In the past few years, major television shows like Pose and Orange Is The New Black have started to bring transgender characters and stories to the forefront of pop culture. But in the not-so-distant past, it was the fans' responsibility to identify and create their own trans icons based on complex, detailed theories. Such is the case with Danny Phantom, the titular lead of the popular Nickelodeon animated series that ran from 2004-2007. Could this beloved character have a secret trans history that fans have unearthed?
The Double Meaning Of Transformation
In "Danny Phantom," Danny is a teenage boy who, after an accident in his parents' laboratory, becomes half-ghost. He has the ability to transform at any time from a normal human boy into a ghost, in which state he fights other malicious or mischievous ghosts. But he keeps this double identity a secret from everyone except his sister and his two best friends.
One of the most obvious signs many fans identify as evidence of Danny's trans identity is the physical difference between his human and ghost bodies. The regular Danny has a more feminine physique, with narrow shoulders and large hips, while his ghost form suddenly has a much more manly figure with broad shoulders and a tiny waist. Many speculate that this is representative of how his ghost/male form, while hidden, is his ideal form, since this is where he gains his powers and feels most confident.
One fan named Mallika S. pointed out on Mashable, "Any sort of character who has a magical transformation is Trans culture because the duality of 'normal'/'magical' selves represents being in the closet. Yeah like, there’s a 'magical' version of you that’s incredibly powerful and also 'who you really are' but you have to keep it a secret from your family? That’s Trans Baby."
What One Fan Essay Had To Say
It seems that the rumors about Danny being trans were at least spread, if not started entirely, by one online essay with over 33,000 views. Wattpad contributor Polyplants wrote a detailed piece titled "Danny Fenton is transgender" that examined all the possible moments from the show that could have hinted at Danny's identity—and there were many. They broke down multiple quotes, screenshots, plot lines, and pivotal moments that don't add up for a cis character to create their detailed theory.
In one example, Polyplants points out an episode in which the characters are at a swimming pool, and Danny is the only visibly male figure who has a shirt on. They argue that this speaks to Danny's fears of revealing his chest because he does not have a standard male physique.
Another key piece of physical evidence occurs in one episode where the villain clones Danny to fight against himself, but his clone is female. This is a major indicator that Danny's biological makeup may still be largely feminine.
The Verdict
In any case, as the internet has shown us, fans will keep coming up with their own theories about their favorite TV and movie characters—and whether publicly debunked or not, some of them eventually gain so much traction that they become part of the canon. Trans Danny is certainly no exception.