Characters in media that lead to personal Viewer Gender Confusion

[Dr.Epic]

Originally Posted by thubby

you know, the guy who killed krillin?
didn't everyone?

Well not Yamcha 'cause he can't do anything right.

[Brother Oni]

For those not aware, in anime, it's fairly traditional to have young male roles to be voiced by female VAs, and this habit occasionally follows through to the English redubs.

Shinji Ikari from Neon Genesis Evangelion is a well known example.

Himura Kenshin from Rurouni Kenshin is another one, although that's more to do with his source, the samurai Kawakami Gensai, being reputated to be slight of frame and almost effeminate in appearance (ironically he was also regarded to be the most vicious of the four notable assassins of the time).

[Ravens_cry]

Originally Posted by Brother Oni

For those not aware, in anime, it's fairly traditional to have young male roles to be voiced by female VAs, and this habit occasionally follows through to the English redubs.

Pretty common in western animation as well, especially for really young boys, to the point that exceptions (like a young Plucky Duck) feel exceptional.

As for viewer gender confusion, the closest in live action was that I thought "Daisy" made a fairly cute drag in Sorority Boys and Tootisie was pretty darn convincing, but other than that, not much.
One funny almost example was Transamerica. After the lead character gets her cosmetics stolen, I found that the effect was lost because she didn't look like she wasn't wearing makeup but rather had switched to more earthy, neutral tones. Which was exactly what the (otherwise excellent) makeup artists had done since the actor playing her was a biological woman.

[Dr.Epic]

Natsu from Fairy Tail. First time I saw an image of him, it was just his head. He had pinky-ish hair, and I couldn't see his torso. What was I supposed to think?

[Scarlet Knight]

There is a comedian named Ralphie May. First time I heard him was on the radio, and I could not determine if he was a low voiced woman or a high voiced male, or whether he was white or black. It was only after hearing him a few times did I figure out that he is a white male. A very large white male. If he grew his hair a bit I'd probably get confused again.

[Inglenook]

I thought Toaster from The Brave Little Toaster was a girl until like … last year.

[oblivion6]

Originally Posted by historiasdeosos

I thought Toaster from The Brave Little Toaster was a girl until like … last year.

What! She's actually a he???

[Inglenook]

Apparently. Although the sex of a toaster is sort of a moot point, really.

[Ravens_cry]

Remember the Hanson Brothers back in the day? It wasn't just the hair either.

[Unbeknownst]

Originally Posted by squidbreath

I didn't know tweety was a guy either.

My life is a lie. I never knew this...

[Ravens_cry]

Originally Posted by Unbeknownst

My life is a lie. I never knew this...

Yeah, he's a dude. Pretty fey little bird, no?

[Amron]

Interesting thread.

[Malak'ai]

Originally Posted by Ravens_cry

Remember the Hanson Brothers back in the day? It wasn't just the hair either.

i know joke about Hanson, but it's not forum appropriate .

[Marnath]

I thought Rabbit was a woman. Kind of an androgynous voice, but when I was little I just figured he was an old woman. The nagging really sold that idea for me.

[Coidzor]

Originally Posted by Marnath

I thought Rabbit was a woman. Kind of an androgynous voice, but when I was little I just figured he was an old woman. The nagging really sold that idea for me.

From the 100 Acre Wood?

[Marnath]

Originally Posted by Coidzor

From the 100 Acre Wood?

Yes. :3
If I worried that hard I'd get an ulcer.

[Dr.Epic]

Yoko from Gurren Lagann. It took me forever to realize she was a man.

[Gamerlord]

I thought Littlefoot from Land Before Time was a girl for quite some time.

[Coidzor]

Originally Posted by Dr.Epic

Yoko from Gurren Lagann. It took me forever to realize she was a man.

Hmm?

[Anarion]

Originally Posted by Gamerlord

I thought Littlefoot from Land Before Time was a girl for quite some time.

I never had trouble with Littlefoot, but I had no idea whether Ducky was a boy or girl ever. I had to google her to find out for this thread.


Oh, and Fate Stay/Night spoiler

Spoiler

I totally thought King Arthur was a guy until we meet Saber.