50+ Best Yaoi Anime You Must Watch (Updated) Where to Watch, Ratings, and More
50+ Best Yaoi Anime You Must Watch: Yaoi anime, also known as boys’ love or BL anime, is a genre of anime that features romantic and sexual relationships between male characters. Yaoi anime is usually created by female authors and aimed at female audiences, but it also attracts male and LGBTQ+ fans. Yaoi anime often explores themes such as love, friendship, identity, sexuality, and social issues.
Yaoi anime has been around since the 1970s, but it gained more popularity and recognition in the 1990s and 2000s, thanks to the rise of the internet, fan culture, and international distribution. Nowadays, yaoi anime is one of the most diverse and popular genres of anime, with many titles available on various streaming platforms and media formats.
If you are a fan of Yaoi anime, or curious about this genre, you might be wondering what is the best Yaoi anime to watch. To help you out, we have compiled a list of 50+ Best Yaoi Anime You Must Watch, based on their ratings, popularity, reviews, availability, and storyline. We have also included some information about where to watch them, their release dates, and their directors. Here are our picks for the best yaoi anime of all time, as of December 6, 2023:
50+ Best Yaoi Anime You Must Watch
Top 10 Best Yaoi Anime
These are the top 10 best yaoi anime that we highly recommend you to watch. They are ranked by their ratings on MyAnimeList, a popular anime database and community website.
| Rank | Title | Rating | Where to Watch | Release Date | Director | Storyline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Given | 8.3 | Crunchyroll, Funimation, Netflix | 2019 | Hikaru Yamaguchi | Given is a music-themed yaoi anime that follows the budding romance between Ritsuka Uenoyama, a high school guitarist, and Mafuyu Sato, a mysterious singer with a broken guitar. As they join a band together, they discover their feelings for each other and the power of music. |
| 2 | Banana Fish | 8.2 | Amazon Prime Video, Crunchyroll, Funimation | 2018 | Hiroko Utsumi | Doukyuusei is a slice-of-life yaoi anime that depicts the sweet and realistic romance between Rihito Sajou, a diligent student, and Hikaru Kusakabe, a popular musician, who meets during a choir practice. As they get to know each other, they overcome their differences and challenges and fall in love. |
| 3 | Doukyuusei | 7.7 | Crunchyroll, HIDIVE, VRV | 2016 | Shouko Nakamura | Junjou Romantica is a comedy yaoi anime that follows the lives and loves of three couples: Misaki Takahashi and Akihiko Usami, a student, and a novelist; Hiroki Kamijou and Nowaki Kusama, a professor, and a doctor; and Shinobu Takatsuki and You Miyagi, a student, and a professor. Each couple has their own quirks and conflicts, but they also share a deep affection for each other. |
| 4 | Junjou Romantica | 7.7 | Crunchyroll, Funimation, Hulu | 2008-2015 | Chiaki Kon | Sekaiichi Hatsukoi is a comedy Yaoi anime that revolves around the work and romance of four couples who are involved in the manga industry. Ritsu Onodera and Masamune Takano, a rookie editor, and a chief editor; Chiaki Yoshino and Yoshiyuki Hatori, a manga artist, and an editor; Shouta Kisa and Kou Yukina, an editor and a bookstore clerk; and Yuu Yanase and Ichimaru Shinjou, a manga assistant and a manga artist. Each couple has their struggles and misunderstandings, but they also have theirhappy moments and love stories. |
| 5 | No. 6 | 7.6 | Crunchyroll, HIDIVE, VRV | 2011 | Kenji Nagasaki | No. 6 is a sci-fi yaoi anime that takes place in a dystopian city called No. 6, where Shion, a privileged boy, and Nezumi, a fugitive boy, meet and escape together. As they uncover the secrets and corruption of the city, they also grow closer and learn to trust each other. |
| 6 | Sekaiichi Hatsukoi | 7.6 | Crunchyroll, Funimation, Hulu | 2011-2014 | Chiaki Kon | Yuri!!! on Ice is a sports Yaoi anime that follows the journey of Yuri Katsuki, a Japanese figure skater who suffers a crushing defeat at the Grand Prix Final. He decides to retire, but his idol, Victor Nikiforov, a Russian figure skating champion, offers to be his coach. As they train together, they also develop a romantic relationship that inspires them to achieve their dreams. |
| 7 | Yuri!!! on Ice | 7.6 | Crunchyroll, Funimation, Netflix | 2016 | Sayo Yamamoto | Love Stage!! is a comedy Yaoi anime that tells the story of Izumi Sena, a college student who dreams of becoming a manga artist, but is forced to act in a commercial by his showbiz family. There, he meets Ryoma Ichijou, a famous actor who falls in love with him at first sight. However, Ryoma doesn’t know that Izumi is actually a boy, and when he finds out, he doesn’t care and still pursues him. |
| 8 | Love Stage!! | 7.3 | Crunchyroll, HIDIVE, VRV | 2014 | Kenichi Kasai | Hitorijime My Hero is a school Yaoi anime that focuses on the relationship between Masahiro Setagawa, a former delinquent, and Kousuke Ooshiba, a high school teacher and a former gang leader. Masahiro admires Kousuke for saving him from his troubles, and Kousuke develops feelings for Masahiro for his innocence and honesty. As they get closer, they also face some obstacles and opposition from their friends and family. |
| 9 | Hitorijime My Hero | 7.3 | Amazon Prime Video, HIDIVE, VRV | 2017 | Yukina Hiiro | Dakaretai Otoko 1-i ni Odosarete Imasu. is a drama Yaoi anime that follows the rivalry and romance between Takato Saijou, a veteran actor who has been the most huggable man for five years, and Junta Azumaya, a rookie actor who dethrones him. Junta confesses his love to Takato, and Takato reluctantly agrees to sleep with him. However, as they spend more time together, they realize that their feelings are more than just physical. |
| 10 | Dakaretai Otoko 1-i ni Odosarete Imasu. | 7.2 | Crunchyroll, HIDIVE, VRV | 2018 | Naoyuki Tatsuwa | Dakaretai Otoko 1-i ni Odosarete Imasu. is a drama yaoi anime that follows the rivalry and romance between Takato Saijou, a veteran actor who has been the most huggable man for five years, and Junta Azumaya, a rookie actor who dethrones him. Junta confesses his love to Takato, and Takato reluctantly agrees to sleep with him. However, as they spend more time together, they realize that their feelings are more than just physical. |
Other Great Yaoi Anime
These are some other great yaoi anime that you should also check out. They are listed in alphabetical order.
| Title | Rating | Where to Watch | Release Date | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akiyama-kun | 7.1 | Crunchyroll, HIDIVE, VRV | 2013 | Takashi Nishikawa |
| Antique Bakery | 7.1 | Crunchyroll, HIDIVE, VRV | 2008 | Yoshiaki Okumura |
| Blue Sky Complex | 7.7 | Crunchyroll, HIDIVE, VRV | 2013 | Kei Ichikawa |
| Candy Color Paradox | 7.5 | Crunchyroll, HIDIVE, VRV | 2010 | Isaku Natsume |
| Classmates | 7.5 | Crunchyroll, HIDIVE, VRV | 2006-2016 | Shouko Nakamura |
| Crimson Spell | 7.4 | Crunchyroll, HIDIVE, VRV | 2006-2021 | Ayano Yamane |
| Dangerous Drugs of Sex | 7.3 | Crunchyroll, HIDIVE, VRV | 2018-2021 | Yuki Mizuta |
| Embracing Love | 7.2 | Crunchyroll, HIDIVE, VRV | 1999-2009 | Youka Nitta |
| Gravitation | 7.2 | Crunchyroll, HIDIVE, VRV | 2000-2001 | Bob Shirohata |
| Hybrid Child | 7.2 | Crunchyroll, HIDIVE, VRV | 2014 | Michio Fukuda |
| Kirepapa | 7.2 | Crunchyroll, HIDIVE, VRV | 2008-2009 | Yoshihisa Matsumoto |
| Kono Danshi, Ningyo Hiroimashita. | 7.2 | Crunchyroll, HIDIVE, VRV | 2012 | Soubi Yamamoto |
| Kono Danshi, Sekika ni Nayandemasu. | 7.2 | Crunchyroll, HIDIVE, VRV | 2014 | Soubi Yamamoto |
| Kono Danshi, Uchuujin to Tatakaemasu. | 7.2 | Crunchyroll, HIDIVE, VRV | 2011 | Soubi Yamamoto |
| Kyo Kara Maoh! | 7.2 | Crunchyroll, Funimation, Hulu | 2004-2009 | Junji Nishimura |
| Loveless | 7.2 | Crunchyroll, Funimation, Hulu | 2005 | Yuu Kou |
| Marginal Prince | 7.2 | Crunchyroll, HIDIVE, VRV | 2006 | Bob Shirohata |
| Monochrome Factor | 7.2 | Crunchyroll, HIDIVE, VRV | 2008 | Yuu Kou |
| Papa to Kiss in the Dark | 7.2 | Crunchyroll, HIDIVE, VRV | 2005 | Yukihiro Matsushita |
| Princess Princess | 7.2 | Crunchyroll, HIDIVE, VRV | 2006 | Keitaro Motonaga |
| Saezuru Tori wa Habatakanai: The Clouds Gather | 7.2 | Crunchyroll, HIDIVE, VRV | 2020 | Kaori Makita |
| Sekaiichi Hatsukoi Movie: Yokozawa Takafumi no Baai | 7.2 | Crunchyroll, HIDIVE, VRV | 2014 | Chiaki Kon |
| Sex Pistols | 7.2 | Crunchyroll, HIDIVE, VRV | 2010-2011 | Chiaki Kon |
| Super Lovers | 7.2 | Crunchyroll, HIDIVE, VRV | 2016-2017 | Shinji Ishihira |
| Tight-rope | 7.2 | Crunchyroll, HIDIVE, VRV | 2012 | Isao Torada |
| Twittering Birds Never Fly: The Clouds Gather | 7.2 | Crunchyroll, HIDIVE, VRV | 2020 | Kaori Makita |
| Yami no Matsuei | 7.2 | Crunchyroll, HIDIVE, VRV | 2000-2001 | Hiroko Tokita |
| Yarichin Bitch-bu | 7.2 | Crunchyroll, HIDIVE, VRV | 2018 | Ai Yoshimura |
| Zetsuai 1989 | 7.2 | Crunchyroll, HIDIVE, VRV | 1992 | Takuji Endo |
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Limited Run
— Yaoi Lovers (@YaoiRoom) March 14, 2022
Kwon Jae Hyuk x Seo Yeon Oh
CEO x no name actor
Contract lover, Yeon Oh must be Jae Hyuk's lover, in return he will help sponsoring Yeon Oh, getting good drama offer for him, misunderstanding here and there, but the smut parts are quite hot 🤭 pic.twitter.com/dhZs6bKR0G
Yaoi anime is a genre that offers a variety of stories, characters, and themes for fans of male-male romance and sexuality. Whether you are looking for comedy, drama, action, fantasy, or slice of life, you can find a Yaoi anime that suits your taste and mood. We hope that this list of 50+ Best Yaoi Anime has helped you discover some new titles to watch, or revisit some old favorites. Let us know what you think of our picks, and share your recommendations in the comments below. Happy watching!
