that is Makoto, Aoi, and Ryuji, this is where the aesthetic of the series truly (and I mean TRULY) shines the brightest. Pom intentionally designed Makoto and Aoi to contrast against each other, with the former being constantly apprehensive and distressed, while the latter is assertive and poised, and Ryuji is the weighted balance within the two’s love life that got away but stood for the long run. You can tell that this unique trio of friends have a bond that’s like a balloon that no matter how much it inflates or deflates, it holds them altogether, but when it bursts, it bursts in a colossal way that it’s near to impossible to repair their close-knitted relationship. This is one of the reasons why Pom opted for visual storytelling rather than text-based storytelling as much as possible. The contrasts of Makoto liking the feminine side because of its aesthetic whilst being portrayed as a male in the inside; Aoi just being the typical high school student with a personality being that of a proactive and immature childish brat who always stays true to her values; and Ryuji just trying his best to counterbalance the insanity that is his childhood friend and the rejected heroine who loves them both the same (and even calling Ryuji her “Master”). This is a trio of characters planned to the precise detail, and Pom ultimately decides to “go where the others go” since there’s essentially no story to begin with, with her conceived characters being the ones to dictate the progress of the story itself, it’s all based on her experiences on the belief that they could not portray things believably unless she had experienced it herself, thus with each character having a part of the life and vision of the mangaka herself. And I mean, what can I say? This is a VERY well-thought-out plot, and characters designed for the intention to tell a story that’s larger than life itself, and I respect Pom for what she’s done here with this work that earned her the credibility and fame that is absolutely well deserved in the first place.

Running a tight ship like Senpai wa Otokonoko is a fine but ludicrous job, and having a subpar studio like Project No. 9 who’s doing 2 shows this season (this and the horrid animation presentation that is Naze Boku no Sekai wo Daremo Oboeteinai no ka? a.k.a Why Does Nobody Remember Me in This World?), both aspects will eventually crash and burn…but unexpectedly not for the former. With the backing of a big conglomerate like Aniplex, in-house director Shinsuke Yanagi and his staff team are undoubtedly blessed with a big budget to work with, being able to present the manga in anime form to a crisp, beautiful, and gorgeous display of both the gag comedy (which is taken off from the manga) and its world itself, which is just chef’s kiss. If anything, this anime is one of the best produced shows this Summer season, and I’m not exaggerating when Sakuga this fluid (even in a minimalistic way) is a treat for the eyes.

The OST also is really good and provides the deep and rich atmospheres, that’s all thanks to veteran music composer Yukari Hashimoto, having done prior high-profile series the likes of 3-gatsu no Lion a.k.a March Comes in Like a Lion and more recently with Komi-san wa, Comyushou desu. a.k.a Komi Can't Communicate, and this Winter's Yubisaki to Renren a.k.a A Sign of Affection. But if there's just one complaint, the OP and ED songs from Kujira are hit and miss, even if the ED (feat. Nishina) displays lighthearted feelings. It's decent, but forgettable.

Senpai wa Otokonoko a.k.a Senpai is an Otokonoko is a show that you CANNOT just enter into blindly because of its subject theme, thinking that you'll understand the motivations of the characters, and even far down to their personalities and such. This is NOT a show for the easily offended, and it takes a whole deal of maturity to put yourself in the shoes of a fellow LGBT who's been harassed, assaulted, or even judged to the point of hate, having to deal with feelings that are so far out of the typical straight human, and that's not an easy feeling for the Makotos, Aois and Ryujis in our fragile human society to overcome the constant plaguing issues of discrimination.

However, with that said, the anime, in my opinion, is one of the best shows of the Summer 2024 season, and all it takes is the heart of sympathy and understanding to see from their POV, then you can be guaranteed that Senpai wa Otokonoko is more than just a great show. It's a story about what we can do as the collective human society to help these people get along in this defecting, cancel culture of an egregious, sensitive society, to embrace and love them one and the same, regardless of who and what they are. It's a story about love and acceptance, and I'm glad to see that light and be better at treating people all the more.

Senpai wa Otokonoko is an anime that steps into delicate territory with a potentially impactful story but ultimately plays it far too safe. At its core, the show revolves around themes of identity, self acceptance, and navigating the complexities of personal relationships, especially those involving gender nonconformity. The setup promises meaningful exploration, but time and again, it pulls back just before things get real. This consistent hesitance gives the entire narrative a "sanitized" feel, like it’s afraid to truly engage with the difficult topics it skirts.

The show touches on serious issues, strained family dynamics, the pressure of societal expectations, and the bittersweet nature of unrequited ... love, but it only ever brushes against them. Every time it seems poised to dive deeper, it retreats to an almost utopian status quo where everyone is perfectly accepting, and conflicts resolve themselves without any real confrontation. While this can be refreshing in certain contexts, it feels out of place here, given the weight of what’s being dealt with.

Makoto Hanaoka, the crossdressing protagonist, is a prime example of this. There’s a clear struggle within him, exacerbated by the conflicting attitudes of his parents, yet the story avoids digging into the psychological impact of such a situation. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the dynamic between him and his mother. Throughout the show, their relationship is marked by tension and misunderstanding, but when the time comes for a resolution, it feels completely unearned. The abruptness of this shift robs the moment of emotional weight, making it seem more like a narrative shortcut than a meaningful breakthrough. The narrative implies tension but never follows through on it, preferring to wrap things up in a neat bow. It’s a pattern repeated throughout, whether in Makoto's aforementioned family dynamics, his interactions at school or his evolving relationships with other characters. Despite some promising moments, the show's reluctance to explore these tensions undermines the emotional resonance it could have achieved.

This avoidance is also noticeable in the romantic arcs. One character’s feelings of unrequited love are portrayed in a way that seems on the verge of poignancy, yet rather than grappling with the complex emotions involved, the show opts for an easy reset. It goes back to a comfortable status quo, avoiding the messier but more honest aftermath that love often brings. It’s as if the show is afraid of its characters truly growing or facing the reality of their circumstances.

The same issue can be seen with Saki Aoi, whose backstory had the potential to dive into the emotional intricacies of forgiveness, resentment, and the yearning for familial connection, but the show’s desire to maintain a light, sanitized tone keeps it from fully realizing this potential. Instead of allowing the characters to confront and process these issues, the narrative opts for a simplistic resolution where everyone moves on without confronting the lingering scars of the past.

Despite this, Saki remains a compelling character. Her bright, optimistic exterior contrasts with the unresolved emotional baggage she carries, making her one of the more layered individuals in the story. However, as with many aspects of this show, the narrative’s reluctance to address these layers in a meaningful way leaves the story feeling incomplete. The show hints at deeper emotional truths but consistently pulls back before fully exploring them.

What’s frustrating about this title is that it frequently teases the audience with the potential for more. It’s not that the show is devoid of substance, but rather that it continually undermines itself by refusing to follow through on its more difficult themes. There’s a strong message about self acceptance and coming to terms with one's identity, but the insistence on avoiding discomfort drains it of impact. The result is a narrative that feels polished on the surface, but hollow underneath.

In the end, this anime isn’t a bad watch, but it’s hard not to feel disappointed by what could have been. It presents a world where tough conversations and emotional growth are hinted at but never fully embraced. While it offers moments of sweetness and warmth, the reluctance to tackle its core themes with the seriousness they deserve leaves it feeling like a missed opportunity.

A very interesting premise but one that didn't have the necessary space to develop.

A simple premise, a boy who likes to dress as a girl and pretty things. This will lead to an identity crisis and family problems, which would be the driving force of the story. Unfortunately, the story explored this theme halfway and in a very superficial way. The first 3 chapters are a bait where they give you a little of what you came to look for, but the rest of the story is divided into 3 subplots. The friend in love with the protagonist who denies the idea that he could ... like men, the cheerful and energetic girl with family problems and the story of our protagonist begins to develop in a secondary plane. The whole season I saw it more like a Turkish soap opera, since there were many subplots with high doses of drama and exaggerations to lengthen the plot just enough to announce a movie that closes the story.

What is most disappointing is that the protagonist's story becomes blurred during 6 episodes, because space has to be given to the other two stories. Honestly, those stories weren't bad but it's not what one came looking for. The girl's family problems have already been seen in many other media and the boy, although it works for the "romantic" factor that they want to give to the story, it doesn't feel right that they force a relationship when the protagonist is still lost in his life decisions. In the final stretch, the same story remembers who its protagonist was and tries to rush the pace so that everything is centered on Makoto again. Unfortunately, it doesn't end up having cohesion, since in the end everything is resolved with the power of family, love and friends but without really facing the reasons for the rejection that our protagonist suffered at the beginning.

If you just want to watch a soap opera, here you will find them and you may become a little fond of the characters. If you're looking for a story of acceptance and self-love while trying to fight against society's prejudices, there's none of that here. What's more, they're going to try to sell you the idea that society has never made a negative judgment of that magnitude.

For context: I'm not very familiar with how certain minorities are treated in modern-day Japan. I do believe shows like this, that cover how difficult it is to be genuinely different from your peers as an adolecent, are important. It'd probably fair to say though outside of offering visibility this doesn't have a lot to offer as an entertaining anime.

What we have is an anime that answers important questions about sexuality and gender norms, and how murky the whole subject can be, especially for teenagers. What we don't have is an entertaining, or deeply written, romcom anime. It's tough to exactly pinpoint, but outside of ... highlighting a series of tough situations to be in it really doesn't do much more. Again, as a show it's simply ok. Outside of that I'm not best placed to judge.

If you want a good romcom there are loads more out there, and if you want a good series on dealing with gender and sexuality issues I really recommend reading the Love Me for Who I Am manga. Again, this isn't a bad show but I think it's a little weak.

Being true to yourself is the most important thing in life. No matter what happens, you’re the only person you have to live with everyday for the rest of your life, so you better make sure you love the person in the mirror. Painoko is one of the most respectful and mature depictions of teenagers dealing with gender dysphoria and sexual identity I’ve seen. Unlike other stories in this medium, it’s not something played up for laughs or for entertainment, but an actual part of Makoto and Ryuji’s identities that they struggle with. While it’s not without flaws, on the whole painoko is a very ... competently written story depicting extremely relevant issues for young adults and a must watch for any LGBTQ fan, or just those who want to learn more about what goes through crossdressers’ heads. Thoroughly enjoyed this even as someone who wasn’t really interested in that sort of thing coming in.

Liking “cute” and “girly” things doesn’t make you less of a boy. You can enjoy whatever you want as whatever gender you want. It’s all made up social roles that society tries to box us into anyway. Painoko is great because it wants to drive this message home to people by showing Makoto coming to terms with who they are. Initially we see Makoto struggling with their “girly” tendencies while society views them as a boy, before eventually realising you don’t have to box yourself into either gender. As someone who likes things that society traditionally associates with girls, I really related to Makoto in this one. While I don’t have the crossdressing desire, I do empathise with wanting to just enjoy things and be myself in a way that society unfortunately looks down on me for. Fortunately at my age, it’s not as big a deal as it would be for a younger person. I’ve become very comfortable with myself, but I think this show has some nice lessons and offers encouragement for younger people who may still be struggling with accepting who they are. Again, the author clearly understands this and doesn’t use it as a simple plot device, this is very much a part of Makoto’s character and something they grapple with throughout the show. Even when they start to accept themselves, there’s the conflict with Makoto’s mother..

Normally in these situations, the mother is the more accepting one, but Painoko has a unique set up in which the dad is actually more understanding of Makoto’s gender dysphoria and crossdressing than their mom! Instead of accepting her child and encouraging them to be themselves, she belittles and is emotionally abusive to them. Honestly it was hard to watch, but it is sadly something that many people irl go through so I think it’s important to see it depicted. Also, like most people irl realise, that abuse comes from someone who themselves has a lot of deep rooted trauma. Hurt people hurt people as the expression goes.

Now, while Makoto crossdressing and struggling with their identity is a big part of the show, there’s also the Ryuji situation that I loved. Ryuji throughout the show struggles with his sexuality. He’s been in love with Makoto since they were kids and loves Makoto not because they dress like a girl, but just for the person they are. Makoto deals with this guilt wherein they feel like they’ve tricked Ryuji into liking them because they dress like a girl and Ryuji feels bad for falling in love with someone that society perceives as a guy. It’s a complicated and delicate situation that we see both struggle with over the series. Honestly it was hard to hear Ryuji put himself down constantly and lament over his sexuality throughout the series. It is again a sad, but often far too real experience that many people go through. The author does a good job of getting across just how dangerous falling into that mentality can be and how important it is to realise there’s nothing wrong with you and you can’t help who you’re attracted to. My only issue with this particular situation is I feel the Ryuji and Makoto relationship dynamic was handled poorly in the last couple episodes. There’s a big turning point that occurs and kind of gets brushed under the carpet because of third cast member’s drama.

Another big plus for this story is how everyone communicates and doesn’t drag things out. I really can’t emphasise enough how much I appreciate this. There’s no drawn out drama and when there are misunderstandings, the characters have mature sit down conversations within an episode max. Like it was genuinely such a breath of fresh air to hear people apologise, say what’s on their mind, confess and accept responsibility for their actions! Just as a brief example, there was a situation with Ryuji and Makoto due to those insecurities we talked about earlier, and instead of it being some long process, Ryuji instantly apologises and explains why he acted the way he did and why he felt a certain way. My jaw was damn near on the floor. The author really gets people and it shines through in the writing!

The love triangle in the story I think is probably one of the weaker aspects. For me, the big appeal here is the gender and sexual identity stuff. I felt like Makoto and Ryuji were the only real ship and that Aoi was frankly there as comic relief. Yes, she got a serious arc in the final third, but honestly I just didn’t care about her that much and I definitely didn’t see her as an actual potential partner for Makoto. She always felt to me like a really good friend or even little sister like figure. Going to sound a little mean to say too, but I was kind of happy when she was out of the picture and dealing with her own family drama so the other two could get closer..

Production wise it’s a solid seasonal. Nothing crazy, but the art style is cute and character designs really good. The animation is passable, nothing crazy, but not bad at all. The seiyuu performances bring this story to life though. There’s so many big emotional moments in this one that they convey their feelings thru the screen for, especially Aoi’s arc with her mom and Makoto and Ryuji’s arc in the final few eps. Hats off to them!

So, my verdict is that Painoko is a must watch. I had it in my top 10 new anime of summer video and that really has stayed the same. It’s been solidly in my top 4-5 shows of the season throughout and one of the best times of the week for me. I absolutely loved Makoto and related so much to the desire to enjoy “girly” things in peace. It’s no fair that the girls get all the fun! While I didn’t initially have an interest in crossdressing or even BL stories prior to this, I had my eyes opened and worldview expanded and now am really interested in reading and learning more. I feel that I have grown more interested in LGBTQ issues as a whole thanks to this series and that’s a testament to the job the author did with it. Bravo.

Painoko gets 9 out of 10.

Such a cute and feel good show. There isn't an absurd amount of drama or messy factor to it all, it's just a light romance story with a simple twist.

What this show does that some other romance don't is that it has a very nonintrusive gimmick. That's not to say it doesn't matter and have plot relevance, but it's not like other shows where it's got something shoved in your face the whole time, like Don't Toy With Me Miss Nagatoro having her be a tease or Rent-a-Girlfriend being, well, exactly that. This show it's simple. The main guy Makoto just cross dresses. It's for ... sure relevant to the story but not too extra and front facing.

On that note, the exploration of that topic is very welcome and nice to see. While not something I can personally relate to, you can't help but get a sense of joy seeing Makoto living his life happily and feeling for him when he's held back from it. It also features the flip side of this sort of thing, the bigotry and judgement, quite well too.

Like with any romance, characters are very important for making the full package. And what helps this story is those characters. There isn't a large cast, just a group of three friends that gel with each other quite well. Alongside Makoto, there's Saki, his kohai who is an absolute fanatic for him and is quite entertaining, and Ryuji, Makoto's friend who battles with his own feeling for his friend in a realistic and sympathetic way.

The romance is also nice in the sense it doesn't force things, it's all very believable. Additionally, at this point in the story, I can't predict who will end up with Makoto. Both legitimately feel like they have a good shot and it makes it so much more interesting, when usually in other series the other contenders are barely competition because there's a clear winner by way of writing.

Animation is nothing special but has a nice style, though it does slip into a simplified gag look quite often (think of the scenes in Hellsing Ultimate where the characters go flat for example). It's nice looking but it does do it very often, some might say too often.

So while Senpai Is An Otokanoko is not a deep or extremely intricate show, it's a very light and enjoyable one with likable characters and a story that's easy to connect with, especially if you can relate to Makoto and his situation

ill be honest first im straight and i don't care someone's else relationship weither its gay, straight or lesbian as long as they love one another but im also gonna say honestly if i seen my friends dudes kissing each other first hand i will be gross by it, its my natural reaction can't help it but that doesn't mean i won't support their relationship them,

LOOK my point is seriously think it through and be honest with yourself weither you like it or not or else you will hurt them even more if you keep dragging it on even though it will break your friendship ... or etc.. THATS HOW I LEARN WHILE WATCHING THIS ANIME

i know people when they see this anime's trailer or some sneak peak shts videos then they will laugh at this and won't watch it cause they assume its typical anime trap jokes you see in any anime BUT THIS! this is more on a serious matter and im not kidding that i will recommend this anime to anyone cause its learning lesson type anime

i dont know how to technical review this anime but all i can say is don't joke around when watching this anime and be seriously respectfully watch this anime and if you dont do that THEN YOU BETTER SKIP THIS ANIME for this anime's own good OR someone else real life relationships own good,

also a piece of advice from professional anime watcher, BEING A TRAP CHARACTER DOESNT MEAN THEY ARE ALSO GAY

*Spoiler-free section.*

I took Senpai wa Otokonoko off of the metaphorical shelf because I had a free slot in my seasonal anime, and the title sounded interesting. It was pretty far down on the seasonal popularity list, so I expected to find an alright show I could at least enjoy my time with. What I wasn’t expecting was a show that carefully, respectfully, and tactfully portrayed topics such as, LGBTQ people, gender non-conformity, and various forms of child abuse. Senpai wa Otokonoko isn’t a new favorite of mine, but I really respect and like the way that it handled its characters, story, and themes. Along with ... very good animation, music, and VA work, this anime has become one of my favorites this season. 9/10

*Spoilers beyond this point.*

Senpai wa Otokonoko has three main stories. Makoto, Saki, and Ryuugi, and all of their arcs are a coming-of-age story about being yourself. The anime starts as a simple Party A falls For Party B, but then Party C discovers their feelings for Party A. Is this generalized plot entirely unique to this show? No, because many anime follow this format for their stories, so, this show does lean on the LGBTQ and gender non-conformity point a bit to make the story unique. However, the story quickly becomes more complicated. Party A can’t express themselves because of an abusive parent. Party B is abandoned and neglected. I believe that a secondary theme of this anime is breaking the cycle of hurt. Makoto and Saki are very kind, friendly, and caring people. All of these are qualities their homes lack. I also like how Makoto is a deep character and is not a typical objectified anime femboy archetype.

One of the reasons that Makoto is more than just that archetype is because he comes from a pretty difficult living situation. You see, his mother is, no exaggeration, obsessed with him being gender-conforming. So obsessed in fact that Makoto keeps all of his cute/girly outfits and objects in a locker in a storage shed on school grounds. Well, that just seems like a controlling parent right? Well, that’s not all because Makoto brings Saki over to his house. She meets his mom, and she acts like a normal person. However, a few days later she finds a pink handkerchief in Makoto’s room. Instead of assuming that the handkerchief is his friend’s who was over a couple of days ago, she assumes it’s his. She then sits at the dining table, for an unknown period of time, with all of the lights off except for one, literally STARING at this pink handkerchief like a lunatic. Later, Makoto tries to tell her that he wants to control when he gets his hair cut instead of her telling him to. She then begins to breathe heavily and has to be left in a separate room to “recover.” Poor baby. What is interesting is that his dad isn’t in absentia. He drives Makoto around while they talk about his gender identity. His dad basically asks if he wants to transition into a girl, or just likes dressing as one. Later, we see that his answer is neither. He wants to be himself. His dad seems at least passively supportive, and that’s better than what his mother offers. He also gives Makoto his grandfather's address and tells him to go and make a visit. His grandfather enjoys more feminine things, so obviously he is supportive and understanding of Makoto.

Saki also comes from a difficult living situation. Being neglected by her father and abandoned by her mother for 10 years isn’t just something brought up once or twice to explain why her parents aren’t around when her friends come over, or why she lives alone with her grandmother. She is genuinely affected by her parents being bad people, and it’s shown through her actions. She craves love and attention from others. When she was younger, she tried to be friends with everyone, but that freaked some of the other kids out, and then they distanced themselves from her. In high school, she is friends with quite a few people, but now is looking for someone to be her “special someone” to make her feel happy. She is trying to fill the hole left by her abusive parents. On a side note, I do not trust her mother trying to come back into Saki’s life.

On the note of her parents, Saki’s dad loves his whale-studying job more than her, therefore, she learns a lot about whales just to try and make him pay attention to her, she texts him all the time even though he never answers her, and the only reason he comes back into town is when his mother is in the hospital after becoming light-headed and falling. After that visit, he leaves right for the whales again. He didn’t even realize that she was wearing a large band-aid on her knee. Her mother is no better. She walked out on Saki when she was little. Leaving her with an absent father and an aging grandmother. To me, there is no wonder that Saki is the way she is, and why she feels the way she feels.

Ryuuji doesn’t come from an immediately hostile environment like the other two mains, as a matter of fact, his little sister seems to know, and support, that he has a crush on Makoto. Now, this does not mean that his story is any less interesting. He starts the story by being friends with Makoto, and, with Saki’s help, he realizes his feelings for him. His feelings are shown in a, mostly, realistic and sympathetic way, and anyone who has developed feelings for a good friend would agree with me.

Everyone’s VA work is good, but the standout is Saki’s. She brings a type of excited, goofy, funny energy, but she can also be serious and nervous when she needs to be. The animation is great too. I’m not a huge fan of the art style drastically switching to simple and chibi-like art style for the funny parts. It pulls me out of the story a bit and makes me think that the creator wanted there to be a clear switch between the serious parts and the funny parts. As if they can’t coexist.

I have other small problems with the anime too. First of all, Makoto gave up on dressing like a girl, throwing away all of his cute stuff, and then getting over giving up on all of that stuff is done fairly quickly. I wanted to see more of his mental struggle. Secondly, Ryuuji doesn’t seem to struggle too much with his newfound sexual understanding. In the beginning, he was like “No, I don’t like Makoto” to, “No, I don’t like Makoto, but what if?” to, “Yes, I do like Makoto.” It was too straightforward for my liking. Thirdly, I would have liked to see more of Makoto’s current school situation. We see a few students acting weird around him in the first episode, but after that, everyone treats him no differently than anyone else. Also, most of the school problems we see are flashbacks to his first year. Also, I think that the first few episodes don’t set the tone for the rest of the show. I think that they come off as more like “A mostly unserious comedy about how this guy dresses like a girl.” Finally, I don’t like how the abusive moms are going through a type of redemption arc. Listen, it’s not like bad people can’t be redeemed, but these two are really bad people and I just don’t buy it.

Is Senpai wa Otokonoko the best show ever? Did it make it into my top 10? 20? No, no, and no. But, what this show IS is a well-done look into what life can be like if you identify as an LGBTQ person, a gender non-conforming person, and/or a person that has suffered one of, if not various forms of, child abuse. This show is tragic, comedic, thoughtful, and great all around. The characters and story get a 9.5, and the enjoyment, sound, and animation all get a 9. I can’t believe that a show I originally pegged down as a mid-7 was able to become a low 9. Quite the surprise, and what is even more of a surprise is that this show is my second favorite this season. 9/10.

Final words? The mains should get into a throuple.

An anime with crossdress, delicate, and with many tense moments. This is Otokonoko

You find here a great slice-of-life, which really hits youu heart

Human beings created the concept of men's and women's clothing, and that is the differentiation. But what if the person wants to dress the way they want?

This anime should be shown on open TV in every country, after all, clothes are clothes, that doesn't define who the person is. Do you want to meet the person? Introduce yourself, get along with the person

With some twists and turns that leave you apprehensive, the plot gives us an excellent trio, yes, you will like all ... three equally

I initially started this anime because part of its premise reminded me of Hourou Musuko, a 2011 coming of age and romance anime about two transgender protagonists. But as it turns out the main character in here later on does not see themselves as either a boy or a girl, so I guess we’re talking about a non-gender conforming non-binary protagonist here instead.

I mean this anime still shares some things with that one, such as the main character dressing with feminine clothes half the time and being initially rejected by most people around, and having a supportive parent while the other does not accept them, ... but they have nothing in common beyond that and their approach are vastly different.

The romance part of the anime is peculiar, as the protagonist is part of a sort of a love triangle with both a boy and a girl, having the male character being conflicted by his feelings and afraid of being homo or at least bisexual, and of being seen as a creep, both by his friend and society. The female character has no issue with the main character’s identity but her feelings end up being different from what it’s initially shown.

Thus despite being a romance, the approach in here seems like an anti-genre sort of thing, as the characters go in and out of relationships without actually being in love with the others and instead being afraid of losing their bonds, and desperately want affection that was neglected to them at some point in their lives.

So, it’s the anime like KareKano? Which took the premise of a high school romance between two seemingly perfect characters to explore their real selves and their psyche behind them? Not really, hardly, as the series is mostly comical and leaves its themes in the background for the sake of focusing on something else, and when it does focus on them, it feels like a surface level of exploration.

KareKano was a comedy as well but it knew when and how to separate its humor from its psychological introspection, while this show only has the character feeling kinda sad yet doesn’t miss the chance to throw some jokes every few minutes.

Aside of the messy tone, another issue is that, despite its peculiar love triangle and themes it wants to explore, the execution still comes down to awkward teenagers being unable to resolve most things just by talking them out, which is why the resolutions of every conflict there is end up being very easygoing:

-The main character is bullied lightly only in the past on another school, and rejected just at the beginning of the story, they quickly become popular and supported by everyone in the school.

-Ryuji and Makoto’s relationship and conflicts get two episodes tops of focus. Exactly because there isn’t much content to explore about that, at least not in this anime.

-Related to that, characters faking their feelings does not lead to any interesting change in dynamics or a major conflict between them, as they are still around the others and keep accepting each other no problem.

-Aoi’s loneliness does get some focus throughout several episodes, but that can and is in fact resolved simply by having the other two mains around. And the most important part of that aspect, the absence of her mother, gets resolved extremely easily and in an easygoing and very lighthearted way by the end of the series.

-Want to talk about the thing between Makoto and their mother? It gets completely sidelined until the very end of the series, it is looked deeper only when the show is about to end, and just like with Aoi, for how big it seemed to be, the resolution leaves a lot to be desired.

Plus the adaptation isn’t even complete as there is a movie coming out next year to adapt the final bunch of chapters of the source material.

Apparently, the anime covered the whole source material by rushing through all of its content in just one season, so that could be part of the problem, but that does not change the end result of the adaptation.

I can’t even say that the aesthetics are remarkable in any particular way, the backgrounds and artwork are good, the special effects and character designs are one of the same you can find anywhere else. The main issue is the chibi art style the series goes for half the time, which negatively affects everything else.

Just like with Human Bug Daigaku, which I reviewed recently, I appreciate how this show properly captured the main aesthetic of its source material, but by itself it kind of sucks. For the comical moments, the style feels tryhard, and when it is used in between more serious scenes, it ruins the mood completely.

And that goes for the sound as well. The main character having a clear male voice is a nice touch, but everyone else sounds very typical, except for Aoi, who has a weirdly raspy or something like that voice and sounds unnatural a lot of the times to me. The opening and ending are cute and fitting but the rest of the music, as well as the sound effects, are mostly unremarkable.

So, if you’re up for a romance series with a somewhat unusual love triangle with some LGBTQ+ themes thrown in there, and with an attempt at exploring some more serious stuff to make it dramatic enough to feel like something might happens, while still having wholesome resolutions for you to not feel bad while watching it, this is your show. If otherwise you want an actual serious and more complex look into any of its themes, I think you should try somewhere else.

Recommended stuff

Products about the identities of LGBTQ+ and how they are seen by people around them:

-Hourou Musuko
-Yo nena, yo princesa (Argentine movie about the first legally recognized transgender girl in the country).

Romcom series about characters afraid to reveal their true selves:

-Kareshi Kanojo no Jijou
-Horimiya

I usually don't watch stuff with a love triangle because the childhood friend always lose and i start to hate the protagonist. But this time i couldn't hate makoto not even saki. This anime hits me in a different way that i have never felt. I do really recommend, its too good.

And i need a ryuji in my life. He's too perfect (And his VA too. I love Uchida Yuuma and i have watched almost every anime he has starred this season).

The art style is very cute and their interactions are really funny, I've laughed hard in some episodes. Sometimes they rush some events like ... when they are playing with fireworks or just going out together, i like to see them talking and enjoying their own company. And that's okay, i haven't read the manga, so i cant be really sure but i think the director did a good job.

I was pleasantly surprised by how heartfelt and genuine Senpai is an Otokonoko turned out to be. The story takes a refreshing and sensitive approach to gender identity and romance, which is not something you often see explored this well in anime. It manages to be both lighthearted and emotional, handling its themes with care and sincerity.

The characters were definitely the highlight. Makoto, the cross-dressing senpai, is such a well-written and relatable character, portraying the struggles and emotions of self-identity with authenticity. Saki is sweet, sincere, and supportive, making her easy to root for. Ryuji’s character arc was also surprisingly touching, especially as ... he deals with his feelings and perceptions. Their dynamic creates a unique love triangle with genuine emotional stakes.

The animation was decent – nothing groundbreaking, but it had a clean and colorful style that fit the tone perfectly. The character designs were charming, and the softer color palette added to the warm, slice-of-life atmosphere. The voice acting was also strong, conveying the emotional moments effectively.

Overall, Senpai is an Otokonoko was a surprisingly heartfelt and meaningful anime. It offers a beautiful exploration of love, identity, and acceptance while keeping the romance and drama engaging. I gave it an 8/10 – a sweet, emotional, and refreshing watch that handled its themes with care and left a lasting impression.

I had little to no expectations for this show and didn't really know what to expect when i started it, but I immediately felt this warm and fuzzy feeling from watching this show over time and slowly came to look forward to this show as it was airing. It's cute, and even the love triangle wasn't that messy. It overall felt like a coming of age story about 3 high-school kids learning about themselves and each other.

The characters for this series I feel are great examples and metaphors of the gender norms that exist in society. One actively breaks that norm, One wants to ... conform to the norms but struggles, and the other is in the middle and sees both sides. They in tandem act as a message for a bigger picture that is being conveyed to the audience. "Be yourself." and i feel it's told quite beautifully if i might add.

Animation wise, it's nothing overly flashy but it doesn't have to be to get the point across. The chibi's they use throughout I feel aid the lighthearted comedy that's sprinkled within that contributes to the warmness of the story. So overall, it's animated nicely i think. They used their resources well!

Now I have to add, The OP & ED for this are amazing and just feel that has to be said. I still listen to them even now they're just that great. The visuals as well are really nice and well animated. I'm gushing a little heheh ///>w<///

Anyways, if you get the point, this show is amazing and you 🫵 should totally give it a try!!

- Written while listening to Fake Idol by QWER

This is one hell of a great anime series.
Yes, Senpai wa Otokonoko / Senpai is a Crossdresser touches some taboo subjects (especially if you think about the Japanese society) with ease and elegance.
Senpai wa Otokonoko is an amazing show that includes such issues as cross-dressing, teenage homosexual and heterosexual love, insecurities, broken family ties, irresponsible parenting, compliance or incompliance with societal norms, and if you are not triggered by any of these issues you don't even feel there is a strong discussion going on while you watch it - you just see a series about friendship and tolerance.
It may be the best written show ... since Hoshiai no Sora / Stars Align. I fully recommend it.

Overall, I think this anime is quite good. Initially, I wanted to give it a rating of 9. However, from a personal perspective, the anime takes a slightly unconventional turn. Because of this element, I decided to give it a rating of 7. But overall, the anime is still enjoyable.

The story is quite unique and offers a fresh perspective. While there are some predictable moments, I still enjoyed it because I appreciate this genre and setup. The art style is fitting for the story, complementing the narrative well and enhancing the overall viewing experience. The characters are well-rounded with both strengths and flaws, making them ... relatable and engaging. They are not portrayed as unusually strong, smart, or stupid, which adds to their realism. Additionally, the characters react to situations and events in a realistic way, which adds depth to the story and makes it more believable.

I believe others will enjoy this series, even if they might not share my exact views. The unique story, fitting art style, and well-rounded characters make it a worthwhile watch.

A great masterpiece for me

This is my first review, please forgive any mistakes.
Sorry if i don't explain me well, english it's not my first lenguage.

The thrut it's, i'm very identified with Makoto and the autoexploring of his autoperception. This anime gave me a powerful message: "If you manage to let go of certain important things, you can at least protect one thing, whatever it may be".

I grow up being a boy, but in my life i usually like girl's things, like clothes, make-up and cute things, but live in a sexist society in third world make the things very hard and i had to ... let it go that tastes.

But this anime made me realize what doesn't matter, you have to live a happy life being who really are.

Friends, family and other persons opinion doesn't matter when you know who you are and you want to live happy.

This anime for me gave me the courage for search for what really i am, "a boy who like, look like a girl with a cute things".

The genders are just genders, the things doesn't have gender, so live how you want even if the society thinks you are weird.

Search happines, that's all, life it's just hard if you don't live how you want.

"Not living the way you want is the same as being dead"

Simple and refreshing. I was pleasantly surprised with this anime. It doesn't pander any message to anyone just presents its story confidently. And the story has a unique premise but it's quite universal the way it is told.
The direction is really good.
Our main characters are constantly put in different situations and their emotional growth is fun to watch.
Their reactions are quite realistic and relatable.
It's a complete story with a satisfying ending.
The animation is decent and the VAs did a really good job.
There are atleast three different arcs each dealing with a different side of the protagonist and the side characters.
The anime works ... especially because these characters are so well written and well thought out.
Give it a watch atleast the first two episodes and then you can decide if it's good for you.

I'm so happy with how this one turned out! It's a beautiful story about three classmates who are all trying to better understand, come to terms and fully embrace their own identities and their own personal feelings towards one another. It's a super cute show with so many fun and wholesome interactions. Don't wanna give away too much, but this show spoke so specifically to me and my own personal journey of self-discovery. It meant so much to me to have my specific placement in the LGBT community to be represented in a series like this. It helped me feel less alone and helped me ... better understand what I wish for myself in the future. I'd love to give this show a 10 for that alone, but there are a couple things I wish could've seen that didn't end up happening. I might have to rewatch it to get a second opinion, but I kinda feel like Saki was just sorta sidelined for most of the series. I wish her storyline had the other two protagonists involved in it more, but I also understand that was sorta kinda the point. I also feel like a very large part of Makoto's storyline just sorta got resolved off screen, probably due to the 12 episode limit. It still works, but I feel like there was a perfect opportunity to bring the background cast in for an episode and have a very serious revelation for them all that we all get to see, rather than just seeing the resolution at the end of the series. I'm thrilled to say that a sequel film will be releasing next year, so perhaps I'll get these tiny nitpicks resolved when that releases. Bottom line though, I absolutely adored this series and I'm so happy and grateful it exists. I highly encourage you to watch it, whether its to find some answers for yourself or to gain a better understanding of the people around you.

9.5/10

The premise of the series is actually quite nice and endearing, with the main character being a guy who likes cute things and, in the end, prefers to dress as a girl.
The series tackles love and gender norms and it is quite nice with some good humour, but after episode 5 I just... felt like it could be better; I can't say how, it was just a feeling.
The animation overall is ok and the artstyle is cute, I especially like the chibi versions of them, they feel very "I just drew these doodles quickly" which accentuates the humour they are used in.

For sure this will ... be enjoyed by some, that's why I recommend giving it at least a try, it just didn't get me to watch it through the end.