25 LGBTQ+ anime worth binging—and where to watch them

Yuri!!! On Ice

Set in the world of figure skating this series sees a young gay skater returning home after a painful loss at the Grand Prix Final only to see his life take a surprising and romantic turn when he begins being mentored by Victor Nikiforov who is a famed coach. In the process he rediscovers his passion for the sport — and for Victor himself.

The Stranger by the Shore

Seeking a sweet, straight up gay romance? Then The Stranger by the Shore is the anime you are looking for. This film focuses on a gay man named Shun who meets a lonely high school student named Mio. The two frequently meet by the shore where they strike up a friendship. Mio suddenly leaves the island where they live only to return a few years later, now an adult and eager to strike up a romance with Shun. But in order for that to happen Shun has to face his own personal struggles.

Stream on Crunchyroll

Given

If you're looking for an anime that's both a TV show and a subsequent movie, check out Given. In it, Ritsuka Uenoyama is ready to give up on music until he encounters Satou Mafuyu, who winds up giving him lessons. The show sets up their relationship, and the movie expands on the complicated emotions after the two form a band and work up to their main show.

Watch the show on Crunchyroll and catch the movie on MyAnime List

Princess Jellyfish (Kuragehime)

Those who are into josei anime should look no further than Princess Jellyfish, wherein the androgynous and cross-dressing Kuranosuke helps Tsukimi save a jellyfish in the pet store. As their relationship advances, Tsukimi helps bring the extroverted Kuranosuke into a place of deep self-reflection.

Stream on Crunchyroll

Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury

In this action packed sci-fi anime the lead character is a transfer student from Mercury who is legally betrothed to the shows other lead character, who just so happens to also be female. While they never come out officially declare their sexuality, they have no problem whatsoever being in a same sex relationship, because its the future and queerness in NBD.

Stream on Crunchyroll

Tomo-Chan is a Girl

This romantic comedy explores gender identity and gender norms in hetero-normative relationships and whether that even matters — surprise, it does not! It's a story about embracing your truth, refusing to conform, and still being lovable exactly for who you are.

Stream on Crunchyroll

Neon Genesis Evangelion

Neon Genesis Evangelion follows a group of teenagers who must work with a shadowy organization, NERV, to pilot bio-machines called Evangelions and fight monstrous beings called Angels to save a future Tokyo. The series centers on teenage boy, Shinji, as he fights Angels, copes with a seriously messed up father-son relationship, has one existential crisis after another, and explores his sexuality with Kaworu Nagisa. Though Kaworu only appears in two episodes, his relationship with Shinji made a huge impact on fans.

Stream on Netflix

Ranma 1/2 (Ranma 1/2 Nettou Hen)

Ranma 1/2 is a great show for anyone who wants to learn a little something about gender fluidity. The main character is a boy named Ranma Saotome, who has an accident during training that causes him to turn into a girl when exposed to cold water, then returns to being a boy when exposed to hot.

Stream on Peacock

Bloom Into You (Yagate Kimi Ni Naru)

Bloom Into You follows a high-schooler named Yuu who comes to terms with the feelings she has for her classmate Touko, who lights her fancy much more than any man who tries. This touching coming-of-age lesbian romance is an easy binge.

Stream on Prime Video

Sailor Moon

If you watched the censored English dubbed version of Sailor Moon as a child, you may have missed the lesbian relationship between Sailor Uranus (Haruka Tenou) and Sailor Neptune (Michiru Kaioh). They were definitely not cousins. Also, pretty much every Sailor Scout has a crush on Haruka at some point.

Stream on Hulu

Hourou Musuko (Wandering Son)

Hourou Musuko depicts a student named Shuichi Nitori, described as "a boy who wants to be a girl," and Yoshino Takatsuki, described as "a girl who wants to be a boy." The series deals with both characters coming to terms with their gender identity at the beginning of puberty.

Stream on VRV

Ouran High School Host Club

Ouran High School Host Club focuses on Haruhi Fujioka, a high school freshman attending the prestigious school on scholarship. Haruhi discovers the Ouran Host Club, in which handsome boys play romantic hosts to girls of the school. The boys of the host club think she’s a boy at first, but her ID says female. Haruhi is happiest in neutral clothing, joins the host club, and entertains girls. There are several other characters in the show who are LGBTQ+, including Haruhi’s father, a bisexual drag queen who prefers to be called Ranka.

Stream on Netflix