Although anime as a whole has made some progress in recent years with the representation of queer identities, the medium has a way to go in showcasing its diversity and specific portrayals of LGBTQ+ characters and themes. This is especially the case when it comes to highlighting characters that struggle not only with their sexual orientation but also their gender identity -- the former of which is still sometimes used for the sake of fan service and the latter of which is often played for comedic value.

Such is not the case for Wandering Son (Hourou Musuko), an 11-episode anime series that aired in early 2011. Though now over a decade old, Wandering Son does a lot of things right, not least of which is the way it depicts its transgender characters and their struggles with self-identity versus societal expectations, gender dysphoria and queerness in general.

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Shuichi and Yoshino clothes shopping in Wandering Son anime.

A slice-of-life drama set in elementary and junior high school (although the manga progresses all the way through to college and young adulthood), Wandering Son centers around the character of Nitori Shuuichi and her friendships and classmates. Shuuichi identifies as a girl and longs to live her life this way, but she is biologically male and rejects the idea of crossdressing until encouraged to present as feminine by her friends. Among Shuichi’s peers is Takatsuki Yoshino, a transgender boy who doesn’t like drawing undue attention to himself but usually resists wearing stereotypically feminine clothes, albeit against his mother’s wishes.

While there are some more lighthearted and even occasionally funny moments to be had in Wandering Son, the show presents its themes and concepts in a serious way. Unlike other titles that likewise present cross-dressing characters and issues of gender identity and fluidity, such as I My Me! Strawberry Eggs and even Ouran High School Host Club, the series doesn’t make light of its own situations -- it generally comes across as a very grounded and earnest work that strives to treat all members of its cast with both sympathy and respect. Thankfully, however, Wandering Son rarely chooses to stray into melodrama territory, setting it apart from more intense slice-of-life stories like the recently-aired Blue Period.

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wandering son main student cast standing in row

Another aspect of the series that keeps it from becoming too heavy and therefore potentially an overly sober watch is its artwork. The style is soft and gentle, almost watercolor-like in feel, helping to lend Wandering Son a rather innocent atmosphere despite its often weighty subject matter. However, it remains easy to become immersed in the show because, while anime tends to be known for its characters’ enormous eyes, improbable hair colors and exaggerated facial expressions, Wandering Son adopts a more realistic atmosphere -- perhaps something of a mix between Usagi Drop and Studio Ghibli.

Moreover, its large and diverse cast is brought to life by an excellent line-up of voice actors, many of whom are certainly no strangers to slice-of-life and drama titles. From Seto Asami (AnoHana, Chihayafuru) to veritable legends in the industry like Horie Yui (Fruits Basket, Toradora!) and Mizuki Nana (Princess Tutu, Tegami Bachi, Dororo), the characters are portrayed in a way that’s dignified yet entirely relatable, with performances that are emotionally touching without ever becoming overbearing or theatrical.

Wandering Son is not a perfect series. The characters sometimes appear to think and act a little older than they are, which may make audiences question whether elementary and junior high school-aged characters would be capable of such emotional maturity -- after all, when they’re first introduced, Shuuichi, Yoshino and their classmates are still only fifth-graders, around 10 or 11 years old. The show may also be too slow-paced for some, especially for those who prefer their slice-of-life titles with more energy or humor. However, for audiences seeking out LGBTQ-friendly anime with depth and subtlety, Wandering Son, no matter its age, more than does its story justice.