Thank you very much for expressing interest in this research: Before you proceed, please read through this information statement. Please only proceed once you have read this information sheet and are happy to be involved. If you have any questions, please contact:
ashley.remminga@utas.edu.au.

The research is being carried out by the following researchers:
Ashley Remminga – Department of Politics, Media and Languages
Dr. Emerald L King – Department of Politics, Media and Languages
Dr. Louise Richardson-Self – English and Philosophy
This research is being funded by the University of Tasmania.

What is the study about?
This project is looking at how gender-bending characters in anime (Japanese animation) and manga (Japanese comics) are read and received by gender-diverse individuals and communities. Do these kinds of anime and manga provide a space for escapism and affirmation? Do they provide representation where traditional Western media has failed (or refused) to do so? The research will be conducted via zoom at a later date. It will be in the form of a semi-structured interview. This form is to register as interested in participation in the interview. 

The information you provide will be used in the following ways:

• To develop a PhD thesis
• To write research journals
• To discuss at academic presentations
• To develop future research projects

Why have I been invited to participate?

You are eligible to take part in this study because you are:

• are living in Australia
• are aged 18 or over
• are gender-diverse
• are a consumer of anime and/or manga

Participation in this study is voluntary and confidential. You can skip any questions in the interview if you wish to do so. Please contact Ashley Remminga if you have any questions about the project.
ashley.remminga@utas.edu.au. 

What will you be asked to do?
If you agree to participate, we will ask you a series of questions via an online Zoom interview. The interview will run for approximately one hour. If you wish to skip a question or are no longer willing to participate at any time, you may leave. Your decision to withdraw at any point will not affect your relationship with the University of Tasmania.

What are the benefits?
We cannot guarantee that you will receive any direct benefit from this project. However, your contribution will enable us to conduct the research that is aimed at helping to inform and improve cultures, policies and practices of Gender Diverse inclusion in media and fandom events. It is also set to improve and shape our understanding of fandom studies, as there is a significant lack of research specifically into the ways in which gender-diverse individuals consume anime and manga. Additionally, there are very few studies on gender-bending anime and manga, so this research will become one of the pioneering studies in this field.

What are the risks?
Participation in the study is not expected to have any particular risks. However, with any study, there are always unforeseeable events that can occur. As this research will be collecting and publishing illustrative quotes, you may be able to recognise the comments you have provided in the final publication. If you have any concerns or experience anything that you are uncertain about, please contact us immediately so we can discuss the best way to manage your concerns.

Given that gender-bending is also a significant trope for pornographic anime and manga, this topic may be raised during the course of interviews.

You can contact Ashley Remminga or her Supervisor, Dr. Emerald King:
ashley.remminga@utas.edu.au
emerald.king@utas.edu.au

If you find anything in this survey distressing, please contact one of the following support
services:
Qlife (LGBTQIA+ Support service) 1800 184 527
Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636
Lifeline 13 11 14

What will happen to information about me?
The information will be anonymised, and a unique code will be provided that indicates only your gender identity (as self-provided) and a number. The information you provide, including quotes, will be used in the following ways:

• To develop a PhD thesis
• To write research journals
• To discuss at academic presentations
• To develop future research projects

Given this is a pioneering study in the field, the findings may result in additional areas of research to explore, and as such, this research adopts an extended consent model. This means that the data may be used in (i) an extension of, or closely related to, the original project; or (ii) in the same general area of research.

The interview will be conducted live via Zoom and recorded. The recorded interviews will be stored in a UTAS Dropbox account. The data will be kept for 3 years after data collection is complete and destroyed thereafter. The storage, transfer and destruction of your data will be undertaken in accordance with the UTAS Data Management Procedure:
https://www.utas.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/1551769/Research-Data-ManagementProcedure.pdf.

Your email address will be collected as part of this expression of interest only as a means to schedule an appropriate time to conduct the interview. It will also be stored separately from your interview on the UTAS cybersecurity-approved LimeSurvey and will be destroyed upon completion of the interview. You may also change your mind between completing this form and before the interview is undertaken. You may contact the research team to request that your email be removed from the data storage and destroyed.

How can I find out the results?
If you would like to receive a summary of the findings from the study, please contact Dr Emerald King at emerald.king@utas.edu.au after December 2026. 

Who can I contact for questions or want more information?
If you would like to speak to us, please contact Ashley Remminga:
ashley.remminga@utas.edu.au

What if I have a complaint?
If you have a complaint about any part of this study, please contact the Senior Research Ethics Officer [+61 3 6226 6254] human.ethics@utas.edu.au with the ethics reference number [H40172]. If you have read and understood this Participant Information Statement, please read the following statement and indicate your consent to participate in this study.