To wrap up the Winter season, I decided to give Oniichan wa Oshimai (Older Brother is a Sister). This one presently surprised me, although it was controversial.
The story focuses on a hikikomori older brother named Oyama Mahiro. She used to stay home all day and play video games. When Mahiro wakes up, she finds herself in a young girl’s body. Before realizing it, her older sister, Mihari, slipped one of her experiments into the food, which worked too well.
While initially troubled by surprise, Mahiro adjusts to living as a girl. That is while reforming her old ways as a NEET while eventually returning to school and making new friends. All of course, with the help of her older sister, Mihari.
As expected, Oniichan wa Oshimai may be a gender-bending transgender fantasy. Still, it’s also a wholesome “cute girls doing cute things” show. Sure, there were some controversies with the fanservice, at least to some in the west. This is because Mahiro turned her older brother into a 14-year-old girl.
Still, I don’t see much controversy besides the lack of consent over experiments. Then again, Mihari probably noticed something about her brother, now little sister, that caused Mahiro to become a NEET. That is after failing entrance exams to get into a college.
Of course, seeing Mahiro reforming herself and even embracing her new gender identity is interesting. However, unlike Matsuri, as they never really fully embrace their new gender identity, especially given what Suzu wants, Mahiro embraces her life of being a girl.
It comes to the question, is Mahiro, a transwoman? I believe so. Sure, there are a few instances of wanting to protect her masculinity. Still, she also gravitates to wearing female clothing, keeping her hair long in a feminine hairstyle, and embracing feminine mannerisms and traits. In the last episode, Mahiro takes the drug as the effects begin to wear off during a trip with her friends. This makes it very clear that Mahiro is happier living as a girl than in her former life as a boy.
This makes you wonder why Mihari did what she did. There is a very high chance that Mahiro was suffering from gender dysphoria. This could have led her to become depressed, which resulted in failing the college entrance exams and isolating herself. There are some of the actual symptoms transgender people face. The fact that Mahiro is happier living like a girl. This makes it evident despite having an anatomy-correct female body, but mentally, she needed to realize this.
With that, it’s easy to relate to Mahiro’s interests since I am into video games, anime, and manga. However, I do like the other characters. We know that Mihari is very supportive of Mahiro and helps her arrange activities to help rehabilitate her. Kaede, who is a gyaru girl and also Mihari’s friend, also introduces herself and even does her makeup. She also helps get her younger sister, a tomboy, closer to Mahiro. While seeing Mahiro discover that Momiji is a girl, they eventually become best friends.
While they do activities quite a bit, I like how they got matching scarves, thanks to Mihari and Kaede. Also, the many yuri moments between the two, especially that date. I like how Mahiro gets Momiji to try out some girly clothes at a shop, and the fact that Momiji acts like a Chuunibyou is quite funny.
As for the other two classmates, Miyo and Asahi, Asahi is the usual cheerful girl who likes sports. Then, of course, there is Miyo, who is well endowed at her age, but also secretly into yuri. She has good taste as she whips copies of Wataten, Sasayaku You ni Koi o Utau, Watashi no Oshi ha Akuyaku Reijou, and Yuruyuri. She has pretty good taste.
Lastly, I can’t stress enough that the production is outstanding. Studio Bind put a lot of care and attention into this show. This is not surprising since their staff is treated well. They even received all the supplies and snacks from the fans.
It does feel like a passion project, as the director of Mushoku Tensei can work on it after they finish the show. What came out is an excellent Transgender Fantasy, probably a yuri show. Suppose you can look past the initial controversies. In that case, Oniichan wa Oshimai offers a very enjoyable CGDCT show with much to offer.
The surprise of the season. I had to be convinced to check it out and am glad I was. What a wonderful Girls’ Club show this was with a neat trans-female protagonist. At least that’s how we see Mahiro.
This show made me happy many times after Episode 3 when it really got going. Love Mahiro X Momiji and Kaede X Mihari. Besides the rest of the excellent cast a special shout out goes to our fantastic champion Miyo. Bless her for being an inspiration to cultured people everywhere.
Agreed, it surprised me as well and it was a solid CGDCT show with some nice yuri as well. But yes, Mahiro and Momiji is so good, and it’s interesting that we have a nice Yuri fan, Miyo whipping out the best titles. Still, one of the biggest surprises of the season.