The roots of trans representation in anime can be traced back to the "Godfather of Anime," Osamu Tezuka. In his 1950s manga and later anime Princess Knight , the protagonist Sapphire is born with both a male and female heart, navigating traditional male roles in a way that challenged mid-century gender perceptions. Tezuka's Dororo also featured a character who, though assigned female at birth, consistently identified as a man, a portrayal that many modern viewers interpret as an early example of a trans man. Notable Characters and series

: A controversial term often used to describe feminine-looking male characters, which can perpetuate harmful ideas that trans people are "deceptive".

: Historically, trans characters were often allowed to exist only if their gender identity was the central focus or a "problem" to be solved, rather than being treated as fully realized individuals. What harm can anime cause? - TransActual