From fantastic gay movies like Doukyuusei to manga like The Bride Was A Boy, Japan is no stranger to amazing LGBTQ+ representation in media and stories. This extends to anime series as well, with shows like Yuri on Ice and Revolutionary Girl Utena being extremely popular among fans.
During Pride or any other time of the year, it can be meaningful to connect with characters and stories for those in the LGBTQ+ community. While there are many shows out there that qualify, some stand out above the rest for their impressive representation of gender and sexual minorities. Let's highlight some great LGBTQ+ anime.
Updated on November 16, 2025 by Mark Sammut: The Fall 2025 season has one rather unique LGBTQ+ anime, and it even leans into horror territory. It is kind of similar to The Summer That Hikaru Died, although This Monster Wants to Eat Me is a touch more direct with its Girls Love element.
This Monster Wants to Eat Me (Added For Fall 2025)
A 2025 Girls Love Anime With A One-of-a-Kind Premise
This Monster Wants to Eat Me
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- October 2, 2025
- Japanese Title
- Watashi wo Tabetai, Hitodenashi
- Studio
- Studio Lings
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator(s)
- Sai Naekawa
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
This Monster Wants to Eat Me is a bit of a strange case. On the one hand, the anime has unabashedly LGBTQ+ undertones and revolves entirely around the relationship between two girls. Conversely, overt Girls Love content is minimal, and one of the participants, Shiori, is a mermaid monster who wants to eat Hinako, the other protagonist. Also, Hinako is depressed and suicidal, so she welcomes Shiori's promise to eventually kill her as a way to escape her grief. On her part, Shiori wants to make Hinako as tasty as possible, which involves helping her rediscover a reason to live. Look, what I am trying to say is that their situation is complicated.
We do not get a lot of Girls Love anime in general, so This Monster Wants to Eat Me's existence is noteworthy for that simple fact. It is also a wildly unique story for any genre, let alone one that gets about a new show every other year. While I would recommend it to people looking for LGBTQ+ anime, you should be aware that the show leans into horror territory and tackles heavy themes.
Sasaki And Miyano
A Feel-Good Boys Love Anime That Is Just Endearing
Sasaki and Miyano
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2022 - 2022-00-00
- Japanese Title
- Sasaki to Miyano
- Studio
- Studio Deen
- Creator
- Shō Harusono
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
Sasaki and Miyano took the boys' love genre by storm in 2022. The show not only focuses on a blossoming gay relationship but also prominently features a love of boys love manga as well — pretty meta, huh? It is widely considered to be a perfectly executed romance. Get ready for some serious chemistry when watching this one.
Sasaki and Miyano's relationship grows naturally throughout the season and movie, starting as a friendship born out of somewhat mutual interest, before taking on a romantic edge. The anime is also pretty wholesome, which is not always the case with BL stories.
Bloom Into You
The Best Girls Love Anime In Terms Of Exploring The Start Of A Relationship
Bloom Into You
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2018 - 2018
- Japanese Title
- Yagate Kimi ni Naru
- Studio
- Troyca
- Creator
- Nio Nakatani
- Streaming Service(s)
- Hulu
What happens when a girl who adores romance stories and love songs finally has a boy confess his love, only to feel nothing? Bloom Into You focuses on a high-schooler named Yuu coming to terms with the fact that she might have more feelings for her classmate Touko than any man could muster.
It's a fantastic coming-of-age lesbian romance sure to stir the hearts of viewers. Bloom Into You builds an interesting dynamic between Yuu and Touko, with the former still unsure of how she feels about the latter and her own sexuality. The anime, unfortunately, ends just as the relationship starts to really get going; fortunately, the manga is fairly accessible.
As a sequel seems unlikely at this point, fans should just read the manga.
Moyashimon
A Rare Anime That Has A Character Transition
Moyashimon
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2007 - 2012
- Studio
- Shirogumi, Telecom Animation Film
- Creator
- Masayuki Ishikawa
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
Set in an agricultural university, Moyashimon is a school-based comedy that features a protagonist who can see microbes, a skill that is used to dive fairly deep into fermentation. While incorporating some coming-of-age elements, this series might not seem like an obvious candidate for themes related to gender or sexuality. However, Moyashimon has a character, Kei, who comes out as transgender.
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Kei is first introduced as a close friend to the protagonist, Sawaki, only for them to disappear halfway through season 1. Kei eventually returned a few episodes later, only dressed like a Gothic Lolita. While not every aspect of this story is fantastic, Moyashimon treats Kei's journey with respect, which is hardly something that was guaranteed during the mid-2000s.
Revolutionary Girl Utena
A Complex Anime Masterpiece Rich In Subtext And Thought-Provoking Themes
Revolutionary Girl Utena
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 1997 - 1997
- Directors
- Kunihiko Ikuhara
- Writers
- Yoji Enokido
- Japanese Title
- Shoujo Kakumei Utena
- Studio
- J.C.Staff
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll, YouTube
When the system at Ohtori Academy is rigged to objectify women as helpless Rose Brides, Utena Tenjou's good conscience cannot allow her to sit idly by. Instead, she takes up the role of a prince and fights to free the other girls from their undesirable fate. With a sword and signet ring in tow, Utena evolves into the Prince Charming of every girl's dreams and becomes the cog in the well-oiled machine of women's oppression.
Anyone with Utena alongside them would consider themselves blessed. However, Anthy Himemiya receives the bulk of the esteemed prince's affection, and their blossoming courtship is explored extensively in the film "Adolescence of Utena." Overall, Revolutionary Girl Utena takes great care in prioritizing shojo themes over ecchi fan service and is considered by many to be the best LGBTQ+ anime of its time.
Flip Flappers
Searching And Finding Acceptance
Flip Flappers
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- October 6, 2016
- Studio
- Studio 3Hz
- Streaming Service(s)
- HIDIVE
While not as overt as some other shows, Flip Flappers certainly has LGBTQ+ themes fans have picked up on. Cocona and Papika's budding relationship feels like something deeper than just friendship, as they have to go so far as to synchronize their feelings to use their powers.
These vibes of this show are especially apparent in episode 7, "Pure Component." Papika ends up changing between multiple personalities, including being a boy at times, and Cocona still cares about them deeply no matter their presentation. It's the kind of acceptance any LGBTQ+ person longs for in their relationships.
Given & Given Movies
A Challenging And Unforgettable Boys Love Anime
Given
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2019 - 2019
- Network
- Fuji TV
- Directors
- Akiyo Ohashi
- Studio
- Lerche
- Creator
- Natsuki Kizu
- Streaming Service(s)
- Cruncyroll
Given was arguably responsible for transforming the boys love genre, healing its somewhat negative reputation by delivering a powerful drama grounded in reality. While arguably the best BL anime ever, Given is not an easy watch and, consequently, can be overwhelming for viewers craving a primarily heartwarming and relaxing series. Still, the show and its movie sequels are a must-watch for anybody interested in not only LGBTQ+ stories but also romances in general.
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Revolving around a band, Given features a couple of different couples, all of whom are dealing with unique challenges. Mafuyu and Ritsuka are the show's main duo, but the movies shift their attention to the secondary couples. The anime tackles grief and self-destructive behavior, all the while providing powerful demonstrations of love and growth.
Princess Jellyfish
Even More Than A Decade Later, Kuranosuke Is Still A Fantastic Character
Princess Jellyfish
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2010 - 2010-00-00
- Network
- Fuji TV
- Directors
- Katsumi Terahigashi, Masahisa Koyata, Nanako Shimazaki
- Japanese Title
- Kuragehime
- Studio
- Brain's Base
- Creator
- Akiko Higashimura
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
Princess Jellyfish is a fascinating josei anime that follows what happens when the cross-dressing androgynous Kuranosuke meets Tsukimi and helps her save a jellyfish in a pet store. Tsukimi lives in Amamizukan, an older building filled with introverted women who would rather focus on their special interests than interact with the outside world.
Bringing an extrovert like Kuranosuke home not only some silly antics but also provides moments for deep self-reflection among the characters. Studies have shown that non-neurotypical people are more likely to be LGBTQ+ as they are less influenced by social norms, making this show hit on a whole new level for many viewers.
Tiger & Bunny (Fire Emblem)
A Transgender Superhero
Tiger & Bunny
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2011 - 2022
WHERE TO WATCH
- Studio
- Sunrise, Bandai Namco Pictures
- Creator(s)
- Masayuki Ozaki, Keiichi Sato
- Streaming Service(s)
- Hulu, Netflix
Tiger & Bunny is an all-around great anime that is an easy recommendation for anyone craving a different take on the superhero genre. In this universe, heroes are basically professionals and celebrities, and they take part in a yearly competition to earn points through their heroic deeds. They have sponsors they must keep impressed, and the veterans are constantly at risk of being overtaken by the new generation. The eponymous heroes, Kotetsu and Barnaby, are forced to work together, starting a professional relationship that eventually leads to a proper friendship.
Putting aside any subtext that could read into Kotetsu and Barnaby's dynamic, Tiger & Bunny has a full transgender hero, Nathan Seymour (aka, Fire Emblem). While initially coming across as fairly stereotypical, Nathan gradually breaks away from those binds, becoming a three-dimensional character and an example of positive representation. The movie, The Rising, expands on Nathan's backstory, giving him way more depth that is then expanded on further by season 2.
Dear Brother
A Classic Shojo Anime Set In An All-Girls School
Dear Brother
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 1991 - 1992
- Network
- NHK BS1
- Directors
- Osamu Dezaki, Fumihiro Yoshimura, Hideki Hiroshima, Takuo Suzuki, Shinichi Matsumi, Yutaka Satoh, Kazuo Nogami, Kazuya Miyazaki, Toshiya Shinohara, Yusaku Saotome
- Japanese Title
- Oniisama e...
- Studio
- Tezuka Productions
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Riyoko Ikeda
- Number of Episodes
- 39
Compared to boys love anime, yuri shows are extraordinarily rare, at least when it comes to stories that pursue a relationship between two girls rather than hinting at the possibility of one through subtext. Sadly, the girls love genre has struggled to pick up any momentum over the last few years, and fans specifically craving shows that dive deep into female relationships are better off watching girls band anime than waiting for that elusive GL series.
Alternatively, they could try to track down Dear Brother, an ambitious early '90s anime based on a manga by Riyoko Ikeda, who also wrote The Rose of Versailles. Now, to set the right expectations, Dear Brother is a drama that does not pull its punches, depicting characters who are very human and, at times, very awful. Taking place in a girls' school, the anime tackles themes like bullying and manipulation, and it does not present many easy or satisfying answers. While exploring a few same-sex relationships, they are not idealized or wholesome, but rather grounded.