Female Anime Characters With An Awkward Brother Complex

It wouldn't be fair in anime to portray only men as sibling-obsessed creeps, so a lot of anime dabble in the female siscon (sister complex anime) equivalent, brocon (brother complex anime). Granted, brocons aren't as outright aggressive or obnoxious as siscons. They're more repressed or clever in their approach to ensnare their brothers into eternal romantic servitude.

This creates a cocktail for some rather awkward scenarios and personalities that can rival even the most fanatical of male siscons. And, of course, the fact that they're somewhat adorable physically, makes their existence even more challenging to condemn. So for those in the mood for some rather conflicting taboo practitioners in anime, these brocons ought to put some boundaries in question.

Updated January 28, 2025, by Rie Takumi: Sibling incest is a controversial topic, but one familiar to anime fans and non-anime watchers. Unfortunately, it’s oftentimes used to disparage and dismiss anime as a medium, especially when the poster only has a passing familiarity with anime. In reality, most anime don’t have brother complexes or brocon, or similar themes. Those that do, however, generally fall into three categories: an anime full of fanservice, one that has brocon on the side, and works that explore what brother complexes can do to familial relationships. Characters with brother complexes are also frequently side characters. When they’re the main characters, brocon is either the point of the anime or plays a big part in it.

1 Tomoko Kuroki (WataMote)

Socially Awkward Sibling Relies On Socially Normal Brother

Tomoko Kuroki's brother complex from WataMote isn't as straightforward as others, and that's what makes it complex and awkward. She's a recluse whose social awkwardness is bordering on clinical; thankfully, her less socially awkward brother Tomoki has agreed to help her in her goal of becoming the "popular girl" in school.

Tomoko isn't making that task easy, however, as she doesn't know how to set some healthy boundaries with her brother. She even asked to see his privates as some kind of practice, and the only thing that kept the order after that proposal was her brother's decent sense of normalcy. Thankfully, as the series went on, Tomoko matured and only has years of resentment to blame for her cold relationship with Tomoki.

2 Suguha Kirigaya (Sword Art Online)

Sibling Crush Got Worse Before It Got Better

Suguha Kirigaya is a surprisingly rare case of an anime girl getting over her incestuous feelings for her cousin-turned-brother. In fact, she spends a lot of her screen time trying to get over her feelings for Kazuto. Sadly, it gets worse before it gets better for Suguha.

In her quest to get over Kazuto, she sinks time into ALfheim Online. There, she finds a boy who treats her kindly and falls in love with him. Unfortunately, that boy is Kazuto in real life. What is fortunate is she moves on from Kazuto and proves to be a reliable ally.

3 Akira Yoshii (Baka & Test - Summon The Beasts)

Adult Harvard Graduate Tries To Kiss And Bathe With Brother

Akira Yoshii seems normal on paper, extraordinary even. She's a young adult who studied at Harvard and clearly excels at studies, unlike her brother Akihisa. And unlike the protagonist Akihisa, she's always trying to find ways to kiss and bathe with her brother.

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It's ambiguous whether or not Akira really wants to cross the boundary with Akihisa. But what's clear is she cares for her little brother enough to go home and take care of him, even if she's completely incapable of housework.

4 Nakano Sisters (Danchigai)

Four Sisters And Kissing Practice

Danchigai is a yonkoma or four-panel comedy manga that follows the Nakano siblings’ daily lives. The kicker is, Haruki often has to be the straight man to his four sisters, who have varying levels of personal space when it comes to him.

In some cases, Haruki just has to deal with regular sister shenanigans, like Uzuki and Satsuki’s pranks. In other cases, he has to navigate the fact that Mutsuki wants to use him for kissing practice, or that Yayoi thinks he’s fair game for beatdowns.

5 Kasumi Takamiya (Witch Craft Works)

Tsundere Plans How Many Kids To Have With Brother

Kasumi Takamiya is a powerful witch in Witch Craft Works, though that’s not what first comes to mind about the pink-haired girl. Although talented, she’s quite loopy and selfish. She also openly states wanting to have children with her brother Honoka.

Her loopyness and brocon attitude go hand in hand; because while she wants a lot of children with Honoka, Kasumi believes they don’t need to have sex to have kids. Kasumi naively thinks the “stork” will deliver their children despite trying to touch her brother at all times.

6 Ruti Ragnason (Banished from the Hero's Party)

One Of Her Only Emotions Is Brocon

Ruti is Gideon Ragnason’s younger sister and the Hero, or the destined strongest human in the world. Despite having the rarest Divine Blessing of Hero, she would rather give it up and live alongside her brother Gideon. She would get her wish later, though not after a lot of hardship.

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Even then, she doesn’t get her ultimate wish of being her brother’s wife. She settles for working at her brother’s shop, foregoing her Blessing and living out the anime’s aesop of living the way she wants to, regardless of the blessing she’s born with.

7 Akiko Himenokouji (As Long As There's Love, It Doesn't Matter If He Is My Brother, Right?)

Gets A Little Too Close For Twin Brother's Comfort

Akito's in a pickle: he's the caretaker of a dorm house full of wacky girls who are hot, but strange, and his twin sister turns out to really want him. Unfortunately for Akito, Akiko's as aggressive, if not more aggressive, than other girls who want to continue their bloodline with her brother.

It's not that Akito's made it easy for Akiko to latch off, as he published brother-sister incest stories before. Akito's also overtly kind to her at times, and to his other sisters, which makes Akiko's quest to lock him down a little harder.

8 Shizuku Kurogane (Chivalry Of A Failed Knight)

Little Sister Had No Chance At All

Chivalry of a Failed Knight is astounding in one aspect: male lead Ikki Kurogane seals the deal with female lead Princess Stella Vermillion early. Girls try to sway Ikki, but he remains steadfast to his girlfriend and combat partner. His resolve doesn’t change even with the efforts of his sister, Shizuku.

Shizuku initially has reason to go overboard with her love of Ikki. Her brother was the family shame due to his perceived lack of talent. But at some point, her intention to love him the way their family doesn’t turn into other forms of love.

9 Azaka Kokutou (The Garden of Sinners Chapter 6: Oblivion Recording)

Azaka Fights Shiki For Blood Brother Mikiya

Azaka Kokutou’s a powerful and interesting character, yet one with a flaw that can easily flanderize her. Her love that goes beyond platonic for her brother, Mikiya, causes hostility between her and Shiki and changes her life permanently.

Aside from Mikiya’s personality attracting her, being raised away from her brother may have prevented the Westermarck effect from affecting her. Regardless of the cause, Azaka’s attraction to Mikiya moved her to become a mage to spite Shiki and redirect attention from her blood brother.

10 Kotori Itsuka (Date A Live)

Little Sister Actually Tries To Make A Move On Her Brother

At 14, Kotori is the head commander of an organization dedicated to keeping her brother Shido safe. When taking into account that Kotori’s actually a powerful Spirit, her authority sort of makes sense. Her infatuation with her brother also makes sense in this context since Shido’s power is predicated on kissing and dating Spirits.

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She ends up confessing to Shido in the light novels. Shido could be interpreted as rejecting her even as some fans believe their relationship to be open-ended. However, there’s no mistaking Kotori’s feelings in the anime, light novel, and visual novel.