While girl-on-girl action may be one of your adult-time fun sites’ most popular searches, most people who watch yuri do so for the complex emotional relationships. If you enjoy drama and the complexities of relationships in your romance anime, yuri anime will always be your best bet.
In Japan, same-sex relationships are still frowned upon, but it isn’t just that. Coming to terms with your sexuality is difficult even in areas where it is accepted, particularly when you develop feelings for close friends, as is the case in yuri shows.
Therefore, this sets the stage for an emotional journey in this anime genre that any romance fan can enjoy if they keep an open mind.
Yuri anime has been popular and thriving since the early days of anime, and they are also known as Shoujo Ai. The relationships between the girls are the foundation of these series.
Yuri anime plots range from deep bonding to heavy fan-service-driven plots, and some have done outstanding work in capturing the emotion and depth of this unique community.
True, many anime contain yuri elements, but the shows listed below truly belong in the yuri genre. If you’re unfamiliar with the genre, yuri anime focuses on the emotional and sometimes sexual aspects of a lesbian relationship.
Although some people enjoy yuri anime because they think it’s sexy, but the majority of people enjoy good yuri anime because it contains some genuinely deep stories.
1. Bloom Into You
Yuu Koito has always been fascinated by romantic shoujo manga and love song lyrics. On the day she finally receives a confession, she patiently waits for the wings of love to sprout and send her heart fluttering.
However, she is left feeling hollow when a junior high classmate declares his love for her at their graduation. The realization dawns on her that although she understands romance as a concept, she has never experienced it firsthand.
Yuu is still undecided and disheartened about how to respond to her suitor now that she has started high school. There, she encounters Touko Nanami, the seemingly flawless student council president, who maturely rejects a confession.
Yuu approaches Touko for advice, drawn by her elegant demeanor, only to be surprised when the president confesses to her! Yuu quickly finds herself in Touko’s palm and unwittingly embarks on a quest for the emotion that has eluded her for so long.
Bloom Into You isn’t a romance. It’s more a love story about self-discovery. Bloom Into You portrays homosexual youth more realistically than any other anime before it.
Bringing attention to even the tiniest of details that can only be conveyed accurately by someone who has firsthand experience. Bloom Into You is a masterpiece.
The storyboards convey characters’ inner emotions in engaging ways, and it is visually appealing. Aside from visual metaphors, the way the story unfolds is symbolic of Yuu and Touko’s internal conflicts.
Bloom Into You is a beautifully crafted, unforgettable experience that will stay with you for a long time.
2. Asagao to Kase-san
Yui Yamada, a high school student who enjoys gardening and plants, begins dating Tomoka Kase, the star of her school’s track team. Yui is shy, girly, and has never had a boyfriend.
Tomoka, on the other hand, is vivacious, tomboyish, and well-liked by her peers. Despite their many differences, they try to understand and support one another while experiencing the rush of excitement that comes with first love.
Asagao to Kase-san is a touching story about two girls dealing with their growing feelings for each other, as well as other issues that plague maidens in love. Asagao to Kase-san is probably the most accurate depiction of a lesbian couple in anime.
Yamada and Kase, the two main characters, will make you fall in love. It will give you such a wonderful feeling to watch them interact with one another.
The story isn’t particularly unique or interesting in and of itself. In this story, two girls fall in love – one is more experienced, the other is incredibly naive – and their relationship goes through highs and lows.
The rest of the anime shows the subtleties of an already established romance, because their relationship is established within the first few scenes. It’s beautifully paced, giving the audience a good mix of sweet fluff and substantial drama and conflict.
The conflicts arise organically and feel natural in the course of the characters’ relationship, and they are interspersed with sweet scenes that further detail the relationship.
3. Revolutionary Girl Utena
Utena Tenjou vowed to become a prince after meeting a traveling prince who consoled her after her parents died. The prince only left Utena with a ring with a strange rose crest on it and a promise to see her again someday.
As Utena attends Ootori Academy a few years later, she becomes involved in a dangerous game. Duelists with rings that match Utena’s compete for a one-of-a-kind prize: the Rose Bride, Anthy Himemiya, and her enigmatic abilities.
When Utena defeats Anthy in a duel, she realizes that the only way to free Anthy and learn the secrets of Ootori Academy is to revolutionize the world.
This anime combines surrealist imagery and ideas with complex allegories and metaphors to create a one-of-a-kind coming-of-age story about idealism, illusions, adulthood, and identity.
Utena is a fantastic anime series. On the surface, Utena appears to be a duelist of the week series with recurring duelists. This show is so much more than that because of the depth of character development that you get with the duelists, and even with the recurring minor characters.
Each duel reveals a different side of them. Another aspect of this series is that nothing is as it appears at first. Every character and aspect of this show has multiple layers, and as the show progresses, you realize exactly what is going on at Ootori Academy.
This show is a lot of fun to watch and is very engrossing. The oddball-yet-chivalrous atmosphere entices you in and keeps you hooked.
4. Puella Magi Madoka Magica
Madoka Kaname and Sayaka Miki are ordinary middle school students with ordinary lives, but everything changes when they meet Kyuubey, a magical cat, and Homura Akemi, a new transfer student.
Kyuubey makes them an offer: he will grant any of their wishes in exchange for them becoming magical girls with enough power to realize their dreams. Homura Akemi, a magical girl herself, advises them against accepting the offer, claiming that nothing is as it seems.
Puella Magi Madoka Magica is a story of hope, despair, and friendship that explores the challenges that magical girls face and the price that must be paid to make a dream come true.
The way the plot unfolds is simply breathtaking. The build-up of tension, plot twists, drama, and psychological atmosphere all contribute to a gripping story.
The cast of characters in this anime is quite small. As a result, each important character develops and changes in unexpected ways throughout the series. We learn a lot about some characters’ pasts, the reasons for their actions, and their feelings, among other things, and this gives each character a unique feel.
They don’t follow any predictable patterns. The characters are intriguing, and the art will pique your interest, but the plot is unquestionably the most compelling aspect of this series.
Plot twists, drama, heartbreaking and heartwarming moments all come together in a brilliant plot with a satisfying conclusion.
5. Sono Hanabira Ni Kuchizuke Wo: Anata To Koibito Tsunagi
Reo Kawamura and Mai Sawaguchi don’t appear to be friends. Even though Mai tries her hardest to get along with Reo, they always end up fighting. When Mai inquires about Reo’s feelings for her, Reo instead confesses.
Mai is perplexed and surprised, and she begins to wonder if she shares her feelings. She meets Reo again after school, prepared to respond. The two girls agree that their feelings are mutual and begin to use each other to satisfy their sexual desires.
The hentai ‘Sono Hanabira ni Kuchizuke wo: Anata to Koibito Tsunagi’ is as grand as its title. First and foremost, it is the wet dream of every vanilla enthusiast. This hentai is the epitome of vanilla. Second, it passes every moral test that can be applied to it.
You’ll notice right away that the two main characters in this piece are animated in the “Moe” style. This OVA is extremely innocent and pure. The “moe” style complements the overwhelmingly romantic and vanilla atmosphere, resulting in a heart-warming experience.
It’s morally perfect, with mostly sex scenes, and the design is perfect for this genre of hentai. Both characters adore each other and will always be there for each other.
One is reserved, while the other is assertive. If one of them falls ill, the other will take care of her. Overall, the OVA is amusing. This is one of those Hentai series that you watch for the storyline rather than the Hentai scenes alone.
6. Strawberry Panic
Nagisa Aoi starts her new school year as a transfer student at St. Miator’s Girls Academy, one of Astraea Hill’s three prestigious all-girls schools. Nagisa gets lost on her first day and meets a mysterious student whose elegance and charm are so alluring that she ends up in the hospital.
Tamao Suzumi, Nagisa’s roommate, is there to greet her when she wakes up, eagerly introducing her to campus life and social structure. Most notably, Tamao informs her that each of the three schools has an exceptional student representative known as the Etoile, or “star.”
Nagisa is overjoyed when she discovers that the ethereal beauty she met earlier, Shizuma Hanazono, is none other than Etoile herself! Furthermore, Shizuma appears to be openly interested in Nagisa!
Her interactions with Shizuma naturally make her a popular topic on campus, but Nagisa can’t help but wonder if something isn’t quite right.
Strawberry Panic! follows Nagisa, Shizuma, and her friends as they navigate the challenges of relationships while confronting hidden feelings, lingering regrets, and new possibilities at St. Miator’s, St. Spica, and St. Lulim.
Strawberry Panic shines brightest when it comes to its characters. There are plenty of characters to fall in love with, and you’d have to be heartless not to feel a connection to the majority of them by the end of the series.
The characters in Strawberry Panic are all so unique and interesting that the large-cast-harem theme is handled flawlessly.
7. Yuru Yuri
First-year student Akari Akaza is reunited with second-year students Yui Funami and Kyouko Toshinou at their all-girls middle school after a year away from her childhood friends in elementary school. Yui and Kyouko founded the “Amusement Club” during their first year together, which now occupies the Tea Club’s room, which is no longer in use.
Soon after Akari joins, one of her classmates, Chinatsu Yoshikawa, pays the three girls a visit, mistaking them for the Tea Club; it is only after they explain the Tea Club has disbanded that they can persuade Chinatsu to join the Amusement Club—a group whose sole purpose is to entertain its members.
Yuru Yuri is an odd comedy about a group of girls who spend their free time drinking tea and fawning over each other, completely oblivious to the presence of the supposed main character Akari.
Although there isn’t much of a plot, it works for anime; the show revolves around the characters, what they do, and how they interact with one another, and it works overall. Despite its lack of depth, the plot fits well for a show about lesbian middle-school girls who love each other, go on silly adventures, and do crazy things with each other.
Every episode is incredible, and the characters are really entertaining and funny. Each girl has her own kind of cuteness and adorable personality. While some slice-of-life anime can be amusing at times, this one is consistently so.
Yuru Yuri’s romances were extremely well-executed, demonstrating that cute girls can love each other without being explicitly sexual; they are extremely adorable and will make anyone smile.
8. Simoun
Everyone is born female in Simulicram’s peaceful theocracy. At the age of 17, each maiden participates in a special ceremony in which she selects her sex.
Only pairs of maiden priestesses, however, are capable of synchronizing with the ancient flying ships known as Simoun, which are required to defend Simulicram. As long as they want to keep piloting their Simoun, these Pairs will avoid the ceremony.
After an enemy nation’s attack decimates the squadron known as Chor Tempest, Aer is recruited to be a Simoun pilot. She must find her way into the heart of Neviril, Regina of Chor Tempest, in order to earn her wings.
However, Neviril’s heart remains with her previous Pair, who she lost in battle when she attempted a forbidden Simoun maneuver.
Simoun is a rare anime series that is both well-made and well-executed. Simoun has a deep plotline that draws from many different themes and evokes a lot of emotions, in addition to its beautiful animation and incredible use of music.
We can touch on the main theme of Simoun: love, by watching the struggles and triumphs of these maidens. Simoun’s love story isn’t entirely about romantic love, though it is a big part of it.
The rest is a type of love based on friendship that is just as prevalent as romantic love. Despite their young age, these girls understand the importance of safeguarding those closest to them.
The anime’s main focus is on the relationships among the Simoun pilots, with the girls trying to protect and save each other, while also figuring out how to make sacrifices in order to achieve their goals.
9. Sakura trick
Haruka Takayama and Yuu Sonoda have been best friends since middle school and plan to attend Misato West High School together. Despite being assigned to the same class, they are seated on opposite ends of the room due to a cruel twist of Fate!
To make matters worse, their school will close in three years, leaving them as the final first-year class. Haruka is unfazed by this series of misfortunes, and she is determined to stay with Yuu and make many wonderful memories with her.
Yuu’s easygoing demeanor, much to Haruka’s jealousy, quickly attracts the attention of their female classmates.
In an empty classroom, Yuu shares a deep, affectionate kiss with her friend, sympathizing with her growing insecurities.
The act strengthens their bond as “special friends,” gradually revealing a new facet of their special friendship while also introducing new conflicts.
Sakura Trick is a refreshingly different Slice of Life show, as it rejects the concept of static timelines commonly seen in this genre. There is continuity between each episode, and minor and major changes in each character’s and their relationships can be felt as time passes.
The show introduces us to a diverse cast of characters and the relationships they have, which include not only romantic ties but also friendships and sisterhood.
As a means of character development, Sakura Trick avoids heavy dialogue and inner monologue. Instead, the characters change subtly in response to the events of each episode, leaving room for the viewer’s interpretation while also giving it a natural feel.
10. Candy boy
Yukino and Kanade Sakurai are twin sisters who share a dorm room in high school. Despite the fact that they are twins, they have a romantic relationship with one another, holding hands and going on dates.
Kanade notices Yukino socializing with a new girl, Sakuya Kamiyama, one day. Kanade assumes they are dating after seeing how much time they spend together, and she begins to distance herself from her sister.
Yukino notices and begs Kanade not to leave. Sakuya has only been seeking advice about Kanade, revealing her obsessive love for her. What will the outcome of this love triangle be?
Candy Boy is a sweet, lighthearted romantic comedy set in a small town. Candy Boy has a simple plot that centers on twin sisters Kanade and Yukino and their high school life together.
Unlike many slice-of-life shows, Candy Boy’s episodes feel like they’re all part of one big plot, with events flowing smoothly from episode to episode. Both sisters work hard to make time for each other and both graduate from high school.
The characters in the series are fantastic. This is aided by the extremely small cast, with only four characters to focus on.
There isn’t much angst in terms of relationships, which is a nice change of pace. Kanade and Yukino are deeply in love with each other, and nothing seems to be able to separate them.
You should be aware that this series is about yuri love and a fraternal twins’ incestuous relationship. If you enjoy yuri or simply want to watch a sweet slice of life series without being bothered by the subject matter, watch it.
11. Aoi Hana
Fumi Manjoume, shy and soft-spoken, and Akira Okudaira, outgoing and caring, were best friends in elementary school, but that changed when Fumi and her family moved away.
Years later, after being accepted to Matsuoka Girls’ High School, Fumi returns to her hometown. She meets up with Akira, who will be attending Fujigatani Girls’ Academy. Their relationship isn’t the same now as it was years ago, despite their reunion.
As soon as Fumi arrives at school, popular senior Yasuko Sugimoto notices her and flatters her more than any other student. After relying on Akira for help so many times, Fumi has to discover who she is instead of standing in someone else’s shadow.
That doesn’t stop Akira from wishing for her friendship with Fumi to return to its former glory. Will they be able to face the difficulties high school brings before it tears them apart?
Aoi Hana is attempting to portray a thoughtful and serious story about a group of adolescent girls learning about first love and themselves.
This series isn’t flashy, and like its protagonist Fumi, it’s soft and delicate. The plot is far more varied and realistic than your typical romance series.
While the themes are mostly yuri, it also has a slice-of-life feel to it, as well as a comedy. Aoi Hana is unique in that it is one of the few anime series that has taken sexuality seriously.
There is no exploitive fan service or sexual content added for the sole purpose of titillation in this anime. Despite the intimacy and mature themes, everything is handled with such finesse that it stays true to the anime’s themes.
12. Kiniro Mosaic
Shinobu Oomiya once traveled to England to take part in a homestay program. A close friend she made at the time was Alice Cartelet, the daughter of the family she lived with during the homestay.
Despite the language barrier, when it came time for Shinobu to return to Japan, the two were able to express their sadness.
Shinobu, now a first-year high school student, receives an airmail letter in a language she does not understand five years later. This letter was written by Alice herself, and it describes her own homestay in Japan.
Indeed, Alice will be a student at Shinobu’s high school and will live with her! The girls go to school together with their friends Youko Inokuma, Aya Komichi, and Karen Kujou and learn about their different cultures every day.
In terms of a storyline, this show lacks one, but it is in keeping with the show’s intent. Each episode is broken down into sections, each focusing on one character’s point of view or a single gag; the connection between each episode is not very present.
That being said, the viewer can still enjoy each episode on its own. The characters are very interactive and unique, and some of them even have a Shoujo Ai vibe to them.
The show continues with these five friends and their day-to-day lives, which are full of comedic situations. Each episode brings a cheerful aura and brings out the cuteness of each character, which is a plus for any slice of life fan.
13. Mahou Shojo Lyrical Nanoha
Nanoha Takamachi, a typical third-grader who enjoys spending time with her family and friends, comes to the aid of an injured ferret she had dreamed about the night before.
The ferret telepathically cries out to Nanoha the next day, pleading with her to save him. Yuuno Scrya, a mage from another world, reveals himself to be the ferret on a quest to gather 21 Jewel Seeds he accidentally scattered across the world.
Nano is given the magical wand Raising Heart and is instructed on how to become a powerful mage by him. Some days after reclaiming Jewel Seeds, Fate Testarossa appears.
Fate, who is stronger than Nanoha, refuses to reveal why she is attempting to collect the Jewel Seeds. Nanoha notices a sadness in Fate’s eyes, but she refuses to communicate. Shoujo Mahou Lyrical Nanoha is a story about the conflict of emotions that occurs when two people’s goals collide.
Similar to a magical girl story, this one takes a more mature approach to the plot. It avoids the overly cute-to-the-point-of-mindlessness kawaiiness that many Magical Girl shows contain.
Lyrical Mahou Shojo Nanoha is an ironic title because everything it does after the first three episodes deviates from the magical girl moniker. It’s darker than most, and the story is far more well-thought-out.
This show is truly exceptional in terms of character development. Two of the most intriguing characters are Fate and Nanoha. The story does an excellent job of developing and growing them into the characters they become by the end.
14. Mnemosyne: Mnemosyne no Musume-Tachi
Immortality is something that many people aspire to have. Would it be such a prized ability if people knew they’d be subjected to a barrage of attacks as a result of it?
Rin Asougi, an immortal private investigator, is in this situation because there are a lot of people who want her dead. She has met many grisly ends over the centuries, but she has always come back to life as if nothing had happened.
Rin meets Kouki Maeno, a man who believes his memories are incorrect while looking for a lost cat in 1990. Rin agrees to help him, only to discover that Kouki is not who he claims to be, bringing her closer to her true enemy.
This enemy is all too familiar with Rin and her kind, and if she dies at his hands, she may never wake up.
The story appears complicated at first, but once it is finished, the entire picture appears to come into focus. Finally, Mnemosyne can be classified as a like-it-or-hate-it series because, while it has merits, viewers must put in a lot of effort to appreciate due to its complex graphics and plot.
The interesting portrayal of immortal beings and the evolution of society and technology throughout the multiple decade time-skips between each episode, as well as the aging of mortal characters and their long but fleeting relationship with the main characters, is one of the series’ strongest points.
Mnemosyne presents a much more realistic and accurate view of the aspect than most other anime that do feature immortal characters as the main characters.
15. Noir
Mireille Bouquet, a hired assassin, receives an odd email from Kirika Yuumura, a young Japanese student, inviting Mireille to “make a pilgrimage to past” with her on a sunny afternoon in Paris.
Initially dismissing the email as nonsense, she reconsiders when it begins to play a song she remembers from her childhood.
When the two meet in person for the first time, they are ambushed by gun-wielding men. While Mireille is capable of repelling the attack, she soon discovers that Kirika is a skilled combatant after she eliminates several gunmen on her own.
Kirika laments not being able to feel remorse for her victims, despite her skill at killing. Furthermore, Kirika appears to have no recollection of how she came to possess the abilities she does, or even of her true identity.
Mireille agrees to team up with Kirika after sensing a shared history between them, and together they search for answers about their pasts.
The duo’s fragile alliance is put to the test as they begin accepting jobs, each of which brings them closer to the truth of who they really are.
The plot is absolutely stunning. Battles with the past, Fate, and accepting sins. Trying to make it in a cruel, cold world filled with violence and ruthlessness.
The first few episodes of Noir are slow, but the plot picks up as the series progresses. Once the plot picks up, you’ll be engrossed and on the edge of your seat until the very end.
16. El Cazador De La Bruja
Nadie is a brash bounty hunter with a grudge, and she’s set her sights on Ellis, a young amnesiac who is suspected of assassinating a famous scientist.
Nadie apprehends Ellis, but on the spur of the moment, she decides to accompany her to Wiay Marka, a location rumored to hold the key to unlocking Ellis’ memories and her mysterious past.
Nadie warns Ellis, however, that this does not mean she will be allowed to go free; once Ellis has found what she is looking for, Nadie will hand her over to the authorities.
The two set out south through Mexico in search of the mysterious “Eternal City” of Wiay Marka, using Ellis’ connection to a gemstone known as the Inca Rose as their only guide.
El Cazador is a good action-adventure that follows two unlikely partners through their trials and tribulations. El Cazador has an excellent setup. It quickly introduces the enigmatic elements that will be discussed and ultimately explained.
It does so in a way that draws you in and keeps you interested. It has satisfying, well-constructed resolutions to all of its mysteries. The anime has incredible world-building, a unique vibe and is set in a fictional Latin America. You have the opportunity to take in the entire atmosphere.
It’s a long journey. A journey south for our completely opposite protagonists through a Mexican-inspired landscape.
The journey itself, as well as the people they meet along the way, is the real story. Overall, it’s an excellent action anime with memorable characters.
17. Oniisama e
Nanako Misonoo, 16, believes she has a bright future when she enrolls in the prestigious all-girls Seiran Academy. Instead, the unfortunate young lady is entangled in a web of deception, misery, and jealousy. Furthermore, she is chosen as the Sorority’s newest inductee, an elite group whose members are the envy of the entire school.
Nanako quickly draws the wrath of her jealous classmates, especially the fiery Aya Misaki, because she lacks the grace, wealth, or talent of the other members.
Nanako writes letters to her former teacher, Takehiko Henmi, whom she affectionately refers to as “onii-sama,” to help her cope with her increasingly difficult school life.
Her four closest friends: childhood best friend Tomoko Arikura, the troubled musician Rei Asaka, the athletic tomboy Kaoru Orihara, and the sociable but erratic Mariko Shinobu, provide her with comfort.
Oniisama e is a moving drama about bullying that follows a young girl as she adjusts to her new school and faces cruel rumors, heartless classmates, and a slew of social challenges.
Several controversial issues are addressed in this early 1990s anime, including drug abuse, homosexuality, bullying, incest, and suicide. This series has its share of dark and depressing moments, but it also has its share of comedic moments.
As you might expect from such a storytelling tool, Nanako and her emotions take center stage in this anime.
Fortunately, she is an appealing character from the start, and she does evolve throughout the series, which is acknowledged and emphasized. Even people who appear to be completely stereotypical turn out to be real people in the end.
18. Maria-Sama Ga Miteru
Yumi Fukuzawa never expected to catch the eye of Sachiko Ogasawara, one of the school’s most popular students, when she enrolled at the Lillian Girls’ Academy, a prestigious all-girls Catholic school in Tokyo.
Sachiko has now offered to be Yumi’s soeur, “sister,” and guide throughout her time at the Academy. Yumi is completely taken aback by the idea all; they’ve only just met!
The two of them are the subject of numerous rumors on campus, but Yumi is undecided about accepting Sachiko’s offer. While she admires Sachiko, being her soeur will make her the center of attention at school.
It’s about a group of Catholic schoolgirls. That is all there is to it. It’s about them, their lives, and yet it draws you in like nothing else, engulfing you in their tales and making you want to learn more about them.
The show’s calm, serene, languid pace and setting at an all-girls Catholic school makes it easy to relax with, but it’s the show’s rich cast of characters, each with their own distinct and unique personality, that adds to the overall enjoyment and is the show’s highlight.
As you watch the show, you can’t help but become engrossed in Yumi’s, Sachiko’s, and the rest of the Lillian girls’ lives as they form those special bonds of friendship and see how those friendships endure through good and bad times.
19. Mai-HiME
The plot revolves around Mai Tokiha, a seemingly ordinary high-school girl who, along with her younger brother Takumi, has recently transferred to the prestigious Fuuka Academy.
The prestigious Fuuka Academy is riddled with mysteries involving both students and staff. Mai is bound to a Child, a part-spiritual, part-mechanical creature that can only be summoned and controlled by girls with the HiME mark as they arrive at the Academy.
Mai has been informed that she is one of twelve girls with the mark and that they must use their abilities to protect everyone from Orphans, monstrous creatures with abilities similar to the HiME’s Children.
Because of her protective role toward her brother, Mai is hesitant to get involved at first, but the other HiME quickly manifest around her, each with very different motivations and goals for using her powers.
The action and magical girl genres collide in Mai-HiME. It’s a little bit of everything: every genre, every anime trope, and every character type imaginable all rolled into one.
The series has a large cast, so it can be a bit confusing the first time you watch it. You’ll notice how well each one is created once you get past the initial confusion of not knowing who the characters are, you’ll notice how well each one is created.
Whether it is friendship, hatred, or romance, the HiME’s strong bonds prove to be an important part of the story.
20. Canaan
Oosawa Maria is a photographer from Japan who is currently based in Shanghai, China. She looks for potential newsworthy stories throughout the city with her partner Mino.
When strange things happen at a local festival, Maria and Mino investigate right away. Suddenly, the two find themselves in the middle of a fight between unknown masked men and a strange white-haired woman.
Just as Maria is about to be caught in the crossfire, Canaan, an old friend, appears and assists Maria in escaping. However, a sinister plot involving a deadly virus soon appears, and Canaan realizes that she must confront her past if she is to stop the perpetrator and save her friends.
The plot is fairly straightforward, and there are no particularly large plot twists. However, rather than detracting from the enjoyment value, this enhanced it.
The plot is simple, but it makes you want to watch the next episode to find out what sinister force is behind the strange events.
Canaan and Maria are essentially co-protagonists, as they are given roughly equal screen time and character development. Maria is friendly, outgoing, vivacious, and fragile, whereas Canaan is quiet, stoic, and rough.
This makes for an intriguing pairing. These two have a unique and interesting friendship. Their bond is strong, and it serves as a driving force throughout the series.
These two are backed up by a cast of equally compelling supporting characters, each with a satisfying and intriguing backstory. You’ll find a good mix of action, character development, and even heart-wrenching moments that will have you crying.
21. Sasameki Koto
Kazama Ushio has a problem. She just can’t seem to shake the shackles of unrequited love off her shoulders. She is prone to falling in love with someone, only to be heartbroken when that person does not reciprocate her feelings.
Sumika, Kazama’s best friend, has witnessed this numerous times, but Kazama is unaware that Sumika has been withholding her feelings for her for quite some time. When the inevitable happens, and Kazama is left to wallow in her grief once more, Sumika is there to comfort her.
Sumika is stuck in a never-ending love triangle with Kazama and her fleeting love interests, and she lacks the courage to tell Kazama her true feelings.
This anime may strike a chord with anyone who has ever been involved in one-sided love. However, the show doesn’t take itself too seriously, and there’s plenty of comedy to keep things from devolving into a pity party.
There’s a lot of comedy in this anime. Sasameki Koto does a fantastic job of balancing the drama with enough comedy.
Sumika, as good as the rest of the cast is, unquestionably steals the show with her antics. She’s basically everything you could want in a protagonist. She’s cute at times, hilarious when she wants to be, and overall entertaining to watch.
Sasameki Koto is also personal at times, with some genuinely heartfelt moments and goofy and ridiculous at others, but it’s a consistently entertaining series with a lot going for it.
22. Kannazuki No Miko
The story begins in the village of Mahoroba, where both man and nature move slowly. Two students from the prestigious Ototachibana Academy in the village are as different as night and day.
Chikane is bold and elegant, while Himeko is shy and unassertive. Despite this, they love each other and, no matter how hard they try, nothing can separate them.
A sinister voice corrupts one of the two girls’ friends into attacking them on their shared birthday, and just when things seemed hopeless, the girls’ dormant lunar and solar priestess powers awaken, dispelling the evil.
However, that was only the beginning. The two must now defend themselves against a slew of other threats, including those who are closest to them!
As soon as you start watching, you’re hooked, and the complex themes will keep you thinking for days. Kannazuki no Miko’s best feature is the way the plot’s section involving the main characters’ relationships and characterization is developed.
With the exception of robot action, every scene in this anime has drama, and the drama in this anime gets really intense, and the shoujo-ai element is always present.
It’s difficult to watch Himeko try to figure out how she feels about Chikane and Souma.
There are some parts of this anime that are difficult to watch, but the ending makes it all worthwhile. In a realistically unaccepting world, the show deals with realistic emotions.
23. Kanamemo
When Kana Nakamachi’s grandmother passes away, her life is turned upside down. Kana discovers, after leaving behind an empty house, that no one can provide her with housing due to her young age.
She eventually comes across the Fuhshin Gazette, a local newspaper delivery company that can offer her a place to stay in exchange for some work.
Yuume Kitaoka and Yuuki Minami, the alcoholic Haruka Nishida, the frugal Hinata Azuma, and the young but mature Saki Amano are among the employees of the small store.
Kana has to deal with long working hours, energetic dogs guarding mailboxes, and perplexing delivery routes at the Fuhshin Gazette, so it’s not all fun and games.
Kana will have plenty on her plate with a small rivalry with Mika Kujiin, a girl from a competing store.
This anime is a yuri, ecchi, slice-of-life comedy with a warm and fuzzy feel to it. We don’t have much of a plot aside from the story behind the main character’s arrival, which is fine since the anime is episodic, which is appropriate for a comedy.
Our main character is someone you feel sorry for, which provides some of the comedy in this show. The supporting cast all have distinct personalities and are very likable.
24. Riddle Story of the devil
Tokaku Azuma has just been accepted into Myoujou Academy, a prestigious private girls’ boarding school. But there’s a catch: she’s an assassin, and she’s taking part in a challenge to kill their sweet-natured classmate, Haru Ichinose, with 11 of her classmates in Class Black.
Regardless of the difficulty or cost, whoever succeeds will be granted their deepest desire. Each assassin, however, has only one chance to kill her; if they fail, they will be expelled.
Although there is a lot at stake, Tokaku opts for a different path. In spite of the fact that Haru is her intended target, the young assassin is drawn to the girl she is supposed to kill.
Tokaku refuses to let Haru die despite the fact that the entire class is out for her, promising to protect her from a growing bloodlust.
Each episode follows one or more of the assassins in their attempt to kill Haru. Throughout the episode, you will learn about their motivations and the reasons for their participation.
Each assassin is motivated by a different situation, which is one of the series’ most enjoyable aspects. Surprisingly, the cast is quite impressive.
They manage to give all of the major characters backstories, motivations and make them fairly well fleshed out for a series with more major characters than episodes.
There are some characters who are more developed than others, but they all perform admirably. This anime has a lot of action and doesn’t stray too far from the plot.
25. Inugami-san to Nekoyama-san
On a day like any other, Yachiyo Inugami, a cat-loving extrovert, and Suzu Nekoyama, a dog-loving introvert, are unexpectedly cast into a relationship. The two are drawn together by an unexplainable attraction between their opposing personalities.
It is Inugami’s relentless efforts to gain Nekoyama’s favor that leads to frenzied reactions as they quickly begin to understand one another. Soon after their historic union, the two begin to spend more time together, gradually growing closer.
Their antics attract the attention of Mikine Nezu, a classmate of Inugami’s, and they soon become members of the “biology” club.
They meet Ushikawa Ukiji, a docile upperclassman who looks like a cow. Soon after, Nezu and Nekoyama begin to strengthen their bond, and a cat-and-mouse game ensues.
Inugami-san to Nekoyama-san is a wild, explosive, and vibrant comedy about two high school girls and their out-of-the-ordinary relationship.
Look no further if you’re looking for a lighthearted, goofy, and all-around entertaining anime. Each episode tells a different story, but it serves no purpose other than to make you laugh and squee at the adorable yuri moments.
It’s a little bit impractical because each character is named after an animal in some way, but it’s fun and enjoyable this way.
The artwork is beautiful and well-animated. The characters are sweet and simple, which is exactly the right style for the story. The characters are fairly stereotypical of the animals they are supposed to represent.
We are able to easily connect with the characters as a result of this. Using this earns this category some extra points, despite the fact that they only have a few minutes to introduce the characters.
26. Shoujo Sect: Innocent Lovers
Shinobu Handa and Momoko Naitou met on a playground ten years ago and became friends. They shared a kiss and a promise to see each other again before their separation.
Shinobu remembers the vow even after all these years, but Momoko has forgotten it. They are now both students at the same school. Their personalities, on the other hand, are diametrically opposed.
Momoko is a good student and a member of the disciplinary committee, while Shinobu is a delinquent collecting a string of lovers. As Shinobu flirts with Momoko, she tries to reawaken the memories of their old relationship.
Momoko and Shinobu’s lives are engulfed by various love and lust stories. Can these two find a way to reconnect?
Shoujo Sect is a Hentai, Yuri, Romance, Drama that features plenty of girl-on-girl action and a compelling story. Watching this short OVA is akin to watching a collection of short stories, as each relationship is unique in its own way.
Because this is a Yuri anime, one thing can be expected from the characters: lesbians. With an all-female cast, it’s fascinating to see what kinds of roles they play in the story.
Shoujo Sect’s real selling point is its story, which is unusual for a hentai series. Even by non-hentai standards, the writer of this small series manages to come up with an engaging plot.
People lie, cheat, and get horny all the time, but their hearts are always reserved for that one special person. It’s part of human nature, and it’s exactly what this series is attempting to convey through the two main characters’ struggles.
27. Citrus
Yuzu Aihara’s mother remarried during the summer of her freshman year of high school, forcing her to transfer to a new school. This inconvenient event is just another opportunity for a fashionable socialite like Yuzu to make new friends, fall in love, and finally experience her first kiss.
Yuzu’s dreams and style, however, do not fit in at her new ultra-strict, all-girls school, which is full of obedient shut-ins and overachieving grade-skippers.
Mei Aihara, the imposing and beautiful student council president, is immediately drawn to Yuzu’s garish appearance and begins sensually caressing her body in an attempt to seize her cellphone.
Yuzu returns home, exhausted from her first day, to discover a shocking truth: Mei is actually her new step-sister! Yuzu tries to be friendly with her at first, but Mei’s cold shoulder routine forces Yuzu to start teasing her.
Mei shoves Yuzu to the ground and kisses her before she can finish her sentence, despite Yuzu’s desperate attempts to break free. Mei storms out of the room once she’s finished, leaving Yuzu to wonder what exactly happened in the first kiss and the secrets behind her new sister’s tortured expression.
One of the story’s main themes is the impact of a family’s relationships on its members. Overall, Citrus is an intriguing anime with an intriguing premise and a unique way of forging a romantic relationship that can be used to open someone’s, closed-off heart.
But also reminding us that while society can be a harsh place, taking too much responsibility on one’s own and not letting others see your true feelings can be a bad thing.
28. Yuri Kuma Arashi
Humanoid bears and humans coexisted in the past. However, a meteor shower that fell on Earth had an odd effect on bears all over the world: they became violent and hungry for human flesh, igniting an endless cycle of bloodshed in which bears ate men and men shot bears, forgetting about their once-thriving relationship.
Thus, the “Wall of Severance” was built, separating the two civilizations while maintaining peace.
Kureha Tsubaki and Sumika Izumino are two Arashigaoka Academy students whose relationship is jeopardized by the arrival of two bears who have slipped through the Wall of Severance and infiltrated the school.
Ginko Yurishiro and Lulu Yurigasaki, the hungry yet affectionate bears, regard the bear-hating Kureha as more than just food, and in getting closer to her, they trigger the unraveling of secrets that Kureha may not be able to bear.
When their relationships enrage the Invisible Storm, a group that maintains order within the ideological school, the girls are forced to put their love on trial, embarking on a journey of self-discovery in the hopes of receiving true love’s “promised kiss.”
These three girls, a human and two bears, are the central characters in the story. Aside from their differences, they are both likable and interesting characters to watch.
In general, the characters are enjoyable and intriguing. The story is excellent, and the 12-episode format is ideal for developing the main characters while also providing ample coverage for supporting characters to help move the plot forward.
29. Ms. Vampire Who Lives In My Neighborhood
Rumors circulate about an ageless girl who lives in a mansion in the middle of the forest and only comes out at night. She’s been described as a living doll with a soul by some. Following the rumors, Akari Amano sets out to find this girl, only to become disoriented as she treks through the woods in the dark.
Sophie Twilight, a vampire, saves her and turns out to be the rumored girl. Sophie, unlike the vampires of legend, does not attack humans and instead orders her blood via the internet. Akari is immediately enamored with her doll-like appearance and moves in with her, thereby beginning their life together.
This anime takes common vampire tropes and reimagines them as a slice-of-life comedy. When you combine that with characters who all have their own quirks, you’ve got yourself a fun 12-episode experience.
There isn’t much actual content to the story outside of the first encounter where our characters meet. What we have here is a slice-of-life series about humans and vampires who begin hanging out in a massive vampire mansion.
And they do cute and pure girly love stuff to each other. This is done in a lighthearted, absurdly friendly manner.
The art and animation are both excellent. The bright colors compliment the tone, and there’s never a jarring moment that doesn’t feel right. Each episode is amusing, touching, charming, and enjoyable. This is a great light show to watch if you’re looking for one.
30. Konohana Kitan
Yuzu, a cheerful fox girl, begins her first job as an attendant at the traditional hot springs inn Konohanatei in a bustling village of spirits. Despite Yuzu’s lack of experience working at such a high-end establishment, Kiri, the affable and dependable head attendant, puts her to work right away, learning the basics.
While Yuzu’s eagerness at first proves to be more of a hindrance than a blessing, her playful nature is endearing the inn to both customers and coworkers, who quickly warm to her clumsy but well-intentioned gaffes.
Yuzu is gradually taught the trade of an inn attendant while learning to love the magical world around her under the guidance of the other foxes—the rigid Satsuki, the carefree Natsume, the critical Ren, and the quiet Sakura.
The heartwarming story of a simple fox girl forging bonds with others and finding a home amidst the mysterious, beautiful world of spirits is told by Konohana Kitan.
Konohana Kitan allows us to see what life and responsibilities would be like for a group of fox girls if they decided to run a traditional hot spring inn in a setting reminiscent of ancient Japan mixed with a fantasy world.
Konohana Kitan is an anime that you will enjoy watching, with an intriguing premise, an excellent story that conveys many interesting life lessons, an interesting and well-developed cast of characters.
The series’ premise is a simple one that is often seen in slice-of-life animes like Konohana Kitan, but it is this simplicity that allows the premise to be one of the series’ greatest strengths.
31. Kanamewo
A young, unnamed woman comes across a weakened tree goddess whose native shrine is being demolished for construction work while biking home from work. She saves her and returns home with the goddess. The two form a bond, but what will become of the goddess as the building project progresses?
It’s a little more serious than most people might expect, and it contains some pretty powerful scenes. It’s as if you’re a being on the other side of the world, catching a glimpse of something incredible.
This is given to us not only by the many jumps from one situation to the next but also by the sudden emotional jerks that it hits us with.
This entire story is about appreciating life’s fleeting beauty. Yes, you can live for a very long time by maintaining the status quo and hunkering down. Is that, however, truly living or merely surviving?
We must all find our own reason to live, someone or something to direct our passion toward, according to Kanamewo. There is also much to say about the short’s environmental message, lesbian relationship interpretation, and so on. It’s a dense animation dripping with pathos and soul.
It isn’t perfect, but there is still a lot to discover. It’s a quick experience that’s well worth five minutes of your time. And rather than watching it, you actually experience it.
32. Otome wa Boku ni Koishiteru: Futari no Elder
Mikado Chihaya was truant from school two years after Mizuho’s graduation due to harassment and a mistrust of men. His mother can’t stand seeing him in trouble, so she sends him to Seiou Girls’ School, which is her old school.
Kisakinomiya Chihaya is his name, and he dresses up as a girl. Chihaya meets Nanahara Kaoruko, a former playboy who rescued him, and he moves into the dormitory building. Due to his attractive face and figure, as well as his excellent academic results, he becomes the center of public attention.
The two main characters, who are obviously the titular elders, are introduced over the course of the three episodes. Chihaya and Kaoruko are likable characters who are in some ways diametrically opposed to each other.
For example, Chihaya is a male. Although the story revolves around their actions, it is the other characters who serve as the foundation for their growing friendship.
The artwork is stunning, and the music complements the soft romantic atmosphere perfectly. Despite the fact that this is a visual novel adaptation, there are no references to other paths; we only follow the Kaoroku route. As a result, this anime has a very strong romantic element.
All of the small interactions between them as they deal with the many daily dramas hint at a gradual closeness. There’s just enough content and visual storytelling here to provide the necessary depth for that beautiful romance to blossom.
33. Maria†Holic
To find true love, Kanako Miyamae transfers to Ame no Kisaki Catholic school, influenced by the love story of her parents, who met and fell in love there. There is one difference, however: because men cause Kanako to break out in hives, she decided to attend the all-girls school in search of a female partner.
Kanako thinks she’s found that special someone when she meets Mariya Shidou, but there’s more to Mariya than meets the eye—it turns out Kanako’s first love is actually a cross-dressing boy.
Mariya threatens to reveal Kanako’s nefarious intentions unless she conceals his true gender, and to make matters worse, he replaces her original roommate so that he can keep a closer eye on her.
Maria†Holic follows Kanako as she searches for the girl of her dreams in all the wrong places—that is if she can survive being Mariya’s roommate!
The nonsensical, silly, parody-esque story will quickly become familiar to you. Even its own story isn’t taken seriously in this anime. This isn’t a deep, story-driven anime; you’re looking for something like that.
This is the one for you if you’re looking for a lighthearted, funny story with little relevance but plenty of laughs.
Kanoko and Mariya are absolute geniuses. They’re hilarious and well-acted, and they’re simply fantastic. Of course, there’s a fantastic supporting cast to add to the hilarity, resulting in some hilarious situations.
34. Kashimashi: Girl Meets Girl
Hazumu Osaragi wakes up to discover that he has transformed into a girl after an afternoon of alien encounters, death, and resurrection. While this comes as a shock to Hazumu, her friends are overjoyed!
This is especially true for Yasuna Kamiizumi, who suffers from a chronic condition that causes all males in her life to blend together. Yasuna is overjoyed at Hazumu’s transformation because he has always been the one exception to this condition, much to her surprise.
Tomari Kurusu, Hazumu’s childhood friend, has romantic feelings for Hazumu that she has had since they were children. Hazumu is now forced to choose between two girls who are vying for her affections. She is flattered, but she would prefer to choose both of them!
If you think about it, there’s a lot going on beneath Kashimashi’s carefree surface. The story is interesting, and the direction it takes with yuri gender-bending isn’t cliched. The art is good, but it’s the character interaction that really stands out and feels authentic.
Kashimashi: Girl Meets Girl, despite its obvious yuri title, is a series that not only focuses on a cute character-driven lesbian romance but also includes elements of gender-bending. The series’ actual plot revolves around a love triangle involving Hazumu and her two friends, Tomari and Yasuna.
As a result, the success of the series hinges on how likable the characters are and how invested you are in the romance. Thankfully, the majority of the characters are likable.
The series Kashimashi: Girl Meets Girl is entertaining to watch. The series may not appeal to those who prefer a more tense or exciting series, but it is a cute and relaxing alternative.
35. Valkyrie Drive: Mermaid
Mamori Tokonome, a shy 16-year-old, is used to being teased at school because of her unfortunate surname, which can also be read as “virgin.” Mamori, however, will have to get used to being teased in other ways soon.
Mamori is kidnapped during gym class and wakes up on the exotic island of Mermaid, stranded and under attack. Fortunately, enigmatic fellow castaway Mirei Shikishima knows exactly how to take command—with a passionate kiss.
Mirei activates Mamori’s Exter transformation abilities, transforming the innocent redhead into a battle-ready cutlass. Charlotte, the sadistic Liberator of an Exter harem; Meifon, the gluttonous and cunning Meifon; the mysterious but charismatic Akira Hiiragi; and the erotic biker duo Lady Lady are among the potential friends and foes on Mermaid Island.
The only way for Mamori and Mirei to survive on this scandalous island is for them to share a powerful and intimate embrace.
This anime is rather unique and exciting, combining elements from various genres to create something new. In almost every episode, new characters are introduced with clear introductions of various types, ranging from slow and explaining to quick and brief.
The anime features a lot of epic, fast-paced combat that displays all of the characters’ weapons, abilities, and skills and is always entertaining to watch.
Overall, watching this anime is a lot of fun. It’s packed with action and adventure, and while the yuri in the series initially seemed perplexing, the way everything is cleverly put together makes it all make sense.
This anime is recommended for fans of action, adventure, and fantasy in some form. It may appeal to fans of shoujo and/or yuri.
36. Netsuzou Trap
Yuma Okazaki and Hotaru Mizushina, both in high school, were childhood friends. Takeda and Fujiwara’s lives could not be more perfect with their respective boyfriends.
Nothing seems to be able to break their bond, from playing in school to going on group dates. Hotaru, however, makes an unexpected move during one of these group dates.
She starts stroking Yuma’s thighs while Takeda and Fujiwara are distracted. Yuma, taken aback by this unusual behavior, retreats to the restroom, followed by her assailant. “You’ll be more nervous with a boy; I’ll help you practice,” Hotaru whispers into Yuma’s ear after forcing her into a locked cubicle.
Netsuzou Trap is a visceral character drama about a group of naive, insecure, and emotionally vulnerable individuals. Yuma, our good-hearted protagonist, is prone to being taken advantage of or inadvertently causing pain to others due to her confusion and misunderstanding of her emotions.
Hotaru knows exactly what she wants, but she doesn’t know how to express it in a healthy or responsible manner.
The show’s boys, a nice guy and an asshole serve more as mirrors for Yuma and Hotaru to reflect off of than interesting characters in their own right, but given the show’s short episodes and length, this works well and feels appropriate.
Whether or not you enjoy Netsuzou Trap is largely determined by your ability to empathize with the main characters, regardless of whether you believe they are right or wrong.
37. Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid
As Kobayashi prepares to leave for another day at work, she opens her apartment door to be greeted by an unusually frightening sight: a dragon’s head is staring at her from across the balcony.
The dragon transforms into a cute, busty, and energetic young girl dressed as a maid and introduces herself as Tooru.
The stoic programmer had encountered the dragon on a drunken trip to the mountains the night before, and since the mythical beast had nowhere else to go, she had offered the creature a place to stay in her home.
Tooru had arrived to take advantage of the offer, prepared to repay her savior’s generosity by working as her personal maidservant. Though she regrets her words and is hesitant to keep her promise, Kobayashi is persuaded to take Tooru in by a combination of guilt and Tooru’s amazing dragon abilities.
Despite being extremely efficient at her job, the maid’s unconventional housekeeping methods frequently terrify Kobayashi and cause more trouble than good.
Furthermore, given Tooru’s heavy emotions and painful memories, the circumstances surrounding the dragon’s arrival on Earth are far more complicated than it might appear on the surface.
In addition, Tooru’s presence attracts a slew of other mythical creatures to her new home, as well as a slew of eccentric characters. No matter how hard Kobayashi has tried to cope with her bizarre situation, nothing has prepared Kobayashi for her new life as a dragon maid.
This is a fantastic slice of life that, while adhering to the genre’s standards and bringing nothing new or unique to the table, succeeds admirably in developing the show’s main themes and transmitting the message and values.
38. Adachi to Shimamura
At noon, one might hear two girls playing table tennis together somewhere in the school as they wait for time to pass.
Two students, Sakura Adachi and Hougetsu Shimamura, meet on the second floor of the school gymnasium as if by Fate. Their feelings for one another become more ambiguous as they develop a budding friendship.
The two must learn to navigate their contrasting personalities as well as determine the depth of their affection for each other as they grow closer by the day.
When one of them develops feelings beyond the boundaries of a platonic relationship, the nature of the relationship gradually shifts. Regardless, Adachi and Shimamura must decide whether forming a stronger bond than friendship will bring them closer together or separate them.
The anime’s story is told through the eyes of these two as they spend precious time together figuring out what they really mean to each other.
And this anime does an excellent job of depicting their relationship. Shimamura is very different from Adachi in many ways. When they’re together, however, their differences become irrelevant and don’t matter at all.
Because Adachi to Shimamura delves into both Adachi and Shimamura’s minds, we learn about their thought processes and what they truly think of each other.
As a result, we are kept up to date on any changes in their relationship, no matter how minor or insignificant. This is one of the many features that distinguishes Adachi to Shimamura from other Shoujo Ai anime, and it’s also where this anime’s brilliance shines through.
39. Liz and the Blue Bird
When Liz meets a blue bird in the form of a young girl, her days of solitude come to an end. Despite the fact that their relationship blossoms, Liz is forced to make a difficult choice before she can truly love Blue Bird.
Mizore Yoroizuka and Nozomi Kasaki, high school seniors and close friends, are tasked with playing the lead instruments in Liz and the Blue Bird’s third movement, a concert band piece based on this fairy tale.
The oboe is played by the introverted and reserved Mizore, who represents the kind and gentle Liz. Meanwhile, Nozomi, who is radiant and well-known, plays the flute as the cheerful and energetic Blue Bird.
However, the gap between Mizore and Nozomi appears to widen as they practice. The band is disappointed by their disjointed duet, and with graduation approaching, uncertainty about the future fuels mixed emotions.
They try desperately to connect with their respective characters as their performance approaches, with little time to improve. Will Mizore and Nozomi find the strength to face harsh realities when they consider the story from a fresh perspective?
Liz and the Blue Bird is a charming fairy tale, a moving musical piece, and a delicate high school friendship all rolled into one. The plot is straightforward, focusing on Nozomi and Mizore’s relationship during their senior year of high school.
The anime acknowledges the story’s simplicity and straightforwardness, but rather than being limited by it, it achieves a level of technical mastery. It’s not a story about perseverance, competition, or even music. It’s a simple story following two characters.
40. Kuttsukiboshi
There was nothing more important to Kiiko Kawakami than Aaya Saitou. Kiiko is smitten by her, and there is no sweeter sound to her ears than Aaya’s voice, and no prettier sight than her hair billowing in the wind.
It is for that reason that she told Aaya about her secret: she had gained psychic abilities as a result of an accident that had changed her life last year.
Kuttsukiboshi is a tale of infatuation and romance between two young women as their feelings for each other grow stronger. Unable to deny their deepest desires, the two give in and spend many happy memories together around the school.
Putting Kiiko’s abilities to the test and seeing how far they can go without being discovered in the middle of their trysts. Will things remain the same, however, when Kiiko learns that the love of her life has a dark secret of her own?
The anime doesn’t offer much due to the lack of episodes, but it does portray a small image of how powerful love can be. Also, if it happens, it simply does. Love can take many forms, but it is still love.
What makes Kuttsukiboshi so special is that it has excellent writing in addition to beautiful art and unique and stylish character designs.
The characters are so well written that the story keeps you on the edge of your seat with anticipation, pulling you through numerous ups and downs while still managing to be completely unique and fresh.
41. Love Live! School idol project
Otonokizaka High School is in a dire situation. The school is set to close after the current first years graduate, as the number of enrolling students continues to decline. Second-year student Honoka Kousaka won’t let up without a fight. Trying to find a solution, she discovers the popular school idol group A-RISE and decides to form her own group.
Honoka forms μ’s (pronounced “muse”) with the help of her childhood friends Umi Sonoda and Kotori Minami. Regrettably, it’s easier said than done. Eri Ayase, president of the student council, is determined to prevent the formation of a school idol group.
Furthermore, Honoka and her friends are having difficulty recruiting new members. However, the Love Live competition, which determines Japan’s best and most popular school idol groups, may be able to help them gain the attention they so desperately require.
Honoka must act quickly and diligently to form Otonokizaka High School’s idol group and win the Love Live as the contest approaches.
Love Live! has a plot that is very simple to understand, follow, and enjoy. The central theme of Love Live! is to never give up, no matter how difficult the road ahead appears to be, and to remember that your friends are by your side every step of the way.
You can count on friends in good times and bad times, in good weather and bad weather, in storms and double rainbows. Also, be conscious of your friends’ feelings.
The theme also emphasizes the importance of never giving up on your dreams. Regardless of how many setbacks and roadblocks are encountered along the way, the prize at the end of the road is well worth the experiences gained along the way.
42. Fate/Kaleid liner Prisma Illya
Rin Toosaka and Luviagelita “Luvia” Edelfelt, members of the Mage’s Association, are tasked with locating and retrieving seven Class Cards, medieval artifacts containing the life essence of legendary Heroic Spirits.
They are given the power of Ruby and Sapphire, two sentient Kaleidosticks, to aid them in their mission, allowing them to transform into magical girls and dramatically increase their abilities.
The two mages, however, are at odds, prompting the Kaleidosticks to flee in search of new masters. They come across Illyasviel von Einzbern and Miyu, two young schoolgirls, and quickly persuade them to form a contract. Illya and Miyu set out to collect all of the Class Cards with their newfound powers and responsibilities.
Fate/Kaleid is what happens when you take a seemingly stupid idea and turn it into something spectacular. The story is straightforward, and because it is straightforward, it is portrayed and paced perfectly.
It doesn’t take long to explain because there isn’t much to explain. Fate/Kaleid is a ten-episode anime that features everything fans of Fate/Zero and Fate/Stay Night love, including hilarious comedy, lesbians, and magical girls.
This is a fascinating series. An addition to the Fate/universe, and one that is very satisfying. Take it as a bonus to the universe rather than a direct extension of the Fate/story. It will be more enjoyable this way. Watch it for what it is, not as a Fate/series.
43. Hibike! Euphonium
Kumiko Oumae, a euphonist, enters high school hoping for a fresh start after swearing off music after an incident at a middle school regional concert band competition. She happens to be surrounded by people who are interested in the high school brass band, as Fate would have it.
Kumiko rekindles her passion for music with the help of her bandmates, some of whom are new to her, such as new tubist Hazuki Katou, veteran contrabassist Sapphire Kawashima, and band vice president and fellow euphonist Asuka Tanaka.
Some are old friends, such as Kumiko’s childhood friend Shuuichi Tsukamoto, a hornist-turned-trombonist, and Reina Kousaka, a trumpeter and bandmate from middle school. Chaos, however, reigns supreme within the band.
Despite their current goal of qualifying for the national band competition, simply competing in the local festival will be difficult unless new band advisor Noboru Taki takes action.
Hibike! Euphonium is a new and musical take on the high school student’s struggle to deal with their past, find love, and realize their dreams and aspirations.
These characters have a genuine feel to them. They aren’t one-dimensional drawings that the creators expect us to be interested in simply because they are present. They have a sense of being alive. Each character has enough depth that it’s impossible to adequately describe them in just a few words.
The story itself is fairly straightforward, but the real meat of it revolves around the journey that they take to achieve their objectives. The band must constantly overcome internal conflicts that arise as a result of being a collection of individuals, but it is a rewarding experience to watch them overcome these conflicts and grow as individuals and as a group.
44. Happy Sugar Life
Satou Matsuzaka is a stunning high school student with a reputation for being open to men. Satou’s chance encounter with Shio Koube, however, convinces Satou that this is her first and only true love.
Satou hides the fact that she shares an apartment with Shio by pretending to live with her aunt. Satou, despite her innocent appearance, is willing to go to any length to protect her beloved, even if that means resorting to desperate measures to keep their “happy sugar life” intact.
The flaws in Happy Sugar Life are utilized. Presented as a genuine deception, the sugar-coated scenes of the characters in their out-of-place habitat aren’t just for show.
The conflict arises from all the outsiders learning more about their lives and attempting to deconstruct it, a plot that grows increasingly complicated as the situation becomes more complicated. “Reality” is a term used to describe this situation.
All of the characters are introduced as ordinary people. All of them appear to be reliable on the surface. All of the characters are in respectable positions, and some are even idolized, but when they are pushed overboard, their insanity meter goes up.
Here, too, contrasts are used, right down to the names of our two main characters, Satou (sugar) and Shio (salt). Regarding the subject of names. The characters’ names all have a meaning in relation to what they provided or represented in the anime.
In the anime, the characters are believable in the sense that they all struggle with the same dilemmas we encounter every day.
45. Blue Drop: Tenshi-tachi no Gikyoku
Something terrible happened on Kamioki Island five years ago. Something so terrifying that it erased all memory from Mari Wakatake’s mind while also killing every other human on the island! Mari is now enrolled in an isolated girl’s Academy against her will, unaware that hidden eyes are watching her, waiting for her memory to return.
The most terrifying secret of all is buried deep within Mari’s psyche: she may not have been the only human who survived! Mari’s only hope may be a strange girl to whom she is inexplicably drawn but cannot trust as something in a female skin invades Kaihou Academy.
This anime moves at a slow pace, but this allows the characters to break free from their stereotypes and truly come to life, as relationships don’t develop overnight and developments don’t feel forced.
The show’s strongest feature is its cast of characters. Throughout the show, the main characters undergo a lot of character growth, and what they go through throughout the show is what makes it so compelling to watch. As the main characters grow and develop, much of the backstory is revealed.
Mari and Hagino are both fascinating characters with small elements of overused tropes, such as the tsundere and the tortured past, that are expanded and developed in a unique way.
Another factor that contributes to the tropes’ success is that they are only a small part of the characters’ personalities. Beyond the tropes, both of them have a lot of depth. That’s what distinguishes them from other characters we’ve seen before.
46. Burst Angel
Crime has become so common in Japan in the not-too-distant future that the government has legalized firearms for citizens to use in self-defense. The Recently Armed Police of Tokyo was established in the hopes of hunting down criminals with lethal force in order to combat this new wave of wrongdoing.
Kyohei Tachibana is a talented culinary student who hopes to one day work as a pastry chef in France. Four young mercenaries ask him to serve as their cook, forcing him to make a difficult decision.
While Jo, Meg, Sei, and Amy take on the bloodiest jobs in Tokyo, Kyohei accepts an impending descent into the world of crime—and he’ll be doing a lot more than cooking!
The main story and the arcs are entertaining and interesting enough, ranging from bloodthirsty monster plots to strange samurai and cyberspace roaming. The plot is a little ridiculous, but that’s to be expected from an anime of this genre. Although it appears to be a little random at times, this anime is episodic, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
In terms of the characters, they are one of the most interesting elements of the series, and while they may be stereotyped in some ways, each of them is given their own quirks that help define them more as the series progresses and end up providing the story with a good dose of needed emotion as the series concludes.
This is a great anime to get into if you like girls with guns, and you can get into the mood and mind of the characters.
47. Vandread
In Vandread, men are from Mars and women are from Venus! Well, that’s not entirely true. In a one-star system, men and women live on separate planets, Taraak and Mejere, where modern science and technology have enabled mankind to colonize the Milky Way galaxy. A bitter and literal gender war rages, to the point where they no longer recognize each other as members of the same species!
A botched robot heist has left Hibiki Tokai, a male third-class laborer from Taraak, finds himself stuck on a battleship. The situation seems hopeless for Hibiki when female pirates capture the Taraakian Vanguard.
Unfortunately, they do; in their desperation, the Vanguard’s male crew fired on their captured vessel, creating a massive wormhole that sucked the Vanguard and the Mejeran pirate’s ships into itself! Now that they’ve been separated from their home planets, these men and women must learn to work together if they hope to return home.
Vandread is a fantastic space/sci-fi/mecha/comedy anime with a unique premise: men and women live on different planets and are never in contact. With that in place, the character interactions are fantastic and hilarious. The show is more comedic than serious, but it does have its serious moments. With a mix of drawn anime and CGI space battles, the animation is fantastic.
The story isn’t overly complicated at first, but as it progresses, it becomes more complex, resulting in more action and battles. Character development is also quite good, with no empty characters to be found.
