Lesbian, Yuri, or Girls’ Love(GL) is an anime subgenre that features sapphic and romantic relationships between women. In strict terms, it may refer to series having explicit girl-on-girl romance, but mostly, it also includes anime that depicts a special bond between the female characters without clarifying whether it is only platonic or not.
Lesbian anime may not be as popular as Boys’ Love(BL), but the niche has plenty of fantastic series with heartwarming relationships. We have compiled a list of some of the best lesbian anime that you can watch to get your Yuri fix.
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What is Lesbian Anime Called?
Lesbian anime is called Yuri or Girls’ Love(GL) in Japanese. It is a genre that focuses on intimate relationships between female characters. Yuri anime features romantic/pseudo-romantic relationships between women.
Yuri is a broad term used to refer to anime and manga that mainly focus on female characters. This may include emotional and spiritual relationships between women that may or may not be romantic or sexual in nature. Some people, however, believe an anime to be yuri only when it explicitly features queer content.
Don’t Miss: Where to watch Yuri Anime Online for free
20 Best Lesbian(Yuri) Anime
Bloom Into You
Japanese Title: Yagate Kimi ni Naru
Studio: Troyca
Episodes: 13
IMDb Rating: 7.8/10
Bloom Into You is an underrated and the best lesbian anime to watch. It follows Yuu Koito, a girl who doesn’t understand love but strikes up an uncommon friendship with her schoolmate, Touko Nanami. However, Yuu finds herself unable to reciprocate when Touko confesses her feelings.
However, their bond slowly turns romantic as they spend time together and Yuu learns more about her friend.
Bloom Into You is a serious take on lesbian romance that prioritizes character development over fan service. Yuu and Touko are complex characters whose bond deepens as they grow up and mature together. It is a beautiful, quiet slow-burn lesbian anime with a relatable plot and characters.
Citrus
Japanese Title: Citrus
Studio: Passione
Episodes: 12
IMDb Rating: 6.5/10
The next best lesbian anime recommendation on our list is Citrus. It’s a beautiful story of two young girls who like each other while not shying away from sad and disturbing themes.
Citrus follows Yuzu who transfers to an all-girls school after her mother’s remarriage. She encounters the student council president Mei Aihara who also turns out to be her new stepsister. While initially enemies, the animosity between Yuzu and Mei starts reducing as they learn more about each other and eventually fall in love.
Citrus is an out-and-out yuri anime with consistent character development. Yuzu and Mei’s contrasting personalities and developing bond are a delight to watch. The first few episodes may be shocking, but Citrus turns into a moving lesbian anime if you give it a chance.
Maria Watches Over Us
Japanese Title: Maria-sama ga Miteru
Studio: Studio Deen
Episodes: 13
IMDb Rating: 6.8/10
Maria Watches Over Us is a classic lesbian anime with iconic characters and a heart-touching romance. It is the anime that started the modern yuri trend with its emphasis on romance and emotion over sexuality.
Set in a Catholic school in Western Japan, the plot of Maria Watches Over Us revolves around the budding romance between a bashful freshman, Yumi Fukuzawa, and the star student Sachiko Ogasawara.
The anime is refreshingly free of overly malicious characters and focuses heavily on character development and relationships. Maria Watches Over Us is one of the most beautiful and graceful lesbian anime with some questionable animation quality but lots of heart.
Adachi and Shimamura
Japanese Title: Adachi to Shimamura
Studio: Tezuka Productions
Episodes: 12
IMDb Rating: 7.0/10
Fans of slow-burn romances would love the anime Adachi and Shimamura. This lesbian anime following two high schoolers Sakura Adachi and Hougetsu Shimamura takes its sweet time to develop the plot. However, the pay-off is worth it as you witness an incredibly sweet friends-to-lovers journey between the introvert Sakura and the social butterfly Hougetsu.
Adachi and Shimamura is a coming-of-age story that is more about the small moments rather than the dramatics. It has a cozy atmosphere where the two girls start to care for each other and eventually fall in love. All this makes Adachi and Shimamura one of the best lesbian anime of all time.
Whispered Words
Japanese Title: Sasameki Koto
Studio: AIC
Episodes: 13
IMDb Rating: 6.9/10
Whispered Words doesn’t waste time establishing itself as a rom-com yuri anime. The series is set in a co-ed high school and revolves around 15-year-old Sumika Murasame who has a huge crush on her best friend Ushio Kazama.
Ushio is open about being a lesbian but prefers cute and shy girls which Sumika is not. The latter is confident, athletic, tall, and popular aka the complete antithesis of the former’s type.
Sure, Whispered Word’s premise is simple but that doesn’t stop it from being an entertaining watch as Sumika often ends up in funny situations while trying to confess her feelings to Ushio. The ending is, however, not the typical happy ending leaving the viewers to imagine all sorts of possibilities.
Strawberry Panic
Japanese Title: Sutoroberi Panikku
Studio: Madhouse
Episodes: 26
IMDb Rating: 7.1/10
Based on the manga of the same name, Strawberry Panic takes place in three affiliated all-girls schools on Astrea Hill. Intimate lesbian relationships between the characters are a common theme throughout the series. It is specifically centered on Nagisa Aoi, a new student who develops a romantic connection with the school’s star Shizuma Hanazono.
Strawberry Panic is the best lesbian manga focusing solely on the yuri aspect without going into unnecessary sub-genres. It has relatable high school themes such as friendship, crushes, and social hierarchy politics. The anime is fun, laid-back and perfect for fans of sweet romance anime.
WATATEN!: An Angel Flew Down to Me
Japanese Title: Watashi ni Tenshi ga Maiorita!
Studio: Doga Kobo
Episodes: 12+OVA
IMDb Rating: 6.7/10
Miyako Hoshino is a shy college student who spends her time tailoring clothes and sometimes trying them on herself. Her search for a cute girl to dress in her clothes ends when her sister brings home her classmate Hana Shirosaki.
The series follows Miyako as she convinces Hana to try out new outfits by bribing her with snacks. Wataten has fluid animation and depicts the story from the perspective of both Miyako and Hana. It is the right choice for people who like all-girl slice-of-life anime.
Sweet Blue Flowers
Japanese Title: Aoi Hana
Studio: J. C. Staff
Episodes: 11
IMDb Rating: 7.0/10
Sweet Blue Flowers is the story of Fumi Manjome, a lesbian high school girl, who recently reunited with childhood friend Akira Okudaira. Fumi tries to keep her friends happy in difficult times while experiencing a budding romance with Yasuko Sugimoto, a popular senior.
Sweet Blue Flowers sets itself apart from other yuri anime by explicitly addressing its main characters’ sexuality and the inner conflict arising out of it. It is a character-driven story that is a realistic portrayal of a young woman in love with another. The art is crisp and realistic and contains everything that needs to be said in a single facial expression.
Kase-san and Morning Glories
Japanese Title: Asagao to Kase-san
Studio: Zexcs
Episodes: 58 minutes runtime
IMDb Rating: 7.2/10
Kase-san and Morning Glories is a lesbian anime movie that narrates the love story of the shy Yui Yamada and the popular tomboy Tomoka Kase. The two are very different but fall in love and the movie follows the pair as they navigate various challenges in their relationship.
It is a heartwarming movie with cute, colorful art and realistic characters. Fans of wholesome yuri anime should definitely check out Kase-san and Morning Glories.
Riddle Story of Devil
Japanese Title: Akuma no Ridoru
Studio: Diomedea
Episodes: 12+OVA
IMDb Rating: 6.9/10
Riddle Story of Devil is an excellent action-packed lesbian anime. The series takes place at a private girls’ boarding school and tells the story of an undercover assassin Tokaku Azuma who has to protect her target-turned-friend Haru Ichinose from 11 other assassins who want to take her life for an extraordinary reward.
It is an intriguing anime that balances all its genres quite well while offering moments of sentimentality. The art and animation are decent and the series remains respectful of the original manga story.
Birdie Wing: Golf Girls’ Story
Japanese Title: Birdie Wing: Golf Girls’ Story
Studio: Bandai Namco Pictures
Episodes: 25
IMDb Rating: 6.9/10
Eve and Aoi are two golfers from very different backgrounds and with different golf styles. Eve has a crude playing style while Aoi plays it smart. The latter is a professional golfer while the former plays in unsanctioned games to earn money for her family.
Despite these differences, Eve and Aoi are drawn towards each other and eventually fall in love. This “opposites attract” romance makes for an attractive tale. Birdie Wing combines sports anime tropes with a passionate love story to create an unforgettable lesbian anime.
Sakura Trick
Japanese Title: Sakura Torikku
Studio: Studio Deen
Episodes: 12
IMDb Rating: 6.9/10
Sakura Trick is a popular lesbian anime based on the manga of the same name. The plot follows Haruka Takayama and Yuu Sonoda who have been close friends since childhood but end up being seated on opposite ends of the classroom in high school.
Yuu’s easygoing personality helps her quickly make new friends which fuels Haruka’s insecurity about their friendship. So, Yuu kisses her friend to ease her worries but this change in their relationship brings a new set of challenges.
Sakura Trick is a comedic and entertaining yuri anime that makes full use of its characters and is unashamed about having girls kissing as a major element of screen time.
YuruYuri
Japanese Title: Yuru Yuri
Studio: Doga Kobo
Episodes: 36
IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
YuruYuri is set in the fictional Nanamori Middle School and revolves around the daily lives of the members of the Amusement Club. Akari is the protagonist who is not very protagonist-like. Kyoko is a lively and optimistic person who never passes up an opportunity for a laugh.
Yui is the voice of reason in the Amusement Club while Ayano is the tsundere club vice president who struggles with her feelings for Kyoko. The anime follows the activities of the group in the club doing random things.
YuruYuri is a hilarious anime with memorable characters and female bonding and relationships that you would definitely enjoy.
Whisper Me a Love Song
Japanese Title: Sasayaku You ni Koi o Utau
Studio: Cloud Hearts, Yokohama Animation Laboratory
Episodes: 10
IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
On the first day of high school, Himari Kino watches her senior Yori Asanagi singing at the welcome party for new students. Yori misunderstands Himari’s admiration of her singing as a love confession. Soon, she finds herself falling for the younger girl and promises to win her affection for real.
Whisper Me a Love Song is a simple lesbian love story that is a joy to watch. It is a pleasant anime with pleasant characters and an adorable relationship. Filled with cozy vibes, it is the perfect series to watch if you want something heartwarming without much drama.
Ms. Vampire Who Lives in My Neighborhood
Japanese Title: Tonari no Kyuuketsuki-san
Studio: Studio Gokumi, AXsiZ
Episodes: 12
IMDb Rating: 6.5/10
What’s better than vampires? Lesbian vampires. As the name suggests, Ms. Vampire Who Lives in My Neighborhood is a slice-of-life comedy anime about a human girl who lives with a vampire. Akari Amano is a human who starts living with the vampire Sophie after the latter saves her life.
Spending time together, Akari learns that vampires aren’t as dangerous as stories make them out to be. The lesbian anime, thus, follows the pair’s adventures as they live together and get to know each other better.
Revolutionary Girl Utena
Japanese Title: Shoujo Kakumei Utena
Studio: J. C. Staff
Episodes: 39
IMDb Rating: 8.1/10
Revolutionary Girl Utena is not specifically a yuri anime. It does not fit into any one category but draws from various subgenres to create an avant-garde and surrealist deconstruction of fairy tales and the shoujo genre.
Through the story of the teenager Utena Tenjou who is drawn into a sword dueling tournament to win the hand of Anthy Himemiya or the “Rose Bride”, the anime delivers a piece of art that heavily uses symbolism and allegory to comment on gender, sexuality, and coming-of-age themes.
Revolutionary Girl Utena is a classic anime that beautifully portrays LGBT themes and delves into the relationships between women. It is the perfect option for everyone who wants their lesbian anime to have something more than romance.
My-HiME
Japanese Title: Mai-HiME
Studio: Sunrise
Episodes: 26+26 DVD-only shorts
IMDb Rating: 7.3/10
My-HiME is slightly slow in the beginning but a few episodes in you will find yourself drawn towards this anime. The plot is set in the prestigious Fuuka Academy and revolves around the lives of HiMEs-girls with the ability to materialize photons.
Mai Tokiha is an ordinary girl who transfers to Fuuka Academy along with her younger brother Takumi. Soon, she learns that she is one of the twelve girls with a HiME mark. They must use these powers to protect the Earth from monstrous creatures called the Orphans.
However, Mai and her friends slowly find out that the Orphans are not the only enemy they have to fight as they find themselves facing a dark secret about their destiny.
El Cazador de la Bruja
Japanese Title: Eru Kazado
Studio: Bee Train
Episodes: 26
IMDb Rating: 6.8/10
El Cazador de la Bruja begins with a fateful encounter between Ellis, an amnesiac girl with superpowers, and an amazing marksman and bounty hunter Nadie. The two end up traveling together to Mexico in search of the key that will help unlock Ellis’ memories and the truth about her past.
El Cazador de la Bruja is an epic lesbian anime with a great romance that definitely deserves more love. From girls with guns to exciting action sequences to a beautiful dynamic between the main characters- this series has it all.
Happy Sugar Life
Japanese Title: Happi Shuga Raifu
Studio: Ezola
Episodes: 12
IMDb Rating: 6.5/10
Another excellent lesbian anime on our list is Happy Sugar Life. Don’t be turned off by the fact that it’s mostly a horror series otherwise you will miss out on an intriguing yuri series.
The protagonist of Happy Sugar Life is Sato Matsuzaka, a high-schooler who has a phobia of men in everyone’s eyes. She befriends and starts living with the mysterious Shio Kobe who she is in love with and wants to protect at all costs. Thus begins the tale of these young girls as the secrets are slowly revealed.
Kiniro Mosaic
Japanese Title: Kin’iro Mozaiku
Studio: Studio Gokumi
Episodes: 12
IMDb Rating: 6.8/10
Kiniro Mosaic is a lesbian anime adapted from a manga of the same name. It is a heartwarming series focusing on the lives of five lesbian friends. Shinobu Omiya became friends with Alice Cartelet during her stay in England. Five years later, Alice comes to Japan and joins Shinobu’s school.
Their old feelings are reignited when they meet again as the anime explores their developing relationship. Kiniro Mosaic follows this group of friends as they come to terms with their feelings and learn some life-changing lessons.
