Looking for iconic LGBTQ+ anime characters? You’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ll take you through ten of our favorites, all of whom have had their sexualities, relationships, or identities confirmed or strongly supported by the media, without delving into fan speculation (fun though that can be).
Before we start, let us put the minds of any fans at ease — whether their favorites are on the list or not. This is by no means intended to be definitive, nor is it a ‘ranking,’ where the characters at the top are considered ‘better’ than those below.
We’re also going to keep focused on the characters themselves as much as we can. However, a little storytelling may occasionally be required, so beware potential spoilers from here on out.
How We Chose These LGBTQ+ Anime Characters and Couples
When creating a list like this, we first need to decide what counts as evidence of a character’s LGBTQ+ identity.
Sometimes, a character is explicitly stated in the story to be LGBTQ+, whether through dialogue, relationships, or action. They may also have been confirmed to be queer by the creator. In other cases, a character’s sexuality or gender is strongly supported by the text without being given a modern label.
What about Queer Coding?
Then there is queer-coding, where viewers may interpret a character as LGBTQ+ based on their expression, behavior, or role in the story.
For this list, though, we’re sticking to identities and relationships that are confirmed or strongly supported by the story itself. Although a character’s expression, style, or mannerisms may lead the keen viewer to come to conclusions about their sexuality one way or the other, we won’t be indulging in unconfirmed speculation here.
That doesn’t mean an individual reading of a queer-coded character is invalid. It simply means this particular list is sticking to evidence we can point to.
Japanese Context and Translation
It is also worth remembering that Japanese ideas around sexuality and gender do not always map neatly onto those in the West. Older works in particular may depict relationships or identities without using the labels we would expect today, while translation can sometimes soften, alter, or remove certain details altogether.
With that out of the way, let’s get into our list.
10 Evidence-Backed LGBTQ+ Anime Characters and Couples
Haruka Tenoh and Michiru Kaioh — Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon
Arguably the most famous queer couple of 1990s anime, Haruka Tenoh/Sailor Uranus and Michiru Kaioh/Sailor Neptune are clearly established as a romantic couple.
Their relationship is confirmed in the original manga, while their initial meeting and romance are explored more fully in episode 106 of the original anime, The Bond of Destiny: Uranus’s Distant Past.
Their openly queer relationship has been praised as groundbreaking for its depiction at the time. Haruka was also notable for her gender-nonconforming expression, including her more masculine attire and interests such as motorcycle racing.
Read more about queer Sailor Moon details here.
Utena Tenjou and Anthy Himemiya — Revolutionary Girl Utena
The relationship between Utena Tenjou and Anthy Himemiya is strongly supported by the story, though it was never described with a modern label.
In Revolutionary Girl Utena, protagonist Utena is inspired by a childhood meeting to “become a prince.” After enrolling in Ohtori Academy, she takes part in a sword-fighting contest, where the prize is the hand of Anthy Himemiya. After Utena wins, she protects Anthy as her fiancée.
Their relationship is less openly sapphic in the conclusion of the TV series, but it becomes explicitly physical in the movie adaptation. Utena’s role as an aspiring prince, alongside her relationship with Anthy as an equal, has also been highlighted as a positive example of gender subversion in anime.
Touya Kinomoto and Yukito Tsukishiro — Cardcaptor Sakura
Touya Kinomoto is the older brother of Sakura Kinomoto, the protagonist of Cardcaptor Sakura, while Yukito is Sakura’s crush.
Early in the series, Touya and Yukito are presented as especially close friends. As the story progresses, however, their feelings become increasingly clear. Touya even sacrifices his powers to save Yukito’s life, and after Sakura confesses her love to Yukito, he tells her that the person he loves is Touya.
By the end of the series, the pair are clearly confirmed to be a couple.
Their relationship has been highlighted as significant for portraying a same-gender relationship in a show aimed at younger viewers.
Shuichi Nitori — Wandering Son
Wandering Son’s main character, Shuichi Nitori, is clearly established in the story as a trans woman.
Shuichi becomes close to classmate Yoshino Takatsuki, who is assigned female at birth but wants to be a man. Through their friendship, Shuichi gradually becomes more open about her own gender. As she grows older, she wrestles with issues that affect many young transgender people, including puberty and associated gender dysphoria.
Her depiction has been praised for centering questions of gender seriously as the cornerstone of the plot, rather than treating them as a joke or gimmick.
Shion and Nezumi — No. 6
Shion and Nezumi never verbally announce that they are gay or bisexual, but their relationship is strongly supported by the story.
The two become incredibly close as they rely on one another against the backdrop of a dystopian fantasy. Their bond also becomes physical, with the pair sharing a kiss in episode 7 and again in episode 11.
What makes the show notable is that this queer relationship sits at the center of the story without making their queerness the entire point of it.
Yuri Katsuki and Victor Nikiforov — Yuri!!! on ICE
The main characters of Yuri!!! on ICE have a strongly supported romantic relationship, even though neither says out loud that he is gay or bisexual.
Yuri Katsuki and Victor Nikiforov’s relationship develops as Victor teaches him to perform an “eros” style of dance, tapping into Yuri’s sexual desires. As the series progresses, things become rather less subtle. Victor embraces Yuri in a way that heavily implies a kiss in episode 7, and Yuri buys matching rings for them in episode 10.
A smash hit when it was released a decade ago, Yuri and Victor’s relationship got 10 points from our judges.
Yuu Koito and Touko Nanami — Bloom Into You
Bloom Into You is highly interested in the psychology and inner lives of its main characters, and Yuu Koito and Touko Nanami’s relationship is clearly established as queer.
Yuu initially connects with Touko over their shared uncertainty around romance and doesn’t really know whether she can be in a relationship at all. Touko’s confession of love gradually leads to the pair becoming closer.
The anime covers only part of that development, but by the time the manga concludes, they are a romantic couple.
Yuu’s uncertainty and tentativeness are a large part of the charm of this critically acclaimed anime.
Lily Hoshikawa — Zombie Land Saga
Lily Hoshikawa is explicitly stated to be a trans girl and became very popular online when Zombie Land Saga was released in 2018.
The eighth episode of the series reveals her life before becoming a zombie. A child actor, Lily was forced to try to live up to her father’s high expectations and strict, “manly” upbringing, despite knowing that she was a girl.
After her backstory is revealed to her friends, they reassure her that they don’t think of her any differently, and that to them, she always has been and always will be a woman.
Fans loved the group’s reaction, and Lily became something of a transgender icon for a time online.
Mafuyu Sato and Ritsuka Uenoyama — given
Mafuyu Sato and Ritsuka Uenoyama are drawn together through a mutual love of music: Ritsuka is a talented guitarist, and Mafuyu is a gifted singer.
Once Mafuyu joins Ritsuka’s band, their relationship is not always harmonious, but it is presented earnestly and seriously throughout the anime. Eventually, there is little room for ambiguity. The two kiss in episode 9 and verbally confess their feelings for one another in episode 11.
Their same-gender relationship is therefore clearly confirmed in the story.
The matter-of-fact way their romance is portrayed is a major selling point of this anime.
Sasaki Shuumei and Miyano Yoshikazu — Sasaki and Miyano
The pair in this anime enjoy a clearly established slow-burn relationship.
The two initially bond over Sasaki Shuumei’s curiosity about Miyano Yoshikazu’s interest in Boys Love (BL) manga — something Miyano is shy to confess. As they spend more time together and share reading materials, Miyano slowly begins to wonder whether Sasaki is actually developing feelings for him.
Eventually, Miyano discovers that Sasaki does like him and has to work up the courage to confess before the two finally get together.
Though our protagonists’ interest in BL is not an indicator of their — or anyone’s — sexuality, it is fun that their relationship in a BL anime develops alongside their appreciation of BL manga.
More LGBTQ+ Anime Coverage
Hopefully you’ve found some characters and relationships you can identify with, or whose stories you now want to watch.
For more on gay anime, follow our link here to find news, reviews, and impressions.
You can also find lesbian anime impressions, reviews, and news here.
