"Nyotaika" (JP) is a term for a male character that was magically transformed into a biological female. This may be a temporary transformation, or it may be permanent.
It is the male counterpart of nantaika.
Etymology
Meaning of the Term
Nyotaika (女体化) comes from "nyo" (女), meaning "female", "tai" (体) meaning "body", and "ka" (化), meaning "transformation". All together it can be translated as "female body transformation".[2]
Alternate Spelling
It is also sometimes alternatively spelled as "にょたいか" using hiragana.[1]
History
This archetype gained the most popularity following the release of the 1987 manga series Ranma½ (JP). The story follows the character of Ranma Saotome, who after falling into a mystical pond in China becomes capable of transforming into a woman anytime he touches cold water, while touching hot water would turn him back into a man. Throughout the series, he changes back and forth between male and female many times.
Another popular series that used this archetype was the 2017 manga series Onimai: I'm Now Your Sister! (JP), which followed the coming-of-age story of Mahiro Oyama after he was secretly transformed into a girl by his younger sister.
More recently this archetype was used in the 2020 yuri manga series Ayakashi Triangle (JP), in which Matsuri Kazamaki is cursed by an ayakashi and forced to live as a woman. Throughout the series, the idea of how romantic attraction is unrelated to gender is explored, as seen by the character of Suzu Kanade who continues developing a crush on Matsuri despite his new female appearance.
The archetype of nyotaika is also really popular in fan works, with fans of different series drawing "female versions" of popular male characters.
Characteristics
Nyotaika are male characters that are magically transformed into a female. The method in which nyotaika are transformed into women can differ greatly depending on the series, but this is typically in the form of magic, a curse, or a scientific experiment.
Some nyotaika characters are even able to switch back and forth, though not necessarily always by their own control.
In contrast to an archetype like otokonoko, or a male character that looks like a woman, nyotaika is not at all related to cross-dressing or simply 'looking' like a woman and is entirely a fictitious phenomenon where a male character becomes a biological female.[3]
Personality
In most cases, nyotaika will simply keep acting like men despite now having the body of a woman. This is especially true for transformations that are only temporary. However, nyotaika that are changed for longer periods of time (or even permamently) may start to act more feminine over time.
It is not uncommon for nyotaika characters to temporarily adopt female versions of their names as well for the duration they are transformed.
Similar Japanese Archetypes
- Gijinka: A term for a non-human object that was transformed into a cute human character.
- Nantaika: A term for a female character that was magically transformed into a male.
- Otokonoko: A term for a male character that looks like a woman.
List of Characters
Gallery
 Ranma Saotome from Ranma½  Ranma Saotome from Ranma½  Mahiro Oyama from Oniichan ha Oshimai!  Mahiro Oyama from Oniichan ha Oshimai!  Matsuri Kazamaki from Ayakashi Triangle  Matsuri Kazamaki from Ayakashi Triangle |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Nyotai-ka. - Volume 1. Media Factory (2009/11/21).
- ↑ What is Nyotaika. Pixiv Encyclopedia.
- ↑ Nyotaika. Baidu Encyclopedia.
| v • eAndrogynous Archetypes | ||
|---|---|---|
| Female |
Bokukko ♡ Dansou no Reijin ♡ Ikemen Joshi ♡ Orekko ♡ Otenba Musume ♡ Otoko Masari | |
| Male |
Bishounen ♡ Josou Danshi ♡ Okama ♡ Otokonoko ♡ Nekama | |
| Both | ||