We’re covering a series we both love and have a similar history with: Wandering Son by Takako Shimura, a touching coming of age story about transgender children navigating their way through the early years of their life. We both love the anime and both love the manga, so we had a lot to say about the series reception and critics.

Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction - our similar experience in discovering the series

5:33 The slice of life approach to serious topics, Takako Shimura’s artwork, and the anime adaptation

9:30 The anime’s decisions to only adapt the middle (Junior High) section

17:21 An important series on being transgender - how would it be viewed if it was published today?

23:31 Takako Shimura - her focus on queer stories and her fetishes/favourite tropes

26:51 The elementary school, initial ideas of gender dysphoria, and the low point of the series

28:56 Yuki’s role in the series, could her intentions with Shuu be misconstrued?

30:54 Spoiler discussion begins

30:58 Our shared unlikely favourite character: Shinpei Doi

37:50 An all-boys high school, what statement was Shimura making in that decision?

41:45 Our thoughts on readers disappointed on the depiction of being transgender in Wandering Son

53:08 Is Yoshino’s decision to not continue living as a trans boy a betrayal to the reader?

56:05 Does the ending wrap everything up in a satisfying way?

59:16 Enzo’s (Anime) Recommendation: Tsuki ga Kirei by Yuuko Kakihara

1:00:10 Enzo’s (Manga) Recommendation: Usagi Drop by Yumi Unita

1:01:28 Samu’s Recommendation: Our Dreams at Dusk: Shimanami Tasogare by Yuuki Kamatani

1:02:34 Overview and final scores