This article contains mention of suicide.
Boys' Love — also known as "BL" or "Yaoi" — is a unique genre of anime that focuses on romantic relationships between two male characters. Though it's a niche part of anime as a whole, BL has always been popular among certain groups. With the normalization of LGBTQ+ representation in anime, the genre has become more popular than ever and has even hit the mainstream in some cases.
BL has a notorious reputation for many, due to its often problematic depiction of queer couples. Luckily, many modern titles portray much healthier relationship stories, such as titles like Given or Sasaki and Miyano. However, that doesn't mean there aren't any great old BL stories as well. Either way, the genre is full of wonderful titles newcomers are sure to enjoy.
Updated by Chelsea Steele on September 29, 2023: BL has always been a niche genre in anime. However, interest in this unique romantic subset has grown over the years, especially as LGBTQ+ representation within anime has improved. Now that it's more popular than ever, fans are checking out the best BL series available, from new hits to old favorites. We've updated this list to include even more iconic BL titles fans should look into.
10 Best BL Anime Couples, Ranked
Couples like Ash and Eiji from Banana Fish and No. 6's Nezumi and Shion showcase the best examples of LGBTQ+ relationships in anime.25 The Betrayal Knows My Name
The Betrayal Knows My Name is a fantasy adventure series starring Yuki Sakurai, a young man with the ability to see the memories of others. For most of his life, he's unsure what this power means or why he possesses it. However, Yuki finally gets the answers he seeks after a chance encounter with a beautiful and mysterious man takes him on a harrowing journey he never expected.
Unlike most BL series, The Betrayal Knows My Name is a plot-centric story that focuses more on the adventure and lore while the actual romance takes a back seat. With a well-written story, likable cast, and interesting fantasy theme, it's a great starter series for those just getting into BL.
24 Hybrid Child
Hybrid Child is a 4-episode-long OVA with a heartfelt and emotional storyline that blends together sci-fi and historical drama. In this series, skilled craftsmen have created an artificial doll-like human companion known as a Hybrid Child. With thoughts and emotions of their very own, Hybrid Children appear just like regular people, with no outwardly differences.
The OVA tells the touching story of three different Hybrid Children and their owners, each falling in love under different circumstances. Short, sweet, and a definite tearjerker, Hybrid Child is a perfect BL anime for those who love a sad romance.
23 Mignon
Mignon is a 2023 ONA based on the BL manhwa of the same name. This dramatic series revolves around the titular protagonist, a young boxer trying to survive in a world of crime and violence. His only solace comes from Young-on, a beautiful vampire who works as a doctor at the illegal arena where Mignon fights. Though the two are from completely different worlds, they become entangled in each other's lives in a dangerous yet irresistible love affair.
Though this series is relatively unknown by most fans, Mignon is easily one of the best new BL anime series to release in some time. With a wholely unique premise, well-written and complex characters, and captivating romance, this underrated ONA has everything a BL fan could want and more.
22 Hirano & Kagiura
A spin-off of the beloved hit series Sasaki and Miyano, Hirano and Kagiura centers around the budding romance between two popular supporting characters. In this short OVA, viewers find that Akira Kagiura and Taiga Hirano have been dormmates for half a year. In this time, the two have gotten incredibly close and are the best of friends.
However, over time, the boys come to realize their feelings for each other may go beyond mere friendship. Wholesome, sweet, and incredibly cute, Hirano and Kagiura is a perfect companion piece to Sasaki and Miyano. However, the short is currently only available in Japan, so Western fans will have to wait a little longer before checking it out.
10 Best Anime Couples Who Went From Friends To Lovers
Friends-to-lovers romances are incredibly rewarding and sweet, with Risa Koizumi and Atsushi Ootani from Lovely Complex being a great example.21 Sekai Ichi Hatsukoi: World's Greatest First Love
From the creator of the iconic series Junjo Romantica comes Sekai Ichi Hatsukoi: World's Greatest First Love, a spin-off of the popular series that loosely ties to it. This simple, sweet, and often hilarious love story follows the complicated relationship between Ritsu Onodera and his ex, Masamune Takano, as well as two other couples whose romances intertwine with the main one.
Though Sekai Ichi Hatsukoi is far less popular than Junjo Romantica, many fans actually prefer this series and its more story-driven style. With its well-written storyline, likable cast, and endearing romances, Sekai Ichi Hatsukoi works perfectly as a starter series for newcomers.
20 Antidote
Antidote tells the story of Cheng Ke and Jiang Yuduo. Having lost everything he owned, Cheng Ke first meets Jiang Yudo in a fight while Cheng Ke is searching for his lost items. Hoping that would be his last interaction with Jiang Yudo, Cheng Ke searches for a new place to live, only to discover that his new landlord is Jiang Yuduo.
Despite the terrible world around them, Cheng Ke and Jiang Yudo form a relationship. Their pasts lead to a lot of contention, but the two still find ways back to one another. Antidote is a dark BL anime that will have audiences on the edges of their seats.
19 Sasaki & Miyano
Miyano and Sasaki's first meeting in Sasaki And Miyano develops into an awkward but sweet first love worthy of a shojo series. After a bullying incident, they start to see each other more often at school. Miyano, a closeted BL manga enthusiast, accidentally reveals his secret to Sasaki. But instead of repulsion toward his underclassman, he quickly becomes hooked.
Now with a shared interest, the two begin to hang out more frequently, and their relationship deepens. Miyano finds himself enticed by Sasaki's straightforwardness and sudden interest in him, despite showing annoyance initially. Sasaki and Miyano is a recent addition to the BL genre, but it is a cute, fluffy series worth watching.
Best Romance Anime On Crunchyroll
From solid classics to popular new hits, Crunchyroll has tons of romance anime for fans to enjoy.18 Gravitation
Gravitation certainly had its flaws, but there is no denying it was a trailblazer for queer representation in anime. The anime follows Shuichi, a teenager who sets out to be the best singer in Japan. Yuki, a novelist, scrutinizes his work. However, this does not stop Shuichi's attraction, and Yuki eventually shows his softer side.
If fans want to watch Gravitation, they should watch with an open mind and understand that it is a product of its time. Certain elements—such as Shuichi and Yuki's on-and-off romance—did not age well. However, there is no denying its impact on BL anime during the early 2000s. It inspired later musical romance titles—notably Given—to improve upon its flaws.
17 Super Lovers
Haru Kaido is a friendly and smart young man visiting Canada to see his adoptive mother. Given his love for her, when the woman asks him to help her "civilize" Ren, her new adoptee, Haru chooses to try, even if Ren is almost feral. The two boys form a close relationship, but following an accident, their bond is broken forever when Haru loses his memory.
Years later, when Ren finds Haru again, they have to restart their relationship. Super Lovers tells a wholesome story about their connection. The series only has 20 episodes and two OVAs, but it is unarguably one of the best love stories in BL anime in the last few years.
16 No. 6
No. 6 is a dystopian anime that brings together two young men from different sides of the world. When Shion takes in the lonely Nezumi, their worlds become not so dissimilar within a night. Shion is stripped of his privileged life due to his kindness.
Now that he has fallen from grace, Shion and Nezumi meet again to uncover the secrets of their land. Their many years apart only helped the two young men to realize their deeper connection, and their shared desire to right the wrongs of their society.
15 This Boy...
Unfortunately, the Kono Danshi..., or This Boy..., series is underrated; even with a US release through Sentai Filmworks, not many anime fans know about this BL anthology. The first entry, This Boy Caught A Merman, centers around a human boy and a handsome merman. It is a perfect introductory BL for new fans.
Shima was taken in by his kind grandfather after his neglectful parents' messy divorce. However, his grandfather passes away shortly after, leaving Shima alone. He grieves by the ocean and almost drowns before a mysterious merman, Isaki, saves him. Isaki suggests keeping Shima company until he recovers, and a sweet romance begins to blossom between the two.
15 Best Fantasy BL Manhwa
Some BL manhwa are sweet, some are filled with action and drama, and some have incredible development with mature themes, like King’s Maker.14 Spiritpact
In Spiritpact, Tanmoku Ki is a renowned and powerful exorcist, and Keika is a young, foolish boy who dies in a freak accident. Tanmoku offers Keika a deal: to become his spirit shadow, allowing Keika to maintain his bond with the human world even in his spirit form. The two strong-headed, stubborn men constantly bicker, but their bond gradually develops under these unusual circumstances.
Spiritpact is far from a perfect series; many viewers will tell newcomers to read the manhua instead. However, Tanmoku and Keika's unpredictable relationship earned its unique place as a BL, leaning more on the shonen-ai side than yaoi. Spiritpact is an example of anime studios' slow but necessary progress toward incorporating queer characters into other genres.
13 Grandmaster Of Demonic Cultivation
Published in 2016, Mo Dao Zu Shi, also known as Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation, is based on a popular webtoon series of the same name. The story reached worldwide fame almost overnight, winning multiple awards and even receiving a live-action drama. It is a must-read when it comes to comics with LGBTQA+ representation.
In his past life, Wuxian Wei was a powerful cultivator. Rumors about his prowess spread throughout the land even after his death. Now, he cannot have a peaceful death, as he has been reincarnated into a new body. He reunites with an old acquaintance, Wangji Lan, embarking on a journey to learn more about the cultivators' deepest secrets.
12 Love, Stage!!
An aspiring mangaka from a show business family, Izumi Sena prefers to stay away from showbiz due to a strong case of stage fright. Love, Stage!! follows his romance with Ryoma Ichijo, a popular actor who fell for him after mistaking him for a girl due to his small size.
Since it is a romantic comedy, Love, Stage!! sees the misadventures of Izumi and Ryoma, letting their love develop without much drama. Yaoi anime fans who want a heartwarming story with no angst should checkthis series out. They will fall in love with the characters from the very first moment.
11 Twitter Birds Never Fly ~ The Clouds Gather
Twittering Birds Never Fly ~ The Clouds Gather is an extremely graphic, strictly adult anime that follows yakuza boss Yashiro and his new detail, Doumeki Chikara. Yashiro immediately takes a shine to Doumeki and does his best to seduce his new subordinate.
An unlikely romance blooms as the once immovable Doumeki begins to share in Yashiro's desires. Having both experienced and witnessed trauma when they were younger, the two broken men find common ground and confidence in each other. Though they are very different, Doumeki and Yashiro find that they are better when they weather life together.
10 Best Yuri Manga
Revolutionary Girl Utena is a classic yuri series with an excellent manga, but series like Bloom Into You are carrying the torch in the modern era.10 Classmates
Classmates' central premise is not incredibly unique, but that is precisely the point. For too long, queer fans have been denied the essential joy of watching a simple love story unfold. There are no persistent romantic rivals or over-the-top drama, elements commonly seen in BL anime.
A reserved, introverted honor student, Rihito Sajou, meets Hikaru Kusakabe, an outgoing student who struggles with his studies. Both are attending a chorus class, and Hikaru decides to help Rihito with his vocals. So begins an endearing and pure tale of first love between two teenage boys. The movie is a thoughtful, subtle piece, and the art is beautiful in its simplicity. On the whole, Classmates is a charming, affecting story.
9 My Very Own Hero
Hitorijime My Hero, also known as My Very Own Hero, depicts the relationships between two different couples. First, Masahiro Setagawa, an uninspired teenager on his way to becoming a criminal, and Kousuke Ooshiba, a street fighter and high school teacher who wants better for Masahiro. Additionally, Kensuke Ooshiba, Kousuke's brother and Masahiro's best friend, and Asaya Hasekura, Kensuke's possessive but friendly boyfriend.
My Very Own Hero, which has 12 episodes, develops the romances between each pair while also considering their relations with each other, such as Kousuke and Kensuke's brotherly love or Kensuke and Masahiro's friendship. All characters are highly lovable, so BL anime fans will love it.
8 Dakaichi
Dakaichi is a more mature BL, but it is nonetheless a hilariously dramatic "enemies to lovers" type of romance. Despite having only 13 episodes, there is more than enough story material to give viewers a great LGBTQA+ storyline. It is also a good recommendation for fans looking for an anime with a primarily adult cast.
"Sexiest Man of the Year" Takato Saijo has to share the spotlight with the up-and-coming Junya Azumaya. But things get worse for him after Junya obtains some career-ending evidence. Their dynamic is delightful to watch, even when they bicker or attempt to one-up each other. The story gradually begins pushing their relationship in a more sensual direction, something adult anime fans will appreciate.
7 Heaven Official's Blessing
Xie Lian is an unfortunate god who continues to ascend to the heavens but gets knocked back into the mortal world. On his third ascension, the gods give him the job of solving the mystery of disappearing brides. During his investigation, Xie Lian meets a handsome man who helps him through his mission. Yet, Hua Cheng is more than what he seems.
Heaven Official's Blessing is a heartfelt story about two lost souls finding each other throughout time. This subtle romance shows two people banished and feared by the heavens coming together to find strength in one another.
10 Most Wholesome Opposites-Attract Romances In Anime
Some anime couples couldn't be more dissimilar from each other. They work perfectly, though, because they each have what the other needs.6 Stranger By The Shore
Long before Stranger by the Shore hit Japanese theaters, the hype surrounding this queer romance film began online. The premise is nothing remarkable, which is precisely the film's charm. Queer fans have missed out on even the most straightforward, sweetest depictions of young romance, the joy of seeing representation as a theatergoer.
Shun Hashimoto hopes to be an author, but things become harder after his parents abandon him for coming out. When he meets Mio Chibana, an orphaned high schooler, by the sea in Okinawa, the two grow close. But summer ends; Mio leaves, and Shun is alone once again. By the time he returns to Okinawa, things are not what they were, but perhaps these two can still find happiness together.
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