Ok also like SPOILERS for Fire Punch but I really have to talk about this uhhh
Togata is literally the best written trans character I've seen in... Like. Ever?
Which is ESPECIALLY remarkable cause he wasn't written by a trans person. It's literally insane how well written Togata is.
Because they establish him as a character first and he's actually immensely appealing - among the other fucking weirdos that inhabit the world of Fire Punch, Togata is definitely also messed up but he's a lot more sympathetic and likeable.
And then the way his gender is revealed isn't some big joke or a gatcha or a "It's a woman that wants to be a man!!!" type bullshit. It's literally "He's lying to you, he's a man pretending to be a woman!"
Which like. Yeah. As a closeted Trans Guy that's literally what I see myself as. The fact that a literal mind reader looked at Togata and went "Yup that's a man, he's just masking as a woman" is SO fucking big brained even if that was ultimately meant to be an accusation.
And Togata himself is so scared and confused and unwilling to accept it, but he clearly understands he's a man, he clearly knows he wants to transition - he's just lost because he physically can't, and he has no idea what to do with himself.
And the scene where he tries to describe it to Agni, the anguish on his face, the constant reiteration of how painful and confusing and awful it is to be stuck in a body that doesn't fit you - that shit hit me like a ton of BRICKS. It's such a nuanced and detailed look at the trans experience and I have no idea where Fujimoto even fucking got that.
And like. I've seen a fair share of trans characters. And even when I really like them there's usually an aspect that just sticks out like a sore fucking thumb and kinda mucks the whole thing.
Like. Nate from Tiger and Bunny? Started off as a gay stereotype and only improved when the writers realized they were fucking up. Grell? An actual gay stereotype that pretty much became trans by accident. Ayukawa from Blue Period? A lot of muddy waters which isn't a bad thing but it also means it's not actually explicit. Crona? Not explicit. Saiki? Debatable and not focused on. Don't even fucking get me sTARTED on the borderline gross shit BNHA pulls, eugh.
The only other 100% good trans characters I can think of are like, Yuu (and Shou) from Stars Align and Alluka from Hunter X Hunter.
But Togata kinda takes the cake since he's a lot more integral and his struggle is more deeply explored.
Anyway Fujimoto did an incredible fucking job, is my point.
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