: Artist Touko Laaksonen (Tom of Finland) created a highly influential aesthetic of "sexed-up" cartoon men that depicted a fantasy world of physical fitness and desirability as a response to negative real-world portrayals of gay men. Adult and Explicit Animation (Hentai & Bara)
In adult-oriented animation, gay themes are often categorized into specific genres, primarily originating from Japan: gay toon sex
: Explicit gay animated content began in the underground comix scene. For instance, artist Rand Holmes featured explicit same-sex acts in his 1971 work to challenge contemporary homophobia. : Artist Touko Laaksonen (Tom of Finland) created