Do you know what Yuri anime or Shoujo-Ai anime are? The word yuri [百合] can be literally translated as lily, however, in the world of anime it is a term used to refer to works that tell homosexual romances by women or lesbians.
Anime with Yuri is a term widely searched on the internet, so we decided to select the anime in this category and make a list of the best on our site. Our site will not cover any yuri anime that is hentai, but we will leave a small list at the end in case you are curious.
Table of Content
What's the difference between Yuri and Shoujo-Ai?
Yuri is a genre that describes homosexual relationships between women. Japan typically uses this category to refer to any lesbian anime, with or without sexual content. Anime can be divided into 3 levels.
In the West, the term Shoujo-ai categorizes stories that focus on the emotional aspects of relationships, while Yuri categorizes more the sexual aspects and explicit content. Anime Yuri can be a simple ecchi or even a Hentai.
Despite this distinction between yuri anime and shoujo-ai anime, many end up not taking these differences into account and usually mix anime of both genres as if they were one, just like the Japanese. I will try to avoid that!
A lot of anime on this list is really aimed at lesbians, but some are just fanservice for perverted boys. Unlike yaoi anime , men don't feel emotional taste for opposite homosexual relationships like girls do.
Yuri anime with handles
Ready to see the best Shoujo-ai or Yuri anime? Let's break down the recommendations in this article by sub-genres. The Yuri anime below have a lot of handles, let's briefly summarize each of them.
Sakura Trick. – A cute romance between Haruka and Yui. The anime is basically that, 2 girls making out and comedy. However, this is considered one of the best Yuri anime of all time. (Cover photo)
Strawberry Panic. - The anime tells the story of 3 girls' schools, the main character Aoi Nagisa ends up feeling an attraction to the representative. Anime has it all, romance, drama, comedy, intrigue, etc. Another very popular yuri anime among the public, dominating the top positions in yuri rankings and lists.
Aoi Hana. – It tells the story of 2 childhood friends who are reunited after 10 years, the 2 friends restart their friendship while dealing with the problems of adolescence, until things happen…
Gokujo. – An anime full of comedy, fanservice and yuri innuendo without much seriousness. The anime tells the story of Akabane an arrogant girl who wants to outdo her classmates.
Honorable mention: Oniisama and. – One of the oldest yuri of all time, made by the same author of Astro Boy.
Light Shoujo-Ai Anime (Yuri Light)
The shoujo-ai anime below only have a basic novel, they shouldn't even be called yuri anime, but people generally don't make a distinction:
Yuri Yuri. – A light anime that tells the story of a group of girls who spend their free time drinking tea in a school club that has no purpose.
Maria-sama Ga Miteru. - The anime is set in a Catholic school for girls only. A light anime with romance, drama, and slice of life with a touch of yuri.
Kashimashi: Girl Meets Girl. – It tells the story of a boy in love with a girl, but ends up being rejected. After that he ends up getting involved with aliens and ends up being turned into a girl, but he doesn't give up on his passion.
Sasameki Koto. – In this troubled yuri, Sumika is in love with her friend who is a lesbian. But this friend keeps picking up other girls, without noticing Sumika's feeling.
Candy boy. – The story revolves around two non-identical twin teenagers. They enjoy the days they spend at school together with their friends, one of them is in love with one of the sisters. The story tells the day to day of the girls.
Maria Holic. - Miyamae Kanako, a high school girl who is allergic to boys, enrolls in an all-girls school, hoping to find a female romantic partner. However, the girl she wants to get close to is actually a boy in disguise. An anime with a lot of comedy, references, and school life.
Anime Yuri with Action
Koukaku no Pandora. – An action anime where a wealthy inventor and cybernetic characters team up to fight a threat. Yuri is not the focus of the anime, but he was the second most voted in a Japanese yuri raking.
Kannazuki no Miko. – Everyone idolizes the perfect girl named Himemiya Chikane, until an ancient evil appears and curses the city. The anime shows priestesses, giant robots and fight scenes with fan service.
Yurikuma Arashi. – An asteroid Kumaria exploded in the depths of space, this caused bears to attack humans and eat them. Until 2 friends from a school meet Yuri Flower and many things happen...
Valkyrie Drive. - The anime takes place on five artificial islands, where a mermaid is attacked and a girl saves her, ends up kissing her and turning her into a sword and thus battling enemies.
Simoun. – In Daikuri's world, everyone is born female and chooses which sex they want to be from the age of 17.
Mnemosyne. – Asougi Rin may look like an ordinary secretary on the outside, but she is actually a private detective with several works, from looking for runaway cats to infiltrating high-security corporate labs.
Lesbian Anime Characters
In addition to Shoujo-Ai anime, it is also common to find lesbian characters in anime of another genre. It might be of interest to follow the anime in which they appear. Below we will leave a list of the most popular lesbian characters:
- Suruga Kanbaru - Bakemonogatari;
- Kuroko Shirai - Index and Railgun
- Shion Karanomori - Psycho-Pass;
- Tohru - Kobayashi's Dragon Maid;
- Ymir - Attack on Titan
- Yayoi Kunizuka - Psycho-Pass
- Mao Nonosaka - Mirai Nikki;
- Cthuko - Haiyore! Nyaruko-san;
- Ayano Sugiura - Yuri Yuri;
- Nobara Yukinokouji - Inu x Boku Secret Service;
- Haruka Tenoh - Sailor Moon;
- Chizuru Honshou - Bleach
- Michiru Kaioh - Sailor Moon;
- Valmet - Jormungand
- Shizuma Hanazono - Strawberry Panic;
- Riko Saikawa - Kobayashi's Dragon Maid;
- Kirie Motoba - Himouto! Umaru-chan
- Miku Izayoi - Date A Live
- Otome Saotome - Shimoneta;
- Kaori - Azumanga Daioh;
- Miharu Shimizu - Baka to Test;
- Ikuno - Darling in the FRANXX;
- Chizuru Ikeda - Yuri Yuri
- Sanae Ebato - Kuzo no Honkai;
- Nami Aoi - Aki Sora;
- Ume Shiraume - Ben-to;
- Mio Kusakai - Keijo!!!!!
- Sumika Murasame - Sasameki Koto;
- Mirei Shikishima - Valkyrie Drive
List of Shoujo-Ai Manga
Below we will leave a list of Shoujo-ai manga in order of the most popular following MAL and other anime databases:
| Nome do Mangá Shoujo-ai | Date |
| Ring My Bell | 2017 |
| Kase-san and Yamada | 2017 |
| Bloom Into You | 2015 |
| Lily (Yy) | 2016 |
| Soulmate | 2020 |
| Mage & Demon Queen - Part 2 | 2019 |
| SQ: Begin W/Your Name! | 2014 |
| Mimi Mix! | 2016 |
| Amongst Us | 2017 |
| Kase-san and... | 2010 |
| Mage & Demon Queen | 2018 |
| Oomuroke | 2012 |
| Sasayaku You ni Koi wo Utau | 2019 |
| Tsuki ga Kirei Desu ne | 2015 |
| Adachi and Shimamura (Light Novel) | 2012 |
| Lala - Part 2 | 2019 |
| Fluttering Feelings | 2014 |
| Yuru Yuri | 2008 |
| Konohana Kitan | 2014 |
| A Tropical Fish Yearns for Snow | 2017 |
| Blooming Sequence | 2017 |
| Whispered Words | 2007 |
| Kaketa Tsuki to Doughnut | 2019 |
| Ishuzoku Joshi ni OO Suru Hanashi | 2019 |
| Still Sick | 2018 |
| Teiji ni Agaretara | 2018 |
| Touko-san wa Kaji ga Dekinai (Doujinshi) | 2017 |
| Kanojo no Idea | 2019 |
| Lonely Girl ni Sakaraenai | 2019 |
| Hana ni Arashi | 2017 |
| Magan he Danai | 2015 |
| Hana & Hina After School | 2015 |
| Koushin Koinu ni Koibumi wo | 2018 |
| If I Could Reach You | 2016 |
| Ikemen Girl to Hakoiri Musume | 2019 |
List of Yuri Manga
Below we will leave a list of Yuri manga in order of the most popular following MAL and other anime databases:
| Nome do Manga Yuri | Date |
| Lily Love 2 | 2018 |
| Houkago (Tomo OSHIMA) | 2018 |
| Pulse | 2016 |
| Tsuki to Suppin | 2019 |
| Her Tale of Shim Chong | 2017 |
| Soul Drifters | 2020 |
| Lily Love | 2014 |
| Moonlight Garden | 2017 |
| Fuzoroi no Renri | 2017 |
| Vampeerz | 2019 |
| Girl Friends | 2006 |
| Miss Angel and Miss Devil | 2016 |
| Yurikon | 2018 |
| My Lesbian Experience With Loneliness | 2016 |
| Salieri & Mozart | 2018 |
| Dear My Teacher | 2012 |
| Murciélago | 2013 |
| Sakura Trick: Anthology Comic | 2014 |
| What Does the Fox Say? | 2015 |
| Citrus+ | 2018 |
| Beauty and the Beast Girl | 2016 |
| Watashi no Kawaii Koneko-chan | 2017 |
| Dare nimo Ienai Futarigoto | 2017 |
| Kanojo no Kuchizuke Kansensuru Libido | 2015 |
| Lilith 2 | 2019 |
| Moonlight Flowers | 1989 |
| Citrus Comic Anthology | 2018 |
| Our Teachers are Dating | 2018 |
| Just Right There! | 2017 |
| Beloved | 2016 |
| How Do We Relationship? | 2018 |
| Seasons | 2009 |
| Chouchou Nannan | 2014 |
| Partition | 2015 |
| Rental Shop de Onee-san wo Rental Suru Hanashi | 2019 |
List of Yuri Anime
The anime below are from the Yuri genre, they are heavier than Shoujo-ai, but not as heavy as a Hentai. You can have sex, but nothing explicit. Here's the list of yuri anime ordered from best to worst according to MAL scores.
- RIN: Filhas da Mnemosine 2008
- Kuttsukiboshi 2010
- Valkyrie Drive: Mermaid 2015
- Valkyrie Drive: Mermaid Specials 2015
- Love to Lie Angle 2018
- Netsuzou Trap 2017
- Bikini Warriors OVA 2 2018
- Bikini Warriors Special 2015
- Body Jack: Pleasant Objects Ridatsu 1987
List of Shoujo-Ai Anime
The anime below are of the Shoujo-ai genre, they are lighter than Yuri, usually just have a romance between two girls, with little or no focus on the couple's sexual relationships. The list is also sorted from best to worst.
| Nome do Anime | Year |
| Kase-san and Morning Glories | 2018 |
| Yuru Yuri San☆Hai! | 2015 |
| Maria Watches Over Us Season 4 | 2009 |
| Bloom Into You | 2018 |
| Yuru Yuri ♪♪ | 2012 |
| Maria Watches Over Us Season 3 | 2006 |
| Maria Watches Over Us Season 2 | 2004 |
| Yuru Yuri | 2011 |
| If My Favorite Pop Idol Made it to the Budokan, I Would Die | 2020 |
| Maria Watches Over Us Season 4 Specials | 2009 |
| Kimi ga Aruji de Shitsuji ga Ore de | 2008 |
| Maria Watches Over Us Specials | 2004 |
| Kimi no Hikari: Asagao to Kase-san. | 2017 |
| Yuru Yuri, | 2019 |
| Revolutionary Girl Utena: The Adolescence of Utena | 1999 |
| WATATEN! an Angel Flew Down to Me | 2019 |
| Maria-sama ga Miteru ~Haru~ Specials | 2004 |
| Maria Watches Over Us Season 3 Specials | 2006 |
| Maria Watches Over Us | 2004 |
| Sasameki Koto | 2009 |
| Strawberry Panic | 2006 |
| Simoun | 2006 |
| Sweet Blue Flowers | 2009 |
| Otoboku: Maidens Are Falling For Me! | 2006 |
| Maria Holic | 2009 |
| Happy Sugar Life | 2018 |
| Sakura Trick | 2014 |
| Candy Boy | 2008 |
| Fragtime | 2019 |
| Maria Holic Alive | 2011 |
| Riddle Story of Devil | 2014 |
| Neon Genesis IMPACTS | 2015 |
| Citrus | 2018 |
| Candy Boy EX01 | 2008 |
| Kanamemo | 2009 |
| Candy Boy Episode 0 | 2007 |
| Candy Boy EX02 | 2009 |
| Kashimashi: Girl Meets Girl | 2006 |
| Kanamewo | 2015 |
| Kasimashi ~Girl Meets Girl~: A Girl Falls in Love with a Girl | 2006 |
| Blue Drop | 2007 |
| Destiny of the Shrine Maiden | 2004 |
| Yurikuma Arashi | 2015 |
| Mysteria Friends | 2019 |
| Puni Puni Poemy | 2001 |
| Yamibo: Darkness, The Hat and the Travelers of the Books | 2003 |
| Inugami-san to Nekoyama-san | 2014 |
| Riddle Story of Devil: Who Is the Winner? (Pop Quiz) | 2014 |
| Inugami-san to Nekoyama-san Special | 2014 |
| Nem: I am a broken umbrella | 2013 |
| Yuru Yuri: Mini Yuri | 2019 |
| ICE Movie | 2008 |
| Nem: Kouhaku Manjushuka | 2013 |
| ICE | 2007 |
| Nejishiki: Piña Colada | 2017 |
| Love Bites | 2016 |
| Vlad Love | 2021 |
| Adachi to Shimamura | 2020 |
List of Anime Yuri Hentai +18
The list of anime below are Yuri with sex scenes that fit the Hentai genre. Remember that most Hentais generally have homosexual scenes between women, as this is a common fetish among perverted men.
- Citrus
- Kiss on the Petals: You and Me, Lovers
- Discipline
- Shoujo Sect
- Futa-bu
- Nikutai Ten
- Honoo no Haramase Doukyuusei
- G-Taste
- Cream Lemon
- Choukou Senni Haruka
- "Star Jewel"
- Nageki no Kenkou Yuuryouji
- Onmyouji Ayakashi no Megami: Inran Jubaku
- Inko
- Stainless Night
- Bakuhatsu Sunzen!! Tenshi no Countdown
- Mitama: Nin
- Houkago Mania Club: I Want to Love
- Parade Parade
- Soushitsukyou
- Ogenki Clinic
- Utsukushiki Sei no Dendoushi Reirei
- Tsuki Kagerou
- Kojin Jugyou
- Minha Vida Como
- Shinseiki Cream Lemon
- Suashi no Houkago
I hope you enjoyed this list of yuri and shoujo-ai animes. We appreciate the comments and shares! We also wrote the article Yuri and Shoujo-ai Anime in English.