Some of the best LGBTQ+ stories in anime are found in shojo ai or yuri, also called Girls’ Love. Strictly speaking, yuri refers to series involving explicit girl-on-girl romantic relationships. However, some of these spell it out as a special bond between two female characters without clarifying if it’s only platonic. Like most anime sub-genres, some yuri series stand out among the rest for their quality.

Whether it is due to their relatable characters, their thoughtful reflection on the Japanese LGBTQ+ experience, or their excellent writing, these series are top-notch. Any yuri lover out there shouldn’t miss classic series such as Maria Watches Over Us, Adachi and Shimamura or Bloom Into You. Yuri stories are slowly but surely beginning to get the spotlight, as more beloved yuri manga have become anime adaptations. Popular titles such as The Guy She Was Interested In Wasn’t a Guy At All and This Monster Wants To Eat Me are just two of the highly anticipated GLs to release soon.

Updated on August 5, 2025, by Robbie Robinson: Yuri anime has been around for decades, but it’s finally getting the love it deserves with more adaptations and original stories releasing every single year, and 2025 is looking to be a great year for yuri fans. This list was updated to include more of the best yuri anime and to reflect CBR’s current formatting standards.

40

Riddle Story of Devil Features a Deadly Assassination Game

Available For Purchase on AppleTV

Riddle Story of Devil feels like the guilty pleasure of yuri anime. Twelve assassins with the exact same target transfer to a school with the intention of eliminating Haru Ichinose. While the circumstances surrounding this are revealed throughout the 12 episodes, whoever kills Haru will have a wish granted to them. The odds are certainly against Haru, but one of the assassins is actually deadset on protecting Haru. This is where the yuri comes in.

Tokaku Azuma is the serious, princely-type. She’s a force to be reckoned with and her unwavering loyalty and devotion to Haru is incredibly romantic. The plot feels a tad convoluted at times, but it’s still a very enjoyable and fun watch. There are also some pretty clean action sequences that are entertaining enough. On top of that, in a sea of yuri bait anime, it’s nice to see an actual canon relationship between girls in an action-packed anime. However, the odd plot does land Riddle of Story at the bottom of this list. The relationship between Tokaku and Haru is the best part of the show.

39

Inugami-san to Nekoyama-san Has a Cat Girl Fall For a Dog Girl

Streaming on Crunchyroll

Short and sweet, Inugami-san to Nekoyama-san is a light-hearted and wholesome anime. Adapted from a 4-panel manga, its title describes the plot perfectly. Yachiyo Inugami, with her entirely dog-like name and excitable personality, is a die-hard cat lover. Suzu Nekoyama, small and catlike, loves everything about dogs. Thus, the two classmates end up falling head over heels for each other, drawn to their favorable characteristics.

There’s nothing deep about this anime, but that’s exactly how it’s supposed to be. It’s cute and fluffy, with enough comedy to keep viewers entertained. Nekoyama and Inugami are a match made in heaven, but the anime also excels with its side characters, the friends of Nekoyama and Inugami. This anime is great for anyone seeking a quick yuri fix, as each episode is only about 3 minutes long.

38

Princess Principal Is a Steampunk Anime With a Catchy OP

Streaming Currently N/A

Princess Principal gets style points for its setting in early 20th-century Britain, which leans into all things steampunk. Princess Principal is an anime about classism and espionage. The series focuses on the odd relationship between Ange and Princess Charlotte. Ange is a young but talented spy and a victim of the revolution. Princess Charlotte seems like her polar opposite, but there’s no denying their chemistry. The series does an excellent job of laying the groundwork of foreshadowing for a plot-defining twist later in the anime.

The hype for Princess Principal died not long after the anime finished airing, but it’s still a must-watch for any yuri fan craving something new. The plot isn’t extraordinary, but the show is still entertaining with its fabulous world designs and jazzy OSTs. Ange and Charlotte are apart more than they’re together, but their relationship is at the core of Princess Principal. Their secret histories with one another keep viewers engaged in the mystery of what truly happened when they were children.

37

Fragtime Brings Two Unlikely Classmates Together

Streaming on HIDIVE

At one point or another, almost everyone has wished they could stop time, even if just for a few seconds. Well, Moritani, the introverted school girl, has lucked out with the power to pause time once a day for three minutes. It might not sound like much, but a lot can happen in such a short time. She relishes her special time until she peeps on the popular girl, Murakami, and discovers that Murakami isn’t frozen in time.

Fragtime has some eyebrow-raising moments for sure, but it’s still become a yuri classic. The relationship between Murakami and Moritani is somewhat tumultuous, but ultimately, they learn from one another. The two both learn to be true to themselves and stop living in fear, even when there’s no longer the security blanket of pausing time to fall back on. It’s an interesting concept and works well, even if Fragtime isn’t the best yuri anime.

36

Canaan Is an Exciting Gun-Slinger Anime

Streaming Currently N/A

Girls with guns is a popular anime genre, and for good reason. Before there was Takina protecting Chisato of Lycoris Recoil, there was Canaan protecting Maria. Canaan follows a gritty plot of rivalry and terrorism. Like a fitting damsel in distress, Maria’s life is at stake due to the workings of a terrorist leader named Alphard. Thus, most of the intense moments in the series take place between Canaan and Alphard. They’re evenly matched, and exceptionally skilled combatants.

Canaan is an entirely underrated anime. The action scenes are very well-made, and the show does a great job at setting tension. In terms of yuri, Canaan and Maria make the sweetest couple. Canaan is hardened by her life, but Maria is no stranger to tragedies either. Canaan’s deep care for Maria is enough to make any viewer swoon. They fall into the roles of savior and saved, but the trope doesn’t feel tired because viewers are so engaged in the pair’s relationship.

35

Burst Angel Is an Action-Packed Yuri

Streaming on Crunchyroll

Visually, Burst Angel has a lot of the same vibes as Canaan. A white-haired badass who constantly saves her damsel in distress. But, Burst Angel is dripping with style and, honestly, is an underrated anime from the early 2000s. The anime follows a group of mercenaries who constantly engage in intense shootouts against enemies and genetically engineered humans. The star of the series is Jo, who is the main powerhouse of the mercenaries; her past ultimately becomes a significant part of Burst Angel.

The yuri takes place between Jo and Meg, one of the other mercenaries. Unsurprisingly, the anime downplays the nature of their relationship, whereas in the manga, it’s more explicit that they’re romantically and sexually interested in one another. One thing that early 2000s anime did best was perfecting beautifully tense chemistry between characters, and Burst Angel does exactly that with Meg and Jo. It’s so obvious they’re into each other, and viewers can’t help but kick their feet and squeal when Jo comes to the rescue.

34

There’s No Freaking Way I’ll be Your Lover! Unless… Finally Got an Anime Adaptation

Streaming Currently N/A

One of the long-awaited yuri anime adaptations, There’s No Freaking Way I’ll Be Your Lover! has finally made its debut. Also known as Watanare, it’s essentially a yuri harem anime, but with a strong focus on one particular pairing. Renako, the pink-haired protagonist, is socially inept. Even with her group of friends, she feels like an outsider. But when the beautiful model, Mai, asks her out, Renako has a hard time deciding whether to pursue her as a girlfriend or a best friend.

Watanare has, rightfully, received some criticism before due to Mai’s lack of awareness regarding consent with Renako. However, the anime actually does a good job of showing the repercussions of her actions and how they affect Renako. Aside from Mai’s questionable choices, the cast of characters is likable, with one romantic interest truly standing out above the rest. All in all, Watanare is a break-out in the yuri genre for its harem/polyamorous storyline. And, the animation is quite nice, which is not always the case with yuri anime.

33

Simoun Is a Fantastic LGBTQ+ Sci-Fi Anime

Streaming Currently N/A

Simoun might sound like it has an odd premise, but this anime is legendary among older yuri fans because of its unapologetic display of pure yuri in an exceptional sci-fi world. In this world, everyone is born as a female. When they’re 17, they can then choose their sex. Some girls are chosen to pilot “Simoun” and then use their ships to fight in the raging war. These girls are seen as priestesses and are also the main cast of the series.

Over the years, many new gen yuri fans have forgotten Simoun, but it was a staple series back in the 2000s. The strongest point of the series is its cast of incredibly written characters, each with unique and interesting arcs across its 26 episodes. This yuri war drama also does a great job of executing its ideas about combat and politics. It might be overshadowed by other yuri series these days, but Simoun is still a great watch.

32

Izetta: The Last Witch Is an Underrated Fantasy Series

Streaming on Crunchyroll

Izetta: The Last Witch knows how to make two characters with some of the most heart-pounding chemistry ever seen in anime. This incredible fantasy anime steps away from pure mysticism and integrates its magic system with military tech. Izetta, the last of a long line of witches, puts herself on the frontline of a dangerous war to protect Princess Ortfiné “Finé” Fredericka von Eylstadt. Finé’s long-winded name isn’t just for show either – she’s an incredibly dashing princess character.

This series is innovative with its magic system, as Izetta can manipulate and control any object she touches. In the midst of battle, she often forgoes the standard broomstick and opts for riding ridiculously cool weapons. With a focus on a devastating war and a target on Izetta’s back, fans can expect a tense storyline that relies on the intimate relationship between Izetta and Finé to give viewers moments of tranquility. While a deeply tragic story, Izetta: The Last Witch is a must-watch GL fantasy anime.

31

Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid Is a Reverse Isekai

Streaming on Crunchyroll

Well known to both yuri enjoyers and maid-girl fanatics, Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid is a light-hearted and fun slice-of-life. Kobayashi’s greatest pleasures in life come from getting drunk after a hard day of work. But Kobayashi’s life changes when she encounters a dragon from another world, Tohru. Quickly smitten with Kobayashi, Tohru takes on her human form and giddily becomes Kobayashi’s maid. While the love may feel one-sided at first, Kobayashi soon realizes how much she cherishes Tohru.

Miss Kobayashi is hardly ever serious, but that doesn’t mean it skips out on more poignant moments. While the yuri is exceptionally strong, Miss Kobayashi is a story of found family and appreciating what life has to offer. Despite appearing like a goofy monster-fetish anime from an outsider’s perspective, this anime delivers an engaging story with lovable characters. Surprisingly enough, Miss Kobayashi also houses some of the cleanest animations regarding action scenes. While the action is minimal, Kyoto Animation knows how to flex its skills when the opportunity arises.