The crossdressing genre in anime has gained notable popularity in recent years, attracting a large audience for its intriguing plots and unique characters. This genre is characterized by featuring one or more main characters who, although they identify with their biological sex, dress in a way that often causes them to be mistaken for the opposite sex. The act of dressing as the opposite sex is a central theme in these stories, adding an additional layer of complexity and emotion to the narrative.

On many occasions, the protagonist tries to hide his identity or achieve some goal through crossdressing. This creates situations full of tension and suspense, as the character must balance their daily life while keeping their secret. In other cases, if the character simply enjoys crossdressing, the story focuses on how the important people in their life react or come to accept it.

This focus on social and personal dynamics makes the genre very appealing to viewers, as it allows for the exploration of themes of identity, acceptance, and the complexities of human relationships. The characters often find themselves in comical, dramatic, and emotional situations, providing a wide range of emotions for the audience.

On the popular platform MyAnimeList, users have extensively rated and discussed the best anime in the genre. Below, we present a list of the highest rated crossdressing animes according to user reviews:

• 20. Otome wa Boku ni Koishiteru: Futari no Elder The Animation (6.78 points).
• 19. Maria†Holic Viva (6.95 points).
• 18. Jintian Kaishi Zuo Mingxing (Re: STARS) (6.95 points).
• 17.Princess Princess (6.97 points).
• 16. Stop!! Hibari-kun! (6.99 points).
• 15. Maria†Holic (7.00 points).
• 14. Otome wa Boku ni Koishiteru (Otoboku: Maidens are falling in love with me!) (7.02 points).
• 13. Bishounen Tanteidan (Pretty Boy Detective Club) (7.02 points).
• 12. Aoharu x Kikanjuu (Aoharu x Machine Gun) (7.15 points)
• 11. Aoharu x Kikanjuu: Kemono-tachi no Senjou da na! (Aoharu x Machinegun: This is a battlefield for beasts!) (7.18 points)

10. May Chiki! (7.22 points)

9. Shinpi no Sekai El-Hazard (El Hazard: The Magnificent World) (7.26 points)

8. Onnanoko ni Naritai (I Want to Be a Girl) (7.33 points)

7. Hakata Tonkotsu Ramens (7.37 points)

6. Saijaku Tamer wa Gomi Hiroi no Tabi wo Hajimemashita. (The weakest tamer started a journey to collect trash) (7.56 points)

5. COLORS (7.57 points)

4. Hourou Musuko Specials (Wandering Son Specials) (7.59 points)

3. Hourou Musuko (Wandering Son) (7.69 points)

2. Kuragehime (Princess Medusa) (8.11 points)

1. Ouran Koukou Host Club (Ouran High School Host Club) (8.16 points)

Source: My anime list