Anime gay couples

Vote for your favorite LGBTQ anime relationships. LGBTQ+ relationships in anime either come across as tender or facetious. Non-binary anime characters, when they show up at all, often never experience requited love. There were some anime couples out there that represented us is different ways and had the romances that we really wanted. In honor of Sailor Moon Crystal getting green-lit for a fourth season, let’s go back to the sweet, terrifying, and heartbreaking LGBT couples from anime’s past.

These couples are a big step in the right direction, each slowly but surely helping to normalize LGBTQ+ romance in anime and breaking away from the problematic tropes of the past. Over the years, many anime have produced many LGBTQ+ couples that fans have celebrated and enjoyed. Although some couples come out only at the end of their series, others last the entire series.

Anime genres like shounen, seinen, and shojo are often associated with action or romance, but even dedicated anime fans may not immediately connect them with LGBT pairings or couples. Boys Love anime, often simply referred to as BL, is a unique romance genre that focuses solely on relationships between male characters. The genre is niche, catering to a very specific audience in most cases.

Featuring nuanced characters and unique relationship dynamics, BL romances have come a long way over the years and many couples have become iconic within the genre. Gravitation is one of the old-school pioneers of the BL genre. Likewise, the relationship between protagonist Shuichi Shindo and Eiri Yuki is one of the first major BL romances and helped popularize future titles.

Their whirlwind love story begins after Eiri harshly criticizes Shuichi's song lyrics, leading him to demand an explanation for his rudeness. However, it doesn't take long for the two to feel the chemistry between each other, and soon they begin a rocky on-and-off relationship. In recent years, fans have denounced this controversial couple for the problematic nature of their relationship.

But even though they've become a poorly aged couple, it's hard to deny the influence Shuich and Eiri's romance has had on the genre. The two come from completely different worlds, but Ash and Eiji immediately connect after they meet and form a close bond. Though Eiji has lived a simple and carefree life up until this point, he soon finds himself wrapped up in Ash's terrifying world of crime and violence.

But despite these high stakes, he refuses to leave him, and the two become an unstoppable pair. Love Stage!!

However, due to Izumi's feminine appearance, Ryouma had mistaken him for a girl all this time. When he realizes the truth, Ryouma's feelings only seem to get stronger, and he has to come to terms with them and what they mean for the both of them. Their wholesome romance is praised by fans as one of the best BL couples out there.

Shion grew up an elite citizen of one of the six peaceful city-states. Meanwhile, Nezumi lived his whole life in the desolate wastelands, barely scraping by. But though these two couldn't be more different, when they meet one fateful night and there's an instant connection between them.

anime bl couple profile

Through Nezumi, Shion learns the truth of the harsh world they live in and denies his privileged upbringing. Together, the boys struggle to survive, but even in this bleak situation, they still manage to find love. However, due to the ways of their world, Shion and Nezumi soon find that their love may not be able to flourish, but they risk it all anyway.

Doukyusei -Classmates- is a simple yet wholesome love story between two high school boys who, at first glance, have nothing in common. But after a chance encounter, Hikaru discovers a new side to Rihito and offers to help him prepare for the upcoming music event. From here, the boys slowly learn they may not be as different as they first thought.

In a genre full of drama and questionable relationships, the innocent and pure love between Hikaru and Rihito is a definite breath of fresh air. The two relate on a deeper level than most couples, and their compatibility feels completely natural. Iwatobi Swim Club may not be a full-fledged BL series, but most fans still count it as part of the genre due to subtext within the series.

That said, protagonist Haruka Nanase and Makoto Tachibana aren't canonically a couple, but there are heavy implications that there may be more than just friendship going on between them. Haru and Makoto are best friends and have been incredibly close their whole lives. Due to their strong bond, they know each other better than anyone else, and they often go to each other for support in tough times.

Though they aren't an official couple, their loving relationship is one of the sweetest in the series, and it's clear why fans love them together.