Unveiling the Unadulterated Power: The Unveiling of a Trans Journey in Crunchyroll's Latest Anime

Warning: Spoilers for Episode 6 of Ayakashi Triangle

The recent Crunchyroll anime Ayakashi Triangle takes a unique approach to the gender-swapping formula, offering a nuanced story that resonates with trans anime fans. However, the unfortunate censorship surrounding the series has prevented many from taking it seriously. Ayakashi Triangle suffers from an excessive amount of nudity, which clouds its potential.

Even before the controversial anime adaptation, manga readers were introduced to the series through Shonen Jump's decision to skip a chapter due to its explicit content.

At first glance, Ayakashi Triangle by Kentaro Yabuki appears to follow the familiar trope of gender-swapping anime and manga. The protagonist is cursed, transforming them into the opposite sex and forcing them to embark on a journey to find a way to reverse the curse. However, Ayakashi Triangle places more emphasis on the conflicts resulting from the curse, particularly the impact it has on the male protagonist Matsuri and the female protagonist Suzu. Their relationship is tested as the curse wreaks havoc on their lives. The first six episodes delve deeper into the complexities of gender-swapping, offering a fresh perspective on the trope.

Ayakashi Triangle Puts a Positive Spin on Gender-Swapping Anime

Matsuri's curse can be viewed from two different angles: either as it confines him to a female body or as it initiates his transition into his true self. The former perspective is the more conventional one, and Ayakashi Triangle adheres to this interpretation. However, in episode six, the anime adds a layer of complexity to this dynamic. When an ayakashi attacks a girl, Matsuri eliminates the creature while she sleeps, resulting in him appearing in her dream as a boy. Matsuri concludes that this must be because, deep down, he still identifies as male. This serves as a profound metaphor for the experiences of many transgender individuals, highlighting the notion that one's true identity remains unchanged, regardless of external appearances or societal treatment.

Ayakashi Triangle further explores Matsuri's gender transformation as a positive development. Prior to the "curse," Matsuri neglected social connections in favor of focusing on his ayakashi hunting. However, after transitioning, Matsuri is compelled to spend time with Suzu and her two friends. At one point, Matsuri even expresses a desire for them to be able to see ayakashi as he and Suzu can. Matsuri longs to share his life experiences with individuals he would never have befriended had he not undergone this gender swap. Most importantly, he has now found happiness and is able to appreciate the things he had previously missed out on before the curse took effect.

The Power of Being Gender-Blind

Apart from Matsuri, one of the compelling storylines in Ayakashi Triangle revolves around Suzu's acceptance of Matsuri's transformation into a girl. Given her longstanding love for Matsuri, it is understandable that Suzu initially struggles with this change. However, over the course of the six episodes, Suzu's perspective on Matsuri's gender transformation undergoes a significant shift. As early as the second episode, she begins to question her own feelings towards Matsuri as a girl. In the fourth episode, she even expresses a willingness to kiss him if it meant he could revert back to being a boy. Ultimately, by the sixth episode, Suzu becomes comfortable with Matsuri, as evident in a bathing scene.

Unfortunately, some characters in the series view Suzu's open-mindedness as abnormal and attribute it to her unique status as an Ayakashi Medium. However, Suzu's portrayal reflects a healthy depiction of pansexuality and should be celebrated just like the representation of transgender individuals. It is regrettable that Crunchyroll's Ayakashi Triangle has faced substantial censorship, as the series' exploration of gender identity has the potential to resonate with many anime fans who identify as transgender.

Ayakashi Triangle is streaming on Crunchyroll.