Almost exactly one year ago, my Dad made fun of some some cosplayers heading to the annual anime convention. This single mention sent me on the following sequence of thoughts and actions:
Remembering that I always wanted to go to anime conventions back in high school but was scared of my family disapproving.
Realizing that, now that I'm an adult with my own car and money, I can go without even telling anyone.
Realizing that, if I went, I'd want to cosplay.
Realizing that, even though I thought of myself as male at the time, the only cosplay that was appealing to me were female characters, specifically Hitori Gotoh from Bocchi the Rock.
Studying and practicing makeup to see if I could pass as a woman, specifically Hitori.
Despairing that I would never know enough makeup to pass as a woman.
Realizing from the crippling dysphoria I was suddenly feeling (and a bunch of other shit that I'd repressed for years) that I was trans.
Coming out to a bunch of people.
Getting laser hair removal.
Going on HRT.
Buying a $32.99 Hitori Gotoh cosplay set.
Buying a ticket for the local anime convention.
And tomorrow I'll go to the convention wearing the cosplay that sparked my transition. Thank you, Bocchi!
the reason there's no english dub of bocchi yet actually isn't because the songs are difficult to translate to a satisfactory degree, or because the jokes are hard to translate, or because the dubbing companies aren't willing. they actually have the dub completed and ready to go. all of the characters have english dub voice actors. their lines are all dubbed. except for bocchi's. they've tried a lot of potential voice actors for bocchi but every time they attempt the episode 4 glitch scream, they die. the scream is so visceral and painful that they just pass away on the spot. nobody can understand how yoshino aoyama did it and lived. countless voice actors have met a grim demise trying to do her scream. it's really quite tragic.