Looks like someone else made the same comment in saying they don't either. You didn't comment about theirs......
I think you misunderstood my comment about this when I am saying about gender not being taken seriously. As a trans person, sometimes I like seeing gender taken in questioning for fun (not gag/joke obvs). It's often something very serious and a lot of confusion within that makes me want to wish I could have fun in exploration of my gender.
Like I said, its not by the other mangaka's other works which is something I like. The stories can be cute, sad, happy, etc. Gender is very complex which feels like it has to be taken as seriously as the whole character's identity but the mangaka makes it feel like its not the whole rather part of it. Unlike anglo TV shows and movies make being trans/gay as their whole identity; the mangaka's stories makes it feel refreshing as we see its part of the idenity while showing off the characters in their traits being stubborn, funny, strange, or whatever the personality trait! imo I think gender is just so complex and think we should be open about exploring it in different ways (again, in respect OBVS) with how broad it is.
I see what you mean - and I also think we might be talking at cross purposes.
I'm not saying they need to delve deeply into everything being set up
solely on the axis of this flipping of gender. Namely, the scenario at large--the fact that we are being presented with a classroom of high schoolers who have been...I guess abducted, effectively, into a closed-system with a mysterious arbiter/proctor who has magically genderswapped everyone, and is now making them doing various tasks--and isn't letting anyone escape, until "everyone's wishes are fulfilled".
One component of this is the genderswapping, and while it's clearly a significant one, I don't think that aspect needs to be fully picked apart and made into the central point of contention while ignoring a lot of other stuff already being presented. It would be
interesting to see the concept of personal identity and what it means to each person--especially since we've been presented with the fact that simply swapping genders has already fulfilled one student's wish.
But the interpersonal dynamics at place go beyond the gender swap itself, even if that's currently the lens that the various characters' interactions and thoughts processes are being shown through.
Like Minto wondering about Takumu - there's a lot of history between them, and what were one-sided feelings are now being potentially expanded upon. But that also calls into question their shared history and friendship, and the anxiety that comes with any person suddenly "noticing" or "falling for" their friend. That leads to potential problems with their relationship, if those feelings aren't reciprocated or, worse, repelled or discouraged. Even outside of their current gender depictions, there's a lot that could be done with Takumu & Minto's dynamic, and I think it would be neat to see that really explored--especially as Minto is interested in Noa. And that's before getting into the rest of the cast's interpersonal dynamic, both those we've seen and those we've yet to focus on.
So my original comment, was me hoping that we get to see a deep story that explores this large cast of characters as they all navigate this ongoing scenario, both together and on their own, and how it leads each of them to learning more about themselves. I expect the gender concept will be a part of that, and am interested to see what the author does with it--but I hope it's not the only thing focused on.
I myself am not trans, though I do not currently fully identify myself along the "norms" of what my depicted gender would correlate to. The idea of gender and what all is tied to and associated with it is very interesting to me as well, but I agree that quite often (especially nowadays) it's looked at with either too little care, or so much to the point it becomes hard to see the
people themselves as actual people.
I personally would like to see this author do a great job with this second foray into the idea as they did on the first, and have lots of fun with the premise presented while also putting the characters themselves and their personhood front and center.
But the fact is, we're being presented with the gender swapping as a major component in whatever's going on in this facility, so it
will factor greatly into whatever direction the story goes.
Whether or not it's dissected and waxed philosophical over, I think there's a lot of interesting things that can be done with it, and I don't think those have to happen at the expense of the people themselves.
