Top 8 Best Girls Love and Boys Love Anime (Yuri and Yaoi)

We couldn't let Pride Month pass without taking advantage of the opportunity to give visibility to the LGBTQIAP+ community. Although several works have a wide variety of characters and can represent several different groups, a great example of this being One Piece, Hunter x Hunter and even Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (even though in this case there are SEVERAL problems), today we chose to focus on those anime which have the community as their focal point.

As usual, we will be offering a different range of genres to ensure that all tastes have a work represented. Additionally, all notes were taken from MyAnimeList.

Given

Rating: 8.31

Genre: Drama, Romance, Music, Boy Love.

Given is one of the most acclaimed works when it comes to boys' love romance. The story revolves around Ritsuka Uenoyama, a young guitarist who meets Mafuyu Sato, a boy with a beautiful voice, but who has a tragic past. Music serves as a form of expression for their deep and complex feelings, creating an emotional and touching narrative. Given is a journey of self-discovery, love and overcoming, set to an incredible soundtrack.

As the anime is known for its soundtrack and has a musical theme, we couldn't help but include its opening in this article:

Sasaki to Miyano

Rating: 8.12

Genre: Slice of Life, Romance, Comedy, Boys Love.

Sasaki to Miyano brings a light and cute approach to the boys love genre. The plot follows Miyano, a high school student who is a fan of BL manga, and Sasaki, his senpai who ends up becoming interested in him.

The anime is full of sweet and fun moments, exploring the development of the relationship between the two in a natural and captivating way. The chemistry between the characters and the healthy representation of a queer romance are the strong points of this work.

Taidama, Okaeri

Rating: 7.58

Genre: Drama, Slice of Life, Boys Love.

Taidama, Okaeri is a series that focuses on the daily lives of a gay couple and their adopted son. The story offers a unique perspective on family dynamics, showing the challenges and joys of a same-sex couple raising a child.

The narrative is sensitive and realistic, highlighting the importance of love and acceptance. It is a work that moves and makes us reflect on the diversity of family forms.

Hitorijime My Hero

Rating: 7.43

Genre: Drama, Romance, Slice of Life, Boys Love.

Hitorijime My Hero is an anime that explores the relationship between a teacher and his former student. The plot unfolds with many emotional twists, addressing themes of trust, protection and personal growth.

The protagonist, Kousuke Ooshiba, is a charismatic and protective teacher, while Masahiro Setagawa, his love interest, is a troubled young man in search of security. The series balances moments of tension with tender scenes, creating an engaging narrative.

Yuru Yuri

Rating: 7.63

Genre: Comedy, Slice of Life, Girls Love.

Yuru Yuri is an anime that mixes comedy and slice of life with a slight hint of yuri romance. The story follows the daily lives of a group of friends who form the "Amusement Club". The series is known for its slapstick humor and charismatic characters, creating a fun and welcoming environment.

Although the focus is not exactly romance, the interactions between the main characters have a touch of affection that pleases fans of the genre.

Yagate Kimi ni Naru

Rating: 7.91

Genre: Drama, Romance, School, Girls Love.

Yagate Kimi ni Naru is a gem of the yuri genre, addressing the romance between two high school students. Yuu Koito has never experienced the feeling of true love until she meets Touko Nanami, an honor student who she also doesn't feel capable of loving.

The series explores the development of their relationship in a delicate and introspective way, dealing with issues such as identity and self-discovery. It is a poetic and emotionally rich narrative.

Maria-sama ga Miteru

Rating: 7.54

Genre: Drama, Romance, School, Girls Love.

Maria-sama ga Miteru is a classic of the yuri genre, set in a prestigious Catholic girls' school. The story revolves around the complex system of "sœurs" (sisters), where older female students take younger female students under their wing.

The anime focuses on the deep and emotional relationships between these girls, exploring themes of friendship, love and personal growth. The elegant setting and emotionally rich narrative make this series a landmark in the genre.

Konohana Kitan

Rating: 7.52

Genre: Fantasy, Slice of Life, Girls Love.

Konohana Kitan is a charming anime that combines fantasy elements with slice of life. The story follows Yuzu, a young kitsune (fox) who begins working at a traditional Japanese inn run by other foxes. The interactions between the characters are sweet and touch the heart, with a subtle development of yuri romance.

The stunning views and serene atmosphere make Konohana Kitan a magical and relaxing experience.

Not all the works exactly fit the parameters to be included on the main list, but they are too notable to ignore. Here, we selected just two stories to keep the list simple.

The Summer Hikaru Died

Rating: 8.7

Genre: Mystery, Horror, Psychological.

There are two things wrong with the choice of “The Summer Hikaru Died”. The first is that, so far, there is only the manga, although an anime has been announced. The second is that it is not explicitly BL, despite the theme being apparent in the story, and for these two reasons the manga is among the honorable mentions. That said, here we go:

The Summer Hikaru Died was nominated for “Best Digital Manga in 2022” and presents you with the question: What if the person you love most in the world just disappeared, what would you do? And if it were replaced by an identical copy, would you still love it? Could you tell it's not really him? Well, in the manga, Hikaru, the protagonist's best friend, dies and is replaced by something that isn't exactly him.

The story unfolds demonstrating the psychological effect this has on our protagonist, the confusion in his feelings, as well as the subtle differences he notices. With mystery, psychological depth and a touch of horror, The Summer Hikaru Died is one of the best works on this list.

The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't a Guy at All

Rating: 8.37

Genre: Girls Love

Another manga series nominated for awards, but this time it was the winner of its respective year (Best Digital Manga of 2023). The only reason this work is not on the original list is because it also does not have an anime adaptation, but its quality is as good, if not higher, than any other work on this list.

In this manga, the protagonist Aya falls in love with an employee at a CD store. This man appears to be stylish, has impeccable musical taste, and has a mysterious aura that follows him around. What Aya doesn't know is that this “man” is actually her classmate, Mitsuki, who sits right next to her!

Of course, Mitsuki is painfully aware of Aya's feelings and goes to great lengths to try and hide her identity. Until she herself starts to feel something for Aya... How will Mitsuki explain that, in fact, she is Aya's biggest crush? Will Aya accept her and reciprocate her feelings?

I recommend everyone who has experienced something similar in their lives to read “The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't a Guy at All”.

Unfortunately, we did not include Yuri on Ice in this article because it does not have the Boys Love TAG, despite it being better known for that than for its own story. Although the anime has a love sub-plot between two men, the focus of the anime is Yuri's insecurities and growth as an athlete. Yes, we could have included it in the honorable mentions, but in the end we decided to give visibility and space to the new award-winning works.

In general, the BL and GL genre has become increasingly popular, with new and impactful stories being recognized every year. We can't wait to see what the genre will bring us in the coming years.

And you, which anime was missing from the list? Which shouldn't be here? Tell us in the comments!