Within Japanese entertainment, the topic of gender, sex, and sexuality are often explored and played with in various ways, particularly within the genre of shoujo manga. In manga such as “Crimson Hero” by Mitsuba Takanashi, and “Princess Knight” by Osamu Tezuka, the themes of gender, sex, and sexuality are used to explore the uncertain boundaries between the male-female binary within societal situations. While “Day of Revolution” explores the difference in day to day life between the two sexes through employing an intersex character, “Crimson Hero” also brilliantly displays the differences within femininity and masculinity through the main character of Nobara. Through exploring the undefined area between the boundaries of femininity and masculinity,
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Accidentally being assigned both a male and female heart before conception, Sapphire is born as a princess who has an affinity for both male and female gender norms. Throughout the course of the story, Sapphire switches between her feminine character and her masculine character, seeming comfortable with both forms of her gender identity. However, after narrowly escaping an attack from the goddess Venus, Sapphire is finally reunited with her true love, Prince Franz, after a long series of events. Upon their reunion , Sapphire quickly runs towards Franz, depicted with a small slender silhouette, in contrast to Franz’s large burly figure (“Princess Knight”, chp. 27. pg. 17). The couple then embrace (“Princess Knight, chp. 27, pg. 18), showing how small in stature Sapphire is when in comparison to Franz. Depicted from a far away angle between the trees, Tezuka draws the couple’s happy reunion in a stereotypical male-female pairing fashion; with Sapphire’s slender frame resting on Prince Franz, who appears to be supporting her small body. Through this distanced viewpoint, Tezuka allows the audience to see the physiological differences between Sapphire and Franz, while signifying the femininity which Sapphire has now embraced. As well, Sapphire proudly proclaims, “Yes! And let’s get married. I’ll wear a gown and say my vows to you
Accidentally being assigned both a male and female heart before conception, Sapphire is born as a princess who has an affinity for both male and female gender norms. Throughout the course of the story, Sapphire switches between her feminine character and her masculine character, seeming comfortable with both forms of her gender identity. However, after narrowly escaping an attack from the goddess Venus, Sapphire is finally reunited with her true love, Prince Franz, after a long series of events. Upon their reunion , Sapphire quickly runs towards Franz, depicted with a small slender silhouette, in contrast to Franz’s large burly figure (“Princess Knight”, chp. 27. pg. 17). The couple then embrace (“Princess Knight, chp. 27, pg. 18), showing how small in stature Sapphire is when in comparison to Franz. Depicted from a far away angle between the trees, Tezuka draws the couple’s happy reunion in a stereotypical male-female pairing fashion; with Sapphire’s slender frame resting on Prince Franz, who appears to be supporting her small body. Through this distanced viewpoint, Tezuka allows the audience to see the physiological differences between Sapphire and Franz, while signifying the femininity which Sapphire has now embraced. As well, Sapphire proudly proclaims, “Yes! And let’s get married. I’ll wear a gown and say my vows to you