There has been a taboo around homosexuality through much of the world but in anime, there have always been gay or lesbian characters. Their presence has been varied and ranged from a comic addition to a realistic character. They have often added to the storyline and during other times it was more of a redundant addition to the narrative. But homosexuality has been there since the beginning of anime and even today it is prevalent in the shows that come out. We have brought together a list of some of these anime features which have homosexual content and although the list is not exhaustive, these are clearly some of the best.
List of the best Gay Anime:
22. Hybrid Child (2014, 4 episodes with 25 minutes each)
This anime is a beautiful synthesis of three romantic tales bounded into one. It tells you the story of Kuroda who is a craftsman and creates dolls. These are no ordinary dolls and can even experience the human emotions. A character named Kotarou Izumi brings such a doll home and soon their love breaks the normalcy. The problem is that the dolls do not have a long lifespan.
21. Sekaiichi Hatsukoi (2011, 12 episodes)
Sekaiichi Hatsukoi is about two characters named Ritsu Onodera and Masamune Takao. The latter is his boss after he shifts from his previous job owing to jealous work-mates. Masamune insults him and he tries to stay put and prove his boss wrong. Soon he realizes that Ritsu is actually an old schoolmate and their love becomes strong as the story goes on.
20. Ling Qi (2016, 20 episodes with 14 minutes each)
This is a gay anime and has the story revolving around the protagonist named Yang Jinghua who is a poor man. He gets involved in an accident and soon he realizes that he is 10 years younger. Another realization occurs soon when he understands that he is actually dead and he signs the spirit pact given by a man. Then begins the adventure which he embarks upon and Ling Qi is going to win your hearts through its brilliant style of storytelling.
19. Kono Danshi, Mahao ga Oshigoto Desu (2016, 4 episodes)
The story is about a wizard named Chiharu Kashima and he goes to a bar where he meets Toyohi Utsumi one day. This man tells the wizard about his love for magic and slowly falls in love with Chiharu. But does he love Chiharu since he is a wizard? Watch the anime to find out the intriguing tale.
18. Xiao Lu He Xiao Lan (2018, over 70 episodes with 8 minutes each)
This is a Chinese anime and there is something very different about the story. It involves two main characters who meet each other every now and then during the show. While sometimes they behave as friends, at other times they are the worst enemies. There is some homosexuality involved in this anime as well.
17. Super Lovers (2016, 20 episodes)
If you are not familiar with the shounen-ai anime genre, then this might just not be your cup of tea. The story is about a guy named Haru who is falsely called by his mother to Canada and assigned the responsibility of his adoptive brother named Ren. The story moves on as their relationship develops through incidents such as Haru being in an accident and losing his memory. It is a gripping story and if you can sit through it, it would be worth it.
16. Patalliro! (1982, 31 episodes)
Patalliro tells us the story of Patalliro du Malyner VIII who was the king of Malyner. There is a lot of comic element in the anime and the story goes along as Patalliro being a diabetic kid. Another crucial character in this anime is that of Maraich who is an assassin and falls in love with the man whom he was supposed to kill named Jack. There is even a moment in the anime where Jack is pregnant despite being a man. Patalliro is full of comical moments and induces a lot of laughs.
15. Uragiri wa Boku no Namae wo Shitteiru (2010)
This story has a unique character named Yuki Sakurai and he can see the most painful memory of a person if he touches that person. This unique power makes him an enemy for many while others want to protect him and in the midst of all the confusion, he meets a man who saves him one day. Yuki develops a unique relationship with the man and soon his very existence is clear to him. This anime has great music, colors, and a romantic narrative in the garb of another story.
14. NO.6 (2011, 11 episodes)
This anime is based upon a situation where war has ended finally and humanity is at peace. There is a character named Shion and he resides in one of the six city-states that had been formed after the war. He meets a boy who was an outsider and yet he protected that boy named Nezumi. Slowly the secret is revealed and Shion loses his citizenship as a result. Soon they start off on a journey together, one that if filled with adventure and fun. This is one of those gay anime that has a parallel storyline.
13. Junjou Romantica (2008, 2 seasons)
Traversing through a journey of the three couples, this anime has a lot of homosexual content and also a sweet and romantic story. The main character is Misaki Takahashi and he is a high school student. There are other characters such as Akihiko Usami who is an author and when he seeks help from Misaki, Misaki discovers the naughty elements in his story and grows to like them. There are other interesting elements in this anime as well as we observe the story of the other couples.
12. Love Stage (2014, 10 episodes of 23 minutes each)
This anime revolves around the family of Izumi Sen and how they deal with the show business. With his father as the producer and his mother as the actress, his brother is also a rock star. However, Izumi is not in the limelight and eventually becomes a manga artist. Ryouma stars alongside him in a commercial and declares his love for him without knowing that he is a boy. His feminine appearance hid the fact and soon although he discovers the truth, his love for Izumi does not fade away.
11. Jojo’s Bizzare Adventure (2012, 126 volumes)
This is an anime which has a distinct homoerotic theme to it. It starts in the year 1868 and the character of Dario Brando is seen to save George Joestar and as gratitude, George offers shelter to his son after his death. Dio, however, is an evil character and has plans of destroying everything and claiming the entire Joestar property. This character of Dio is shown to be homosexual and there is a definite gay content in this anime.
10. Hetalia Axis Powers (2019, 2 seasons with 26 episodes each)
What if there was parody made for the entire world? Hetalia Axis Powers would be the perfect example of that and the plot of this anime has the backdrop of the first and second world wars. The personification of the countries adds to the story and there are certain characteristics that are sure to bring a smile to your face. In this anime, France is shown to be the gay character and it is obviously in the comical sense of the term.
9. Cardcaptor Sakura (1998, 70 episodes)
The anime Cardcaptor Sakura has a gripping storyline and the plot is not dependent on the homosexual element. It is about a girl named Sakura who manages to set some magical cards free and that can spell doom upon humanity. So she must find them and get those back in quick time. The gay characters in this anime are Toya and Yukito and Toya is the older brother of Sakura.
8. Hana-Kimi- For You in Full Blossom (1996, volumes 23)
The protagonist of this anime is Mizuki who happens to be a track and field star. Her idol is Izumi and he goes to school in an all-boys school. So Mizuki decides to cross-dress and attend the school as a student. In this story, several characters are gay and there are plenty of such twists to the story. Some come as comical elements while others are more serious in nature. It is a popular anime among the anime lovers.
7. One-Punch Man (2015, 24 episodes + 9 OVAs)
This follows a superhero story where the protagonist named Saitama can perform certain experiments and develop into a superhero who can defeat every individual with a single punch. The character of Puri Puri prisoner becomes naked when the superhero transformation takes place and this is the gay character in this superhero anime. While this anime is not all about the gay characters, they do play important roles in the show.
6. Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995, 26 episodes)
Humanity finds itself on the brink of destruction and the only means of saving humanity is the Evangelion. This needs to be handled by some selected individuals so that the angels, who are all set to destroy the world, do not succeed in their mission. Neon Genesis Evangelion has the character named Shinji Ikari who is one of the pivotal characters who can save the world from imminent destruction. Kaworu Nagisa and Shinji are very close to each other and this is the homosexual angle that is present in this anime.
5. Steins; Gate (2011, 25 episodes)
There is a character in this anime named Ruka Urushibar. This is a boy who is slim and lean and manages to confuse the viewers for a fairly long time. He is basically a girl who dresses up as a boy. This character shows more masculine characteristics than feminine traits and that makes this a very confusing character during the early stages of the show. He even develops a crush for a guy called Rintarou and this is the reason that this anime finds itself in this list.
4. Devilman- Crybaby (2018, 10 episodes)
This is a fantasy world where devils, humans, and demons co-exist. To take a form, the devil must find a human host and there are times when the human is strong-willed enough to control them while using their supernatural powers. This is what happens in this series as the character of Akira merges with a devil name Amon to become a powerful devilman. Satan falls in love with Akira and is the gay character in this popular anime.
3. Yuri!!! On Ice (2016, 12 episodes)
An ice-hockey player loses his passion and enthusiasm after a sudden defeat in a match. He can make a comeback but is demoralized beyond repairs. This character named Yuuri Katsuki is helped by another veteran of the game named Victor. Victor becomes a mentor for him and slowly and steadily they fall in love. As Yuuri discovers his touch and passion for the game, the characters have a relationship that evolves with time. This is a popular sports anime and the gay characters are pivotal to the story.
2. Doukyuusei (2016)
There is a presence of homosexual characters in many anime series but in Doukyuusei the two main protagonists are gay and the story revolves around them. Rhito and Hiraku are the gay characters and while the former is a student the latter is a guitarist. Rhito had to prepare for a chorus and Hiraku helped him in the process and eventually, the two characters started getting romantically involved. There is a romantic storyline and plenty of moments that make the viewers adore the cute relationship that develops between the two characters.
1. Tiger an Bunny (2011, 25 episodes)
This is a comical take on a character who has homosexual tendencies at the beginning of the series. It revolves around the character of Nathan Seymour who has an alter ego that is Hot Fire Emblem. This character hits on men and there are some genuine moments of fun in the show due to this situation. Tiger an Bunny belongs to the superhero genre and some of the action sequences that you will get to experience in this series are actually over the top. This anime is a popular hit among the masses and loved by the fans for its rich content.
