The anime world is filled with dramas and shows that have been keeping us entertained for a while now. Some of the cray fans only watch anime and love the plots and the characters that are being shown.
Korea has shown that they have the potential to make anime films by releasing them in the past few years. If we talk exclusively about anime, then they are very close to Japan in terms of production, animation, storyline, and engagement.
Korean anime have explored many themes and genres and has managed to give what is best for the audience and the fans. Irrespective of horror, comedy, romance, or any other genre, they have shown they can handle all flawlessly.
South Korean Anime To Watch
So if you are looking for some anime and getting confused about where to look, we have solved your problem. This list focuses on 30 Korean Anime to Watch. The list focuses on the best anime shows and movies, and the given titles mostly cover all genres and themes, so there is a suggestion for everyone.
Blade of the Phantom Master
Blade of Phantom Master is not only South Korean Anime, but it also is blended with Japanese anime culture. The anime has a theme of fantasy and action in each of the scenes, and you will see the screenplay is juggling between the two. It was released and made under the direction of Ahn Tae Kun and Joji Shimura.
The plot of the anime is based on a fictional land named Jushin. There, a secret government agent used to reside who migrated in disguise under a different identity to the countryside. The agents had a mission to search and punish some corrupt government officers in order to bring justice to the people of the country.
Blade of the Phantom Master (Credits: Crunchyroll)
When the series began, the fictional land was destroyed, and because of this, it was divided into many small kingdoms. The rulers of most of these kingdoms were tyrants and corrupt kings, and this is why the mission looked possible. It was Munsu’s responsibility to visit the countryside and handle all the matters related to the falling of the fictional land.
Yes, our main character is Munsu, an antihero on the designation of a military general. He is an asthma patient, and because of this illness, he always carries an inhaler that always hangs on his neck. When Munsu is on his mission, he is met with familiar faces, and they also join him in his doings.
Shining Star
Shining Star is a light and heart-melting anime about a common girl with huge dreams who wants to be an idol but faces many obstacles.
While attending a prominent idol academy, she encounters friends, competitors, and potential lovers along the way. She is focused on making a name in the competitive music genre, but her journey is not easy.
Shining Star (Credits: Google Play Movies)
With the help of her mentors and friends, she overcomes any setbacks in her way. Throughout the story, she discovers her true voice. The animation is on point, and as this anime is about music, the soundtracks, and background music are one of the best on this list.
The supporting cast might not be the most creative, but they are unexpectedly engaging and endearing enough to motivate me to finish an otherwise tedious, subpar anime. The majority of the cast is female, which is advantageous because they are significantly stronger than the few male characters.
The story is very inspiring, and the animation and the voice artists steal the spotlight pretty quickly from the first episode. It is not easy to maintain the quality in each episode, but you can see it is well done from start to finish.
The Haunted House: The Secret of the Ghost Ball
The anime The Haunted House: The Secret of the Ghost Ball first debuted in 2016 in the mystery and horror genre. But it is scattered with comedy and characters full of adventure.
The plot of the anime is based on a Goblin that is 102 years old. It also shines the spotlight on two siblings who reside in an apartment.
The Haunted House: The Secret of the Ghost Ball (Credits: Netflix)
By now, it must have been clear that the Goblin and The 2 Siblings are connected to one another with that apartment building.
The Goblin lives under the apartment, and the siblings are kind of Ghost hunters. They find ghostly mysteries and try to solve them. The show is high on character development, and the cast balances the narrative aptly.
The cast includes Anna Cummer as Shinbi, Megan Baldreg as Mom, Natash Strickey as Hari Koo, Brianna Johnson as Ballerina Girl, Anna Barker as The Black Pearl Ghost, Nikki Rae Hallow as Drowned Bluewater Ghost and Nathan Hunt as Boy 14B. You can check it out on Netflix .
Pororo, The Racing Adventure
Pororo Racing Adventure, also known as The Little Penguin, has everything any audience needs to kill time. The series comes under the category of China, along with South Korean anime.
The anime is based on a TV series from Korea, Pororo the Little Penguin, where the plot focuses on Pororo and his friends, who are heavily inspired by the white tiger and want to win the Super Sleigh Championship.
Pororo, The Racing Adventure (Credits: RakutenTV)
To fulfill this dream, they make a handmade sleigh for Proro to drive in the championship. Proro used a lollipop that made the sleigh fly, but unfortunately, it crashed into the plane. Later the story follows the mayhem of Proro becoming the champion.
Related to succeeding, all of his new and old friends celebrate his success. The cast is huge, and there are many characters involved in the plot with different voice artists such as Sun Lee giving the voice of Proro, Mi La Jee voices Cring, Hwan Chun Kim voiced Poby, and Su Jung Ham voices Eddy.
All in all, Pororo the Racing Adventure is an entertaining anime, and it is suitable for both kids and adults. The colorful animation, action, races, and voices all feel very authentic and fresh.
Underdog
Underdog was directed by Lee Chun Baek and Oh Sung Yoon and got released in 2018. The anime stars talented actors like Park Chul Min, Park So Dam, and Do Kyung.
It’s a popular show, so much so that it even got an opening in the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, and surprisingly all the tickets got sold out quickly. The plot of the anime focuses on stray dogs who are left abandoned by humans, so the dogs try to look for a place where there is no human.
Underdog (Credits: CBS)
In their journey to find a place for their liking, they find true freedom and purpose in their life. The dogs make their own identity and existence with no dependency on humans for any of the things.
The main character of this show is Mochi, voiced by Doh Kyung Soo. Some other characters are a wild dog named Bami, voiced by Park So Dam, and Jjangah, voiced by Park Chul Min. And Hunter, voiced by Lee Jun Hyuk.
Green Days: Dinosaur and I
Green Days: Dinosaur and I are, also known as Dream of a Precious Day, created by hand drawings. The story is based in a 1970s rural town. It has a nostalgic vibe which is trying to be a coming-age anime that focuses on a high school girl.
The girl is struggling to find the true meaning of her life and is learning to face her deep fears. In all this chaos, she falls in love.
Green Days Dinosaur And I (Credits: Google Play Movies)
The girl’s name is Yi Rang, and all the aforementioned happens when she fails in a race and decides to never take part in anything again. Her teammates try to bring her back into the team, but as she is completely shattered, she says no.
On the other hand, the plot also shows us Soo Min, who is a new student and is popular among the boys. As the story progresses, we see a new face, Charles (Cheol Soo), and how their friendship deepens.
The cast and the voice characters played their part well. When it was announced that the main character, Yi Rang’s voice was given by Park Shin Hye, it made a huge impact on the fans. Other voices include Kim Cheol Soo’s voice, given by Song Chang Eul, and Han Soo Min’s voice, given by Oh Yeon Seo.
Dooly The Little Dinosaur
Dooly, The Little Dinosaur, is an anime about the creation of a cartoonist, Kim Soo Jung, who designed and created the show. The anime focuses on Dooly The Dinosaur, who is stated as one of the most famous Korean animated characters ever made.
The series’ debut was in 1989, and it lasted for a year and ended in 1990. The main character is a baby dinosaur who is kidnapped by aliens. After that, the aliens do some magical experiments on him and return him back to Earth.
Dooly The Little Dinosaur (Credits: Wonderlist)
Later after millions of years, the ice melted, and he traveled to Seoul with his big head and got noticed by other people in the city. He has two feet, and each of them has three toes and also has five fingers. Just like humans, his body structure gives him an alien-like appearance. Other than this, he has a habit of playing and eating just like humans.
Dooly meets Younghee, who believes he is a dog (and not a dinosaur), and takes him home. The premise of the anime is funny and sweet. It is a light anime that has only one focus, entertainment and fun.
Pucca
Pucca is a South Korean show. As the name suggests, Pucca is the main character of the show and is the niece of 3 men. All of them run Goh Rong, a Chinese restaurant situated in a small village located under a mountain, Sooga.
The show got its first release in 2000, and it is good to see a show this old focuses on business. It has gained popularity in Korea and even in Asia. Pucca is 11 and helps the restaurant deliver noodles and doesn’t like to speak much, but she likes Garu, who is 13 and is a ninja.
Pucca (Credits: Amazon Prime Videos)
He is a trained ninja, and he like people who stay silent. Now you see why Pucca remains silent. Then there is 11-year-old Ching, who is a swordsman. But it is not straight for Pucca. There’s another girl, Ring Ring (Don King’s daughter), who is a fashion star and 12 years old and likes the same Ninja boy whom Pucca also likes.
There are many other characters of the same age, and all of them make Pucca funny and hilarious to watch. The story and chaos all these characters create are light, funny, and adorable.
Element Hunters
Element Hunters is a Japanese and Korean series. It is a full-fledged science show that revolves around basic interactions in science, chemistry, and other fields. The story of the anime is set in the near future, 2089. It is adapted from the manga of the same name.
In the plot, important chemical elements like carbon, gold, cobalt, oxygen, and other metals started vanishing from the earth. As a result, the environmental balance slowly got disturbed, and many people got homeless because their cities and homes got affected because of this natural shift.
Element Hunters (Credits: CBS)
After the research led by the researchers, it was found out that the elements getting vanished had migrated to a planet known as Nega Earth. The story then fast forwards to 2089 when the elements were dematerializing rapidly.
To save all the chaos government hired three kids, our main characters, and named them Element Hunters. Their mission is to fight the monsters present in Nega Earth and bring all the metals back to Earth.
The kids take help from Professor Carr and Juno. It’s a must-watch for science lovers out there, especially kids. The anime offers a lot of learning that will inspire young scientists to explore more about the field.
Very less anime offers fun and learning at the same time, and it is one of them.
Seoul Station
The anime was directed by Yeon Sang-Ho and was released in 2016. It’s a refreshing horror anime and has also got awarded Best Anime Feature Film.
The anime is set after the events of the movie Train to Busan. The anime is based on a zombie attack in South Korea happening around the station. It shows us a young woman who is fighting to survive in a place full of zombies.
Seoul Station (Credits: Amazon Prime Videos)
The main characters are Suk Gyu, Ki Woog, and Hye Sun. Suk Gyu is the father of Hye Sun, and he is searching for her after she runs away. He, along with Ki Woong, her boyfriend, locates her alive. Suk tries to meet with his daughter amidst the zombie breakout. Each of these characters is fighting for survival.
The anime is heavy on the survival theme. It is thrilling and suspenseful and makes the viewers excited. The animation is creepy, just like how it should be in a horror show.
Sky Blue
Sky Blue is also known as Wonderful Days in different regions, got it was released in 2003. Sky Blue was directed by Kim Moon Saeng, who also wrote the play along with Park Jun Yong.
The anime is based in the year 2142 and shows the breakdown of human civilization caused by environmental pollution. We are shown Ecoban, a city that is fully technologically advanced and gets all its energy from an artificial system known as DELOS.
Sky Blue (Credits: Wonder Play)
DELOS is an intelligent system, and it uses crystallized pollution as the raw material to create energy. The extraction of this pollution is done by the people who reside in Wasteland, a place outside Ecoban.
We follow the story of Shua, a young dude who falls in love with Jay, his childhood friend. But Shua’s journey is not easy and simple. After the arrival of another character, his two-love story becomes three-way.
The anime also deals with status, economic class and shows the lives of less privileged individuals. It perfectly manages to balance the story of two classes, and it keeps hitting the audience with reality checks that are very much true in real life also.
The God of Highschool
The God of Highschool is filled with action and thrilling fights that revolves around a martial arts tournament. A skilled high school student, Jin Mori takes part in the tournament with his friends in a bid to prove to them who is the strongest fighter of them all.
As the tournament gets underway, magical powers and supernatural elements come into play, which makes the fights in God of High School more thrilling and exciting.
The series’ unexplained mystery elements are its most problematic component. Many people wonder how the government could ever have approved the existence of risky supernatural activity disguised as sporting events.
The God Of Highschool (Credits: Crunchyroll)
I think the competition’s organizers have enough clout to get away with running such a risky contest. It is still too early to voice concerns about the riddles. The series is still far from finished.
It has a good fast-paced animation, the fight scenes are properly choreographed and finished, and they look half-baked, even though all the characters shown in the anime are diversified and look fresh.
For any fan who liked Baki, Kengan Ashura should definitely check out God of High School, which delivers fiery action while exploring the friendship theme and supernatural element.
Empress Chung
Empress Chung is directed by Nelson Shin, and the screenplay is choreographed by Yoo Kwang Hee, Shun Jang Hyun, and Kim Jung Ha. It was released in 2005 and is one of the favorites on the list.
The main character is Chung, and her father, Shum Hakku, is the spotlight of the anime. The story begins when their house is burnt by an evil minister who was rejected by Shim to join a conspiracy. Due to the fire, he lost all his family members except his daughter. To his bad luck, he also lost his eyesight.
Empress Chung (Credits: Yidio)
Then we see a fast-forward of fourteen years after the tragic incidents. Chung is liked by everyone in the village she lives in. She lives with her father and is willing to do anything to cure the eyesight of his father.
She gets an opportunity by sacrificing herself. Will she sacrifice herself to restore his father’s eyesight? How and when will she become Empress Chung? All these questions are common, and you should check out the anime for the answers.
Empress Chung is a delightful anime to watch. It is light on the core material and filled with feelings and pure emotions. A daughter taking care of her father is joyous to watch.
The King Of Pigs
The King Of Pigs was written and directed by Yeon Sang-Ho. It’s an adult drama that was released back in 2011. The anime is heavy on systematic poverty and violence, and bullying.
The anime got very popular among the fans, so much so that it bagged three awards at the 2011 Busan International Film Festival.
The concept is simple enough; bullying, high school torment, the disease of a society predicated on class and hierarchy, and systemic corruption, but the way the story is presented really gets under your skin.
The plot of the anime follows a 30-year-old, Kyung Min, a business guy dealing with bankruptcy. Due to depression, he murders his wife and goes to Jong Suk, his middle schoolmate.
The Kings Of Pigs (Credits: Apple TV)
Jong Suk is a ghostwriter and has also penned his autobiography in the hope of becoming a great novelist one day. Both of them met after 15 long years, and to avoid their current life conditions, they discussed middle school when they studied together.
Back in middle school, they were wealthy and got good marks, but we’re bullied by the Dogs, the names of the ruling class. They were called Pigs, and we’re frustrated that they cannot do anything against them. The anime is filled with gore and blood, and it’s your warning line that this anime is not suitable for kids and someone who avoids blood and murky scenes.
Other than that, someone who likes these types of gore-blood-filled movies or shows should definitely check it out on Apple TV.
Noblesse
Casis slept for more than 800 years without any awareness of what was going on with the world and how fast civilization was upgrading. Being alienated from the current world and scientific advancement, Casis wakes up in an abandoned building.
Noblesse (Credits: Crunchyroll)
He tries hard to adjust to the current world by going to school, where he finds Frankenstein, his loyal servant. With the help of Frankenstein, he gets into a high school and befriends Shinwoo, an athletic teenager.
Then there is an organization that finds Rai peculiar and is working to know more about his past, and Noblesse is a good show with a unique concept and story.
They introduced people on a pretty basic level and concentrated more on the major characters. Thus, the progress made by each character was adequate.
The animation feels modern, and the voices of each character are dubbed in a very exciting and funny manner. As the main character is adjusting, his actions cause a lot of fun.
A Day Before Us
A Day Before Us shares the theme of life and romance in general, and it was released in 2018. As per the community and fans, it is one of the best Korean shows when it comes to Romance.
The plot of the anime revolves around four main characters who are in school. Their past life was murky; it will surely give you a nostalgic feeling of school life with friends. The main characters are Yeon Woo, Yeo Rum, Woo, and Ha Sun.
A Day Before Us (Credits: CBS)
There are two couples, one couple shows their thoughts and how they deal with the unique perspective of one another, and the other couple shows how a friendship can turn into love if cared for it properly.
Without a doubt, it is a great anime. It shows the nuances of a happy relationship and what a normal couple faces and goes through. It is a good watch for the millennials who are in love.
Tower of God
Tower of the God was written and illustrated by S.I.U., and it was released in 2010. The main character of the anime is 25 th Bam, meaning chestnut or night. He has spent most of his life in a captivated, mysterious tower.
The character designs, backstories, and voice actors are the finest of the best, with several anime moments being nearly similar to their non-animated versions.
Tower Of God (Credits: Crunchyroll)
The main character is not alone in the tower and is accompanied by Rachel, his friend. When Rachel initially enters his life, he was about hesitant, but later he opens the tower for her.
The loud, pop opening and closing songs performed by the popular Korean band “Stray Kids” are the cherry on top of Kevin Penkin’s thrilling music, which truly transports you.
The tower in which he resides is mysterious because of its unique environment, and every floor has three partitions that serve as a testing area or a residential area.
Yobi, The Five Tailed Fox
Yobi, the Five Tailed Fox is directed by Lee Sung Gang and is based on Korean folktales and was released in 2007. The anime has a supernatural blend to it. The story is a century old when aliens arrive at the dwelling of white foxes, a mountain.
For 100 years, they have been trying to return to their planet, but their test run fails. One alien from the mountain runs away and gets among the students. To save the alien friend, one alien gets transformed into a girl and gets into the human school as Yobi.
Yobi, The Five-Tailed Fox (Credits: Crunchyroll)
After admission and spending time together with humans, she becomes close to humans’ lifestyle and world. Later as the story progresses, she gets noticed by a hunter.
Yobi, The Five Tailed Fox, displays human emotions in the form of an alien presence and tells the importance of human life. It is filled with funny scenes and witty dialogue that will entertain you throughout.
Oseam
Oseam is directed by Sung Baek Yeop and, based on a religious theme, was released in 2003. The plot is based on two orphans, Gilson, who is the brother of Gami.
Gami is a sweet and gentle girl with a disability of blindness. On the other hand, her brother Gilson is a malevolent boy. They try to help each other with daily life chores and other parts and activities.
Oseam (Credits: CBS)
They are also handling the death of their mother, and the home in which they lived also got burnt in a fire accident. In the same accident, she lost her eyesight. Gilson is very young and has not accepted what has happened around him, and he still believes that their mother will return one day.
As the story progress, we see Gilson gets an acquaintance of a monk who meditates in the mountains in the hope of finding a cure for her sister’s eyesight.
Oseam is a beautiful anime with a perfect tonal animation that compliments the narrative of the story, which is bright and uplifting. The anime also shines a light on brother and sister bonding. Overall it is a good entertainer.
The Fake
The Fake is written and directed by Yeong Sang Ho, which came out in 2013 and is considered one of the best anime on air. It has won several awards and achievements too. The plot of the anime is based on Choi Gyeong Seok.
The municipality has made a new dam, and they’re in the process of migrating villages to a new place. All those villages’ fate is dependent on him as he promised them that new housing and church would be developed.
The Fake (Credits: PLEX TV)
He also told them all the people will find their place in heaven, and this church will make sure that their spot is safe in heaven. But all this is bogus, and he is just playing the villagers by destroying them for the resettlement money.
One villager boy named Kim Min Chul is anxious about all the false promises Choi made, and he gives a hard time to Choi for everything he said. Kim tries to find the solution to all that’s happening and reveals the fraud in front of the villagers.
The Fake is relatable to many land disputes and frauds that happen in real life too. It will give you a clear picture of what happens in reality and how these people dupe the innocent ones.
Wonderful Days (Sky Blue)
Wonderful Days is a sci-fi film, written and directed by Kim Moon-saeng. Despite being released in 2003, the movie is a visual treat and has used highly-detailed models. The characters are animated using a traditional method of CG. Vehicles were rendered, and characters were cel-animated.
The story takes place in a dystopian future where environmental pollution has broken-down civilization. A new city named Ecoban was built, sustaining on energy harvested from the DELOS System. This system uses pollution in a carbonite catalyzed reaction to generate power. The process of carbonite extraction is done by people living in the surrounding wasteland. The movie is a mixture of environmental destruction, class struggle, and romance.
Wonderful Days
Leafie, A Hen into the Wild
Otherwise known as Daisy, a Hen into the Wild, the movie is an animated drama about freedom. The main character is a hen named Leafie who used to live on a chicken farm with other egg-laying hens. Leafie’s dream is to become a mother. However, she is unable to incubate her own eggs, so she makes a plan to escape. She pretends to be dead and gets thrown out. She wanders and soon finds herself in the wild, and later comes in possession of a duck’s egg. With both the parents ducks dead, Leafie is left to raise the duckling. He imprints on her, and she accepts him as her son and names him Greenie. Even though the characters are birds and animals, the story is tragic, and themes of loss and survival are discussed.
Leafie, A Hen into the Wild
Noblesse
Noblesse is a popular manhwa that was released as a webtoon in December 2007 and ran till January 2019. It was officially picked up as an anime by Crunchyroll in 2020, with animation from Production I.G.
Noblesse tells the story of a powerful noble named Cadis Etrama Di Raizel, commonly known as Rai. Rai had been in a deep slumber for 820 years and has no knowledge of mankind’s progress and scientific innovations. He wakes up one day in an abandoned building in South Korea and goes out to face the modern world. He decides to attend school and happens upon his loyal servant Frankenstein. With Frankenstein’s help, Rai meets new people and becomes their friend. However, a secret organization trying to uncover his past is on their trail.
Noblesse
Ragnarok: The Animation
This hit anime is based on the MMORPG Ragnarok Online . Similar to the game, the story takes place in Rune-Midgard. The Dark Lord wants to invade Rune-Midgard and take possession of the seven magic crystals that helped the heroes lock him away. The led adventurer Roan and his team must get together to stop the Dark Lord’s invasion.
The series premiered in April 2004 and consists of 26 episodes.
Ragnarok: The Animation
BASToF Lemon
BASToF Lemon is a South Korean series that came out in 2001. The term “BASToF” stands for “ B e A S tranger To F ear. The story takes place in a gaming city called Xenon in the year 2097. The players pilot biomech cyber robots, and fight each other. However, they realize that the events happening in the gaming world are linked to Xenon. Whenever destruction meant to happen in the game happens in real life as well, a powerful scent of lemon overcomes the gamers.
The game’s creator wants to get to the bottom of this mystery, and hence assembles a “Dream Team.” The team consists of the top three gamers in Xenon, who are rebellious, arrogant, and can’t stand each other. They are forced to team up and take care of this worldly threat.
BASToF Lemon
The Fake
The Fake is an animated South Korean film written and directed by Yeon Sang-ho. It premiered at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival, followed by numerous other film festivals. The movie won Best Animation awards at the Sitges Film Festival and Gijón International Film Festival. It was declared 2013’s Best Korean Independent Film by the Association of Korean Independent Film & Video.
The story is about a con man named Choi Gyeong-seok posing as a church elder trying to dupe the citizens of a rural village. He gives them false ideas of hope and heaven, and everyone hangs on to his words. That is, until a skeptical outcast named Kim Min-chul uncovers Choi’s history of crimes, and becomes a resistance force. But Min-chul himself is a gambler, drinker, and a low-life thug. How will he prove that Choi is corrupt?
The Fake
Jang Geum’s Dream
Jang Geum’s Dream is an animated spin-off of the hit Korean drama Dae Jang Geum . It aired on MBC from 2003 to 2004, and was successful just like its predecessor. The story centers on Jang Geum, and her arrival to the Royal Kitchen as an apprentice court lady. Unlike the live action series, the plot is lighter, with bits of comedy. And of course, there is no murder or corruption.
The first season has Jang Geum with a goal to make people smile with her cooking. However, it changes to cooking just to win and impress the eaters, and this lands her into trouble. The story is a journey of self discovery.
Jang Geum’s Dream
The God of High School
The God of High School is a Crunchyroll Original anime based on the manhwa by Yongje Park. The series was first published in Naver Webtoon in April 2011, and quickly became one of the biggest manhwas to exist. The main character is Mori Jin, a 17-year-old martial artist from Seoul. His street brawls capture the eyes of a mysterious organization and he is invited to join a martial arts tournament. The tournament’s name is the titular “The God of High School.”
Mori finds out that there are others like him from different schools. Three finalists are to be selected as representatives for the World Tournament, The winner also gets his or her wish granted by the organization, no matter how big their wish is. Mori joins Karate expert Daewi Han and epeeist master Mira Yoo, and have fights against numerous opponents. But they soon realize hidden secrets within themselves, and become part of something bigger.
The God of High School
Jib/The House
You can find some similarities between Spirited Away and Joo-Young Ban’s The House . The lead character is Ga-young, a young lady who shifts to an old town and looks for new apartments. In the process, she comes across a spirit named Zipsin, the spirit of a house that is set to be demolished. Zipsin takes her on an adventure that shows corruption, and the changing Korean economy. They see how poor residents are treated in Korea by depicting them as spirits in the movie. It pulls no punches in showing how harsh the situation is.
The House
Tower of God
It centers around a boy named Twenty-Fifth Bam. Bam had spent most of his life trapped beneath a big and mysterious Tower, with only his friend Rachel for company. One day, Rachel goes into the Tower, leaving him alone. Bam is devastated and decides to follow behind her, even if it means certain death. Soon, he comes across Rachel and other allies, and makes it their mission to get to the top.
Tower of God
Updated by Ritik Katiyar
Girls Love (GL) anime, also called Shoujo Ai as well the popular urban word, ‘Yuri’ has been trending under the table far too well. For those who still haven’t got the hint, I’m talking about anime series featuring lesbian relationships. When I say Shoujo Ai, I don’t just mean busted female characters getting on each other fan service.
While that might sound like fun for some people, the Shoujo Ai anime that we have compiled here are anime that depict beautiful stories as these characters come steps closer to understanding their sexuality. This list of 32 lesbian anime series is filled with yuri content in different genres.
Shoujo Ai/Yuri anime has a big fan following. These anime are not only wholesome, but they normalize female romantic relationships. A lot of these anime are modified and changed for release in international countries. However, a lot of yuri-traces are left to read between the lines.
Best Yuri Anime To Watch
The anime genre has a plethora of genres. They exist because each of these genres has its fans. More and more Shoujo Ai anime are created every year. In all these years, here are some of my favorite yuri anime that I would recommend to anime fans.
Shoujo Ai does not necessarily focus on CGDCT. To get a wider angle on this beautiful genre, here is a list of 32 Lesbian anime series that everyone will love. There is no order in this list as I think they are all more or less equally good.
In the story of Yuri, we have two main characters named Hana and Sakura, who live in the same city. When they met each other, they started their friendship and became close friends in no time. With time as they spend more time together, they realize that they are more than friends in the movies.
They face lots of issues in their relationship as they start dating and realize that it takes strength for them to find true love, and Hana starts looking for a connection with Sakura. A lovely couple who ends up with each other at the end of the anime, it is a romantic genre anime.
Sakura is an artist and can always be seen painting and making art, whereas the other Hana is a simple girl who wants to live a boring life. Sakura, when seen for the very first time Hana, falls in love with love, the same thing that happened with Hana. These two girls fall in love during the cherry season.
Yuri (Credits: Crunchyroll)
They fall for each other in a lovely season, and no one understands their love as they are from the same gender. The show is based on love between two girls, and it is an LGBTQ-based love story.
When the next season comes, it can be seen that Sakura and Hana started accepting their love openly; they don’t want to let others think of them. Their pure and deep love touched everyone in the city, and everyone started to accept their love.
Best Lesbian Anime of All Time
Here we have the same plot-based anime for anime lovers out there who believe in love and don’t judge love by any gender or other conditions.
Here the story of Sakura and Hana will touch your heart, they come with a moral that love is love, and it comes with no conditions. Here we have the best of the movies, just like Yuri which comes with a romance and love plot to watch.
Strawberry Panic!
Nagisa is a bright student who gets a chance to be in a new school which is a catholic one. She explored her new life and quickly adapted to it so easily that she almost felt like it was a home at first.
After a while, as can be seen in his teenage days, he later experienced dealing with emotions and relationships. She made many friends and loved some of them. As time passed by, Nagisa saw a whole new world that came with a web of emotions and events which brought these emotions out.
Her new school is full of politics, and she finds herself stuck in this generation because of it. After a while realized that she needed some space to continue with school politics.
Strawberry Panic! (Credits: Crunchyroll)
Nagisa becomes friends with one of the students who is the same as her when it comes to a kind and caring personality, and she becomes close to Tamao and Shizuma. With time she realized that she was into girls and not boys; at first, she questioned her attraction and desire for the same sex and gender.
Later she realized that she was in love with one of her friends. When the election comes in the school, it becomes a whole new competitive world to live in. In these months of an election, many people’s hidden pasts and secrets were revealed in front of everyone. Nagisa started to fear her secret of being a lesbian and her liking for girls.
The anime Strawberry Panic comes with the story of Nagisa and her way of finding out about her sexual orientation. Nagisa, as time passes, accepts her truths in front of the school and, after that, gets bullied by her schoolmates.
- Director: Masayuki Sakoi
- Genre: Romance and Anime
- Released Year: 2006
- Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
Maria-sama ga Miteru
The story follows the life of a student at a catholic school where the young women studied. The whole anime centers around the stuff these girls go around in school, as they start growing up, it is seen they explore life.
Here the main lead named Yumi, can be seen as a first-year student and beautiful when it comes to looks and personality. As she started getting aware of the school council organization, she got accepted by one of the members named Rosa.
They both started spending time together and realized that they were more than strangers and started liking each other. Yumi, in the whole series, got into the complex pattern of developing relationships with friends and other students.
The school is catholic and strict when it comes to love and love affairs on the school campus. Even here, Yumi started realizing that in the strict rules of schools, no one was going to accept her same-sex relationship.
Maria-sama ga Miteru (Credits: Crunchyroll)
Yumi, in the new school, experiences new challenges which come with coping with exams and grades. Outside the school, their personal life begins when they have to prove to their parents their worth. Yumi, with these life experiences, started getting better at managing both somehow.
The whole anime Maria-sama ga Miteru comes with a story of Yumi and her friends who are in a tough phase, facing teenage life with love, friendship, struggle, and challenges. As time passes, Yumi becomes friends with Sachiko and learns the rules and regulations of the Lillian Girls Academy.
She became friends with Rei and Yoshino, and she learned from these people and new friends about Lillian’s group and community. The anime comes with multiple themes, including friendship, sisterhood, love, identity, self-discovery, tradition change, and emotional complexity.
- Director: Kōtarō Terauchi
- Genre: Romance and Anime
- Released Year: 2004
- Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
Candy Boy
The anime candy boy comes with a twin sister, and these sisters are named Yukimo and another one named Kanade. Anime evolves and revolves around sibling relationships and how they deal with, say, day life tasks.
They are identical twins, and no one can say who is who. They moved to another place to complete their studies in a new city. However, they both look alike with different personalities. They have different choices and likes though they look the same.
Despite the difference they share when it comes to likings and different opinions and now, they both care for each other. As they settle into a new place, they realize that they find it difficult to carry on in a new life in the new city.
Candy Boy (Credits: Crunchyroll)
They got into a new life when they both got into a new romantic life. Sakuyas falls in love with Kanade and is afraid to confess her love to her. Kanade is also not sure of her own emotions and realizes that she might be wrong when it comes to attracting girls, as she is also a girl.
The twist comes in the story when these two twin sisters become friends with Kanade, and their relationship changes with time. They all experience and discover that they are all in a cycle of romantic love, and no one wants to hurt anyone by confessing feelings and attraction.
Kanade’s time comes to a point when she explores her feelings for Sakuyas but is unsure of if she will like her back or not. The whole series comes with a plot of sibling bonds, exploration of identity, romantic confusion, friendship companionships, and coming of age.
Candy Boy anime is well known for its plot of a twin sister who falls for the same girl, and love becomes complicated when it comes to opening up about one’s sexual identity and true self in front of the world.
- Director: Taafumi Hoshikawa
- Genre: Romance and Anime
- Released Year: 2008
- Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
Sakura Trick
Haruka and Yuu are two students who share a bond that no one can break and are best friends. Friendship, when you get into something else, leaves them in confusion. Here these two besties realize that they are more than just friends and maybe they are soulmates.
Their romance is the main plot of the Sakura Trick anime. Their innocent romance is all one can experience. They have been best friends for a very long time and since middle school.
As one of the teachers wanted them to be in a separate class which breaks their hearts, they decided to kiss each other so that they could remember each other.
As they kissed with the intention of friendship, the kiss became the solid point for a sparkling romance that was waiting for them. As they grow up, their intense feelings only get intense, and they realize that they might be in love.
Haruka started getting ups and down in the school as her class standard became higher, and they started getting into a way where the lows and ups started affecting their relationship.
Sakura Trick (Credits: Crunchyroll)
The anime shows the tenderness and innocence of love between Haruka and Yuu, even though they kept the relationship a secret for a very long time. No one in the school understands what goes through as they have been in a relationship that is non-acceptable in the school.
The real test comes when their relationship is tested by jealousy and misunderstanding. Haruka starts getting jealous of Yuu’s female friends, and misunderstanding comes their way.
The bond of friendship started breaking off as this circumstance became clear day by day. The whole anime comes with the theme of friendship, romance, innocence, coming to terms with emotions, cherishing moments, and light-hearted humor.
- Director: Kenichi Ishikura
- Genre: Romance and Anime
- Released Year: 2014
- Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
Aoi Hana
The plot follows with lives of Fumi and Akira, and this main character can be seen exploring the real essence of romance and love. The struggle of being accepted by the public and society.
The anime Aoi Hana comes with a theme about how much struggle same-sex couples face in society and not accepting them. They feel like an alien being on Earth.
The same thing happened with Fumi and Akira. The plot starts with the main lead Fumi who is a new girl in the school and misses her hometown badly daily.
Here the school becomes bearable as she met her one of the oldest friends named Akira. They both were friends in their childhood .
Time and destiny bring them closer again as now they have met as a couple. Fumi is an innocent and shy girl who finds it hard to make friends. As she meets Akira, she is relieved.
Their friendship became stronger and closer when Fumi told her about her new breakup story, and it became a pillar of support for shy Fumi.
Aoi Hana (Credits: Crunchyroll)
Akira, while studying one day, realized that she misses a lot when she is absent and gets back to her hometown. She misses her when she gets back home after spending time together, and it becomes clear to Akira that she has been falling for her since she met her.
She confessed her love to Fumi and got surprised after getting to know about how much they were in love.
The new school environment is not worth it when it comes to having a peaceful life out there. As they both started spending time together, Fumi started getting a hint of attraction towards her.
Fumi becomes more and more attracted to her as they spend most of their time in school together. The whole anime comes with a theme of coming-of-age love opinion, acceptance of one’s identity, friendship, and same-sex romance.
- Director: Kenichi Kasai
- Genre: Romance and Anime
- Released Year: 2009
- Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
Revolutionary Girl Utena
The plot comes with the main lead named Utena and her story, and she is a courageous and determined girl who has goals and a life she wants. A prince became her idol when she was a kid, and he saved her life. Her life became a mission.
A mission where she wanted to be like the prince who saved her life. She discovers that she wants to be a prince and protect others as that prince did. To become like a prince, she enrolled in a school Ohtori Academy, where she started her studies about becoming a great person.
Utena has become part of many incidences in the school and these mysterious happenings are now her life part. She participated in the duels, which resulted in the reward of becoming a whole new person with powerful power.
These duels come with the need for skills and focus, which the performers have to show. To win these duels, one has to be perfect to combat all these.
Revolutionary Girl Utena (Credits: Crunchyroll)
As these duels go by, Utena’s bond with Anthy becomes close, and they share a real bond. Utena and Anthy can be seen participating in all duels organized by the schools.
As Utena catches herself becoming closer to Anthy and starts feeling for him, she can be seen letting her win the duel.
Other characters like Touga and Akio can be seen going through the same. The anime Revolutionary Girl Utena is all about Utena, who explores her love side, and it becomes clear that she is into girls, as in the anime, she is attracted to Anthy.
Utena fights for the bigger duel as she has passed all past duels with determination and courage. In her journey of becoming a prince to help people, Anthy, as her love, helped her. Anthy helped Utema in the last duel and also encouraged her to become more powerful by succeeding in all duels.
- Director: Kunihiko Ikuhara
- Genre: Romance and Anime
- Released Year: 1997
- Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
Simoun
One of the Japanese anime drama series which was released in 2006 year, the anime comes with a plot that fixes a fictional world and characters. The theme is all about war, individual identity, and love.
As advanced technology updated, the complexity of society and political structure also changed with time. Here we have Simoun, which is a group of priestesses well known for their aircraft work.
The newly modeled aircraft manufactured are built and structured by a mysterious power. These priestesses are not robots, but they are young girls.
The main character, named Aeru, can be seen dealing with her sexual orientation and liking for the same gender. As this is happening first time in her society, she finds it hard to hide.
Simoun (Credits: Crunchyroll)
Aeru has the ability and potential to control the aircraft, and she has powers and the advantage of controlling also. Aeru lives in a world of steampunk technology and a different culture.
The anime revolves around themes like identity issues, chor tempest, gender identity, and love. Simuon is an emotionally provoking anime that is famous for its complexity.
The mixture of war and love is what made it worth watching. The power of love and friendship can be seen, marking its importance in the Simoun.
- Director: Simon Otto
- Genre: Romance and Anime
- Released Year: 2006
- Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
Yagate Kimi ni Naru
The anime plot starts with Yuu, who can be seen as a high school student and starts having strange feelings for her crush. The twist comes in the plot when she realizes that she has a crush on only girls.
She finds it boring when other girls talk about boys, and she has nothing to share with them, as she has no idea about how a girl could feel about guys so far.
Yuu finds that one day when her friends were confessing love and feeling for their boyfriends, she found it hard to cope with it.
As her new year starts in high school, she meets Touko, a charming and wise girl. Tauko is the main head of the council and is well-adored by everyone in the school as of her personality and behavior.
Touku, however, is attracted to Yuu and knows that she is in love, but Yuu is not in love and is even confused about being in love.
Yagate Kimi ni Naru (Credits: Crunchyroll)
As their friendship grows and they start spending time together, Yuu becomes more and more confused between friendship and love. On the other hand, Tokou is not confused and pretty sure of her love feeling, which she wants to confess to Yuu.
Yuu only gets to know that she is in love when she is able to confront her tragic past and future goals with her. For Yuu and Tokyou, it was not easy to accept their identity as it is way different than others.
Both girls are in the same state of authenticity and identity recognition issue, but as they find each other, everything becomes clear after that they are in love, and the gender condition does not apply here.
Yagate Kimi ni Naru is a manga adaptation and is now a movie. The manga and movie theme comes with vulnerability, self-esteem, and intimacy. As Yuu and Tokuo accepted themselves in front of the school, everyone praised them for their courage and support theory love.
- Director: Makoto Kato
- Genre: Romance and Anime
- Released Year: 2018
- Where to Watch: Netflix
Citrus
The anime Citrus comes with a main character named Yuzu. Citrus is the same manga-titled-based series. The anime focuses on the relationship issues of two sisters named Yuzu and Mel. They both share different personalities and behaviors.
Yuzu is up-to-date and fashionable, and she is one of the famous girls in her new school. Yuzu is well known for her fashion sense and appearance. She looks very different from other girls and more fashionable.
Yuzu suffers in her new high school as it is stricter and more disciplined. She is not habitual of it. At first, she finds it struggling to fit in, and everyone out there has no idea fashion is what irritates her most.
On the other hand, her sister Mei who is a wise and academy-perfect student, becomes the president of the council. She is her stepsister, and they both hate each other.
Citrus (Credits: Crunchyroll)
With time Yuzu, on the first day of her school, discovers that Mie is her classmate. They started hanging out together, and the relationship status spiked from friends to something closer. They started having complex feelings toward each other.
Stepsisters find it hard to control their feelings of love for each other and are also afraid of the people whom they know as sisters. A same-sex relationship is now taking turns when Mie expresses first and leaves everyone in awe, the dramatic twist taking turns throughout the whole series .
Citrus anime is one of those anime that addresses the LGBT concept and same-sex love. The anime is not suitable for all age groups as it consists of sensitive scenes. It would be better not to be watched by sensitive people.
- Director: Takeo Takahashi Naoyuki
- Genre: Romance and Anime
- Released Year: 2018
- Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
Adachi to Shimamura
Adachi and Shimamura are the main characters who study in high school. These two girls share different personalities but can still be seen together. Adachi is introverted and prefers to be alone than socialize, and she skips classes so that she can spend some alone time.
On the other hand, Simamura can be seen as an extrovert and an outgoing person. She loves to make friends and spends most of her time with popular girls. She somehow also wanted to spend some alone time from all this and chose to be alone on the school rooftop often.
Adachi to Shimamura (Credits: Crunchyroll)
As they both started spending more time together on the rooftop, they started having a deep bond. On the rooftop after the classes, they share feelings, thoughts, and interests.
Adachi starts feeling sparks between her and Shimamura, and the turn comes in her one-sided love when Shimamura resists having feelings for her. It broke her heart because she thought that Shimamura didn’t feel the same way and did not share mutual feelings.
The delicate emotions and falling in love by Adachi and Shimamura is worth watching. The rooftop becomes the only place where they can find solace and love.
- Director: Satoshi Kuwabara
- Genre: Romance and Anime
- Released Year: 2020
- Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
Asagao to Kase-san
A manga-based anime in which Yui and Tomoka are the main characters, and the whole anime revolves around her. These two girls share different personalities, and as they say, opposite attracts; the same thing happens between Tomoka and Yui.
Yui is an extroverted girl who spends most of her time in games and athletes. On the other hand, Tomoka is introverted and more reserved and is a main team member of her high school field team.
Yui is a dreamer and passionate about green gardening. While doing her experiment on plants, she saw and encountered Tomoka. The initial sparks between them were like love at first sight. Yui was impressed with her athletic body, and she was impressed by her calm presence.
Asagao to Kase-san (Credits: Crunchyroll)
They started taking an interest in each other’s businesses, like flowers and gardening. Participating in athlete games by Yiu is strange and adorable for Tomoka.
The challenges come to this couple when they find it hard to express what they feel about each other. The romantic relationship becomes closer and closer when Yui and Tomoka express their feelings for each other.
It’s a touching story that comes with a theme like mutual support, same-sex love story, LGBTQ, self-identity, and high school romance.
- Director: Takuya Satō
- Genre: Romance and Anime
- Released Year: 2018
- Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
Kannazuki no Miko
A manga series with the same anime titled Kannazuki no Miko, one of the 12-episode series. Himeko and Chikane, who are two girls, meet fate and destiny. They are connected by fate and destiny. Chikane personality is more like a bubbly and kind-hearted girl who makes friends quickly. She has a mysterious aura that does not match with a single person.
Himeko becomes friends with Chikane and shares a special understanding bond. Their whole life takes a turn when celestial even happens, and supernatural forces are on their way to cause harm.
Kannazuki no Miko (Credits: Crunchyroll)
Their bond of friendship is on the question of how much deeper it is. They both can be seen as a friendship that changes its status as they start fighting together against these supernatural forces.
The task is to awaken one of the giant men named Murakumo, who can be seen as a powerful Mecha. He can save the world with his abilities and powers, as the world is on the verge of getting destroyed.
Himeko realizes that she is in love with Chikane, and now the task of awakening powerful Mecha is in their hands. The anime consists of mature content, and we would like to recommend Kannazuki no Miko anime to all grown-ups.
Here the love story of Himeko and Chikane can leave you with a sense of how pure and beautiful a relationship could be. It is all about acceptance and love and one person’s perspective on same-sex love couples.
- Director: Tetsuya Yanagisawa
- Genre: Romance and Anime
- Released Year: 2004
- Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
Bloom Into You
Anime: Bloom Into You.
Bloom Into You or Yagate Kimi ni Naru is one of the most underrated anime from 2018. Unlike many Yuri anime created for fan service with delusional adult scenes, Bloom Into You has a relatable plot to people, irrespective of their sexual preference. It gives an in-depth look into finding the meaning of love. If not the best, Bloom Into You is one of the best romantic anime out there that strongly impacts its viewers. It journeys through the self-development of the characters rather than limiting the story to simply the typical teenage puppy love.
The anime was produced under TROYCA studios. It was released in the fall of 2018 and had a total of 13 episodes.
Plot Summary:
Bloom Into You is about Yuu Koito and her inability to feel love despite being deeply moved by shoujo manga. She is an old-school romantic in her mind and always in search of the fluttering feeling often described in books. Yet, when a boy in her middle school confesses to her, she feels nothing.
After joining a high school, she is instantly impressed by the student council’s president’s skills in rejecting confession. To consult about such matters, Yuu goes to her for advice. Touko Nanami, the council president and the very embodiment of perfection, confesses to Yuu. The story follows Yuu’s search for love in her ways while Touko holds her hand.
Citrus
Anime: Citrus.
If you find an anime bold because it has yuri content, Citrus exceeds its limits of ‘bold’ by including incest. Citrus has a terribly handled beginning, filled with disturbing content. The anime begins with one of the main characters forcing on the others. Moreover, the incest factor in the anime immediately brings in criticism like the cherry on top. However, the anime is hard to dislike because the anime develops into a beautiful story eventually. The character development is beautifully done, which would immediately make the viewers see why Mei reacts outrageously in the beginning.
Citrus is basically the Domestic Girlfriend of the Shoujo Ai genre. The stories might be different, but they have similar vibes.
The first two episodes might get people triggered, but Citrus proves to be quite a moving anime if given a chance. Despite its flaws, Citrus commits to presenting a heartwarming story of two lovers, irrespective of gender. The anime aired in winter 2018 with 12 episodes and was produced by studio Passione.
Plot Summary
Yuzu Aihara has transferred to a new school after her mother remarries. Her aim in this new place is to finally achieve her first kiss. But, her dreams feel far off when she realizes she has been admitted to a strict girls’ school. On the very first day, it grabs the attention of the school council president, Mei. Mei is a rather cold person, but it sends a tingle down Yuzu’s heart as she touches Yuzu’s hand.
More shock awaits back at home when Yuzu comes to know that Mei is her new step-sister. When Yuzu decides to tease her, she is pinned down and kissed by Mei. She notices Mei’s sad eyes as she thinks about her far-longed first kiss. Citrus follows Mei and Yuzu’s story as they overcome their troubles together and come closer.
Adachi to Shimamura
Anime: Adachi to Shimamura.
There are anime like Citrus that jump into the plot within the first episode. Then, anime like Adachi to Shimamura takes their time to develop and create their ambiance for the plot they are about to lay down. If you enjoy the small moments rather than the big gestures, Adachi to Shimamura is sure to reach your soul. The story develops step by step as we are given insights into the different thoughts of the two protagonists. It is a typical love story between two polar opposite characters made unique by its presentation.
The anime might seem bland on the first look, but so many scenes are filled with minute metaphorical significance. From Tezuka Production, Adachi to Shimamura was released in the Fall of 2020. The anime does justice to drama, romance, and the very concept of a serene GL anime.
Plot Summary
Adachi Sakura is shy, socially awkward, and introverted. She is mostly by herself. Shimamura Hougetsu is a social girl with many friends. One fateful day, they meet in the gymnasium. All their differences matter no longer as they grow under each other’s influence.
As they grow closer, they are conflicted about where they must lead this relationship too.
Whispered Words
Anime: Whispered Words.
Whispered Words (Sasameki Koto) is, if anything, not a clichè. On the outline, it may seem like a similar story, but it’s not. Whispered Words walks in wearing a yuri tag, not wanting to meddle in another genre. It takes control of the story and steers it down the lane without wanting to waste more time in other genres. While one character has openly come out to her preference, the other Is a rather shut-in. I loved the brilliantly done portrayal of the relationship between the two characters.
The anime does not stop being surprising till the end. It doesn’t have a sad ending, but the anime just ends somewhat midway. Although, for a majority, it seems like a bad and unsatisfactory cliffhanger, I feel it gives a lot to think about. The ending is not your usual happily ever after. It gives the viewers a chance to fill imagine all the possibilities thereafter. If you think I’ve spoilt the ending of this anime, don’t worry, for this anime is filled with such moments of surprise in every episode.
Plot Summary
Ushio Kazuma is a ditzy teenager who is into cute and short girls. She is often rejected too. However, her best friend, Sumika Murasame, is in love with her. But she refuses to tell her since she is tall and athletic, unlike Ushio’s preference. The anime deals with Sumika’s unrequited love. She sometimes gets scared to confess and at the same time has an urge to let her feelings out. When Ushio starts falling for Sumika too, how will this story turn out?
Strawberry Panic!
Anime: Strawberry Panic.
Strawberry Panic! is a 26 episode long Shoujo Ai anime from Madhouse studio. The anime has some heavy drama. Yet, it keeps the viewers constantly on par with the anime, never leaving them bored. Strawberry Panic! gets interesting from the very first episode. Although the anime does not have a plot coated with terrifying mystery, it has such lovable moments that it gets people hooked.
To make this anime more appealing, the anime has some generous CGDCT moments that are simply adorable. The anime has a wide range of characters and some really good plots attached to them. Moreover, the way the anime tells many stories without entangling in any is one way to deduce that Strawberry Panic! was a great production from Madhouse.
Plot Summary
The anime centers around three schools: Miator, Spica, and Lulim, and students who belong to these schools. On the first day of her school, Nagisa Aoi gets lost in the hills. Shizuma Hanazono saved her. Captivated by her beauty, Nagisa faints. When she wakes up, she finds herself in the infirmary with Tamao Suzumi, her new roommate sitting next to her.
Tamao later tells Nagisa about the Etoile, a particularly important person in the school. Although Nagisa is excited at first to know who this person is, she is shocked to see that Shizuma Hanazono is the very Etoile everyone is talking about. Shizuma takes a liking towards Nagisa and makes no effort in hiding it.
Princess Principal
Anime: Princess Principal.
Princess Principal is the anime that does not wear the tag of Shoujo Ai but carries the genre with great care. The anime is well packed with action and centers only around female characters. But, even if you don’t look too close, it is not difficult to notice the obvious closeness between the characters on an emotional level. People often think that the anime is only yuri-baiting but, the character chemistry goes beyond just simple fan service.
The anime is one of my favorite action anime. But, if it adds more girls’ love to it, I still feel the same adrenaline rush but with more warmth.
Plot Summary:
Princess Principal is set in 20th century London. The anime begins with a revolutionary war that ended up in the division of the country into The Kingdom and The Commonwealth. To exact revenge, The Commonwealth fabricates a plan. They decide to replace the Princess with one of their spy, Ange.
The tables turn when the Princess offers to help in return for helping her achieve the throne. The anime follows the story of the spies along with the Princess as they thrive to complete their mission.
Riddle Story Of Devil
Anime: The Riddle Story Of Devil.
Also known as Akuma no Riddle, Riddle Story Of Devil is a 2014 anime by studio Diomedea. If the Shoujo Ai content in Princess Principal was not convincing enough, Riddle Story Of Devil is an action-packed GL anime I would highly recommend. The anime offers moments of utmost care, filled with warm fuzzy feelings between the characters. I really enjoyed Riddle Story Of Devil for all the genres it sets out to offer. It is probably not the perfect anime, but it still remains quite intriguing till the end. It gets a bit predictable at times, but the overall quality of the plot is very interesting. The anime had great animation and art style too.
The anime misses out on some points that the manga makes, making the anime way less impactful at times. This is why I would recommend people to catch up with the manga to appreciate the brilliance in the plot.
Plot Summary
Out of 13 girls, Haru Ichinose is not an assassin. The other twelve girls enrolled in the school are assassins who have been handed the mission to assassinate Haru in return for a precious prize. The one who succeeds in the assassination will be granted one wish, but they will face expulsion on failure. For reasons unknown, one of the twelve assassins takes a liking towards Haru. Tokaku, the assassin, swears to protect Haru at all costs.
Canaan
Anime: Canaan.
Canaan is indefinitely a great anime. The anime from P.A Works was released in 2009 and ran for 13 episodes. This anime has everything to expect from a good series: a strong female protagonist, an indulging plot, and above all, a good chemistry between the characters. Canaan has a great set of characters that will get you diving deeper into the plot. Be it the villains or the protagonist, Canaan, herself, the creator did a fantastic job.
Unlike mainstream anime with male protagonists, Canaan holds its stand as a brilliant action anime with a female protagonist. Additionally, what makes it an even greater watching experience is the very high-quality animation.
Plot Summary
Maria Osawa and Minoru Minorikawa are two reporters investigating in Shanghai, China. They survived the bioterrorism in Shibuya. Maria has been infected with a deadly virus but is saved by her father. When Maria is under attacked by masked assassins, an old friend, Canaan, comes to her rescue.
Kakegurui
Anime: Kakegurui xx
Yet another anime without any Shoujo Ai tag is Kakegurui. Be it the yandere Midari or the high maintenance secretary, Sayaka, there are traces of GL everywhere. Of course, there is nothing to complain about because it makes the series all the more exciting. Anyone who refuses to categorize Kakegurui as Shoujo-ai probably missed Sayaka’s confession in season two or Midari unmatched obsession with Yumeko. Additionally, all the Mary Saotome and Ririka Momobami moments were too wholesome.
The anime is a production from MAPPA. It has two seasons. The manga, which serves as the source material, is still ongoing.
Plot Summary
Jabami Yumeko is a transfer student in a school of elites. Although the school looks normal during the day, it becomes a hub for gambling after school hours. Since many students belong to influential families, learning the art of gambling is a necessity. The student council is run by Kirari Momobami, who has made a distinct rule of settling any dispute through gambling. If a player loses all their fortune in a game, they get ranked as a mike. When Yumeko is transferred, people mistake her for the sweet innocent girl. However, on the gambling grounds, they find her craze for gambling and the obsession of betting it all.
Mnemosyne: Mnemosyne no Musume-Tachi
Anime- Mnemosyne: Mnemosyne no Masume-tachi.
Mnemosyne: Mnemosyne no Musume-tachi or Rin: Daughters of Mnemosyne is supernatural Shoujo Ai anime. The anime has some very bold to fluff scenes that make it one of the highest-rated anime on this list. Mnemosyne: Mnemosyne no Masume-tachi holds a lot of content that is difficult to grasp at first. However, once you get a hold of it, the anime is rather enjoyable. The GL content does not hold back from showing off, but at the same time, it is not ridiculed for the sake of jesting. I love the genuine relationship between the characters rather than just a few shots of fan service.
Mnemosyne: Mnemosyne no Masume-tachi is not meant for everyone. It has graphic scenes that many might find offensive. The anime has so much adult content that it is often identified as smut.
Plot Summary
Immortal women exist, and Rin is one of them. These immortal women come to existence after a Time Fruit from a Yggdrasil enters them. Rin is an investigator.
She comes across Maeno Kouki while looking for a cat. Eventually, she realizes that her life might be in danger as she feels the enemy closing in.
Happy Sugar Life
Anime: Happy Sugar Life.
An anime of utmost disturbing content, Happy Sugar Life makes it to this list for the very foundation of this anime. While most people might view Happy Sugar Life is a psychological anime, they often forget how the events in the plot go from bad to worse. Unlike most fluff and wholesome content in this list, Happy Sugar Life develops an obsessive and dangerous attachment that Satou forms with a stray girl. The very basis of Happy Sugar Life lies in Shoujo Ai. Satou’s love for Shio is described as love at first sight. Of course, this love leads to events of chaos beyond control.
Shio’s importance in Satou’s life and vice versa have been indicated multiple times. For anyone who loves psychological thrillers but is also in the mood for some Shoujo Ai, Happy Sugar Life is the perfect blend.
Plot Summary
Satou is a high school girl who has slept with many boys in her class. However, she has never felt the slightest bit of attachment towards any of them. But, when she comes across Shio, she feels how she’s never felt before. Satou is completely mesmerized by Shio and claims that she has never loved anyone as much as Shio.
However, when people start looking for Shio, Satou is ready for a blood bath to avoid being separated from her.
Sakura Trick
Anime: Sakura Trick.
Sakura Trick is one of the most highly recommended Shoujo Ai anime. The vast popularity comes from the satisfying fluff and the beautifully executed moments that will send a chill through the spine. The anime has a simple and straightforward plot. It is a light-hearted anime with some amount of comedy. If you are looking for a light anime with a lot of affectionate physical intimacy, Sakura Trick is the anime you need to watch. Although the anime as a whole felt quite adorable, the lack of a plot makes people drop the anime pretty soon.
Sakura Trick starts with quite an enthusiasm, but the similar scenes make it hard to continue.
Plot Summary
Haruka and Yuu have been best friends for a long time. When they enter high school, Haruka decides to spend more time with Yuu. But, they are seated far away in the classroom, to her dismay. She gets increasingly jealous as Yuu immediately attracts more and more people towards her.
However, when Yuu kisses Haruka passionately after school, they decide to take their bond a step ahead.
Aoi Hana
Anime: Aoi Hana.
Shoujo Ai is a highly controversial anime genre. Aoi Hana portrays the very reason why this is so. Unlike the generic Shoujo Ai anime, Aoi Hana is all about reality and the price to pay for trying to be true to oneself. Without a doubt, Aoi Hana is one of the genius plots that need more recognition for its precision with reality. The maturity and the serenity surrounding this anime are utter bliss. Watching this anime becomes more pleasing with the low-lighted animation and the mellowed-down art. It fits with the ambiance that the anime wishes to create.
Plot Summary
The anime centers around the struggles of the two protagonists: Fumi Manjoume and Akira Okudaira. They used to be childhood friends but were separated. Fumi and Akira meet years later, but their relationship has changed now. While Fumi wants to grow stronger and not depend on Akira, the latter sought to rebuild its relationship years ago.
YuruYuri
Anime: YuruYuri.
YuruYuri is a comedy anime. Although largely shoujo-ai, the anime makes use of it to present hilarious jokes. Yet, the very reason why the anime makes its way to this list that YuruYuri deals with some major issues in society and presents them with humor. It is hard to notice this amidst all the fun, but once you ponder over these matters, there is no way to look away.
Plot Summary
YuruYuri centers around girls: Akari Akaza, Yui Funami, Kyouko Toshinou, and Chinatsu Yoshikawa. They join the Amusement club. The series follows the various events that occur between the club members.
Maria Sama ga Miteru
Anime: Maria Sama Ga Miteru.
Maria Sama ga Miteru is one of the softest Shoujo Ai anime out there. The anime has little to no comedy. This anime emits enigmatic drama. It does a very good job at depicting the soft and beautiful characters. These characters are given a wide range of personality that builds the story from within. The anime has its flaws, but it is overall exceptionally well done.
The anime wastes no time in spending it on baseless fan service. When most Shoujo Ai anime is made for the obscene yuri content, Maria Sama ga Miteru is an anime that guarantees quality investment in the genre.
Plot Summary:
Yumi Fukuzawa becomes a major topic of hustle at her new school when the beautiful Sachiko Ogasawara asks to be her souer. She is flattered and happy. However, she feels highly concerned about the attention she might end up getting if she accepts Sachiko’s offer. The anime follows Yumi and Sachiko’s blossoming relationship as they get to know each other better.
Konohana Kitan
Anime: Konohana Kitan.
This adorable anime is an adorable anime that will also make you cry. It reaches out to the viewers on an emotional level. Moreover, the anime continuously brings light to positivity. Konohana Kitan is a hidden gem. The show has been extremely underrated since its release back in the fall of 2017.
The anime was produced by Lerche studio. It was a rather short anime with only 12 episodes. The anime is rather simple. Along with a romantic GL story, Konohana Kitan successfully delivers the story of self-development.
Plot Summary:
The anime is set in the world of spirits. The leading character Yuzu, is a fox girl. She starts working for an inn called Konohanatei. The anime features the various episodes of Yuzu as she wins over her co-worker and customers through her charming nature.
Simoun
Anime: Simoun.
Set in fantasy land, Simoun offers beautiful landscapes and heart-touching romance. The anime captures the heart and fills it with emotions. Simoun makes use of multiple themes and adds them all together. What is commendable about this anime is despite all the chaos that the anime could go through, Simoun stays on its course and delivers with proficiency. Simoun is not your typical CGDCT anime with a lot of sparkle and magic. It rather deals with real-life issues while holding on to the entertainment.
The anime aired back in 2006. Yet, the anime does not fail to influence its viewers considerably.
Plot Summary
Simulicram is a place where only females take birth. However, the people can undergo a special ceremony and change the gender if they wish. However, this luxury is off-limits for those who pilot the Simoun. Simoun is flying ships the protect the citizens.
Aer is selected to pilot a Simoun previously belonging to the Chor Tempest. The only problem is that pairs can only pilot the Simoun. Aer needs to win over Neviril. But, Aer faces yet another difficulty as Neviril is still in love with her previous pair, who was lost in battle.
Flip Flappers
Anime: Flip Flappers.
Flip flappers do not confirm any lesbian content, but it is yet another one of those anime that remain silently GL. The anime is a very interesting sci-fi with some mind-boggling plot twists. Flip Flapper is artistic and enjoyable despite its sophisticated telltale. There is constant energy between Papika and Cocona. Even if the anime is not shoujo-ai at its purest, the honest and very pure bond between these two characters makes it a wholesome watch.
Plot Summary
Papika and Cocona meet out of sheer coincidence. But when Papika pulls Cocona into an alternate dimension of illusions, Cocona has no option but to follow Papika. As the first mission, they set out to collect gems. In the next stage, they are sent to a region of Pure Illusion. They are immediately met with a monster. Using the gems, they transform into magic girls. The story follows their journey of getting stronger as they strive to survive.
Tonari no Kyuuketsuki san
Anime: Tonari No Kyuuketsuki san.
This anime surprisingly succeeds at combining vampire themes with lesbians. Tonari no Kyuuketsuki san has a cute outlook to it. It has a new viewpoint of vampires, and fans absolutely loved the idea. The anime is filled with moe moments that will make you see how adorable GL can be.
This slice of life comedy anime is sure to be your favorite if you like light anime that can ease your mind.
Plot Summary
The anime focuses around Akari Amano, who goes searching for a girl who does not age. Curious after hearing all sorts of rumors, Akari decides to find out the truth but ends up getting lost. A mysterious girl, Sophia Twilight, saves her. However, Akari later finds out that vampires are nothing as dangerous as stories say. Sophia orders for blood online.
Fascinated by Sophia, Akari starts living with her. The anime follows the various events of their laugh after they begin living together.
Asagao to Kase san
Anime: Asegao to Kase san.
The spring of 2018 blessed us with one completely mesmerizing anime OVA ever that goes by the name Asegao to Kase san. The OVA is 54 minutes long, and in these 54 minutes, you will go into a trance following its utmost serenity. If there was any complaint, it was only that that anime lasted for a very short time. It plays with the aspects of realism and growth and displays a very genuine lesbian relationship. It is devoid of cliches and easily makes it one of the best Shoujo Ai anime ever created.
Plot Summary
Yui Yamada meets tomboyish Tomoka Kase. While Yui is shy and timid with interest in plants, Tomoka is an ace with many friends. They have their differences, but these differences shed their meaning when they are together.
The youthful energy of first love is depicted through two female protagonists whose feelings grow deeper each day for each other.
