20 Of The Best Gender Bender Anime (2023)

Gender bender can be used to describe fictional characters that are modeled after real-life gender-bending characters. It also refers to characters who experience changes in their sex throughout the story. Today we’ll explore the world of gender bender anime.

Hideyoshi Kinoshita’s character is the origin of the term “Hideyoshi”, which is used informally to describe a series of anime that bends gender. Today’s article will give you a list of 20 of the best gender bending anime series.

20 Best Gender Bender Anime

20. Kashimashi: Girl Meets Girl

• Original Run: Jan 2006 – Mar 2006
• Episodes: 12 (+OVA)

Synopsis

Hazumu was shy and loved to garden, collect herbs, and take long walks in the mountains. He finally had the courage to tell Yasuna his love, but she turned him down.

He was depressed and walked up Mt. Kashimayama, where they first met, which was his place to reevaluate his feelings. He lost his way and wished upon a shooting Star, which brought about a strange twist of fate.

He is now a she and she falls headfirst into relationships and social life only to discover that everything has changed.

19. Himegoto

• Original Run: Jul 2014 – Sep 2014
• Episodes: 13

Synopsis

Hime Arikawa is constantly on the run from loan sharks and must deal with the debt he inherited from his parents’ poor spending habits. He flees in a maid’s dress that was forced on him by the moneylenders. However, Shimoshina High School’s student’s council rescues him and pays the entire debt. He is now indebted for his rescue by the student council, who make Hime transfer schools and make him a servant of the student council.

Hime is forced to wear cross-dressing for the remainder of high school. He cannot refuse to follow the orders of the student council girls. He is being harassed mentally and physically and must overcome his perverted classmates to join other crossdressers in the school.

18. Maria†Holic

• Original Run: Jan 2009 – Jun 2011
• Episodes: 24

Synopsis

Kanako Miyamae, in search of true love and inspiration by the way her parents fell in love there, transfers to Ame no Kisaki Catholic School. However, there is one thing that makes Kanako different: Kanako’s inability to control her hives by men has led to her coming to the all-girls school to meet a partner.

Kanako thinks she has found the perfect person when he meets Mariya Shidou. But, it turns out that Kanako was actually in love with a cross-dressing boy. Mariya threatens Kanako with exposing his impurities if she doesn’t keep his gender secret. To make matters worse, Kanako also replaces her roommate so that Kanako can watch her closely.

Maria+Holic tracks Kanako’s search for love in all the wrong spots and seeks out the girl she dreams of, provided she is able to survive being Mariya’s roommate.

17. Minami-ke

• Original Run: Oct 2007 – Mar 2013
• Episodes: 52 (plus 3 OVA episodes)

Synopsis

Three sisters share the Minami residence: Haruka, the eldest and most diligent sister; Kana, the lively and airheaded Kana; and Chiaki, the youngest sister, whose sharp tongue is a gift for all.

The sisters live together without the supervision of an adult and share the responsibility for cooking, laundry, and the occasional romantic adventure. The Minami family is always busy, whether it’s battling chronic laziness or hanging out with friends.

16. Ranma 1/2

• Original Run: Apr 1989 – Sep 1992
• Episodes: 161 (plus other films and OVA episodes)

Synopsis

Ranma Saotome, a top-class martial artist who is also a prodigy at Saotome’s “Anything-Goes” school of martial arts, is Ranma Saotome. He and his father fall into a cursed spring while training in China. This is the end of their tragic story. Ranma will turn into a girl if he is sprayed with cold water. Only hot water can make him turn back into a boy.

Ranma learns that Soun Tendo has made arrangements for Ranma to marry one of his three daughters to ensure the Tendo dojo’s future. Even though Soun is aware of Ranma’s dilemma, he still decides to proceed with the engagement and picks Akane, his youngest daughter, who is a talented martial artist and is well-known for her hatred of men.

Ranma 1/2 is a comedy about Ranma, Akane, and their hilarious adventures as they meet different opponents, find new love interests and find ways to make each other mad, all the while their engagement hangs in the balance.

15. Cheeky Angel

• Original Run: Apr 2002 – Mar 2003
• Episodes: 50

Synopsis

Megumi-chan, a girl with a mysterious past, is Megumi. When she was a boy, she came across a man she believed to be a magician. The person gifted her/him a magic book that a genie can use to grant a one wish if blood is applied to it.

Megumi gave the wish to become a man in her body, but the genie is able to grant wishes backward. He turns Megumi’s 9-year-old self into Megumichan. Megumi is now in High School, where she beats the bully and falls for her. She’s determined to find the book to undo the curse.

14. Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches

• Original Run: Apr 2015 – Jun 2015
• Episodes: 12 (+ OVA)

Synopsis

Ryuu Yamada wanted to start afresh and have a productive high school experience. He chose Suzaku High because he was unaware of his violent criminal past. Ryuu is disillusioned to find that he soon becomes bored. Ryuu now has a second year and is back to his old ways, lazy with low grades and getting into fights. She is returning from yet another office visit when he meets Urara Shiraishi.

She is a beautiful honors student. They fall down the stairs after a misstep, and they end up accidentally kissing! They discover that they can swap bodies by kissing, which proves to be both handy and problematic. Toranosuke Miyamura is a student council officer who learns of their new power and recruits them to the Supernatural Studies Club.

The group soon joins Miyabi Itou (an eccentric interested in all things supernatural), who discovers the legend about the Seven Witches at Suzaku High, seven female students with different powers that can be activated by just a kiss. The Supernatural Studies Club sets out on its first mission: to discover the identities of all the witches.

13. Aoharu x Machinegun

• Original Run: Jul 2015 – Sep 2015
• Episodes: 12 + OVA

Synopsis

Hotaru Tachibana is a strong believer in justice and will confront those who commit malicious acts. She is a girl who prefers to pretend she’s a boy. Hotaru is furious at the host of the local club for tricking her best friend. Hotaru is confronted by Masamune Matsuoka at the club and challenged to a “survival” game. The winner will be the one who gets hit with a bullet from a toy gun.

Hotaru is defeated in a fight, and Masamune orders Hotaru to join his survival-game team, Toy Gun Gun. This is to pay back the damage that “he’ has done to the club. Hotaru is initially disappointed by the outcome, but she soon discovers that survival games are fun and she is determined to repay her debt. To the dismay Of Tooru Yukimura (the other member of Toy Gun Gun), Hotaru is also able to enjoy the benefits of survival games.

Hotaru develops a friendship with the other members of the team as she hopes to participate in the Top Combat Game (TCG) tournament, which determines the best survival games team in Japan. She does her best but there are two problems. Hotaru is terrible at the game and Toy Gun Gun won’t allow women to join their team.

12. Ouran High School Host club

• Original Run: Apr 2006 – Sep 2006
• Episodes: 26

Synopsis

Ouran High School is an exclusive school where the children of Haruhi Fujioka, one of Japan’s richest and noblest families, are able to receive scholarships. This is rare at Ouran Academy which is an elite school for students with a high pedigree. Haruhi, who was looking for a quiet spot to study, opens Music Room #3’s door.

The club is led by Tamaki Suou, the princely Tamaki, and includes the “Shadow King”, Kyouya Ootori, the mischievous Hitachiin twins Kaoru, Hikaru, and the childlike Mitsukuni Haninozuka (also known as “Honey”), and Takashi “Mori,” Morinozuka. It’s where handsome boys entertain the girls at the academy with their endless time.

Haruhi, in a desperate attempt to get away from the hosts’ attentions, breaks a vase worth eight million yen. She is forced to become the group’s general errand boy in order to pay her huge debt. Despite her charming appearance and her natural geniality toward girls, Haruhi is quickly promoted to full-time male host. Haruhi soon finds herself in a glamorous whirlwind full of elaborate cosplays and rich food. This is something that only the wealthy Host Club can do.

11. I My Me! Strawberry Eggs

• Original Run: Jul 2001 – Sep 2001
• Episodes: 13

Synopsis

Amawa Hibiki is a young man who just graduated from college and plans to become an athletics teacher. Since he graduated, he has had difficulty finding work and all of his money has been used to pay for living expenses. He heads to the middle school to be hired as a teacher when his landlady demands that he pay her first monthly rent.

The principal refuses to hire him. She won’t hire men to teach and made it clear that she doesn’t love men. Amawa doesn’t give up. With the help of his landlady, he crossdresses as an adult woman to get hired. This allows him to make money and prove the principal wrong. He must keep his true gender secret and avoid any strange situations.

10. Kampfer

• Original Run: Oct 2009 – Dec 2009
• Episodes: 12 (plus 2 OVA episodes)

Synopsis

It might sound like a dream for some guys to wake up and transform into a beautiful girl, but Natsuru becomes a nightmare when he is told by a stuffed Tiger that he is now a Kampfer. This is a magical fighter who must fight other Kampfers in female form. Let’s forget about the obvious plumbing issues. Natsuru’s childhood best friend is actually swinging the opposite way.

She has a crush upon his new female body. It’s not complicated enough. Natsuru’s school is divided into sections for girls and boys, so they are now both double-enrolled. According to rumors, he is dating his girlfriend. There are also other Kampfers at the school who would like to take her out.

He’s not certain which words mean “on a dating” or “permanently”, but he does know that some of them mean “on a relationship”. Did we mention that some Kampfers also use guns and swords? The daring, new gender-bender defense must be a contender or lose!

9. Cinderella Boy

• Original Run: Jun 2003 – Sep 2003
• Episodes: 13

Synopsis

Ranma and Rella once snuck into a casino in an attempt to solve another case. However, they ended up finding out, by rummaging through computer files, that the casino was actually a cover for thousands upon thousands of arms transactions of fire.

They are eventually found and attempt to escape but have a very serious accident. Ranma miraculously awakens at the accident scene a week later and believes that Rella has died. He then transforms into Rella at midnight.

The anime finds itself in an impasse, with the two constantly waking up at different times and not knowing what is happening at the moment. Dorothy finally catches Ranma turning into Rella. They soon discover that Doctor Grim, a scientist, has merged both bodies. This happens automatically at midnight every night.

8. Kokoro Connect

• Original Run: Jul 2012 – Dec 2012
• Episodes: 17

Synopsis

Five Yamaboshi Academy students realize there is no club where they can fit in and form the Student Cultural Society. The club is made up of Taichi Yaegashi (a wrestling fan); Iori Nagase (an indecisive optimist); Himeko Inaba (a calm computer genius); Yui Kiriyama (a petite karate practitioner); and Yoshifumi Akoki, the class clown.

Aoki and Yui have a strange experience where they suddenly switch bodies. They realize it’s not all fun and games as the supernatural phenomena continue to happen randomly among their five friends. They are now forced to be closer than ever and discover their hidden secrets and emotional scars which can end up tearing apart the StuCS as well as their friendship.

7. Otome wa Boku ni Koishiteru

• Original Run: Oct 2006 – Dec 2006
• Episodes: 12 (plus 4 OVA episodes)

Synopsis

Mizuho is shocked when Grandpa’s will was read aloud. Grandpa wanted Mizuho and Mizuho to go to the same school as their mother. It’s an all-girls school, but that’s the catch. Mariya, his friend, helps him transform himself into a fool for everyone at the academy.

6. Simoun

• Original Run: Apr 2006 – Sep 2006
• Episodes: 26

Synopsis

Everyone is born female in the peaceful Simulicram theocracy. Each maiden is required to choose her sex at the age of 17. Only Pairs of maiden priestesses are allowed to synchronize with ancient flying ships called Simoun that were used to defend Simulicram. These Pairs can choose to not participate in the ceremony, as long as they want to continue piloting their Simoun.

After a terrible attack by an enemy nation decimates Chor Tempest’s squadron, Aer is hired to become a Simoun pilot. She must find Neviril, Regina de Chor Tempest, to earn her wings. However, Neviril still has the heart of her former Pair. She lost it in battle when she tried a Simoun maneuver.

5. Birdy the Mighty: How to Decode

• Original Run: Jul 2008 – Mar 2009
• Episodes: 25 (+ OVA)

Synopsis

Birdy Cephon Altera, a bombastic Space Federation police officer, finds herself on Earth while she pursues an alien fugitive. Geega, her target, has disguised as a human to gain access to the fashion industry. Birdy joins a modeling agency and takes on the identity of Shion Arita. As a rising model, she is often seen posing for photos and running after intergalactic criminals at night.

Tsutomu Senko, a high school student of average intelligence, investigates an abandoned building along with his friend. Birdy, however, has found Geega in the same building. Senkawa is briefly present during the battle before Geega takes Senkawa hostage. Birdy is unaware and attacks Geega, killing Senkawa. She quickly realizes that he is in danger and decides to save him.

Birdy and Senkawa must cohabit the same body. They also have to balance Senkawa’s high school life, ShionArita’s modeling career, as well as Birdy’s increasingly dangerous job, which is a Federation officer.

4. Maze: The Mega-Burst Space

• Original Run: Apr 1997 – Sep 1997
• Episodes: 25 (plus 2 OVA episodes, and a movie)

Synopsis

Maze awakens in her house to find that everything has been destroyed and she is an amnesiac. Mill rushes to her house, thanking her for saving her life before she can comprehend what happened. She tells Maze her house fell from the sky and crushed Mill’s pursuers beneath it. They are soon on the run from more pursuers who want to capture princess Mill.

Only Maze, who has phantom magic powers and can summon Mill’s family heirloom mecha, saves them. Her performance with the mecha is poor, but that’s until the sun sets and she becomes a lecherous woman. As Maze attempts to protect Mill, and find out what is happening in this fantasy world, Maze soon joins them.

3. Princess Princess

• Original Run: Apr 2006 – Jun 2006
• Episodes: 12

Synopsis

Tooru Kouno’s beautiful appearance attracts attention unexpectedly on his first day at all-boys school. Transferring to a school that does not have girls was enough for Tooru Kouno. But, he also has to deal with the constant stares of boys all day. He hopes there are girls out there, as he met a beautiful, pink-haired girl at campus earlier in the day.

Yuujirou Shihoudani, his classmate, takes him to his dorm. He meets Mikoto Yutaka who is very similar to the girl he had previously seen. He discovers that Mikoto Yutaka is the girl, and confronts him about it. Yuujirou reveals that Mikoto and he crossdress together as part of their job. This is a school tradition where attractive first-year students are chosen to be “Princesses” for their morale. Tooru was chosen by the student council to be their third Princess because of his looks!

2. The Ambition of Oda Nobuna

• Original Run: Jul 2012 – Sep 2012
• Episodes: 12

Synopsis

Yoshiharu Sagara, a high school student, wakes up to find himself in the middle of a fierce Sengoku period battle. The legendary HideyoshiToyotomi saves him, but it is at the expense of his life. The warrior begs Yoshiharu, with his last breath, to take his place as a feudal lord. Yoshiharu promises to not allow history to change.

Yet, after rescuing Nobuna Oda–whom he discovers is actually the fabled Nobunaga Oda’s female counterpart–Yoshiharu realizes he has been transported to an alternate reality where most of Japan’s historical warlords are now cute girls! Yoshiharu accepts to be one of Nobuna’s retainers and helps her conquer Japan.

She learns from the video game “Nobunaga’s Ambition”, that he can predict the future and change the course of the war as Nobuna begins her campaign. Yoshiharu uses this valuable gift to assist the Oda clan’s gorgeous generals. He hopes to help Nobuna fulfill her dream and win overall women.

1. Magical Girl Ore

• Original Run: Apr 2018 – Jun 2018
• Episodes: 12

Synopsis

Saki Uno, a 15-year-old girl from Japan, has a side business as an idol duo called Magical Twins. She loves spending time with Sakuyo Mikage, her best friend, and she strives to be closer with Mohiro, her childhood crush. When a yakuza-looking man attempts to enter her home, she disrupts her peaceful existence.

Saki is forced to invite him in, learning that her mother was a demon-fighting Magical Girl and that the brutish guest is actually a mascot called Kokoro-chan who is looking for a replacement. Dumbfounded and skeptical, she refuses to accept the invitation until Kokoro-chan reveals Mohiro is a target for cute squirrel-tailed demons.

Saki rushes to Mohiro’s side and activates her Love Power. A daring confession awakens in her as a Magical girl. Saki transforms into a muscular-bound man in a beautiful dress, but her body isn’t suitable for combat. Saki, now a full-fledged Magical Girl must join Sakuyo in order to defend her love from the demonic, fluffy creatures that roam her world.