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Shoujo-Ai is a genre of anime that focuses more on softer and non-explicit relationships between women, (different from the genre from yuri) with feelings and the development of the relationship highlighted throughout the show.
There are many anime that can be classified as Shoujo-Ai, but some of them are clearly dated and did not age well, if not outright being problematic upon first airing. As such, many people want to break into the Shoujo-Ai genre, but don’t know where to start, from light and fluffy anime about two girls falling in love to more poetic stories of love and self-acceptance.
7 Inugami-san To Nekoyama-san
Each episode of Inugami-san to Nekoyama-san is only about four minutes, making this series easy for anyone who just wants a bite-sized anime to watch every now and then. Yachiyo Inugami is an extrovert who loves cats, while Suzu Nekoyama is an introvert that prefers dogs.
Despite their differences, the two of them find themselves drawn towards each other, due to their attraction to one another that they cannot explain. Though the story lacks significant substance, the amount of light-hearted interactions between the two girls makes this an easy watch for anyone looking to get into the Shoujo-Ai anime scene.
6 Sasameki Koto
Otherwise known as Whispered Words, Sasameki Koto is a Shoujo-Ai anime about two people who are supposedly total opposites coming together and finding love in one another. This story follows Murasame Sumika, the popular girl in high school who’s well known for her high grades and for being good at sports.
Murasame, however, has a secret in that she is deeply, madly, impossibly in love with her classmate, Kazama Ushio. Ushio is also into women as well, but has not noticed Marasame’s feelings for her, as she is typically only into women who are considered to be “small” or “cute.” Can they find love within one another?
5 Sakura Trick
In Sakura Trick, two best friends, Haruka Takayama and Yuu Sonoda have made a plan to attend the same high school together, Misato High School. However, it turns out that, despite being assigned to the same class, the two of them are seated on complete opposite ends. On top of that, the school will be shut down in three years, too!
As such, Haruka has decided to stick as close as possible to Yuu and make as many memories with her as possible. However, she grows insecure over how Yuu is so popular with the other girls, before sharing a deep kiss with her in an empty classroom.
4 Yuru Yuri
Otherwise known as YuruYuri: Happy Go Lily, Yuru Yuri is a slice-of-life anime about three girls who form the Amusement Club in their school. Akari Akaza has to go a year in grade school without her friends, Yui Funami and Kyouko Toshinou.
When she’s reunited with them, she learns that the two girls had formed a new club, known as the Amusement Club. Of course, Akari decides to join; this is followed by one of their fellow classmates, Chinatsu Yoshikawa. The anime follows the four girls fawning over one another, all while playing up a running joke of not even noticing Akari being among them.
3 Yagate Kimi Ni Naru
Considered to be a favorite Shoujo-Ai anime, Yagate Kimi Ni Naru is more of a story about learning to love and be loved. It’s a story about Yuu Koito, who loves everything romance-related, and longs for the day somebody confesses their love to her.
However, there’s a problem – when her classmate confesses to her, she feels nothing towards him. Now worried and dejected, she turns toward the student council president, Touko Nanami, in hopes that she can help Yuu reject her suitor kindly. Much to Yuu’s complete and utter surprise, though, Touko decides to confess her own love to her!
2 Konohana Kitan
Konohana Kitan follows Yuzu, a fox girl, who’s working her first job. Yuzu is working as an attendant for Konohanatei’s traditional hot springs, though she has no actual experience working someplace so high-class.
The head attendant of the hot springs, named Kiri, decides to take Yuzu under her wing and help her get used to the job. Though she isn’t very good at first, Yuzu is eager to learn and means well, and the rest of the inn decides to all pitch in and help her get comfortable with the job. The story follows the daily life of Yuzu, bonding with the other workers and maybe even finding some romance along the way.
1 Asagao To Kase-San
Another story about two girls who could not be any more different, Asagao To Kase-San is considered by many to be one of the best Shoujo-Ai anime in the genre.
Yui Yamada is a shy high school girl who likes plants and gardening; she had never been in a relationship before she started dating Tomoka Kase. Tomoka, meanwhile, is the complete opposite of Yui – she’s the loud star of the school’s track team who’s always popular. Despite their differences, the two come together and start to bond with one another. Soon, Yui and Tomoka learn about what first love feels like.