: Published by the Illinois Open Publishing Network, this article analyzes works like Stop!! Hibari-Kun! and No Bra to understand the appeal of gender-ambiguous characters to both male and trans-feminine readers.
: An exploration on Sabukaru Online of how Japanese media allows for a wider range of character archetypes and "gender spicing" compared to Western media. Important Terminological Note
: A detailed piece from The Artifice that breaks down characters who identify as women despite being misgendered by others, such as Lily Hoshikawa from Zombieland Saga . she male anime
While the specific phrasing you used is often associated with adult or derogatory slang, there are several high-quality academic and analytical papers that explore the representation of characters in anime from a scholarly perspective.
: This capstone project from CSU Monterey Bay uses Queer Theory to analyze how diverse identities are depicted in both Japanese and American animation. In-Depth Critical Analysis : Published by the Illinois Open Publishing Network,
Here are several reputable papers and articles covering these themes: Academic & Scholarly Papers
: This paper, available on ResearchGate, examines gender transitioning in anime and argues that some subgenres may reinforce binary gender concepts rather than being purely progressive. : An exploration on Sabukaru Online of how
: Found on Medium, this article discusses how shows like Hourou Musuko (Wandering Son) provide sensitive, nuanced looks at transitioning and gender expression.