Good Non-Binary Representation in Anime! - Yu Asuka in Stars Align (Hoshiai no Sora)
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- Опубліковано 10 чер 2021
- For Pride Month, I have found a great non-binary character in an anime series, and to boot, it's a character that is canonicallly non-binary! Not just coded that way!
Stars Align (Hoshiai no Sora) is a series that on the surface is about a soft tennis club, but it's actually more about the members of the club, their hardships and familial issues, and the ways they help one another get through this turbulent world.
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#pride
#nonbinary
#lgbtq
#anime
#pridemonth - Фільми й анімація
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osana najimi: allow me to introduce myself
I burst into tears when Yuu’s mom didn’t accept them, it was so sad 😭
Yeah, it's a heartbreaking scene
But so real I guess.
My parents threatened to send me to a mental institution when they found out I'm bisexual, not telling them I'm trans till I have a safe place to move out into
@@magienjoyer stay safe, those ppl dont deserve you. i hope you can someday be free and live as who you are :)
@@magienjoyer W mom
When I saw that scene in the anime it made me happy and tear up as a non-binary person. Before I found out who I was I felt exactly like yu, and it really makes me happy cause its not like yu is some gender neutral super natural being witch is shown in some animes
Yesss, I'm also non-binary, and I felt (and kind of still feel) like Yuu, and I completely agree with you. This Is the best non-binary representation I've seen, actually
i dont know if im none binary i was born a female but i want to be a male but at the same time i dont i am straight but if i were a male i would still be into guys so watching stars align made me so happy
Yes same and I am still figuring out and trying to be more confident
@@tatibigbatty jfc do not listen to that person going on about how they know exactly what's going on in your head.
What helped me figure out who I was was taking my agab and throwing it away, thinking about if I had absolutely no outside input or physical body to tell me what my gender was. I thought about what I would be, what I would want to be, and eventually it made more sense.
But my way is not everyone's way, I just wanted to give something that helped me because people doing that for me helped a lot when I was figuring things out. I wish you clarity and peace :)
You know absolutely nothing about the person you replied to. You don’t know the thoughts and feelings in their head.
Don’t go around telling people who and/or what they are and must identify as. You aren’t the God of personal identity and labels.
Fun fact for all my fellow Bungou Stray Dogs fans out there: Q is actually non binary in the manga, but it got taken out in the anime because of Japanese transphobia and fear of it affecting their sales negatively
:o
it's the same for hange zoë from attack on titan i believe
Yes!!
I'm glad you acknowledged that^^ if anyone's curious tho, Q goes by he/him in the anime
@@starvingamnesier EDIT: Ok, sorry yall i was a little wrong on this so thanks everyone for explaining it to me, I'll still leave the comment here though so people will see what im wrong about. check out the two replies below mine to know more.
I’d say hange is more gender fluid than non-binary, because i think I remember somewhere the author saying that “Hange just doesn’t care about gender because it’s not important” so anyone could call hange she/he/they and hange wouldn’t mind at all while non-binary would probably feel uncomfortable when called she/he
@@dna9095 genderfluid is non-binary and not quite, I've seen many many nby people who are comfortable with he or she, in fact even more than they sometimes. Plus on that point genderfluid people can feel uncomfortable if you call them he or she or they depending on where their gender falls at that time. From your understanding, Hanji would be pangender but we dunno, do we?/gen maybe Hanji is actually even genderless, maybe they're not so it's best to say non-binary as an umbrella term
Yu is just so relatable to me it's just made me realise that I'm not some knockoff trans but actually non-binary. The line 'I'm not sure if I want to live as a woman but don't know if I can survive living as a man either' (or something like that) really hit me like a truck...
Update: Turns out I *am* a knock off trans after all lol
Good luck in your journey! :)
@@shaggyjebus thanks but it's not going very well atm 🙃
@@kerchoo8295 I'm sorry to hear that. I hope it gets better soon.
@@kerchoo8295 how you doing now man?
don't call yourself a knockoff! you found yourself to be incorrect in your self-discovery and that's alright!! finding who you are isn't always a steady and linear process and you're doing just fine :-)
Also, something else I took to notice is that Yu is an amab non binary individual^^ And while that may not matter somewhat, most conversations tend to fall to seeing non binary people as only afab, and some even dare call it a "woman's struggle." Which is not only invalidating to afab non binary people, but as well as totally ignoring amab non binary people as a whole. I as an afab non binary person will never understand the struggles of amab non binary people, but just seeing Yu and their journey of self discovery and outwardly saying, "I think I might be non binary." is just so unbelievably incredible! And undaughterly, I love them with all my heart ^w^
i agree ! im glad that tma nonbinary people are getting more recognition
afab non-binary and amab non-binary solidarity 🤝 we are best friends now let’s get soft tacos later
Agreed
As an amab non binary person, I 100% agree. It is very much a part of the struggle of being amab enby, that people constantly assume you're mtf or the classic "Why can't you just be a feminine man?"
THIS ^^^^^
In terms of good news, the writer IS actively looking for a studio that will animate a Season Two of Stars Align! They haven't found one yet, but said that they are determined to find a studio to animate episodes 13 through 24 so they can present them to fans.
That would be fantastic! I really hope it happens.
I hope it happens tho, the amount of drama cutscene left to be explored yet unresolved yearns to know.
I remember when I was trying to figure myself out, I started to question my identity when one of my friends came out as pansexual, I started to research the LGBTQIA+ and I discovered the term non-binary, it fit so well with how I felt. I was always uncomfortable when someone used my dead name and when they called me a girl. Statements like “be more ladylike” always made me uncomfortable, and I didn’t know why. I struggled with my sexuality and my gender identity for what felt like ages, before confiding in one of my friends. They said that I should be whoever and whatever I want, and that anyone who doesn’t respect me for being comfortable in my own body does not deserve to have me in their life.
I then came out to my group of friends a couple of months later. I still wasn’t confident enough, so I tested she/they pronouns. They didn’t work out as the she/her aspect of it still made me uncomfortable. So I then proudly came out with the pronouns they/them.
Not everyone was accepting, mainly my parents. They’ve always believed it was man or woman, they didn’t care if they where trans, but just that they pick a side. I’m glad that my friends were there for me. I found it extremely helpful to have trusting friends. Not to mention my friends all turned out to be queer in the end.
I think it's funny that queer people attract other queer people like magnets. For my friend group we have: me (trans/demiboy), a trans boy who likes guys, a pan girl and 1 girl and 3 guys where I'm not sure if they're 100% straight.
That's fantastic! I'm genderfluid, so I understand feeling like a knock-off trans person.
@@vincent_alastor LMAO SAME
For me, I don't know why, but we have three bisexuals who's afab , one non-binary bisexual (that's me), and one who I am suspecting (keyword suspecting) is a trans boy
@@vincent_alastor SAMEEEEE theres one girl in my friend group whos straight and cis but my other friend may have to be cishet because of religion, but theres i think two or three trans guys, an agender/enby (friend just doesnt use pronouns), and an enby person! we kinda glued together through mutual friends but we're all chaotic in the end lol
My parents are the same with me, either guy or girl-
My mom has gone so far as to choose a new name for me, her reasoning being that she still wants to be the one who picked the name...
She wanted a masculine name
I'm picking my own name.
I recommend the manga “love me for who i am” the protagonist is non-binary and apart of a maid cafe. it’s well written and the paneling/art is very nice, all the characters are going through different issues and are apart of the lgbt communty, but it effects them differently, high recommend if you are looking for content with more representation!
Omg I’ve seen it at Barnes and noble before!! I’ll check it out! : )
THAT SOUNDS SO COOL TYSM
@@Fartmaster22 it is! It was SO fun to read!
I still remember damn near crying when in an anime called boruto (basically naruto sequel) a character called orochimaru reveals they are nonbinary. like they don't outright say it but when they're son asks if they are his mom or dad they just give such a vague answer like "I've been a man before, and I've been a woman. the core of my being is the drive for knowledge" and as an enby who plans on becoming a scientist (specifically entomologist) that made me so so happy
Correct me if I’m wrong but. It seems like, they are gender fluid.
@@fangirldreamer748 I personally interpret it as they are agender or just nonbinary. cuz yea, they're biological gender might fluctuate, but like. when orochimaru is in the body of a woman, do they identify as a woman? when they're in the body of a man, do they identify as a man? they don't seem to really care about gender in general, and like. I interpreted them as basically saying they don't identify as either a boy or girl they just want to study jutsu
oh my god that scene will always stick in my head LOL i remember this scene from naruto!! i am a gay cis male, but when i watched that scene back years ago i was so happy for some reason because sure orochimaru in the naruto universe is seen as a man and portrayed as a biological male but when i heard him say that line answering sasuke, i knew definitely he is gender fluid and even by the his own characteristics in the show as a character, he legit just screams gender fluid; as like his being able to reincarnate again into a new being and a snake; his own abilities and his hunger for knowledge surpasses the idea of being just 1 “gender” - he’s so fluid in his identity and his portrayal as a human
I am a Naruto fan and learning this information just makes me so happyyyy, I didn't know Orochimaru was nonbinary
I had no idea this anime existed, I’m so glad I ran across your video! It gives me hope that non-binary and other such non-gender conforming people will be better seen and respected in the years to come. I’m so glad we have these small victories, it especially warms my heart to see such a compassionate story coming from Japan. 💜
Yes! Me too! I am going to watch this anime right after I finish this video
"stars align" is so good. It has representation in the most educated wholesome inclusive chill way... and that's not even the main focus/point of the show (also deals with bad parents etc.). it just feels warm.
I'm asexual and trans so I'm unfortunately kinda used to and I always have this fear in the back of my mind of being excluded from the comunity itself, so something radically inclusive and accepting like that makes me feel safe :)
Like I never thought I'd see "LGBTQIA+" written in an ANIME. You can tell in so many ways how educated the people who made this are. And going on a tangent but I love when shows that depict queerness have a cast of children/middle schoolers. It makes it so wholesome instead of the unfortunately popular trend of sexualizing it (queerness). For orientations but also transness is sometimes vaguely implied as being a sexual fetish so I love representation with kids. Like zombieland saga's Lily!
Oh and for nonbinary rep recs:
-hunter x hunter is well known but has trans AND nonbinary representation (yu yu hakusho as well, canon)
-"number 6" has a nonbinary (or trans man I'm not sure) character. Although implied I think, it's still in a wholesome and trustworthy way. It's an 11 eps anime and it's also good otherwise, plus has canon gay rep
Nice, I believe I'm aro-ace (still not quite sure but I'm fine with it)
This is kinda off topic, but I liked watching Maki from Bloom Into You and his sexuality. Most of the characters I see that are asexual/aromantic are shown to be emotionless or are busy with their hobbies (not that I think they're bad, I enjoy watching Senku do science from Dr. Stone or Saiki from Saiki), it's just that Maki's story felt more personal to me.
@@notationmusical yeah I’m personally really asocial and greyaro asexual so that kind of representation suits me but the trope is really, uh. not good. Like it’s always the same introverted inexpressive unemotional characters that are headcanoned as aro/ace and obviously that’s a problematic stereotype, like you maybe wanna examine why you think that way, so it’s great to see characters like that not expressing attraction/interest. Not really sure where I’m going but yeah :)
Also it’s a bit invalidating bc the implication (when they’re obsessively into a hobby or smth) is that they’re not uninterested bc they’re actually asexual/aromantic but bc they’re too into this hobby.. but hey we don’t really have a choice but to grasp at straws
@@buchelaruzit Yeah, I'd have to agree. I just used those 2 characters as examples because I heard lots of people believe they are of that label.
While it's not entirely confirmed, whether or not that is the case, I just enjoy watching the characters.
@@notationmusical oh yeah definitely senku and saiki are aroace icons don’t get me wrong
As a non binary Person, this representation makes me so happy. Yuu Is an amazing character and I Really relate to them. I think that this is the best non-binary representation I've seen in a series. It's truly incredible~
When my childhood best friend came out as non binary. I remember practicing they and them in private and it took me so long. And when they noticed my practice, they were so happy. I did it for them because they are my best friend. Their happiness should be accounted for. Their happiness should be accepted.
I remember watching Ouran when I was a young teen and immediately clicking with Haruri. I am me first, my body just carries the person I am around. I am comfortable no matter the pronoum people might use to refer to me, because I am me before I am my gender. Finding a character that didn't even register that crossdressing as a thing worth pointing out to others, made me realize that my own perception of myself was not the norm. I hadn't even realized it haha.
Me watching ouran host club: Man I hope this doesn't awake anything in me
Pertaining to the continuation of Stars Align, it was actually supposed to reach 24 episodes, but because of quarantine it wasn't able to achieve that. However there will definitely be a season 2 someday! I'm also looking forward to how this anime will go :)
I was scouring the comments for something like this. Thank you so much 😭
Actually, quarantine had nothing to do with it. The showed aired in fall 2019 before the pandemic started. It's true that it was supossed to have 24 episodew and was then shortened to 12 but covid was not the reason.
I'm not sure what the reason was but apparently the team working on the anime was told it's shortened when they were already very far in the production and they decided to do first 12 episodes as planned rather than to shorten the story of 24 episodes into 12. That's why the show doesn't really have an ending.
I do hope they get a chance to show the whole story someday but just wanted to clear up the misunderstanding that covid is the reason.
Considering the ending of S1, I'm interested too.. ;;;
can't wait OML
you are partially right! there was indeed a original plan for 24 episodes and late in the middle of production the second half got axed. not because of covid. ( which should've been obvious to you since this anime came out in 2019 , not 2020. ) there was drama surrounding it and this also explains the rushed end as they wanted to have all those things fleshed out or rather just happen later. its very unlikely this anime gets a second season at all due to low sales of the bluerays. which is sad cause it had really started to get interesting.
hello! i recommended watching blue period for yuka (they/she), a genderqueer bisexual character who has shown to fight transphobia (within their family and dating). they were often regarded as a crossdressing boy buy later in the series, it was shown that she was more than that, emphasizing the struggles of queer and trans characters. it's a really good representation overall, i love her so much :)
That sounds amazing! I've been meaning to watch that but haven't gotten around to it. But it's at the top of my list now. Thank you!
Isnt he just a cross dressing boy?
I personally think Yuka is still figuring things out and that we don't need to label Yuka so quickly. Also, the fact that pronouns aren't really used that much in Japan and that things get lost in translation makes it a bit more complex imo.
@@annafang858 i saw someone else on the internet say that in the manga ryuuji doesn’t identify as a girl and is called by he/him pronouns. Besides since its in japanese media its easier to assume that hes a crossdresser and not trans.
@@Aki4s I'm not done with the first episode yet Yuka already said they don't wanna be called that so what the hell do you gain from deadnaming someone?
While watching soul eater, crona (krona?) was somewhat of a comfort character, and one i could relate to (in an odd way). Months to years after, i found out that they're nonbinary, and i found that out after i learned that i myself am genderflux. It was nice, almost freeing to see that a character i related to back then was also outside of the social binary boundary. Freeing to see a character outside the binary at all, haha
How tf did I never realize crona was enby? Soul eater is one of my favourite animes and I guess I’ve just never referred to them by anything other than their name before
Some Translations Just Write Crona as a Boy so makes sense not everyone will know or have heard
I'm so used to this kinda stuff being "implied" in anime. it's always a guessing game and no one can be sure. seeing a fully declared character in the lgbtq+ community kinda almost made me tear up. it's almost like my identity as a nonbinary person isn't anything more than a high school political debate where people discuss whether my identity is "real" or not but this time... i just feel so heard
I really like yuus confusion and not wanting to be labeled. even tho I identify as nonbinary, I don't really see it as a label as much as I see it as an umbrella term for anything not male or female. my gender could very well be described as agender, bit I just choose to go with nonbinary bk I see it as such a broad umbrella term
Just out of curiosity and if you're comfortable answering, when did you realize and how did you know? What makes a person nonbinary?
@@hanac5586 of course, I don't mind at all! however I'm not the best nonbinary person to ask because I'm an extremely forgetful person because of my adhd and autism, but I'll try my best :)!
for most trans people (trans meaning both binary and nonbinary, nonbinary people are generally considered as trans because they generally don't identify with the gender given at birth) discovering your gender isnt instantaneous, it's gradual realization. and especially for nonbinary because it usually takes us longer to settle on a gender because we aren't confined to two options like binary people. also, our gender isn't commonly found in society, as the idea of more than one gender is still new (in the west!!!!! specifically america, excluding some indigenous americans. because there are multiple cultures across the world to recognize more than one gender. honestly my statements in this are probably very americanized because it's kind of all I know. so even if my statements could apply to other cultures, particularly british people since they lgbt rights movements there seem to be relatively similar to americas, I'm just gonna go ahead and say assume the things I'm talking about only apply to americans, just to be safe)
everyone's journey to discover themselves is different, but my particular journey involved a lot of trying out new genders. I think in the past I've identified as (not in order) cis, demigirl, bigender, genderfluid, and agender. I kinda went back and forth between agender and nonbinary for awhile but ultimately settled on nonbinary because agender feels too specific to me. my gender feels.... unknowable to me. it's not a specific point on the gender spectrum, it just..... is. I don't think it's even on the spectrum. it's hard to describe, but overall, my gender is as nonspecific as possible. when I identified as other genders in the past they began to feel wrong, so I would simply try out another. and I kept trying untill I ultimately settled on nonbinary. I may change genders later in life, I don't know the future, but I have been identifying as nonbinary for many many years compared to the few months i identified as those other genders (except cis bk for the majority of my life I didn't know identifying as anything other than female, my assigned gender at birth, was even an option). and I have no plans of changing that any time soon
as for what makes a person nonbinary, nonbinary people are extremly diverse. because we aren't confined to two options like binary people there are potentially an infinite number of genders one could identify as. the only thing that I could think of that can be said of every nonbinary person is that some part of their gender, wether that be the entirety or only a bit of it, is neither male nor female. it's ultimately up to the person though! everyone is different :)
Ooo yes I'm exactly the same with my gender and how I describe it! Nice to see someone else the same :)
@@thefluffyaj4119 thank you for the insightful answer ! Interesting stuff
What is amazing about Maki is he isn't just some character, he's the protagonist. He represents a large portion of the anime and is the person we're rooting for, so to have people ally themselves with a character so accepting is awesome! Also, he doesn't ask much; he doesn't ask Yu to explain everything they're feeling and only lets them talk it out with him. I'm so sick of people wanting to understand rather than just respect my wishes when I'm asking for so little.
Alright I'm not sure on how to start out on this so here I go.
Despite me being 'female', I never felt like it at all, even from a young age. I was heavily aware that there were 'girls like this and girls do that and act this way' same for the boys. As a five-year-old child I thought "Nah, that's not what I'M like!" From there I wore 'boy' clothes, played with toy trucks, cars, dinosaurs you name it. In school I always hung out with the guys, it was really cool, they actually enjoyed having me. Even in P.E the boys would say "Hey! [my name] is pretty much a boy, she can come on the Boys Team!" I felt really excepted. I actually got popular because I was the way I am. In Fourth grade I dropped out of school (for different reasons) and started homeschooling.
That was the time I really started to find myself. I was doing my art, finding my taste in music. I spent more time on the internet and found the LGBTQ+ people. I didn't think much of it until 7th grade....
I wanted to be labeled as something. First, I thought I was non-binary, then I thought I was trans, now partially back to my birth pronouns. I haven't tried being actually called different pronouns, the closest I've gotten is having a talk with my mom about me being NB, She said that she would still support me and love me if I was, but for some reason I was to nervous/shy about it. My mother said that she was just kind of shocked. On social media I am They/them or They/he and I'm happy with the second one. Most of my friends would support me because they're chill with that kind of stuff. My mother said that I should be careful because she is worried that if I am nb/trans that it would push some close people away. I understand that. Not to mention the confusion/struggle I have with my sexuality, and self-image. I'm still figuring out stuff, but I feel like I'm at a good start. :D
Edit 2023: I'm a trans guy. I came back to this comment because I've been thinking about it recently. I use he/him and have socially transitioned. I no longer feel confused about who I am. just thought I'd come back to this. I have been happier than ever. lol see ya
I think a lot of people experience what you describe, it's just that for the older generation, "nonbinary" was not an option that you could "be". Many people think "I am me" not "I am a man" or "I am a woman". You just simply accept the gender tag with its associated baggage (eg male: likes sports, beer, no feelings, does not know what mauve is and is prone to violence). The internet and LGBTQ+ movement is giving a frame for how they feel, and a way to be different.
Had I been a teen in the 2010s, yeah maybe I'd have been nonbinary.
@@TroySpace its the lack of exposure, y'know. the nonbinary term had existed way back before the internet even exist. it comes in many cultures around the world too but because of the stigma around the gender as a whole back then and even now, its only now that people are a lot more aware of it.
im from southeast asia and the concept of the third gender and transgender has always been present in our cultures but colonisation and the spread of religion really held us back, with our history rewritten and erased, only to be boiled down to an internet "fad" that existed solely because of "mentally ill" and "gender-confused" teenagers.
@@higashikatajosuke5246 ironically eunuchs were a thing, and they were prized for their singing by the Church. Olde English weirdly had three genders for man and three for woman. Europe was conquered by a Near Eastern religion and their own tolerant views were wiped out. (However, I have no illusions about the brutal savagery that went on in the pre-Christian era)
Though it's not nessecarily anime, She-Ra and the Princesses of Power has a great non-binary character named Double Trouble. I was hesitant to try this show as I thought it might be too "kiddy" and "childish", but it was a fun ride and I 110% recommend it! ^0^
I really liked She Ra and I’m definitely not a kid. I think it definitely has older fans. I LOVED Double Trouble, they were such a fun character. Wish they had more screen time.
If your looking for animes/cartoons with LGBTQ+ rep, Carol and Tuesday is on Netflix and has LGBTQ+ characters. The dialogue can get a bit cheesy at times but overall I think it’s worth a watch. I think it’s like a westernized anime.
So does "The Owl House"!! 😍
@@garmadonthesensei59 Oh definitely! I love that show too, and it has great representation from what I've seen so far. OwO
I love double trouble but they're an example of how NB rep constantly ends up being non-humans, shapeshifters, robots, etc. I need relatable human NB rep, please ;-;
I'm gonna watch this anime! I haven't been into anime for a couple years because of how it tends to treat lgbtq+ people, but this looks like the exact kind of representation I want! So glad to find your channel!
I absolutely didn't know this anime, but now I want to watch it asap! Thanks for the video
it doesn't seem like it, but the anime is suuuper dark TT... the ending was quite abrupt imo, and it doesn't seem like the author has any intentions of continuing the series :( it was a shame, the anime was p interesting
As someone who lives in a pretty close minded village while having a non-binary partner, this made me extremely happy.
I love them, and sometimes it just makes me so angry when I have to waste hours explaining (to close minded people, I love answering the questions of people who at least try to understand) that they’re not a girl, not a boy, but non-binary.
No, I do not care what they have in their pants, no I’m not telling you whether I think they look more feminine or masculine, yes I call people they if I am uncertain about their preferred pronounce-
I swear- these people will tell me they don’t understand why I ‘rub it in their face’ that I’m not straight since they don’t want to know what I do in the bedroom, yet they always ask for a detailed description of my partner’s genitalia.
Excuse me for the venting/ranting, I’ve just gotten a bit fed up with these people.
Thank you for reading, lol
This show is criminally underrated, thank you so much for talking about this. It is one of my all time favorite animes and not enough people know about it.
As a genderfluid individual, I cried so much when this scene came up. Hell, not knowing who u r and who u want to be? Being confused about what u what and what u actually r? Thinking that labels dont fit u but u dont wanna be confused anymore?
That is jsut what I went through
I remember (and I kind of still do) spending hrs a days crying in my room because I was so unsure I felt like nothing and all and sometimes liek that and sometimes like thsi, a struggle that jsut exist for genderfluid ppl, and I spent these hrs crying because i thought I'm jsut a trans-faker or I'm sjt cis and pretending but on the other hand my Dysphoria was killing me. It took me so long to figure out and ow that I have I'm so much more comfortable
Their character is so relatable, and it reminded me of the years in my life I spent trying to figure out what I am or what label fits me.
What I like about them, is jsut the fact that they r relatable to every form of gender identity that is not in the binary. And that they r jsut a high scool kid that is trying to figure out what they r and what they want, and not some idk genderless god.
And seeing them made me... happy
Jsut happy
I felt seen, and less alone since I dont have other friends who's gender identity is not in the binary(I have a trans friend, but non the less our experiences r never goign to be 100% the same since he knows what he is and what hes goign to be)and with yu, I finally felt as if I'm not alone anymore, it showed me that other ppl r goign through the same thing and that it's ok that way and I'm hella thankful for that
(kinda off-topic).
Even tho i know i am a Man, i still want to use feminine clothes. I do feel like a man, not like a woman at all... but i think using at least a pair of flat shoes or one tanked-top shirt would look cute... and then i remember i hate how i look. Still, i don't understand why girls can ask for using more masculine clothes (like t-shirts... i guess?) or even male formal-shoes or sneakers and they can use it... but for man is always the same boring black or blue sneakers and just... (at least for me, just blue and black, i like blue, but i prefer the color Aqua or the Sky blue, not the dark blue) not let men use dresses, heck, even if they won't look that good or fit, men should be allowed to use dresses... maybe with boxers, but anyway. Not saying that i want to use dresses, hehe, it just might be kind of annoying to deal with... but i still want to use flat shoes... (I don't think this has anything to do, this might be off-topic, i just wanted to say that).
just cause you identify as male doesn't mean you have to dress fully masculine. wear what you want to wear! all clothes are gender neutral if people stop being such bitches about it.
@@aple8247 It's actually my parents... i am just a 13 year old. I mean, my mom can use my crocs and my dad's sandals, but i can't use any sort of femenine shoes... or even just tanked-top shirt. I love those kinds of clothes hehe.
@@oliverafton1444 well i hope you can someday
@@aple8247 I hope so too...
Your comment made me think about how men used to wear heels and how pink was a colour for boys (lighter version of red, which is a powerful colour) and how thinks just changed. Also, you have some really good taste. Sky blue is indeed beautiful. :)
Stars Align physically called me out sometimes, I was through middle school one of players in tennis team of our school. During that period of time I figured out a lot things it in my life was wrong and that I was queer, that's why it hurts for me to watch Stars Align cause I relate to it so much sometimes, that I can't separate from reality and just a show.
Seeing things like this motivates me to keep working on the things I write. Everyone deserves to see characters they relate to.
@@GBP1776 You make a good point, I'll try to remember that. I usually play with fantasy settings where anything goes, but in the real world or even a magic mirror of it, I can't stray too far off of what is real while maintaining the quality of writing I want to produce. I stand by my statement still, but it's useful to see other perspectives 😊
Im at a loss for words. Nonbinary never felt right for me but i knew i wasnt a girl or a boy. I cut my hair and liked it but then grew it out and liked it but longer hair always made me feel as though i was faking. Questioning gender was never ever talked about in my house. I always had that tiny thought in the back of my mind that i was just faking it and that im meant to be a girl. But now i think seeing how yu didnt know who they were and doesnt really use a lable ive been inspired and i have a better grasp on who i am. Thanks for introducing me to this show you’re awesome.
This is exactly how I feel. I have been questioning it for years now and was never comfortable with the label non binary. It's good to now that there are other ppl feeling the same
Yuu was one of the best genderqueer/non-binary presentation I've seen and they were the reason why I started watching Hoshiai Sora and never thought I'd actually like a sports anime. Many of the characters and their struggles were relatable or sympathize-able at least. And seeing a trans character that's not played off as a joke but taken quite seriously actually was very nice for me(especially since I'll never see that kind of representation on tv here as a turkish nby person). I don't wanna label Yuu as nby since they're not comfortable with it and try to at least add that they don't wanna be labeled that way if I were to talk about them. I used labels in this comment to get a big variety of people who don't fit into the binary gender system and bc non-binary is an important label for me personally.
Also not being able to dissolve(is that the word) dysphoria through transition bc there's no way to transition or fit into the standart as non-binary, because there's no non-binary in the standart feels personal as an androgynous presenting nby person who still is assumed to be either a boy or a girl most of the time with a very few rare instances where people ask me if I'm boy or a girl
This video made me realize that I might be non binary…I was already suspecting that I was, but this just makes me feel like I am even more.
Good luck on your journey! You are not alone. :)
@@shaggyjebus thank you! I hope I’ll figure my identity someday!
I originally stopped watching this anime, because I didn't feel like it was for me. I'm still probably not going to watch it, but I was so happy to find out that there is an anime out there that positively represents people like me in a healthy, realistic way
I’m fully convinced that if Yuu came out to the rest of the team they would be 100% accepted.
gosh i just recently finished the series and their stories hit so hard (especially yuu’s),,,,seeing this kind of positive representation of someone with an identity like mine in anime makes me so happy!! thank you for the analysis :]
As someone who has a ton of dysphoria but doesn’t know why or what to do their character gives me a lot of comfort when it comes to gender and sexuality
I highly recommend checking out an anime called ‘Given’. It has one of the most realistic depictions of gay characters I’ve ever seen. Nothing is fetishised and they feel like real ppl.
I want to watch it but I'm afraid that itll be too sad. Is it very sad?
@@emissalty yes it is sad but it’s a good show, TW though
@@emissalty it has some sad moments, but it has a wonderful happy ending 💛
people saying a characters gender doesnt matter in the plot,, yeah, it doesnt lol. it doesnt matter if a character is a boy or a girl, so it shouldnt matter if theyre nonbinary lol
If you looked at any of the comments, you’d realize that Yuu helped a lot of people find out that they’re enby. So, yes, representation matters.
@@taenimin that don't exist but ok
I have one question to non binary do they not fap or musterbate to any gender at all or anything for that matter
this story is about exploring gender so ofc gender would matter to the plot 🤦🏽♂️
I'm so sorry i couldnt stop laughing cause THE NAME
everytime you say "But YOU says" or "YOU wasn't comforable with this" or "and for YOU this is important too" it's just so funny to me
Anyways this was great. People are people, do whatever makes you happy, it should be so simple
As a young Nonbinary minor, I feel really happy seeing this representation, relating to the struggles, and pain of figuring out who I am. especially in an environment where others around me don't want to understand or dont accept it. I feel a connection to Yuu and I even kinda cried of happiness because of this video, thank you for showing light to this. :D
It's 0:57 and you have already convinced me to watch Starts Align. The only reason I will not watch the rest of this video now is because I don't want spoilers. Update: I watched Stars Align and do not regret it. It was really emotional.
Jeez, I've clearly got to check this out. The part about confusion and not feeling comfortable in the labels had me tearing up. I don't think I've seen a character express or officially rep exactly how I feel in so many ways. I didn't realize how much I needed it
Even the creator narrating and introducing the anime made cry in happiness, this anime existing warms my heart and I acnt wiat to watch it myself
STARS ALIGN SPOILERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love Hoshiai no Sora, it's such a great anime that shows the true reality and it's actually VERY VERY VERY underrated.
When I saw Yu for the first time I was like: 'hm he seems cute I wonder what's his personality' Then I later found out that Yu was non-binary.
THey are the first character that is actually a good representention of the Trans spectrum.
They are extremely kind and it's worth to be their friend, but when their mother didn't accepted them I got incredibly sad-
But as a non-binary person myself, It's actually very impressive how accurate the representation is!
Also fun fact: Sho is one of my favorite characters and my name is also Sho
i love Yu so much.
bruh I was left tearing up at the end of this- Now I HAVE to watch the anime :')
Awesome video,, I'm subscribing
It’s so nice, there are a lot of anime characters that are “gender unknown” and I love that too, but it’s different having a character who actually discusses and shows questioning and being nb/x gender
This anime has been on my watch list forever, but I keep forgetting it. I had no idea it was this open minded! And ngl I kinda teared up seeing the "A" in the LGBTQIA book Yu was reading.
You got a new subscriber!
i got the sudden urge to rewatch the show
I'm nb and was accidentally outed by a friend a couple weeks ago. Like, nobody took it weirdly and people were trying to be considerate to make me feel included without having to adhere any gender roles which is really nice if them. But it makes me feel like because of the label I'm getting special treatment and that's pretty awkward sometimes. I never really minded being treated like my gender assigned at birth, the way I act corresponds well to social norms and I didn't stand out too much (after people got over their high school selves lol). My gender was always just for me and only me, if that makes sense?
I really like my neutral pronouns and it feels better when people use it, but I'm still unsure how to react when the topic of gender itself comes up.
just kinds venting that. like literally nothing bad happened but I think about this a lot and it kinda confuses me, so I'm shouting into the void to see if I'm the only one that's weird in this way.
Idk, I feel like I should just decide to get on one side and it's like I'm not even properly being nb or... anything? it's stressful for me but for literally no reason
we don't care
When I watched this I was so happy to hear that they where non binary. My heart just exploded. I'm non binary and I never really see a charater that is non binary. I teared up a lil lol
i'm so glad this video was recommended to me! i've also had a bout of confusion when it came to my gender and i thought i was the only one since no one in my family or circle of friends has these thoughts- in some spaces i have said i'm non-binary but when it comes to pronouns, i don't feel like i'm a she/her or he/him but it's difficult for me to say i'm they/them when i've been brought up my whole life as a she/her, i struggle with it alot to the point where i start questioning myself- and i still do to this day. But knowing that there are others who also find this difficult and to know it's not completely black and white has given me some type of peace over it and i'd like to thank you for making this video, sharing your experience as well as exposing me to a new anime to watch ☺
also i apologise for the long ass comment, i just felt like this was a safe space to unload a bit and also show my appreciation 😅
This is definitely a safe space, and I'm so glad this video could help.
Good luck on your journey!
@@shaggyjebus thank you so much! 🥺😊
this is a month old, but i just wanted to say i get it. i'm autistic, so change is hard for me, and adding that with not really understanding transness led me to hide myself from myself. the thing is, ghough, one time i got a chance to try out they/them pronouns with my parents, and also a bunch of other people who i'd probably never see again, and it felt like being recognised. it was like i'd spent my whole life sleeping on the floor and i'd finally been able to sleep on a mattress
these things are fluid, though, and more complex than he/she/they. it's okay to play around with this stuff to see what fits, and it's also okay if nothing fits, or if you find that your first label was the best for you. get to know yourself. have fun
@@nemnyoom i appreciate that you took the time to respond to this, i hope i get to a point in my life that i feel the same way you did- i may need to explore abit as you suggested
6:09 "thank Yu for watching"
I see what "you" did there
i finished watching Stars Align this morning and I have to say it's gotta be one of my new favorites.
i love the show not just because of Yu, but because the show never made the effort the shy away or hide lgbt+ themes. every time the topic was brought up it felt so natural, and the fact that they used specific terms in the show really threw me off guard in the best way possible.
plus aside from lgbt themes, i love how the show initially seems like a regular sports anime, but actually turns out to be more about the different family dynamics and issues that shape the characters. them showing the different home lives felt really important because it never seemed to feel the need to make any one character's struggles seem more valid than anyone else's. each character gets treated with respect, and the way everyone interacts on screen shows that.
i'd say if anyone is to watch the show, you should probably be warned that some of it is possibly triggering, but its all shown in a way that feels real and valid.
In Conclusion: soft tennis club is best found family
The other anime footage used are from Ouran High School Host Club, Sailor Moon, Sailor Moon Crystal, One Piece, and The Rose of Versailles. :P
Subscribed and hit the bell, and while I was at it, shared this video to my local anime community FB page. Thanks for letting me know about a show I MUST watch!
Thank for making this video, this sounds so wholesome. Definitely on my radar now
oh my gosh i love stars align! i was so surprised when i barely saw anyone talking about it, great video! ^w^
omgg yes! finally a video about Yuu!! thank you sm for making this video 😊
I've never heard of this show but dang, seeing Yu doing research into the LGBTQ+ community, seeing the definitions and still being so unsure is so relatable. I think a big part of it, from my perspective, is that whenever I read and learn about LGBTQ+ labels, especially when it comes to something that relates to me like non-binary, there tends to be sort of mismatch because these labels are and feel very Western and when that is a culture that you grew up never fully belonging in, it's difficult to see how those labels can encapsulate a very personal part of me. Because there are times when I feel like I need to have a label, I do accept non-binary and agender as one when the topic comes up, but when I look into my own history and culture and how gender was never defined in the binary until colonization, I start to feel more comfortable in knowing that it's justifiable for me to just be... am. Same goes with sexuality, which is why I'm most comfortable with queer and non-binary/agender.
Oh my, how and why are you so underrated? Your content are literally so good and this video is so well-explained etc.
I remember watching Hoshiai no Sora or stars align in Feb of this year. It was at a time where I was so confused about myself and is also a tennis player who quit because of emotional problems, this anime hit me the most, it felt like the family problems and practices in tennis were so relatable, until the scene where Yu dressed up in "feminine clothes" I was so onto supporting them, and then I just cried when they referred to as someone who doesn't want to fall in any label. It felt like the whole show was a self-insert of me and it was so relatable on a spiritual level.
I don't like how people say that's it too dramatic for a sports anime, I think its better than most sports anime that are too positive and have problems with their well being and just brushing it off, unlike this one, which actually dives into things that actually makes them as a character. This show is extremely underrated.
Man this almost made me cry, I'm in almost the exact same position as Yuu right now. I never finished the show but seeing that there's this kind of representation in it, I might just have to
"It really makes me wish I had a group of friends or classmates at that age" me too man, me too
The youtube algorithm has blessed me with this recommendation!!! Thank you for making this video it's been so long since I've seen new anime!
Honestly I'm so so happy I took your advice and watched the anime before watching this video. Stars Align is such a good anime and definitely one of my favorites so far. Its a shame that there's probably never going to be a continuation of the series, but what it gives in just 12 episodes is so much more then I could've asked for.
I've never seen such an amazing non-binary character in an anime before! Even though I'm a trans boy and not non-binary it still puts a smile on my face that there's an anime that features non-binary representation and I'm sure those who identify as non-binary are proud and happy to see this. I'm definitely gonna watch this anime once I get the chance to!
I’m so glad somebody finally talked about the anime and this topic. Great video.
Before I felt comfortable in my own body, I watched this show and I really took a huge liking to Yu. And felt a sense of comfort and saw myself in them. And a few months later I became comfortable and ok with all pronouns. Had a few bumps along the way feeling as if I’m too feminine to use any other pronouns than she/her but a few weeks before I started to not really care about how I look and now I’m where I am now. I just tell people that I prefer they/them but ok with other pronouns. I don’t want to put a label on it yet or ever but this show was one that helped me figure myself out.
Still waiting for any updates tho-
Love your vids! This show was an absolute banger and will forever be pissed at how we were ROBBED of a season 2! But despite that, I love how this anime was able to flesh out so many of its characters and make us care for them in it's short runtime.
stars align has always been a personal favourite, and i loved how they represented the LGBTQ+ community positively.
Oh wow!! I'm so happy I clicked on this video! I'm always looking for good LGBTQ+ representation in anime, and I think Yu just stole my heart!!! My favourite non-binary character is Leeron from Gurren Laagan, not only are they explicitly non-binary (well... they are described as either "Both male and female" or "Neither male or female" depending on the sub or dub... But it's the character that counts, not the sub-par wording) but Leeron is also canonically the smartest person in the universe!! Saving the day on multiple occasions! Although they're still a bit of comedy relief character, it doesn't stop them from being the most useful member of the team!!!
Love me for who i am is manga with series great LGBTQ+ representations.
I've read some of that! I need to read more of it, for sure.
Theres one trans women in an anime called "Blue period" you should check that out if you're intesrested in the controversy of "Talent vs Hardwork" ^^
Wait i thought it was only in manga there was actually an anime?!? :O
@@krap8325 mhm! :DD
i think it’s so sad that stars aligned got cancelled i loved the series so much
Najimi in Komi can’t communicate is also non-binary using they/them pronouns and dressing in both masculine and feminine outfits
THIS VIDEO GOT ME INTON THE ANIME, THANK YOUU I LOVE YU SO MUCH!!!
this anime was supposed to have more episodes but they were denied a full 24 episode season. my guess is the higher ups probably didnt want this anime to continue and the fact it made it to air is impressive as is knowing how strict japanese industries can be. we gotta keep in mind the animes need to make money thats what the higher ups only care about. the animators and team members might care but if the higher ups dont see a large profit they will axe anything. the higher ups probably thought a show containing lgbt characters wouldn't sell well in japan and it went largely un-noticed in the west too making them have the quick decision to cut the run-time in half and 100% garanteed that we will never get a continuation to this. i kinda wish it atleast got a manga adaptation. i also really wish wonder egg priority got a manga too that would fix all the issues the anime had with its short runtime.
Solid theory about why it was cut short. It definitely stood apart from most other series, and I guess a lot of anime-watchers didn't want something different, they just wanted the same stuff over and over.
A manga definitely would have been great, or even just a novel that tells more of the story. I know the creator is trying to create more, but the doesn't seem to be much hope, unfortunately.
I rarely watch anime but how you describe Yu makes me so happy that I will definitely go find it and watch it! I've never seen a non-binary character in anime before and I'm tearing up just watching the short clips you had in the video. thank you so much!
Thank you for this video! I have just finished this anime and looked for some video essays :)
Surprisingly, there are almost no such, but it's wonderful that yours exist! Very good, explanatory monologue of yours.
I wish you all the success in making videos, some places are a little bit rough in terms of sound quality and monotonous montage (which is understandable, since in the anime itself there's almost no frames to showcase for a long video). But overall I enjoyed your small video-essay a lot!
This is BEAUTIFUL!!!! I love seeing representation like this! And that shot of them reading the book!! While there is still a long way to go, seeing stuff like this makes me so happy and hopeful for the future!! I'm ace (and cis), but I have 3 nb friends whom I love dearly! I'll send this to them!!😍😍😍 (I also love the statement about living in a society without any clue the norm cannot be changed you made at 5:03! )
Was going to brace myself for the replies and comments, but this comment section is so pleasant and respectful. Love it here, it feels safe and welcoming :).
MMMMMM NONBINARY ANIME VIDEO? Oh how rare and how wonderful, I've been blessed by the algorithm in receiving this video.
I haven't watched Stars Align since I haven't been able to keep up with my own anime list, but it's on there now! I feel like i'll end up crying(looking in the comments, i have a few ideas of what i'm in for), and this sold me haha.
:,0 As someone who is nonbinary, I got really happy when I saw this video. Oh my gosh I can relate so much. I've always had a sense that I was not a girl no matter how much people called me one. I'm going to watch this right now.
:0000 OH MY GOSH IS IT ALSO TENNIS?? I LOVE TENNIS-
Wow I had no idea this anime existed! I’ll definitely check it out. Haruhi was such an important character for me because I very much related to her and her indifference towards her gender. How people perceived her didn’t matter and I really admired that about her.
I really want to see more non binary or gender non conforming characters in anime and cartoons. I think it’s very important.
You should have WAY more subs for this. Just earned yourself a subscriber.
thank you so much for making me aware of this show... i used to watch a lot of anime, and if this had come out 4 or 5 years ago, i would've probably known right away, but honestly i kind of fell out of, partly due to the lack of representation. i've gotten so sick if the typical tropes. it was so refreshing to see actual and undeniable lgbt+ representation in stars align. it was even better to see nb rep, as a nonbinary person myself! i teared up a few times. really it's healing to see. i appreciate that this show went pretty in-depth about the complexities of nb gender and labels, without feeling preachy. very smart and realistic to have a kid who's confused and not able to figure everything out in the short timespan of 12 episodes. i hope we get more of this show but if not, i really am thrilled with this much! absolutely worth the watch, thank you again!!
im going to probably cry if we dont get another season. ive rewatched the show twice now, and im probably gonna do it again.
I believe a saw that clip from this anime back when it was still being aired and this video just reminded me I need to watch it. That non-binary struggle is so real… the want to know what the confusing concept of ‘my gender’ is and being unsure of what label to use is just ahhh
This is amazing! I didn't know about this anime and I'm definitely going to watch it I'm so happy for the positive representation ^^
I sad the production got cut for this show, they deserved so much better😞 but it still holds a special place in my heart
I found out about Stars Align because dog Yuu’s coming out scene through Twitter. It’s still one of my favorite anime’s and it encouraged me to give tennis another try! Joining tennis made my senior year of high school more enjoyable.
All in all this is a great anime and I wish it could’ve gotten a second season!
I paused the video to binge the anime, and stayed up all night watching it. It's been an emotional night, to say the least. So many moments in Stars Align hit so hard. I related to so many characters, including Yu. Feeling confused and not wanting to be in either box has made it difficult explaining to family what I feel, and seeing it play out between Yu and Maki was so heartwarming. It really hurts to see Yu's mom mad at them for feeling what they do, and it breaks my heart seeing so many other teammate's parents being absolute trash.
I highly recommend watching Stars Align, and I hope a season 2 comes out sometime!
I'M CRYING THIS IS SO AMAZING, my heart is extremely touched as a non binary person, I relate to them so much too!
I wish there was more of this show :(
great video! you've convinced me to watch this anime :)
Thank you so much for this video!
Yu is my favorite lol
They're also my favorite~