For a long time, anime has dealt with the subject of homosexuality. We can usually locate one or two homosexual characters in most episodes. Their portrayal can be fairly accurate or engaging at times, but they are mostly employed for comedy purposes at other times. Since I’ve already compiled a list of anime with lesbian characters, it’s about time I put up a list of gay anime. The following is a list of the best anime containing LGBT characters. Many of the best homosexual anime may be found on Crunchyroll, Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime.
Cardcaptor Sakura (1998 – 2000)
The fantasy/magic genre is represented in this anime. Sakura, a young girl, is the protagonist of the story. She discovers a book full of cards one day, and before she can comprehend what is going on, the cards are blown away and spread all over the earth. Later, a creature from the books informs her that the cards are magical and constitute a significant threat to the planet. She must retrieve them and place them in the book. Toya, Sakura’s older brother, and Yukito, his best friend, are among the LGBT characters introduced in the book. VRV has all of the episodes available for viewing.
Devilman: Crybaby (2018)
Devils require a human host to take shape, but a strong-willed person can use supernatural abilities to govern them. Akira Fudou is shy, but he resolves to help his friend by accompanying him to a Sabbath in order to learn the truth about devils. As devils begin to decimate everyone, the party becomes violent. To save his comrade, Akira joins with the devil Amon and defeats everyone, transforming into a devilman. ‘Devilman: Crybaby’ does not focus on same-sex relationships, but Ryou Asuka is queer and falls in love with Akira. The show can be viewed here.
Doukyuusei (2016)
‘Doukyuusei’ is a romantic animation film centred on the love affair between the male duetragonists, unlike most of the other anime on this list, which contains a few homosexual characters whose affairs don’t necessarily effect the storyline. Hikaru is a guitarist in a band, whereas Rhito is an A-level student. Despite their divergent paths, fate brings them together as Hikaru assists Rhito in preparing for a chorus. The two began spending a lot of time together after that and eventually developed a romantic relationship. The show is available to rent on Amazon Prime.
Hana-Kimi: For You in Full Blossom (1996)
Mizuki is a track and field athlete from Japan. She enrolls at the high school where her idol Izumi, a talented jumper, also goes in order to improve her athletic abilities. Mizuki resolves to cross-dress and hide her true identity from everyone because it is an all-boys school. Her difficulties, however, spiral out of control when she forces kids at her new school to rethink their sexual orientation. Hokuto Umeda and Akiha Hara are two of the show’s LGBT characters, and there are numerous examples of homosexual affairs.
Hetalia Axis Powers (2010)
This is a one-of-a-kind anime. It’s almost as though the entire globe is being mocked. The story revolves around World Wars I and II. The countries are given personalities and distinct characteristics. Italy, for example, like eating pasta, whereas Germany is irritable, and so on. The series was created solely for the sake of amusement and is an attempt to lighten the mood of various political and historical events. In the show, the character France is revealed to be queer, and the storyline briefly concentrates on his flirty attitude. All of the episodes are available to view online.
Hitorijime My Hero (2017)
When Masahiro Setagawa, a despondent adolescent, begins high school, his life transforms in unexpected ways. He learns there that his friend Kousuke Ooshiba would be his Maths teacher. Kensuke Ooshiba, a former classmate, will also be attending the same school. The protagonist considers his maths instructor to be a hero, and Kousuke feels compelled to protect him. When Kensuke’s childhood friend, Asaya Hasekura, expresses sexual interest in him, the dynamics of this trio are thrown into disarray. The drama that emerges as these high students strive to cope to unexpected events in their life is the focus of ‘Hitorijime My Hero.’ The series is available to watch on Amazon Prime.
Hybrid Child (2014 – 2015)
The Original Video Animation ‘Hybrid Child’ is based on a manga of the same name. It’s a cute short animation that will introduce you to the shounen-ai genre. The OVA is divided into four episodes, each of which is about 25 minutes long. The nicest aspect of this series is that it has a good premise and well-developed characters. When one first starts viewing anime in this genre, they often end up watching a lot of anime that use cheap strategies to catch the viewer’s attention, such as making the contents visually vulgar and inserting cheap jokes, however ‘Hybrid Child’ avoids this.
Three romantic stories about artificial beings and their creators are included in the anime. Kuroda is a skilled artisan. He developed the Hybrid Childs dolls, which are neither robots nor humans. These dolls are not only capable of experiencing human emotions, but they also require them in order to develop. Kotarou Izumi, a nobleman, brings home an abandoned Hybrid Child in one of the stories. None of his family members agreed with him, and they attempted everything they could to get rid of the manufactured human. Kotarou does his best to overcome every challenge, and the human-doll bond remains strong. However, once it is realized that hybrid dolls do not have an infinite lifespan, everything changes.
Jojo’s Bizzare Adventure (2012-)
Junjou Romantica (2008 – 2015)
‘Junjou Romantica’ follows the story of three couples. The protagonist Misaki Takahashi is an ordinary high school student. He is studying hard for the university entrance exams, which will be held soon. Akihiko Usami, a famous author, happens to be Misaki’s brother’s best friend. So, when he asks Misaki to help him, the latter thinks that it will allow him to take some time off studying, but things turn out differently. Akihiko’s stories have naughty themes and make Misaki cringe at first, but later, he starts discovering his naughty side.
The other two couples include professor Hiroki Kamijou and pediatrician Nowaki Kusama and Shinobu Takatsuki, and professor You Miyagi. Nowaki has fallen for professor Hiroki and vows to make him happy at any cost. The latter relationship is a bit on the obsessive side since Shinobu falls for You Miyagi but realizes that he cannot have him. You can watch the show on Crunchyroll.
Kono Danshi, Mahou ga Oshigoto Desu (2016)
One of the reasons ‘Kono Danshi, Mahou ga Oshigoto Desu.’ is on this list is that it has a lot of potential. For shounen-ai fans, the characters are almost as vital as the plot, if not more so. Because of the story and characters, the manga version has a devoted following, but the anime adaptation might have done a lot better. Because each episode is brief and there are only four, everything seems to move too rapidly, making it difficult to connect with the characters. However, if you just want to watch some shounen-ai on the run, it’s a great anime to watch. The fantasy setting of ‘Kono Danshi, Mahou ga Oshigoto Desu.’
Chiharu Kashima, the protagonist, is a wizard. He’s a wizard with a lot of tricks in his sleeve. Chiharu goes to a bar that he enjoys. Toyohi Utsumi approaches him one day and expresses his interest for magic. Later, he admits to Chiharu that he is head over heels in love with him. They become closer as time passes and begin to spend more time together. Chiharu, on the other hand, is concerned that Toyohi is just in love with him because he is a wizard. Crunchyroll has the anime available.
Love Stage!! (2014)
‘Love stage!!’ is a rom-com anime based on a popular shounen-ai manga of the same name. The series consists of ten episodes, each lasting approximately 23 minutes. Izumi Sena’s entire family works in the entertainment industry. His mother works as an actress, his father as a producer, and his brother as a musician. But Izumi’s only moment in the spotlight was when he was a toddler and appeared in an ad for a wedding magazine. Despite the fact that his family background suggests he should pursue a career in show business, Izumi has no such ambitions. Instead, he aspires to be a manga artist.
Izumi’s commercial for the magazine requires the presence of the original child performers, so he must travel. He meets Ryouma Ichijou, who co-starred in the commercial with Izumi. Ryouma is now a well-known actor, but he admits to Izumi that he has had affections for him since their first meeting. Because of Izumi’s feminine features and unisex name, Ryouma believes he is a girl. Ryouma can’t seem to stop himself from liking Izumi, even after learning the truth. You can watch ‘Love Stage!!’ online right now.
Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995 – 1996)
Humanity is on the verge of extinction in ‘Neon Genesis Evangelion,’ as it is in countless other mecha science-fiction anime. The huge humanoid robots known as “Evangelions,” which can only be piloted by selected persons and are the only ones capable of defeating the angels, are the people’s last hope. Shinji Ikari is thrust into a world of death and destruction, where he is tasked with saving humanity. While Shinji is romantically interested in Asuka and Rei, he also reciprocates Kaworu Nagisa’s affections. The two have an engaging relationship and show significant interest in one other. The anime can be rented on YouTube.
No. 6 (2011)
A few years back, I saw No. 6. It had a decent plot, although I thought it could have been better at moments. The story takes place after a battle has ended. Mankind has now settled in the calm six city-states, which look to be a utopia on the surface. Shion is a No. 6 elite inhabitant. When he meets a boy named Nezumi from the wasteland outside of town, his world is turned upside down. Shion chooses to protect the youngster despite the fact that he is a fugitive. Shion and his mother lose their privileged status after being discovered and are transferred. Shion and Nezumi reconcile after a long separation and start on an expedition that will reveal many of No. 6’s mysteries. The show can be viewed here.
Patalliro! (1982 – 1983)
If you’re looking for an anime with eccentric and zany comedy, ‘Patalliro!’ is a great pick, and your love of shounen-ai anime just adds to the overall entertainment value. ‘Patalliro!’ is based on Mineo Maya’s manga of the same name, which he wrote and illustrated. ‘Patalliro!’ may appear to be a bit long for a shounen-ai, depending on who you ask, because it contains 49 episodes, each of which is 24 minutes long.
Patalliro du Malyner VIII is the protagonist of the anime, and he is a ten-year-old king of Malyner, a country noted for its diamond mining. Patalliro suffers from diabetes. Maraich Juschenfe, a former assassin, is one of the other odd characters. He is 18 years old, and his former girlfriend has urged him to assassinate an MI6 agent named Jack Barbarosa Bancoran. However, he falls in love with Jack, who adores attractive young men and knows how to seduce them. The series is mostly focused on the titular protagonist’s and the kingdom of Malynera’s amusing exploits.
Sekaiichi Hatsukoi (2011)
The film ‘Sekaiichi Hatsukoi’ is based on a light book published in 2006. The manga has been adapted into four anime series. Two of them are anime series, one is a film, and the other is an OVA. Ritsu Onodera and Masamune Takano are the anime’s protagonists. Ritsu works for his father’s publishing house as an editor. People believe he gets the position because his father is the owner, despite the fact that he is pretty competent at it. When he can no longer stand his coworkers’ jealousy, he quits and goes to work for another publishing company to prove his worth.
He applies for a position at the Marukawa publishing house, hoping to work in the literary section. He gets a position in the literary area, but it turns out he’s been assigned to the shoujo manga section. Ritsu want to resign, but his boss Masamune Takano dismisses him, so he stays to maintain his pride. Masamune later discovers that Ritsu is an old classmate who had confessed to him. Now that they’ve reconnected, Masamune pledges to rekindle Ritsu’s love for him, despite the latter’s aversion to love as a result of his high school grief. The series is available on Funimation.
Steins; Gate (2011)
Fans of ‘Steins; Gate’ will understand why this all-time great sci-fi anime is included on this list. Because of his features, Ruka Urushibar, the slim and slender-looking lad, has misled the entire anime fanbase for a few episodes. Ruka, while being a biological male, enjoys dressing up as a girl and possesses more feminine traits than masculine ones. He takes a keen interest in Okabe and is continuously asking him if he has love feelings for him. Crunchyroll is where you can view the show.
Super Lovers (2016 – 2017)
‘Super Lovers,’ produced by Studio Deen, tells the story of two brothers who had an incestuous relationship. Haru Kaidou is the family’s eldest son and lives in Japan. He rushes to Canada, where his mother is staying, when he learns that his mother is on the edge of death. His mother, it turns out, lied to him about her condition in order to send him to Canada. She wants Haru to meet Ren, his adopted brother, who is a social outcast. Haru’s mother wants him to look after Ren and socialize him. Haru has a hard time getting to know Ren because he is often closed off in front of other people. But, as time passes, everything heals, and their connection improves. Haru then promises Ren that after Ren graduates from high school, they will stay in Japan together. Haru, on the other hand, is engaged in an accident and loses all recollection. Ren reappears in Japan years later to fulfill Haru’s vow, but Haru does not recognize him. As the tale progresses, the two develop a taboo relationship that frequently defies society rules. VRV has all of the episodes available to view.
Tiger and Bunny (2011)
Fans of the anime series ‘Tiger and Bunny’ will understand why it is on our list. Nathan Seymour, the effeminate warrior whose alter-ego is the Hot Fire Emblem, is who you’re looking for. He has been caught hitting on males and attempting to initiate an affair on several occasions. So, not only is the show entertaining with some over-the-top action sequences, but it also has a passionate gay man. Hulu has a streaming version of ‘Tiger and Bunny.’
Uragiri wa Boku no Namae wo Shitteiru (2010)
‘Uragiri wa Boku no Namae wo Shitteiru’ is a shounen-ai anime that tells a wonderful story of betrayal and friendship. It is mostly focused on the concept of self-discovery. Yuki Sakurai, the protagonist, has the regrettable ability to witness a person’s most traumatic memory simply by touching them. He is very worried and perplexed as to why he possesses such power. Some individuals wish to hurt him because of his skills, while others wish to protect him. Luka, a stunning black-haired man, saves him one day. Despite the fact that they have only met for the first time, Yuki feels a deeper connection with the man, which eventually leads to him discovering his true purpose in life. Funimation is where you can view the anime.
Xiao Lu He Xiao Lan (2018 – 2019)
‘Xiao Lu He Xiao Lan,’ like most Chinese anime, is an Original Net Animation, which means it is a sort of ‘direct to stream’ web series. Though the plot and characters are compelling enough to keep viewers interested, the fact that this series contains over 70 episodes may turn off certain shounen-ai fans. But don’t worry, ‘Xiao Lu He Xiao Lan’, like other Chinese anime, features brief episodes that last no more than 8 minutes. The anime series covers a wide range of topics, including computer games, science fiction, drama, and magic, among others.
I don’t watch a lot of Chinese anime, but the premise of this one piqued my interest. It’s a unique type of anime in which each episode takes place in a new location. The episode is sometimes serious, and other times it is infused with a magical tone. But one thing remains constant: Beryl and Sapphire, the two deuteragonists, constantly running into each other. They act as buddies at times, but they are sworn foes at other times. The slice-of-life animation is interesting to say the least, but what truly sets it apart is how the story ends.
Yuri!!! On ICE (2016)
‘Yuri!!! On ICE is a sports anime that is widely recognized as one of the best in the genre. The story chronicles the lives of Yuuri Katsuki, a Japanese figure skater who, after a humiliating defeat, goes to his family’s home and considers quitting the sport. His window for rebounding back begins to close, and to make matters worse, he has gained weight. Everything changes, however, when a video of him flawlessly executing a hard maneuver previously performed by veteran skater Victor goes viral. Victor is inspired to reach out to him and become his mentor as a result of this. The two finally fall in love and have a romantic relationship. Crunchyroll is where you can watch the anime.
