I wasn’t sure what kind of movies or shows should I compile a rec list of for you guys, so I asked on twitter & that is why today, I’m here with 10 LGBT anime. There will be both shows and movies here, so hopefully everyone can find something for themselves.
Anyway, I’m not marking Japanese mcs in rep, since it’s true for all the titles here.
Liz and the Blue Bird (Liz to Aoi Tori) (2018)
dir. Naoko Yamada
Letterboxd
Rep: sapphic mc & li
Why Should I Watch It?
This is a very gentle, quiet movie that uses the lesbian gaze and tells a lot of the story through glimpses of characters’ feet or hands or other tiny details. I’m also sure a lot of straight people think this is a movie about two great friends… But we know better, we know what we’re looking at and looking for.
Wandering Son (Hourou Musuko) (2011)
dir. Ei Aoki
IMDb
Rep: trans mcs
Why Should I Watch It?
With delicate colors and lines, this show tells quite a difficult story in delicate ways. There’s no unnecessary drama or suffering, it’s mostly just about growing up and falling in love for the first time, while also being trans. It’s also great to see how trans rep is portrayed somewhere with a totally different culture than the Western, English-speaking part of the world.
Revolutionary Girl Utena: The Adolescence of Utena (Shōjo Kakumei Utena Aduresensu Mokushiroku) (1999)
dir. Kunihiko Ikuhara
Letterboxd
Rep: sapphic mcs
Why Should I Watch It?
A classic, yes, I know, but let’s be real: I couldn’t make this list without it! If you like sci-fi and somewhat weird, otherwordly vibes, this is definitely a movie you need to see. If you’re not a fan of sci-fi, you might still enjoy this a lot, given the beautiful way in which it treats the sapphic romance.
Yuri!!! On Ice (2016)
cr. Sayo Yamamoto & Mitsurō Kubo
IMDb
Rep: mlm mc, Russian mlm li
Why Should I Watch It?
Even people who don’t watch anime, know this one (yes, I’m looking at you, Charlotte). And there’s a reason for that. The story is great, sure, but more importantly: the gay romance is allowed to flourish and to take up most of the plot. The plot quite literally wouldn’t even happen at all, if it wasn’t for the gay romance… And that’s something so precious to see.
Please note that since this post was made, it has been brought to our attention that the creator of the show has made homophobic remarks. As such, we would no longer rec this entry (although for full clarity, we are leaving this rec list as is).
Kase-san and Morning Glories (Asagao to Kase-san) (2018)
dir. Takuya Sato
Letterboxd
Rep: sapphic mcs
Why Should I Watch It?
I don’t know what to tell you, guys. This is a coming of age movie about two girls, one of whom is a jock and one a nerd (who loves gardening). Have you started watching yet? Because you should, it’s absolutely lovely and the girls are so very cute!!
No.6 (2011)
dir. Kenji Nagasaki
IMDb
Rep: mlm mcs
TW: violence, death, guns
Why Should I Watch It?
This is an anime about saving the bees and overthrowing the government. Literally. I’m not saying we should all be obsessed with it, given the current state of affairs, but that is exactly what I’m saying. Plus, you get the most beautiful asshole (Nezumi), who’s the walking stereotype of a dramatic gay.
Also, just saying, but the manga this is based on is even gayer, and the novels manga is based on are even gayer than the manga
Classmates (Doukyuusei) (2016)
dir. Shouko Nakamura
Letterboxd
Rep: mlm mcs
Why Should I Watch It?
One of my favourite movies, period. The plot isn’t complicated at all. It’s about two guys who go to high school together and fall in love. But the magic is in the simplicity. In the way the whole thing looks like a watercolour painting. In how the guys are honest and overwhelmed with feelings.
(Spoilers, but they get engaged in later volumes of the manga!)
Tokyo Godfathers (Tōkyō Goddofāzāzu) (2003)
dir. Satoshi Kon
Letterboxd
Rep: trans mc
Why Should I Watch It?
Yes, it’s July and I’m reccing a Christmas movie, but frankly this year is a mess and I can do whatever I want. It’s based on a western, but spins that around to become a heart-warming movie about the power of (found) family, a true celebration of humanity. It’s charming and will stay with you for a long, long time.
Whispered Words (Sasameki Koto) (2009)
dir. Eiji Suganuma
IMDb
Rep: sapphic mcs
Why Should I Watch It?
What can I say, slice of life stories about two girls are probably the easiest gay anime to find. It’s not some kind of generic teen show, thought, it’s rather bittersweet and all about unrequited love. Which is what gays do the best, right?
Lily Bear Storm (Yuri Kuma Arashi) (2015)
dir. Kunihiko Ikuhara
IMDb
Rep: sapphic mcs
Why Should I Watch It?
Okay, yes, this is a show about bears that can take on a human form & there’s a whole war between the civilisation of men and bears. But listen, it makes sense and it works. I think if you liked FLCL, you will probably really enjoy this one as well. And otherwise, if you’re into some lesbians in a surrealistic setting, you’re welcome!
What other anime with explicit LGBT did I miss?
24 Comments
Silvia
ahhhh thank you so much for this!! i had no idea any of these were actually gay (besides YOI which is the only one i’ve watched), and i’m positively surprised to see some of them are quite old and still canon queer? nice nice, i’m saving this post for the future 💕
i haven’t continued watching the anime yet but Given is adapted from a m/m manga, i’m just not 100% sure they kept it canon but i think so..?
Bloom Into You is a sapphic manga that was also adapted, I’ve only read the first volume yet and I still need to check out the anime too but i’m pretty sure it’s also canon queer since that’s kind of the point fdhslf
readsrainbow
honestly?? the ’90s in anime were super gay. it’s just that american dubs usually did everything they could to cut that shit out, including literally changing gender of a character…
i was gonna put bloom into you on the list, but then realised i already recced a few shows abt high school girls so i had to chill out with that
i haven’t seen given yet but i also heard good things abt it, i must check it out one of these days!
– anna
Silvia
not just the american dubs, i know of a few anime that were shown in italy too (like sailor moon) and we all found out later once we joined the int’l community that they were actually 100% canon gay, but the italian version deleted scenes and changed dialogues :// i feel like we missed out on so much because of that ugh 🙁
readsrainbow
it’s not only homophobic but also so disrespectful to the creators!! i wish we were over shit like that now but alas ://
Silvia
yeah, it reminds me of the mess that happened with the russian edition of shades of magic where they completely removed the queer content :// like if you don’t want to adapt/translate something because it’s queer that’s fine, but don’t go out of your way to straighten it up ://
also i only remembered about it now because i was thinking more about series but if you haven’t watched it, Promare is pretty queer (i think one could argue whether it’s explicit or not but i personally say it 100% is) and it’s also a really really good movie!
readsrainbow
yeah, like, u don’t get to be cool bc u published a gay book if u first made it NOT gay :///
oh my friend has been trying to get me to watch it, but i think i totally forgot oops…. gotta finally do it, thanks for the reminder!
aina
Oh my gosh I’ve read No 6 manga and that was THE BEST MOMENT I’VE EVER HAD IN MY LIFE! I wish I could read its novel because I need my Nezumi and Shion back again.
Also, I’ve just watched Liz and the Blue Bird and OMG everything about that movie was so beautiful! I cried at the part when Mizore played the oboe. It hits hard there.
Other anime I can think of right now would be Aoi Hana (Blue Flower). Haven’t watched it yet though but from what I know it’s sapphic mcs. There’s also Hoshiai no Sora (Stars Align). One of its characters is nonbinary (if I’m not mistaken). Haven’t watched this one yet too unfortunately, so can’t really confirm it.
Okay for anime I did actually watch. Have you watched Banana Fish? It’s mlm and will crush your heart to pieces. I’ve watched this one so yeah you can take my words for that. Also Sarazanmai. There’s two cops in the show that’s mlm. If you do watch this, just remember, it’s pretty weird when you first watch it. I mean I was like “what the frick?” all the time when I watched it. Some stuff in there are just weird and ridiculous it could put you off. But it’s a very deep show actually.
Anyway thank you for this post. You brought out the otaku in me so I’m sorry for the rambling 😂
readsrainbow
haha ur welcome and i’m glad u enjoyed the post enough to chat!!
no.6 anime does differ from the manga quite a bit, but the feelings stay the same!
oh i was thinking of including aoi hana here but then figured i can’t just list slice of life wlw shows…
i’m aware of banana fish but i refuse to watch it due to everyone i know who HAVE, being in distress for weeks. i’m not that much of a masochist lmao
– anna
aina
I agree about No 6! The anime does differ from the manga but the feelssss tho. You made me want to watch that anime again!
Ahh yes I understand your reasoning for Banana Fish. If I didn’t know just how crushing the anime actually is, I would refuse to watch it too. It’s just not the kind of entertainment I enjoy watching.
Ohh yes! There’s another anime I’d like to add here. The Case Files of Jeweler Richard! There’s a side character in one of the episodes that’s lesbian and I love how they treated her character and story. Also, the two protagonists have some complicated relationship going on between them. The way I see it (and everyone who has watched the show did too) they’re more than just platonic friends. But since the anime’s taken from the light novels, some moments of the development of their relationship were tone down. Many people also suggest to read the light novels for that. But there’s no official translation as of now though. So that’s a bummer.
readsrainbow
oh, i never heard of that one! i will have to investigate 😮
aina
Hope you enjoy it if you do end up watching it 😊
neverhollowed
Love this list! BL anime is more popularly known so I’m glad you’re featuring more sapphic anime and trans anime here
readsrainbow
thanks! and yeah, i figured people can find bl anime more easily themselves. altho lbr, finding titles that aren’t gross is still actually kinda hard…
– anna
notesbyj
I want to get more into Anime and will definitely be watching some of these. Thank you for the recommendations.
readsrainbow
i’m happy i could be of help, especially if u haven’t watched many shows yet!
– anna
Marta the Monogamist Reader
Great post!!
I never get to watch Utena. I read the manga but back then the anime never made it to my country.
I actually quite enjoyed the anime version of Given, hope to read the manga soon. I will definitely check the other titles as well! thank you!!
readsrainbow
thank u!
oh, i heard good things abt given, i will definitely have to watch it soon!
hope u will enjoy them!!
– anna
E. @localbeehuntersnook
I’m more into manga than anime but Sasameki Koto was cute! Also, I think Bloom Into You got adapted? Also sapphics in HS but has more depth to it. And maybe Hidamari ga kikoeru? It’s mlm with an HOH character! And I know Seven Days has a movie but no idea as to anime.
readsrainbow
i was gonna rec bloom into you, but figured, how many sapphic high school girls can i fit into one post…
oh i had no idea seven days has a movie?? have u seen it, is it bad?
– anna
E. @localbeehuntersnook
Haha, true true! I’ve seen it ages ago and hmm 6/10? And I may be biased because I loved the manga… So…
readsrainbow
that’s not too bad for a gay movie unfortunately and the manga is rather cute so i will have to investigate……
– anna
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queerness is a eternal and indestructible
Hey, I just wanted to add that the author of Yuri on Ice is a homophobe that thinks gay people shouldn’t publicly show their gayness. It came out back in 2017 when the author still had a twitter account and said a gay couple she saw walking around shouldn’t hold hands in public except in the gay quarter of Shinjuku called 2-chome, which is blatant homophobia
readsrainbow
hi! thanks for bringing this to our attention. we’ve made a note on the rec list to this effect.