Gender Flip: Difference between revisions

[[File:Starbuck_genderflipStarbuck genderflip.png|link=Battlestar Galactica Classic|frame|On the left, [[Battlestar Galactica Classic(1978 TV series)|Lt. Starbuck]] (Dirk Benedict). On the right, [[Battlestar Galactica Reimagined(2004 TV series)|Lt. Starbuck]] ([[Katee Sackhoff]]).]]

{{quote|''What do I think of it being played by a woman, when it was played by a man in 1972, as part of a Scottish pagan community, and now it's played by a woman with the same name? What do I think of it? Nothing. There's nothing to say.''|'''[[Christopher Lee]]''' on the recasting of his role in the [[Foreign Remake|American remake]] of ''[[The Wicker Man]]''}}

It's a very old technique of retelling a story. Many folk [[Fairy Tale|Fairy Tales]]s occasionally have Gender Flip variants; they are invariably played absolutely straight.

[[Fanfic|Fan Fics]]s that Gender Flip are fairly common (often referred to as 'Genderfuck' or 'GF' stories.) [[Rule 63]] is closely related, but subtly different. A good general rule of thumb is that a [[Rule 63]] character ''looks'' like exactly the same character, as if subjected to [[Gender Bender]]. Gender Flip characters will often differ from their originals in a great many ways other than the character's sex.

'''Not to be confused with''' [[Gender Bender]] (though outside [[TVAll The Tropes]], the terms are sometimes used interchangeably.). If a ''story'' involves a character changing sex [[In-Universe]], that's a [[Gender Bender]]. If a ''creator'' decides the character works better as the opposite sex, that's this trope. Also not to be confused with [[Gender -Inverted Trope]], when not a particular ''character'', but a whole ''trope'' is flipped from its usually expected gender.

* The Chinese epic ''[[Romance of the Three Kingdoms]]'' gets ''three'' series that feature most of its historically male characters as attractive females: some [[Ikki Tousen|voluptuous]], some [[Koihime Musou|moe]], some [[RyofukochanRyofuko-chan|lolicious]]. As for the historically ''female'' characters, such as Diao Chan, the result in ''[[Koihime Musou]]'' was... [[Norio Wakamoto|terrifying]].

* In what can be considered a [[Memetic Mutation]] outbreak, gender-flipped versions of the cast of ''[[Haruhi Suzumiya|Suzumiya Haruhi]]'' recently took the internet by storm, with Kyonko at the center of it all. There are even ongoing fan projects, which can be read at [http://www.baka-tsuki.net/project/index.php?title=Suzumiya_Haruki_no_Seitenkan Baka-Tsuki] and at [https://web.archive.org/web/20100115201227/http://wiki.sos-dan.com/wiki/Category:Genderbending the SOS-dan wiki] to ''completely [[Gender Flip]] the light novels''. Both were born on this [http://forums.animesuki.com/showthread.php?t=63152 Animesuki thread]. It also has a [[Suzumiya Haruhi no Seitenkan|page on this wiki]].

** There are gender flipped [[Fan Dub]] [[Image Song|Image Songs]]s. And at least [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZzCyLAT6iQ Kyonko's version of Kentai Life Returns] is good.

** ANY''Any'' [[Image Song]] by Yuuki Nagato prompts [[Bishie Sparkle|Bishie Sparkles]]s from fangirls. There is also an english version of Yuuki Nagato's Select image song [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGlVh9F4Rjk that you can listen here.] Haruki is just as GAR as [[Fate/stay night|Archer]], and Mitsuuru is basically a cute little boy.

* Several fans have [[Epileptic Trees|theorized]] that the three leads of ''[[Neon Genesis Evangelion]]'' are [http://rule63.paheal.net/_images/a831ce96b3bbeb719516c8cc3c230e0f/8311%20-%20Asuka_Langley_Sohryu%20Neon_Genesis_Evangelion%20Rei_Ayanami%20Shinji_Ikari.jpg examples]{{Dead link}}; noting [http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y176/may_chan/TG%20Images/Evangelion/Evangelion_TG_Would_be_Better.jpg how few would speak ill of] a [[The Woobie|sad little]] [[Moe]] Shinji, [[Hot-Blooded]] [[Jerkass]] Asuka, and [[The Stoic]] Rei were they the opposite genders. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_pQM730gFc This Video] shows a nice example of that idea.

* ''[[Sailor Moon]]'' is, effectively, a [[Gender Flip]] of the typical [[Five-Man Band]] [[Sentai]] series.

** Similarly, [[Claymore]] is basically a [[Gender Flip]] of the typical Fighting [[Shounen]] series.

* ''[[MaiMy-HiME]]'' has a bit of this. Tate Yuuichi, the only [[Kendo Team Captain|masculine]] male protagonist in the show, is constantly frustrated by the fact that he's [[Distressed Dude in Distress|completely helpless]] compared to all the [[Magical Girl|MagicalGirls]] despite his (rusty) kendo skills (which would make him a [[Badass Normal]] in other shows), and even ''gets told so to his face'' when he finally figures out the [[Masquerade]].

* ''[[Strike Witches]]'', which features gender flipped versions of real life WWII [[Ace Pilot|Ace Pilots]]s.

{{quote| '''Kallen''':''"If only you had justice!"''}}

* Lots of ''[[Axis Powers Hetalia]]'' fanart feature the [[Cast Full of Pretty Boys]] being turned into a [[Bishoujo Series|cast full of pretty]] ''[[Bishoujo Series|girls]]''. Female!England and Male!Hungary are particularly popular. As for the author's reactions... [[media:minnna.jpg|well...]]

** Himaruya recentlycreated updateda post on his blog [http://himaruya.blog61.fc2.com/blog-entry-858.html#more with more genderflips]. Including Taiwan, who goes from a [[Genki Girl]] to a cute little boy [[Real Men Wear Pink|with a flowery jacket pin.]] [[And the Fandom Rejoiced]].

* Similar to the ''[[Haruhi Suzumiya]]'' example above, it's become popular among fans to make male versions of songs from ''[[K-On!]]''. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2LhKmsy_M0 Here's] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9Ee04NFf74 a few] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I813drN6nI0 examples.]

* ''[[Kodomo no Jikan]]'' had a gender flip [[Omake]], and since then there have been several gender flipped [[Imagine Spot|Imagine Spots]]s, and even a short (non-canon, obviously) manga story that came with the 3rd OAV DVD. Most people find one version less squicky than the other, which is ironic considering its purpose was to lampshade [[Double Standards]].

* Similarly, some ''[[Exiles (Comic Book)|Exiles]]'' stories had the team visit worlds with Gender flipped versions of Marvel heroes.

* Tristan in ''[[Camelot 3000]]'' is a rare simultaneous example of [[Gender Flip]] and [[Gender Bender]]. The "role" of Sir Tristan is recast (via reincarnation) for a female... but Lady Tristan remembers her life as a man.

** [[Zatanna]] (for her father, Zatara)

* In the original [[The Bronze Age of Comic Books|Bronze Age]] continuity (and, apparently, in the "Post-Zero Hour" continuity), the [[Legion of Super-Heroes]]' [[The Commissioner Gordon|Science Police liason]] Shvaughn Erin was a woman. The "Five Years Later" continuity retconned her into being a [[TranssexualTranssexualism]] named ''Sean'' Erin, who stopped using [[Advanced Phlebotinum|Pro-Fem]] when he realised [[Suddenly Sexuality|Element Lad was actually gay]].

* ''[[The Authority]]'' briefly dabbled with this by introducing an alternate universe in which all sexes were reversed. At one point Midnighter recruits an entire army of reversed-sex superheroes, although they are instantly killed on the next page.

* In "[httphttps://wwwweb.archive.org/web/20140401211439/http://surlalunefairytales.com/hanselgretel/stories/mollyrosetree.html MollyThe WhuppieRose Tree]" is classified among, the tales[[Wicked ofStepmother|stepchild]] theis typea "Thegirl, Smallunlike ''Boy''most Defeatsvariants theof Ogre"this tale, likesuch as "[https://web.archive.org/web/20130921113251/http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/hopomythumbauthors/indexgrimms/47junipertree.html Hop O'The MyJuniper ThumbTree]".

* In "[http://www.surlalunefairytalessacred-texts.com/hanselgretelneu/eng/storieschild/rosetreech271.htmlhtm The RoseLord Tree]",of Lorn and the [[WickedFalse Stepmother|stepchild]Steward]" isfeatures a girl,hero unlikein mosta variantstale ofnormally thistold talewith a heroine, such as "[https://web.archive.org/web/20170618020621/http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/authors/grimmsgoosegirl/47junipertreeindex.html The JuniperGoose TreeGirl]".

* Done in two recentmany versions of ''[[Treasure Island]]''. In ''Muppet Treasure Island'', Benwhich Gunnlacks isany changedfemale tocharacters Benjaminabesides GunnJim's justmom so(who [[Theisn't Muppets|Missin Piggy]]most can have a role to play. In ''[[Treasure Planet]]'',of the captain is a [[Catgirl|feline lady alien]] named Ameliastory).

* The title character of ''[[Salt]]'' was originally named Edward and played by [[Tom Cruise]], but he dropped out. When [[Angelina Jolie]] stepped in, the writers changed Ed to Evelyn and also decided to make Salt's spouse less of a [[Distressed Damsel in Distress]].

* The original Abba recording of "Does Your Mother Know?" was an older man singing to a barely (or possibly not quite) legal girl, whereas in [[Mamma Mia!]] it's flipped to a middle-aged woman singing to the very persistent and very young man who's pursuing her.

* ''[[Ran]]'' is a partial [[Gender Flip]] of ''[[King Lear]]'', changing the gender of the daughters and Edmund.

* Terry Pratchett is fond of genderswapped gags in his ''[[Discworld]]'' books.

** In ''[[Discworld/The Light Fantastic|The Light Fantastic]]'' Cohen the barbarian attempts to free the virgin girl sacrifice from the deadly druid priesthood. He goes through the priests like a chainsaw through butter, but Cohen is about 90 years old at this point, and his back goes out. He ends up fleeing the temple, slung over the shoulder of the virgin girl.

** In ''[[Discworld/Moving Pictures|Moving Pictures]]'', a film image of a woman is possessed by an [[Eldritch Abomination]], who transforms into a 50-foot monster. It immediately grabs up the Librarian (a male ape), and attempts to climb the 888-foot Tower of Art at Unseen University.

** In ''[[Discworld/Monstrous Regiment|Monstrous Regiment]]'' the whole point of the story is that the 'Male Only' military is really half female.

** ''[[Discworld/Equal Rites|Equal Rites]]'' has elements of ''[[Earthsea Trilogy|A Wizard Of Earthsea]]'', with Esk in Ged's role, and Granny Weatherwax as both the unnamed village witch and Ged's mentor Ogion.

** InAnd then there''[[s the non-Discworld/Lords andstory Ladies|Lords''Once and Ladies]]Future'', it'swhere a womantime whotraveller [[Knightstuck in Shiningthe Armour|getspast ends up in armour]] to savere-enacting the [[DistressedKing Dude|captured princeArthur]] legend ... (Thisexcept isfor partlythat athe straightking versionwho ofpulls [[Tamthe Lin]]sword andfrom Janet,the butstone shehappens didn'tto wearbe armour.)a woman.

* In ''[[The Hunger Games]],'' Katniss and Peeta are flips of [[Manly Men Can Hunt]] and [[Feminine Women Can Cook]], respectively. Peeta also spends much of the first book as a [[Distressed Dude in Distress]].

* The ''[[Battlestar Galactica Reimagined(2004 TV series)|The 2004 reboot]]'' remakeof [[GenderBattlestar FlipGalactica (1978 TV series)|Gender''Battlestar FlipsGalactica'']] Gender Flips Starbuck and Boomer (also a [[Race Lift]]) from the original. And Commander (now Admiral) Cain.

* The crew of the ''[[Red Dwarf]]'' ''meet'' the [[Gender Flip|GenderFlipped]] versions of themselves in a parallel universe.

* Djaq in ''[[Robin Hood (TV series)|Robin Hood]]'' is a [[Gender Flip]] of the Saracen outlaw seen in ''[[Robin of Sherwood]]'' (Nassir) and ''[[Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves]]'' (Azeem).

* The 2010 remake of ''[[Hawaii Five-O]]'' makes Kono a woman (renamed Kona, but still nicknamed "Kono"), played by Grace Park. Incidentally, she's best known as Sharon Valerii in ''[[Battlestar Galactica Reimagined]](2004 TV series)|the 2004 ''Battlestar Galactica'']], who is the gender-flipped Boomer.

* ''It Happened One Christmas'' (1977) is a TV-Movie [[Gender Flip]] of ''[[It's a Wonderful Life]]'' starring Marlo Thomas. Played completely straight.

{{quote| '''Stottlemeyer:''' That never happened.<br />

* When ''[[Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger]]'' was "[[Foreign Remake|remade]]" into ''[[Mighty Morphin Power Rangers]]'', the male Tiger Ranger became the female Yellow Ranger in order to have [[Two Girls to a Team|two female rangers]] instead of [[Smurfette Principle|just one]]. This practice was later repeated when four later ''[[Super Sentai]]'' shows were adapted into ''[[Power Rangers]]'' seasons: the male yellow rangers from ''[[Seijuu Sentai Gingaman|Gingaman]]'', ''[[Rescue Sentai Go Go Five|Gogo-V]]'', ''[[Mirai Sentai Timeranger|Timeranger]]'' and ''[[Hyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger|Gaoranger]]'' were turned into females in their corresponding adaptations (''[[Power Rangers Lost Galaxy|Lost Galaxy]]'', ''[[Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue|Lightspeed Rescue]]'', ''[[Power Rangers Time Force|Time Force]]'' and ''[[Power Rangers Wild Force|Wild Force]]''). This practice would cause inconsistencies between the imported Japanese footage and the locally-filmed new footage, in which the Yellow Ranger would switch from having a masculine figure in one scene to having a feminine one in the next. The less said about [[Rule 34|what the fanfic community made of this]], the better.

** The effects of this trope are best seen in the seasons that are actual adaptations of the source show, as the original would only use fight footage rather than adapting episode plots. For example:

*** Katie from ''[[Power Rangers Time Force]]'' was made similar to Domon from ''Timeranger'', although many of the latter's traits were given to Lucas and Trip. From what was left, Domon's nostalgia for sumo wrestling competitions got adapted as Katie missing her family, a much more emotional and feminine intake on the feeling; similarly, the subplot with Domon's relationship with a female photographer who discovered his identity was changed to a one-off deal between Katie and a male photographer who unmasked her that didn't go anywhere, due to males pursuing relationships being less common (and to make room for focus on the [[Spotlight-Stealing Squad|Rangers who wore any]] [[Law of Chromatic Superiority|shade of red]]).

*** Taylor from ''[[Power Rangers Wild Force]]'', on the other hand, was almost identical to Gaku from ''Gaoranger'' in terms of background and plot, the only major differences being personality -- Taylor was a bold [[Defrosting Ice Queen]], Gaku was friendly from the very beginning and somewhat quirky -- and rank -- Taylor was a lieutenant, whereas Gaku was a soldier-. As a female [[Lancer]] was proven successful the previous season, Taylor got a better end of the stick than her yellow predecessor, who was [[The Big Guy]] and therefore more expendable.

* ''[[Queen of Swords]]'' was pretty much a straight [[Gender Flip]] of [[Zorro]], to the point that Sony sued over its resemblance to the character and its 1998 ''Mask of Zorro'' film.<ref>The judge ruled against Sony, holding that both the original Zorro story and its first (1920) film adaptation were now in the public domain, and any similarities to the 1998 film were incidental.</ref>

* A Gender Flipped [[The Ghost|unseen character]] in ''[[Sherlock]]''; Watson's brother, "H. Watson", mentioned in "The Sign of Four", becomes John's ''sister'', Harry.

* ''[[Warehouse 13]]'' plays with this trope; H.G. Wells is split into two people; the real H.G. Wells is Helena G. Wells, the genius inventor, adventurer, and warehouse agent. The man recognized as H. G. Wells is her older brother Charles, who chronicled her adventures using her abbreviated name as a pen name.

== Tabletop Theatre Games ==

* ''Errand Into The Maze'' by Martha Graham is a [[Gender Flip]] of the [[Greek Mythology|Myth of Theseus and the Minotaur]], expressing in dance. The creature may or may not [[Mind Screw|be entirely in her mind, representing Fear]].

** In ''Lear'' (Maleczech, 1990), Lear was a queen and the conflict on division of the realm was among three sons, rather than three daughters. All of the dialog was left as found (save for pronouns).

* Gender flipping is not terribly uncommon in modern productions of Shakespeare, often as part of a [[Deconstruction|Deconstructionist]]ist, Feminist, and/or [[Darker and Edgier]] take on the material:

** Sara Bernhardt is by no means the only female Hamlet in movies -- Hamletmovies—Hamlet (1921) had Asta Nielsen as a female Hamlet who had been reared as a boy, and was much more interested in Horatio than Ophelia.

* ''Warriors Orochi Z'' recently features a genderflipped [[Distressed Dude in Distress|Tang Sanzang]] AKA [[Journey to the West|Genjou]] [[Saiyuki|Sanzou]] as their most recent addition.

* In ''[[Tekken]]'', Kunimitsu was initially a palette swap of Yoshimitsu, but in the second game, was [[Gender Flip|gender flipped]] and given a mostly-new moveset.

* [[Choice of Games]]' ''Choice Of Broadsides'' game allows you to play an entire ''genre'' under Gender Flipped conditions: rather than force the protagonist to be male, the player has the option of changing the setting to being [[Wooden Ships and Iron Men|Wooden Ships and Iron]] '''[[Gender Flip|Women]]'''. ''Choice of Romance'' is somewhat similar, but not quite as pronounced -- thepronounced—the game culture is a bisexual one. The player's choice of character sex and sexual orientation determines the sex of his/her suitors, but the suitors' characters remain the same.

* In the original ''[[Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge]]'', when Guybrush calls the [[Lucas ArtsLucasArts]] Help Desk (then LucasFilm Games Help Desk) on Dinky Island, the phone operator on the other end of the phone appears near him... and it appears to be [[Gender Blender Name|a woman named Chester]]! In the redrawn Special Edition, however, Chester the phone operator is now a man. Interestingly, both characters can be found in the Special Edition version, with female Chester appearing in Classic mode and male Chester appearing in the high-definition mode, and both characters even have unique voice actors.

* The main games in Red Entertainment's ''[[Sakura Wars]]'' franchise all feature male main characters. In 2010, the same company created a similar game called ''Scared Rider Zechs'', with a female lead and a harem of men.

* In the original version of [[Lucas ArtsLucasArts]]' 1990 fantasy adventure game ''[[Loom (video game)|Loom]]'', the main villain is Chaos, the King of the Dead. As an inhuman undead specter, Chaos' gender is determined only by the other characters' dialogue--anddialogue—and in the original release, they refer to ''him'' and ''he''. In the rewritten talkie PC CD version, however, the dialogue is changed so Chaos becomes ''she''. (This may have occurred in part because Chaos' design was based on the look of [[Sleeping Beauty (Disney film)|Maleficent]].)

* ''[[Fate/stay night]]'' and prequel ''[[Fate/Zero]]'' put a spin on a famous legend - {{spoiler|[[King Arthur]] was a handsome young ''lady'', but is still called "King Arthur."}}

** {{spoiler|Mordred}} too out of necessity since it's no longer possible to have the classic origin.* In the anime at least it's hard to say if {{spoiler|Bedivere}} is a case of this or is just a [[Bishonen]] with a [[Mamiko Noto|really girly voice]].

*** That'sAverted not right.with {{spoiler|Morded}}, who is a [[Bishonen]], not a woman. He just happens to look exactly like his mother because ''Fate/Staystay Nightnight'' rewrites his origins as {{spoiler|a homunculus based on his mother. }}

* [[Sherlock Holmes|Colonel Sebastian Moran]] and Henry Irving from the [[Sherlock Holmes]] cycle have both been genderflipped in ''[[Shikkoku no Sharnoth]]'', though for the former it's quite possibly that it is not her real name.

* The doujin soft game ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20080116162616/http://www.download.com/3000-20-10536283.html Go! Magical Boy]'' is a [[Romance Game]] that switches the genders of the [[Magical Girl]] genre. {{spoiler|Well, mostly -- the player character looks like a girl to others when transformed and has to give up his powers to a legitimate girl in the end. So not the best game ever.}}

** Sir Bromell, Elaine of Carbonek's knight protector, is an interesting example -- heexample—he's a male knight in the baseline arc just like in the legends, and female in the contemporary one (where he and Elaine only exist in Arthur's webcomic). But because AKOTAS-Elaine is based on Helen from ''[[Narbonic]]'', the baseline Bromell is actually a gender-flipped version of Mell.

* ''[[Spinnerette]]'' is a Gender Flip of ''[[Spider-Man]]''.

* In ''[[Mechanical Maniacs]]'', the ''[[Mega Man 3]]'' [[Quirky Miniboss Squad|Robot Masters]] are [[Author Avatar|Author Avatars]]s. After the first series of epilogues, Anton, the Needleman of the team, departed. For series 2, Gauntlet (Shadow Man)'s sister Psycho Magnet joined to fill the Needleman role, so the character became "Needlegal". During Series 5, Musashi Razz became inactive as Sparkman, so Classi Cal took over the role and it became "Spark Chan". And those are just the members that are still around -- aroundaround—around the same time Needleman became Needlegal, Sarah also took up the then-vacant Hardman role as "Hard Chick", until Series 2 ended.

** ''Barbie in [[A Christmas Carol]]'' (Ebenezer Scrooge is now an Victorian-era opera diva named Eden Starling)

* In the ''[[Captain Scarlet]]'' remake, Seymour Griffiths ([[Code Name]]: Lt. Green) is replaced by Serena Lewis (also [[Code Name|codenamed]] Lt. Green).

* In ''[[The Animals of Farthing Wood]]'' animated series Owl, Weasel and Adder, who were males in the books, were changed to females.

* When she was introduced in the second season of ''[[Winx Club]]'', the Pixie of Messages, Livy, was a girl. But in the [[Spin-Off]] series ''[[Pop Pixie]]'', she's now a guy with an [http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t26/Ziolerusya/Group/PopPixieLivy.png appearance]{{Dead link}} removing [http://images.wikia.com/winx/images/a/a2/Livy.png any trance of femininity that was part of her original design], her lack of eyelashes (all the female characters have them), and an outfit that (s)he wears when transformed by his/her Pixie Pop that resembles the other male pixies' costumes.

* ''[[The Powerpuff Girls]]'' episode "Superfriends" contains a gender flip of the version of the [[LovedDuty IFirst, NotLove Honor MoreSecond]] problem that usually only male heroes deal with, but with a new friend instead.

{{quote| '''Bubbles:''' Hey, Robyn, we're sorry...<br />

'''Buttercup:''' ... we left you behind all the time.<br />

'''Blossom:''' It was never because we didn't like you, it's just...<br />

* The show ''[[Transformers Animated]]'' actually changed the character of Red Alert from'' [[Transformers Armada|The]] [[Transformers Energon|Unicron]] [[Transformers Cybertron|Trilogy]]'' from a male to a female for their own version of Red Alert. In fact, they originally wanted [[The Medic|Ratchet]] to be female and have Red Alert's name, but the final version of the show changed Ratchet back into a male, and made Red Alert a separate character.

* [[Sherlock Holmes in Thethe Twenty Second22nd Century]] has Inspector Lestrade as a female (she's a descendant of the male Lestrade from the original [[Sherlock Holmes]] stories, and also a major fan of the master detective in general).

* ''[[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic|My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic]]'' did this to the [[My Little Pony|genGen 3]] pony Star Swirl, who was mentioned but not seen and called Star Swirl the Bearded.

* The creators of ''[[Animaniacs]]'' couldn't get the rights to use [[Screwy Squirrel]], and thus, the equally violent Slappy Squirrel was born.

[[Category:Visual Novel{{PAGENAME}}]]