©Spica Aoki/KADOKAWA/Project KAIJU GIRL CARAMELISE
I’ve joked about Manatsu being a kaiju chaser before, and her island excursion provides a perfect opportunity for me to explain and explore that concept in earnest. I’ve been taking the trans tack in every other review so far. Why stop now? Because once again, Kaiju Girl Caramelise‘s perspective on womanhood and romance is shockingly adept when considered through a transgender lens.
First, let me clarify the terminology. A “chaser,” broadly speaking, is somebody who pursues relationships with trans people and who is primarily motivated by and attracted to their transness. More often than not, the term refers to cisgender men who seek out trans women, but broadly speaking, it covers any gender of cis person interested in any gender of trans person. Naturally, though, there is nuance. We would not want to apply this umbrella to every relationship between a cis person and a trans person, because plenty of those are rooted in healthy places. Rather, chasers are labeled such due to their fetishistic fixation on trans bodies.
That sounds bad, obviously. We are people, not fetish objects. However, as is often the case, reality is a far thornier consideration than abstract theory. We live in a deeply transphobic society, and most trans people (including myself, to be perfectly honest) internalize hateful thought patterns that damn us as fundamentally unattractive and unlovable. If someone comes along and is strongly attracted to us, even if it is through this objectifying lens, we’re primed to be susceptible to their approach. While that could be enough of a foundation for a quick fling, should one choose that, it’s not a great foot to start a lasting connection on. Therefore, chasers are a phenomenon most trans folk learn to look out for one way or another.
So where does Manatsu fit in? If we extrapolate my interpretation of the series’ theme—that “kaiju” means “trans”—then Manatsu’s over-the-top kaiju fangirling takes on a chaser-like connotation. Note that her ravings are usually sexual in nature. She begs Harugon to step on her and crush her, which are part of the modern masochistic vernacular. We could also interpret this as Manatsu wanting Harugon to top her, which is a common sentiment among chasers of trans women in particular. Tied to this is the fact that she thinks Harugon is a man. I don’t think most chasers will consciously misgender trans people; however, their fixations are usually centered on the parts of a trans body that are “nonstandard,” thus reinforcing the concept that we are distinct from our cis counterparts.
Another interesting point found in this particular episode is that Manatsu dresses up like Harugon; she wears the full-body costume in the opening scene, and then Rairi helps her into a more fashionable approximation on the island. There are several interpretations here. One is that chasers, in their pursuit, will sometimes adapt the adornments or aesthetics of trans people. This could be a conscious choice to appeal to their quarry more, or it could a subconscious result of spending a lot of time around trans people. Some chasers are closeted or unaware trans folks themselves (“egg” is the technical term), so that may be a cause as well. More broadly, this speaks to the phenomenon of appropriation, with the obviously non-kaiju Manatsu makes herself look similar to Kuroe’s partially transformed state. The giant claws and tail are parts that bother Kuroe, yet Manatsu wears them loudly and proudly. An important distinction, of course, is that Manatsu can take hers on and off as she pleases.
Stepping back outside of this lens, I’m not saying Manatsu is a reprehensible character, nor that her behavior maps cleanly onto a chaser mentality. I think she’s a funny part of the supporting cast in this quirky romantic comedy, and I think she’s another way in which Kuroe comes to realize that her kaiju nature is not a curse. Once again, Kuroe saves the day by transforming, and she reciprocates Manatsu’s friendship by giving her a taste of Minami’s sky-high sightseeing experience last week. On the flip side, Manatsu’s genuine adoration of Harugon is her way of reciprocating the “light” that the giant lizard has brought to her life. Therefore, even though her role in the story is a largely comedic one, her connection to Kuroe/Harugon has stronger roots than a fetish for being smooshed.
Meanwhile, Kuroe inches closer to the revelation that she was born a kaiju, which has its own set of transgender implications, but we can save that for another episode. The media frenzy around Minami hasn’t abated either, and one particularly clever TV producer manages to sweet-talk him into a variety show appearance, much to Kuroe’s chagrin. Minami is visibly uncomfortable and out of his depth, and I like that the anime adapts all of the loud and maximalist aesthetic trappings of these programs (and double-props to the subtitle formatting for matching so well). They sensationalize his romantic connection with Harugon with a sideshow-esque fervor, because who in their right mind would date a kaiju? Minami, to his credit, does not give into that fervor. He thinks his connection to Harugon is normal, and says as much to Manatsu when she grills him. He also genders Harugon correctly on TV. That boy is all right. Here’s hoping he can stand up to the media blitzkrieg.
Rating:
KAIJU GIRL CARAMELISE is currently streaming on
Crunchyroll.
Sylvia is on Bluesky for all of your posting needs. She is a girl who likes kaiju. You can also catch her chatting about trash and treasure alike on This Week in Anime.
Disclosure: Kadokawa World Entertainment (KWE), a wholly owned subsidiary of Kadokawa Corporation, is the majority owner of Anime News Network, LLC. One or more of the companies mentioned in this article are part of the Kadokawa Group of Companies.
