50 best Shounen Ai, Yaoi, Boys Love Gay Anime

Hi guys, how are you? In this article, we’ll talk about Yaoi Anime, Shounen Ai or BL (Boy Love) that is so successful among the girls known as fujoshi. For those who are unaware of the genres, Yaoi are anime that show the love between 2 men in a light or heavy way. 

Anyway, without further ado, let's go to the list, and if you are asking if I watched the anime on that list, some yes and others were indications of people. As a boy I don't like this genre, but honestly there are characters with much more attitude in yaoi Anime than the protagonists of harem Anime and ecchi.

The anime world is an interesting place to navigate and it would be much better if there were more characters like these in the genres we will be presenting. Before the list we will leave a summary:

What is the difference between yaoi, shounen ai and BL?

The anime in this article are classified as Shounen-ai, Boys Love or BL in Japan. It is a genre written mainly by women, for women, which depicts homosexual relationships between men.

In practice, shounen-ai anime is lighter than yaoi which can even be a hentai. Only people usually use yaoi to refer to any anime with BL (Boy Love) love between boys, which are the anime in this article. We will not list any anime with inappropriate content in this article.

In Japan it usually uses a single category for all anime, whether they have sex or not. We will use the western form, where shounen-ai for light anime and yaoi for heavy anime, with ecchi Or until hentai.

I always wonder why girls like these anime with homosexual characters so much, in a way so different from men who watch the genre Yuri. Then I remembered that Kevin answered that question in the article Why do women like Yaoi? Unraveling the fujoshi. 

Crossdress anime characters

Maybe you are looking for anime characters who dress like a woman, they are called Femboy or Trap. These young people who practice crossdress are not always homosexuals.

Boku at the peak - The Yaoi that everyone knows

This is that famous anime that friends recommend to watch as a prank, but that actually made a big hit among anime of the genre yaoi, shounen ai and BL. Remembering that this anime is really a Yaoi that fits into the Hentai genre.

Pico is an optimistic and extremely effeminate BOY who works at his grandfather’s café, Café Bebe, during the summer. Tamotsu is a white-collar worker looking for an escape from the routine and inherence of his everyday life. 

When they meet at the cafe, sparks of love and lust quickly join the two. Conventional notions of age, gender and sexuality are broken when the couple seeks carnal gratification in each other’s company.

My opinion about Boku no Pico

For starters, this one, because of its plot, characters and other things, became a reason for a joke for men, in the homo phobic sense and that generated several bad jokes. But it also served to increase his fame which, for better or worse, led a good number of people to watch and kill curiosity, I confess that I am one of those people.

Its opening, or opening in English, is widely used to “play” with people in the sense of making jokes. An extremely effeminate boy, working at a cafe that belongs to his grandfather. Just with this description it is enough to realize that it would not be a normal and ordinary anime.

And we have to focus on the “extremely effeminate” as this is not a type of exaggeration. Immoral? I don’t know if it comes to that, but it comes very close, that is just in my opinion. Well, there had to be a good reason for this anime to become a joke, in a genre that is full of things like that, only not as "blatantly" as this one. My grade is 7! 

Sekaiichi Hatsukoi - Yaoi Anime

Ritsu is a literary editor who wants to establish himself in the market without his father’s influence and to achieve this, he is transferred to another publisher. At this publisher he finds himself working as a novice manga editor instead of an editor. There, Ritsu is introduced to the infamous editor-in-chief Masamune Takano, a persistent man who always seeks results.

The plot begins to unfold at this point, because in reality, Takano is the love of high school de Ritsu Now, with the two reunited after several years of separation, the restoration of their relationship is marked by Takano’s promise to make Ritsu say that she loves him again.

My opinion about Sekaiichi Hatsukoi

This yaoi anime also follows three other couples who are intertwined within the manga industry, with each being subject to the emergence of first love. However, there is little focus. As you can see, this one is mainly focused on the story that first love is the best.

I even agree, but there is also the story of summer novels that are fleeting, and especially the teen novels that often fail and only leave us depressed and make us suffer when they are over. I prefer a stronger and more lasting love that often requires maturity, but I liked this anime. It is always good to see that not all loves are lost forever. My grade is 8!

Romantic Junjou

Misaki Takahashi is a high school student who is preparing for the university entrance exams. In order to reduce the stress of studying, he accepts the help of his best friend older brother and famous author, Akihiko Usami. However, he discovers that Usami’s books are of a very ordinary genre, and that there may be something ordinary appearing within him as well.

In addition to this, the anime follows the story of two other couples loosely linked to the previous one. One of which is the very passionate, but often complicated, relationship between university professor Hiroki Kamijou and pediatrician Nowaki Kusama.

The third story shows how love can become obsessive when the eighteen-year-old wealthy Shinobu Takatsuki finally discovers something he can’t have so easily - literature professor You Miyagi.

My opinion about Junjou Romantica

This is a full plate for people who love love and a little love for distraction. Yes, that thing that is so sweet gets sticky and takes work to get out. All of this in a good way and without any kind of bad intention behind the words.

There is plenty of passion as these three couples try to achieve their goals in life while also falling into temptation and anguish with their partners. Sharing experiences, feelings, sensations and other things that make the plot hotter and more interesting.

Things like that and that are just not better because they are among men. Unfortunately, anime authors fail to make or are afraid to make a story with such protagonists in genres such as fantasy and drama. I can’t understand why this is happening, there is no logic in them making such “cowardly” protagonists, since they have a harem just for him. My grade for this yaoi anime is 8! 

Koisuru boukun

Tetsuhiro Morinaga is in love with his veteran Souichi Tatsumi. He even managed to confess his love. The problem is that Tatsumi is an aggressive, self-centered and outspoken homophobe.

However, somehow Tetsuhiro managed to fall in love with Tatsumi, who is the type of man who declares that all gay men should be wiped off the face of the planet. But an unhappy or happy accident with an aphrodisiac drug brings the two men together physically against Souichi’s will, and this experience has a transforming effect on both.

My opinion about Koisuru Boukun

With a synopsis like this, it is difficult to say that it does not give a great curiosity to watch this anime. No matter that it is a homosexual relationship, an intrigue of this type will always arouse interest in people.

After all, it is not every day that we see a yaoi anime where two characters with extremely different concepts are united by a work of destiny. And to complete it is not of free will of both parties, because one of them would not accept this fact if it were in its full conscience.

And it becomes even more interesting to think about what will happen after this, and I would venture to say that this is a case where palliative measures will not help, only extreme measures will resolve that issue. My grade for this is 7! 

Loveless - A shounen-ai with nekos 

In this universe, people are born with cat ears and a tail, which disappear when they engage in sexual intercourse. For this reason these extras are symbols of innocence and purity. In addition, combats are carried out only in “fighting pairs” or couples. In these, one is known as the sacrifice and I take the damage, and the other is the fighter who, as the name says, is the one who attacks.

Ritsuka Aoyagi is a 12-year-old boy, who for some unknown reason suffers from amnesia. His brother was recently killed, and as if his life was not bad enough, on his first day at the new school he was close to a stranger named Agatsuma sabbi, who claims to have met his brother. Ritsuka thinks that Agatsuma and his brother were a fighting couple.

Together they try to find the truth behind the death of their brother and the organization known as "the seven moons", which may be responsible for this. In the meantime, it seems that these two are becoming closer than they should be.

My opinion about Loveless

I don’t have much to comment on, as this is very similar to other genders that do not necessarily have these homosexual relationships. For it is a novel that has few particularities and has almost the same elements of an anime as taboo tattoo.

My grade for this yaoi anime is 7.

Gravitation - A yaoi about music 

The protagonist, Shuichi, always dreamed of following in the footsteps of his pop idol, ryuichi Sakuma and the band Nittle Grasper. Together with his best friend Hiro, Shuichi formed a band called Bad Luck and they managed to sign with a major label.

Unfortunately, the studio deadlines are approaching the end and Shuichi has not yet finished the lyrics to any of the songs. Being stressed and uninspired, Hiro advises him to get a girlfriend.

Walking through the park late at night, Shuichi’s latest creations fly by and arrive at the feet of a stranger. Unfortunately, this mysterious stranger is the famous novelist Eiri Yuki, who completely crushes the young singer, saying that he has "zero talent". Shuichi is so upset that he managed to finish his song only to find and confront Yuki once again.

My opinion about Gravitation

That typical anime that someone is humiliated by someone else and decides to do everything to be recognized. I don’t see many anime with this question, perhaps because it is difficult to work in a way that does not leave the plot boring and predictable. For we already know that hating and loving are the two sides of the same coin, and giving a flawed plot and without depth the anime gets boring.

Yes, it’s a cliché, but this is not the kind of cliché that is malleable and that looks good anyway. This is one of the anime that I was told, but I have not heard criticism about it, but I think I cannot generalize and make statements without watching.

Supers lovers

Upon hearing the news that his mother was on the verge of death, Haru Kaidou, who is the eldest son of the family, flies to Canada. The moment he arrives, he discovers that not only has his mother cheated on him, but he must also look after his foster brother, Ren Kaidou, an antisocial boy who feels more comfortable with dogs than with people.

Haru initially finds it difficult to reach Ren, but their relationship eventually develops. He makes a promise to Ren: they will live together in Japan after Haru graduates from high school.

However, due to an unfortunate accident, Haru loses all the memories of the summer they spent together, including the promise he made. Five years later, hoping that Haru will keep his promise, Ren arrives in Tokyo; but for Haru, Ren is just a random boy who claims to be his brother.

My opinion about Supers Lovers

I found this interesting because it is a typical anime cliché and here it was applied evenly because they are both men. The parental relationship cliché is global and doesn’t choose genders, that’s what I ended up discovering.

I have to admit that I will never see this cliché the same way again. Before I thought that heterosexual relationships would only happen, but after this anime and the citrus anime, I was much more open to new experiences. It is funny, but as the saying goes, it is not only bread that man lives. Here is the reference for the smart guys on duty. My grade is 7! 

Uragiri wa boku no namae wo shitteiru

Growing up as an orphan, Yuki Sakurai questions his reason for living and his ability to see a person’s painful memory by simply touching them. After receiving anonymous notes telling him to die, Yuki is unable to get rid of the uncomfortable feeling that forms inside him. Without his knowledge, he is being watched, both by people who want to harm him and those who want to protect him.

One foggy night, Yuki’s life is saved by a man with silver eyes and black hair, a man he has never met before but seems familiar to him. With the arrival of this mysterious stranger, Yuki’s forgotten past was awakened and the purpose of his existence appeared before him.

My opinion about Uragiri wa boku

This is another one that I don’t have much to comment on either because I didn’t watch it or because it’s a widespread cliché that rarely brings us any surprises. But it may be interesting, we will only know how to watch and that is why I am recommending it.

And I am also pointing out that it is very popular and has great reviews from people about it. Who knows if he’s not as good as Angel beats (which I think is unlikely, due to the fact that Angel beats is the number 1 anime in my opinion).

Hitorijime my hero

Masahiro Setagawa is a hopeless teenager who is often used by neighborhood bullies as an errand boy. However, his life changes dramatically when he meets Kousuke Ooshiba, a man known as the "Bear Killer", who takes down neighborhood gangs.

A year later, Masahiro and his former friend Kensuke Ooshiba attend high school, only to find out that Kousuke is their math teacher. As the three grow closer, Masahiro begins to see Kousuke as his "hero", and Kousuke develops an urgent desire to protect Masahiro.

However, their normal lives change when Kensuke's childhood friend Asaya Hasekura returns, seeing Kensuke as more than just a friend, much to her surprise.

My opinion about Hitorijime my hero

Just by the synopsis you can see that a very troubled love triangle will roll. Jealousy, intrigue, occasional fights all this always happens when you have this type of relationship. I can say that it is not the type of cliché that most gives popularity to a work, but it is certainly always interesting to see how the characters develop the relationship, always trying to get along better than the other competing parts.

I haven't watched this anime yet, but I don't think it will take me long to do this. However, until then I cannot evaluate it better than I did now. And like the previous ones, this one has great reviews and has a good plot and a great studio.

Ling QI - A Chinese yaoi BL

Yang Jinghua, one of the protagonists, had an accident and by the time he woke up, he looked 10 years younger. Yang Jinghua thought he was reborn and when he was about to walk on the way to a new beginning, a guy from White hair, rich and handsome named Duanmu Xi, appeared right in front of him.

Not only did he tell Yang Jinghua that Yang Jinghua was already dead, he also asked for an invitation: "Young man, do you want to sign a contract with me and stay with me for the rest of your life?"

My opinion about Ling Qi

This question was quite contradictory, after all he was already dead and dead has no life. But in order not to play the part of someone against who is always finding defects in things, I will reveal and imagine that this "life" is life after death. I advise you to do the same. And yes, this is another one that I haven't seen yet.

As you can see from the names of the characters this is chinese anime, but that's not to say the animation or plot is bad. I mean, I can't say anything, but I won't make the mistake of judging a book by its cover like I did with the great anime King's Avatar. What I can say for sure is that the dubbing will bother you a lot those who are not used to it, at least in the beginning. And this one will also be unmarked for now.

List of Manga Yaoi, Shonen Ai and BL

Before moving on to the last list, we will display a complete list of manga available on Amazon Brazil, in case you are interested in consuming the original material.

Other Shounen Ai, Yaoi, Boys Love Gay Anime

I don't think there were as many as I planned because I don't have much experience with the yaoi genre. But I tried to get only the best, and I think I did it. This is especially for women and also for those who like to always try something new.

Now let's share anime lists, starting with a list of the most popular anime in the genre. Then we will share a list of recent anime and divided genres in order to better organize the list of yaoi anime.

I thank you, my dear reader, for reading this article! Thanks in advance for everyone's shares and comments! We go to the short list, and then we go with the others.

• Love Stage;
• Doukyuusei;
• Togainu no Chi;
• Hitorijime My Hero;
• Monochrome Factor;
• Gakuen Heaven;
• Hybrid Child;
• Suki na Mono wa Suki Dakara Shou ga Nai !!
• Light-rope; Vassalord;
• Gakuen Handsome;
• Honoo no Mirage;
• Kono Danshi, Sekika ni Nayandemasu;
• Fake;
• Mo Dao Zu Shi;
• Koisuru Shirokuma;
• Robotics * Robotics;
• Marginal Prince;

Yaoi Gay Anime Characters

Below we will leave a list with the 30 gay characters from the most popular anime:

1. Bob - Fairy Tail;
2. Wolfram Von Bielefeld - Kyo Kara Maoh !;
3. Toshimitsu Kubo - Baka And Test - Summon The Beasts;
4. Pri-pri-prisoner - One-punch Man;
5. Garterbelt - Panty & Stocking In Sanitary Box;
6. Lan Wangji - Mo Dao Zu Shi;
7. Otohiko - Kamisama Kiss;
8. Ren Kaidou - Super Lovers;
9. Hikaru Kusakabe - Doukyuusei;
10. Takato Saijyo - Dakaichi -i'm Being Harassed By The Sexiest Man Of The Year-;
11. Riku Kurose - Lovers;
12. Junta Azumaya - Dakaichi -i'm Being Harassed By The Sexiest Man Of The Year-;
13. Rihito Sajou - Doukyuusei;
14. Tetsuhiro Morinaga - Koi Suru Boukun;
15. Tadaomi Shirotani - Lovers;
16. Sora Hashiba - Sukisho;
17. Sunao Fujimori - Sukisho;
18. Hasuta - Haiyore! Nyaruko-san;
19. Mayotama - I Can't Understand What My Husband Is Saying;
20. Alberto Valentino - Ikoku Irokoi Romantan;
21. Ugetsu Murata - Given;
22. Yuki Yoshida - Given;
23. Kazutaka Muraki - Descendants Of Darkness;
24. Isaac - Castlevania Season;
25. Yuuzou Kokusai - Lovers;
26. Juuzou Sakakura - Danganronpa: Monokuma Gekijou;
27. Masumi Okuyama - Nodame Cantabile;
28. Kuroda - Hybrid Child;
29. Naoki Satoya - Tight-rope;
30. Aeon Clock - Air Gear;
31. Yusuke Ono - Antique Bakery;

Yaoi Boys Love Gay Anime and Shounen-Ai 2020, 2019 and 2018

Below we have a short list of the most recent yaoi anime released in the years 2018, 2019 or 2020. We will list them in order from the best to the worst following the EVIL notes and other anime databases like Anime-Planet.

Responsive Table: Roll the table sideways with your finger >>

Anime	Type	Year	Genre
Given	TV	2019	Shounen-ai
DAKAICHI -I’m being harassed by the sexiest man of the year-	TV	2018	Yaoi
Sekai-ichi Hatsukoi: World’s Greatest First Love – Proposal-hen	Movie	2020	Shounen-ai
Spiritpact: Bond of The Underworld	TV	2018	Shounen-ai
Jie Yao	Web	2020	Shounen-ai
Hora, Mimi ga Mieteru yo! 2	Web	2019	Shounen-ai
Saezuru Tori wa Habatakanai: The Clouds Gather	Movie	2020	Yaoi
Hora, Mimi ga Mieteru yo!	TV	2018	Shounen-ai
Caramel Honey	Other	2018	Shounen-ai
Yarichin Bitch-bu	OVA	2018	Yaoi
Hikari: Be My Light	Web	2020	Shounen-ai
The Titan’s Bride	TV	2020	Yaoi
Love Love Campus	Web	2018	Shounen-ai
Papa Datte, Shitai	TV	2019	Yaoi
Someone Else’s BL Cartoon	Web	2018	Shounen-ai
Someone Else’s BL Cartoon Prologue	Web	2018	Shounen-ai
Taishou Mebiusline: Chicchai-san – You and I	Special	2018	Shounen-ai
Marudase Kintarou	Movie	2020	Yaoi
Umibe no Étranger	Movie	2020	Yaoi
Ten Count	TV	2020	Yaoi
Yes ka No ka Hanbun ka	Movie	2020	Shounen-ai
Given Filme	Movie	2020	Shounen-ai
Tian Bao Fuyao Lu	Web	2020	Shounen-ai
Manly Appetites: Minegishi Loves Otsu	Web	2020	Shounen-ai

Complete List of Yaoi Anime

In the West, the term Shounen-ai categorizes stories that focus on the emotional aspects of relationships, while Yaoi categorizes more sexual aspects, as or without explicit content. The list of Yaoi anime below fits the genus ecchi.

Below we will share Yaoi who are considered Hentai and have a focus on sexual relations:

• Boku no Pico
• Boku no Sexual Harassment
• Enzai
• Ginga Teikoku no Metsubou Gaiden: Aoki Ookami-tachi no Densetsu
• Keiraku no Houteishiki Level-C
• Natsuyasumi;
• Otokonoko ♂ Delivery
• Pico to Chico
• Pico x CoCo x Chico
• Sensitive Pornograph
• Shounen Maid Kuuro-kun: Tenshi no Uta

Below is a list of Yaoi anime that are not explicit or do not fit into the Hentai genre:

Responsive Table: Roll the table sideways with your finger >>

Nome do Anime Yaoi	Year
Hyperventilation	2017
DAKAICHI -I’m being harassed by the sexiest man of the year-	2018
Saezuru Tori wa Habatakanai: The Clouds Gather	2020
Koi Suru Boukun	2010
Yarichin Bitch-bu	2018
Seitokaichou ni Chuukoku	2009
Fuyu no Semi	2007
Ikoku Irokoi Romantan	2007
Maiden Rose Especials	2009
Ai no Kusabi	1992
Ai no Kusabi: The Space Between	2012
Haru wo Daiteita	2005
Maiden Rose	2009
Fake	1998
No Money	2007
The Titan’s Bride	2020
Papa to Kiss in the Dark	2005
No Money Especials	2007
Kizuna	1994
Papa Datte, Shitai	2019
Yebisu Celebrities	2010
DRAMAtical Murder: Data_xx_Transitory	2014
Kachou no Koi	2010
Level-C	1995
Saezuru Tori wa Habatakanai
Marudase Kintarou	2020
Umibe no Étranger	2020
Ten Count	2020
6 Lovers	-

Complete list of anime BL Shounen-Ai

Responsive Table: Roll the table sideways with your finger >>

Nome do Anime Shounen-Ai	Year
Given	2019
Doukyuusei	2016
Sekai-ichi Hatsukoi: World’s Greatest First Love 2	2011
Sekai-ichi Hatsukoi: Yokozawa Takafumi no Baai	2014
Sekai-ichi Hatsukoi (series)	2014
Junjou Romantica 1,2,3	2008
Hybrid Child	2014
Hitorijime My Hero	2017
Hyperventilation	2017
Super Lovers 2	2017
Love Stage!!	2014
Super Lovers OVA	2017
Spiritpact: Bond of The Underworld	2018
Sekai-ichi Hatsukoi: World’s Greatest First Love – Proposal-hen	2020
Love Stage!! OVA	2014
Jie Yao	2020
No. 6	2011
Hora, Mimi ga Mieteru yo! 2	2019
Super Lovers	2016
Junjou Romantica Especial	2008
This Boy Caught a Merman	2012
Hora, Mimi ga Mieteru yo!	2018
Caramel Honey	2018
The Betrayal Knows My Name	2010
Hikari: Be My Light	2020
Tight-rope	2012
This Boy is a Professional Wizard	2016
Ikoku Irokoi Romantan	2007
Mirage of Blaze: Rebels of the River Edge	2004
Antique Bakery	2008
Gravitation	2000
Monochrome Factor	2008
Gravitation: Lyrics of Love	1999
Loveless	2005
Sukisho OVA	2005
Sex Pistols	2010
Kirepapa	2008
This Boy Suffers from Crystallization	2014
Sukisho	2005
Spiritpact	2017
Gakuen Heaven	2006
Vassalord.	2013
Patalliro!	1982
Gakuen Handsome The Animation	2015
Kizuna: Much Ado About Nothing	2001
Close the Last Door!	2007
Mirage of Blaze	2002
Fake	1998
Loveless Especials	2005
Zetsuai 1989	1992
Song of Wind and Trees	1987
Bronze: Zetsuai Since 1989	1996
Love Love Campus	2018
Gakuen Handsome Especial	2016
Earthian	1989
DRAMAtical Murder	2014
Kizuna	1994
Seikimatsu Darling	1996
Patalliro! Stardust Keikaku	1983
Kusatta Kyoushi No Houteishiki	1993
Gakuen Handsome	2016
Lesson XX	1995
Kasho no Tsuki	1998
Level-C	1995
Someone Else’s BL Cartoon	2018
Nakedyouth	2006
Marginal Prince	2006
Someone Else’s BL Cartoon Prologue	2018
Angel’s Feather	2006
Fujimi Orchestra	1997
Boku wa Kono Mama Kaeranai	1994
Graduation M	1999
Be-Boy Kidnapp’n Idol	1989
Ryokunohara Labyrinth	1990
Mirage of Blaze Recap	2002
Houkago no Shokuinshitsu	1994
Fish in the Trap	1994
Taishou Mebiusline: Chicchai-san	2017
Marginal Prince: Tokyo Merry-Go-Round	2007
Manly Appetites: Minegishi Loves Otsu	2020
Tian Bao Fuyao Lu	2020
Yes ka No ka Hanbun ka	2020
Given FIlme	2020

We also have a version of this article from Yaoi Boys Love Gay Anime in English.