From fantastic gay movies like Doukyuusei to manga like The Bride Was A Boy, Japan is no stranger to amazing queer representation in media and stories. This extends to anime series as well with shows like Yuri on Ice and Ouran Host Club being extremely popular among fans.
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During Pride or any other time of the year, it can be meaningful to connect with queer characters and stories for those in the LGBTQ+ community. While there are many shows out there that qualify, some stand out above the rest for their impressive representation of gender and sexual minorities.
10 Paradise Kiss
Paradise Kiss features several openly queer characters ranging from the openly bisexual George to Isabella who is transgender. This show dives deep into themes of self-discovery and transformation of appearances through fashion and has some of the most believable characters in all of anime.
Paradise Kiss doesn't pull punches on the drama either allowing audiences to experience some intensely emotional moments.
9 Stars Align (Hoshiai No Sora)
Stars Align is about far more than just another sports anime. It tackles some of the harder parts of growing up in middle school and figuring out one's identity with tennis as a backdrop. One character directly discusses being nonbinary while another discusses transgender experiences in that same episode.
Anime fans looking for a sports anime with fantastic representation need to look no further — Stars Align is a perfect choice.
8 Patalliro! & Princess Knight - Queer Anime Classics
The earliest Shonen Ai to ever appear on Japanese television, Patalliro! paved the way for many shows with gay characters that came after. It's hard to define this series as one about espionage or slapstick because of how seamlessly comedy and drama are intertwined. It may have been released back in the 80s but it's still an incredible anime to this day.
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Those wanting to go back to something even older might also enjoy Princess Knight. Known as Ribbon no Kishi in Japan, this anime is based on a manga produced in the 50s and featured a girl "born with the blue heart of a boy and the pink heart of a girl." Yes, the transgender vibes are real in that story.
7 Wandering Son (Hourou Musuko)
Wandering Son is the best anime in terms of transgender representation in existence. Shuuichi and Yoshino's adventures discovering their identity will hit home with many viewers as one is trans-masculine and the other trans-feminine. The struggles of entering puberty, approaching romance, and more all are shown in a gorgeous watercolor art style that viewers are sure to love.
6 Beryl And Sapphire (Xiao Lu He Xiao Lan)
Beryl and Sapphire proves Chinese anime has just as much to offer queer viewers as shows out of Japan. This series is an ONA, an original net animation, with episodes only eight minutes long.
These short snippets allow the show to show the two actors in various movies they play in while still presenting an amazing overarching story. With multiple overlapping stories crossing various genres, the presentation of Beryl and Sapphire is like nothing else out there.
5 Ranma ½ (Ranma ½ Nettou Hen)
Many queer anime fans have pointed to Ranma ½ as a story that taught them about genderfluidity and it's easy to see why. Being able to transform between a man and a woman at will would be an attractive possibility to many people.
While the show does have its rougher moments due to how long ago it was produced, it's hard to deny just how many people learned a lot about themselves from watching Ranma ½. Ranma even canonically eventually accepts their "curse" saying it may not have been a curse at all and the girl side of him was always a part of him.
4 Given & Given Movie
Given features fantastic moments of gay romance while exploring the character's worries, struggles, and everyday lives while forming a band. The romance between Satou and Uenoyama is just gay icing on top of the cake of this dramatic music anime.
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There is also a movie about the series that focuses on Nakayama and Kaji — the bassist and drummer of the band. Fans that enjoyed the original show are likely to find this movie an excellent supplement that extends the story.
3 Flip Flappers
While not as overt as some other shows, Flip Flappers certainly has queer themes fans have picked up on. Cocona and Papika's budding relationship feels like something deeper than just friendship as they have to go so far as to synchronize their feelings to use their powers.
The queer vibes of this show are especially apparent in episode 7, "Pure Component." Papika ends up changing between multiple personalities, including being a boy at times, and Cocona still cares about them deeply no matter their presentation. It's the kind of acceptance any LGBT+ person longs for in their relationships.
2 Princess Jellyfish (Kuragehime)
Princess Jellyfish is a fascinating josei anime that follows what happens when the cross-dressing androgynous Kuranosuke meets Tsukimi and helps her save a jellyfish in a pet store. Tsukimi lives in Amamizukan, an older building filled with introverted women that would rather focus on their special interests than interact with the outside world.
Bringing an extrovert like Kuranosuke home makes not only some silly antics ensue but provides moments for deep self-reflection amongst the characters. Studies have shown that non-neurotypical people are more likely to be queer as they are less influenced by social norms making this show hit on a whole new level for many viewers.
1 Bloom Into You (Yagate Kimi Ni Naru)
What happens when a girl who adores romance stories and love songs finally has a boy confess his love, only to feel nothing? Bloom Into You focuses on a high-schooler named Yuu coming to terms with the fact that she might have more feelings for her classmate Touko than any man could muster. It's a fantastic coming-of-age lesbian romance sure to stir the hearts of viewers.