The term Yaoi was created in Japan in the 1970s to refer to publications with themes of the relationship between two men. Today, the most used term for Yaoi anime is Boy's Love, Also known as shounen-ah, to refer to stories whose themes involve homoaffective relationships.
For this list, we've selected some of the best Yaoi anime titles that touch on various themes and genres such as comedy, drama, school romance, fantasy, and science fiction.
Given (2019)
Genre: boy's love, school romance, drama, loss.
Series
When Uenoyama goes to take a nap on an isolated staircase inside his school, he is surprised by the young Mafuyu, who is sleeping hugging a Gibson guitar in the place. Mafuyu asks the veteran to teach him how to play the guitar and from this interaction a beautiful love story, marked by several losses, will end up emerging. Given became one of the most successful stories of recent years and was adapted into a live action series in 2023.
Junjou Romance (2008)
Genre: boy's love, comedy, romance.
Series
Based on the manga by Nakamura Shungiku, Junjou Romantica tells the story of Misaki, a high school boy preparing to enter university. The young man will end up moving in with his brother's best friend, the famous writer Akihiko, who will give him tutoring lessons. The relationship between the two will run parallel to that of two other couples in the series: Hiroki and Nowaki from the Junjou Egoist story; and that of Shinobu and You, in the story called Junjou Terrorist.
Doukyuusei (2016)
Genre: boy’s love, romance escolar, drama.
Movie
The film Doukyuusei, also called “classmates”, tells a sensitive story of first love in a school setting. Hikaru Kusakabe is a free-spirited young man who is part of a band. In the summer, his class is rehearsing a song to perform at the school festival. When Hikaru notices that introverted classmate Rihito Sajou is having a hard time memorizing the song, he offers to help him. Many feelings will arise from these interactions.
Dakaretai Otoko 1-i ni Odosarete Imasu. (2018)
Genre: boy's love, comedy, romance.
Series
Takato Saijou is a successful actor who has been voted "Sexiest Man of the Year" for years. However, when rookie actor Junta receives this title and ends up becoming the protagonist of Takato's next series, the veteran will be overcome with envy. After some incidents, Takato will discover that the rookie doesn't want to steal his fame, but his heart.
Umibe no Stranger (2020)
Genre: drama, boy’s love.
Movie
Umibe no Étranger, which can be portrayed as “strangers at sea”, tells a delicate story of love, loss and coming of age. In history, we are introduced to Shun Hashimoto, an openly gay writer who was abandoned by his parents after coming out of the closet. On the small island where he lives, he meets the young orphan Mio Chibana, with whom he will end up creating a strong bond. One day, Mio reveals that he is going to move to another city. Years pass and Mio returns to the island and ends up confessing her love to Shun. But in this period that they were distant, a lot happened. Will the love between the two still blossom?
Hitorijime My Hero (2017)
Genre: Boy's love, school romance, drama, comedy.
Series
Masahiro Setagawa was a rebellious teenager who was part of a gang of bullies in his neighborhood. When the young man meets the vigilante Kousuke Ooshiba, known as the “bear killer”, his life ends up taking a different turn. A year passes and he discovers that this neighborhood hero is his new math teacher and he will end up developing forbidden feelings for him.
Hybrid Child (2015)
Genre: period romance, fantasy, science fiction, boy's love.
Series
In this fantasy universe, craftsman Kuroda has created dolls with artificial intelligence called the Hybrid Child. These creatures are not entirely machines or dolls, but rather a reflection of the love they receive from their owners. This anime tells three stories about the relationship between humans and machines and in the end we discover the motivation behind the creation of these beings by the craftsman Kuroda.
Love Stage!! (2014)
Genre: boy's love, comedy.
Series
Izumi grew up in a star family. Her mother is a renowned actress, her father is a successful producer and her brother is a rock star. As a child, Izumi was dressed in a wedding dress to star in a wedding magazine commercial. Years go by and the boy Ryouma, who participated with him in the commercial, is still obsessed with his eyes. Ryouma agrees to reprise the commercial 10 years later if Izumi agrees to participate as well. What he doesn't know is that Izumi is a boy.
Sekaiichi Hatsukoi (2011)
Genre: boy's love, romance, comedy.
Series
Sekaiichi Hatsukoi follows three couples who are involved in the manga industry. The main story follows Ritsu, a book editor who decides to leave his father's company and chart his own destiny. He gets a job at a major publishing company, but ends up in the romance manga division. There, he will meet editor-in-chief Masamune Takano, who was actually his first love in high school.
Super Lovers (2016)
Genre: boy’s love, romance, drama.
Series
The eldest son Haru Kaidou travels to Canada when he receives the news that his mother is about to die. When he arrives in the country, he discovers that the news was false and that the mother also adopted a wild boy named Ren. The boy prefers the company of dogs to people, but Haru will end up softening his foster brother's heart. He makes a promise that in a few years they would live together in Japan, but Haru ends up having an accident and losing all memory of the summer they spent together. When Ren travels to Japan, Haru doesn't have the slightest memory of the promise, but he will end up taking in his adopted brother.
Yes ka No ka Hanbun ka (2020)
Genre: comedy, boy's love.
Movie
Kei Kunieda is a news anchor who has two very different personalities: his public persona is extremely charismatic and relatable, but in his personal life, he is demanding and hot-tempered. When he meets stop-motion animator Ushio Tsuzuki, he ends up falling for one big lie. Kei approaches Ushio in both his public and private versions and does not reveal himself to be the same person. As feelings between the two begin to grow, Kei worries that Ushio won't like both of his versions completely.
Yuri!!! on Ice (2016)
Genre: competition, boy's love.
Series
In the acclaimed and award-winning anime Yuri!!! on Ice, we follow the story of a young figure skating competitor who is about to give up on his dreams. When a video of Yuri performing a choreography of the current world champion goes viral on the internet, everything starts to change in his life. Victor Nikiforov, Yuri's idol, decides to move to Japan and train the young man for the next World Cup. The anime features the electrifying figure skating competitions as well as the relationship that develops between Yuri and Victor throughout the season.
Gravitation (2000)
Genre: comedy, boys' love, music.
Series
One of the greatest classics of the shounen ai genre, Gravitation tells the coming of age story of young musician All Shuichi, who dreams of forming a successful band and finding a girlfriend. When one of his lyrics lands at writer Eiri Yuki's feet, his life takes a new turn. Eiri criticizes All's lyrics and says that he will never be successful. Driven by hatred, All manages to finish his song, but he will also eventually fall in love with the critic.
Gakuen Heaven (2006)
Genre: school romance, boy's love.
Series
Itou Keita is surprised to be invited to attend an elite school. In a sea of ​​beautiful and talented young boys, the protagonist will have a hard time understanding what makes him special in that place of privilege. Over the course of the story, he will develop a relationship with an affectionate classmate, the handsome and mysterious Kazuki Endou.
Loveless (2005)
Genre: fantasy, boy's love, fight.
Series
In the fantasy world of Loveless, everyone is born with cat ears and a tail, which disappear when they lose their virginity. Ritsuka Aoyagi is a young student who lost his brother and now suffers from amnesia. On the first day of school, he meets the mysterious Agatsuma Soubi, who claims to be a close friend of his deceased brother. Now, they will end up teaming up to find out the truth about Ritsuka's brother's murder.
No. 6 (2011)
Genre: boy's love, fantasy, dystopia.
Series
After a bloody war, humanity has gathered in six city districts living in harmony and peace. When Shion, an elite resident of district number 6 meets the mysterious young Nezumi, he will discover that there is a very cruel reality beyond the city walls. Shion decides to protect Nezumi, but ends up losing his status. Now, young people will embark on an adventurous journey to try to discover the reality of the world around them.
Spirit Pact (2016)
Genre: fantasy, supernatural, boy's love.
Series
This Chinese supernatural anime features the story of You Keika, who was killed in an accident and became a spirit. He goes to meet a mysterious white-haired man named Tanmoku Ki. This man turns out to be an exorcist from a powerful family in China. He will propose forming a pact with You: in exchange for protecting his spirit, You must become his ally in the spirit world.
Hyperventilation (2017)
Genre: boy’s love, romance.
Series
Lee Myeongyi is a young man who has suffered his entire life from a condition called pneumothorax. During school days, he was constantly experiencing hyperventilation and felt isolated from all of his peers. The only person who showed Lee any kind of kindness was Han Seonho, who he ended up developing a crush on. Nine years later, Lee decides to participate in a high school class meeting with the sole objective of meeting Han again and finding out if he also felt the same.
