Are you familiar with anime, like Yuri anime or Shoujo Ai anime? The name Yuri technically means “lily,” but it refers to works that depict lesbian or homosexual relationships between women in the anime community. In short, Yuri categorizes stories with lesbian themes. you will like these best shoujo ai anime if you like yuri anime.
Shoujo ai is a Japanese phrase with a negative context, yet it relates to Japanese culture that focuses on a love bond between two female roles for Western audiences. It’s an anime genre emphasizing a love narrative between two girls. Other heterosexual partnerships may exist on the side, but the primary connection must be between two girls.
On the other hand, Yuri anime will contain real sex or nudity. An anime must be classified as shoujo-ai if there’s no sex appeal. Shoujo-ai anime may have a sexual aspect, but they’re usually more focused on sweet and cute girls.
Are you ready to watch the best Shoujo-Ai anime or Yuri anime? First, let’s glance at each Yuri anime mentioned below in more detail.
Shoujo Ai anime: Origin
In the 1970s, a new genre,shoujo-ai anime, was established in Japan. The first works were published in that era. Shiroi Heya no Futari, painted by Yamagishi Reko, was the first shoujo-ai anime. The piece depicted a love story between two beautiful girl students at a prestigious French institution. Unfortunately, one of the critical characters died after the narrative, which was heartbreaking. Nevertheless, Shiroi Heya no Futari became a hit, and the genre grew popular.
20. Wataten!: An Angel Flew Down to Me
- Director: Daisuke Hiramaki
- Writer: Yuka Yamada
- Cast: Muhammad Syaikh Syafiq, Reina Ueda, Muhammad Tarmidhi, Maria Sashide
- IMDB ratings: 6.6
- Rotten Tomatoes ratings: N/A
- Platform available: Crunchyroll.
Miyako is an otaku who is also a shy college student. She meets several heavenly grade school students one day. Miyako’s heart skips a beat as she sees her little sister’s new friend Hana-chan. Miyako tries but fails to get along with them – It’s about to start a sketch comedy about attempting to get along with the gorgeous female.
19. Yagate Kimi ni Naru (Bloom Into You)
- Director: Makoto Katō
- Writer: Jukki Hanada
- Cast: Amber Lee Connors, Luci Christian, Brittney Karbowski, Tia Lynn Ballard
- IMDB ratings: 7.8
- Rotten Tomatoes ratings: N/A
- Platform available: Netflix
Bloom Into You isn’t a love story. Instead, it’s likely a self-discovery love tale.
Yuu Koito, the titular late bloomer, is a young woman who has not yet known love. However, she had fantasized about falling in love since she was a child, romanticizing the day when it would happen.
At some time, she anticipated a lot on her own. But the day never arrived. So even when somebody else swears to her, she feels void.
This has prevented her from thoroughly engaging with her peers and friends, who are significantly more tolerant of her love desires. As a result, she was alone before meeting Tokou Nanami. Before meeting Yuu, she was a girl who had never known love.
18. Konohana Kitan
- Director: Hideki Okamoto
- Writer: Takao Yoshioka
- Cast: Lindsay Seidel, Yuko Ono, Sawako Hata, Ayaka Suwa
- IMDB ratings: 7.2
- Rotten Tomatoes ratings: N/A
- Platform available: Crunchyroll, Funimation
A happy fox girl, Yuzu starts her first work as a waitress at Konohanatei, a historic hot springs inn in a vibrant village full of energy. But besides Yuzu’s bad experience serving at such a prestigious institution, Kiri, the cheerful and trustworthy chief staff, immediately puts her to work understanding the basics.
While Yuzu’s zeal first appears to be a problem rather than an asset, her cheery attitude endears the inn to both visitors and staff, who eventually love her graceless but very well flubs.
Under the supervision of the other foxes—the strict Satsuki, the lighthearted Natsume, the analytical Ren, and the shy Sakura—Yuzu eventually learns the skill of an inn waitress while coming to appreciate the fantastic world before her.
Konohana Kitan tells the uplifting narrative of a cheerful fox girl who forms friendships with people and finds a home in the mysterious, beautiful realm of souls.
17. Citrus
- Director: Takeo Takahashi Naoyuki Tatsuwa
- Writer: Naoki Hayashi
- Cast:Kana Ueda,Ikumi Hayama,Tomoaki Maeno,Shiori Izawa
- IMDB ratings: 6.3
- Rotten Tomatoes ratings: N/A
- Platform available: Netflix and Crunchyroll.
Yuzu Aihara’s mother has married again in her junior year of high school, causing her to move to a different school. This awkward situation is just another chance for Yuzu, a stylish diva, to meet new people, find love, and finally enjoy her first kiss.
On the other hand, Yuzu’s ambitions and sense of style do not blend in at her latest super duper-strict, girls school, which is filled with subservient sealed and grade-skippers. The gorgeous and intimidating student council president, Mei Aihara, is instantly captivated by Yuzu’s outlandish look and starts seductively massaging her body to acquire her phone.
Yuzu arrives home tired after her first day to find a startling revelation: Mei is her new family! Yuzu attempts to be polite with her initially, but Mei’s tendency to give her the silent treatment causes Yuzu to harass her.
Despite Yuzu’s furious tries to escape, Mei brings her to the floor and kisses her before she can even conclude her speech. Mei runs out of the room as she’s finished, leaving Yuzu to consider the actual nature of her first kiss and the mysteries beneath her new sister’s anguished gaze.
16. Daytime Shooting star
- Director: Takehiko Shinjo
- Writer: Mika Yamamori
- Cast:Shôhei Miura, Alan Shirahama, Mei Nagano, Maika Yamamoto
- IMDB ratings: 6.8
- Rotten Tomatoes ratings: N/A
- Platform available: Netflix
Suzume Yosano has spent her whole 15-year life in the rural, so she is thrown into another world when her family thinks to migrate for business and left her alone with her relative in Tokyo. However, she becomes disoriented on her way to her uncle’s house and passes out.
She finds that she was brought to her uncle’s house by a weird man who appears to be a friend of her uncle’s when she gets up peacefully.
Furthermore, when Suzume initially arrives at her new school, she realizes that the strange man in question, Satsuki Shishio, is her homeroom teacher!
Suzume must now adjust to her new school and find friends as she begins her high school life in the metropolis!
15. Valkyrie Drive: Mermaid specials
- Director: Hiraku Kaneko
- Writer: Yōsuke Kuroda
- Cast: Megan Shipman
- IMDB ratings: 6.6
- Rotten Tomatoes ratings: N/A
- Platform available: AnimeDao
Mamori Tokonome is a “mermaid” who is relocated to one of five artificial islands in a universe with five of them. A freshly transferred girl called Mirei Shikishima helps Mamori when she is assaulted.
On the other hand, the opponent does not back down, and the two are quickly trapped. Mirei brings pleasure to Mamori, and Mamori transforms into a blade, just when they think all hope is lost. Mirei then takes up her sword and attacks their foes.
14. Candy Boy
- Director: Takafumi Hoshikawa
- Writer: Hiro Tōge
- Cast:Julien Bouanich, Chloé Berthier,Marie-Christine Darah, Aymen Saïdi
- IMDB ratings: 5.1
- Rotten Tomatoes ratings: N/A
- Platform available: Gogoanime
Candy Boy anime is a tale about Yukino and Kanade Sakurai, twin sisters who reside in the same dorm in high school. Regardless of the thing, that they are siblings, they enjoy a love connection and go on rendezvous. One day, Kanade observes Yukino socialising with a lady, Sakuya Kamiyama.
After observing how much time they share around each other, Kanade suspects they’re romancing and starts to isolate herself from her sibling. Yukino notices right away and begs Kanade not to go. Sakuya has only been seeking advice on Kanade, demonstrating her obsessive affection for her.
What will happen as a result of this love triangle?
13. Kannazuki no Miko (Destiny of the Shrine Maiden)
- Director: Tetsuya Yanagisawa
- Writer: Sumio Uetake
- Cast:Ayako Kawasumi, Junji Majima, Noriko Shitaya, Michelle Ruff
- IMDB ratings: 6.7
- Rotten Tomatoes ratings: N/A
- Platform available: Youtube.
Kannazuki no Miko commences in Mahoroba, a village where both humans and nature flow at a relaxed pace. 2 students from the elite Ototachibana Academy in the countryside oppose it.
Chikane is brave and exquisite, whereas Himeko is modest and unassailable. Yet, they cherish each other amidst everything, and no one can part them, regardless of how tough they attempt.
A wicked voice coerces one of the two girls’ pals into assaulting them on their common b’day, and just when everything seemed terrible, the two girls’ hidden lunar and solar shaman skills explode, expelling the darkness. However, that was only the beginning.
12. Blue Drop
- Director: Masahiko Ōkura
- Writer: Natsuko Takahashi
- Cast:Akiko Yajima, Miyuki Sawashiro, Satsuki Yukino, Akeno Watanabe
- IMDB ratings: 6.3
- Rotten Tomatoes ratings: N/A
- Platform available: Amazon Prime.
Five years ago, something dreadful occurred on Kamioki Island. Something so horrific that it wiped Mari Wakatake’s memories while simultaneously murdering every other person on the island! Mari has been forced to enroll in a secluded girl’s academy, oblivious to the fact that hidden eyes are watching her, hoping for her memories to resurface.
The worst truth of all is deeply buried within Mari’s subconscious: she could not have been the lone survivor! When something in a female shell gets invaded Kaihou Academy, Mari’s final chance may be a strange girl she is strangely attracted to but cannot trust.
11. Strawberry Panic
- Director: Masayuki Sakoi
- Writer: Sakurako Kimino
- Cast:Hitomi Nabatame, Mai Nakahara, Chiwa Saitô,Ai Shimizu,
- IMDB ratings: 6.9
- Rotten Tomatoes ratings: N/A
- Platform available: Amazon Prime.
A young redhead high school student, Aoi Nagisa, has lately transferred to the Starrawberry Dorms, girls, catholic institution, causing strawberry panic. The school is split into three parts (Lulim, Miator, and Spica), each with its president, uniforms, and extracurricular activities. After a sequence of occurrences concerning the Student Etoile (representing all 3 segments), Shizuma, a stunning, silver-haired charm who is the darling of all the other ladies, Nagisa, who is transferred to Miator, catches the eye of the whole school. Nagisa and Shizuma develop feelings for one other, but a love triangle develops. Soon after, Nagisa uncovers a tragic truth from Shizuma’s recent past, bringing them even closer together.
10. Mai-HiME
- Director: Masakazu Obara
- Writer: Hiroyuki Yoshino
- Cast: Caitlynne Medrek, Carol-Anne Day, Jordan Schartner, Wendy Morrison
- IMDB ratings: 7.3
- Rotten Tomatoes ratings: N/A
- Platform available: Funimation and Crunchyroll.
Fuuka Academy called thirteen girls to battle Orphans, mysterious monsters that can materialize “Elements” and call metallic guardians termed “Childs.” Each offers a distinct personality and history, and they must figure out who they’re concerned about and why they fight.
9. Oniisama E…(Brother,Dear Brother)
- Director: Osamu Dezaki
- Writer: Riyoko Ikeda
- Cast:Tesshô Genda, Mami Koyama, Ken’yû Horiuchi, Sumi Shimamoto
- IMDB ratings: 7.8
- Rotten Tomatoes ratings: N/A
- Platform available: Gogoanime.
When Nanako Misonoo enrolls at the renowned all-girls Seiran Academy, she assumes she has a great future. But unfortunately, she is trapped in a web of lies, sadness, and jealousy.
She’s also selected as the newest member of the Elite Sorority, an organization whose members envy the whole school. Nanako quickly attracts the fury of her envious classmates, particularly the feisty Aya Misaki, due to her absence of the elegance, wealth, or skill that the other associates possess.
Oniisama e… features a beautiful girl as she adapts to her new school and encounters cruel rumors, heartless peers, and many social problems.
8. Maria-sama Ga Miteru( Maria watches over us)
- Director: Toshiyuki Katō
- Writer: Reiko Yoshida
- Cast:Candice Moore, Miki Itô, Kana Ueda, Sarah Hauser,
- IMDB ratings: 6.3
- Rotten Tomatoes ratings: N/A
- Platform available: Amazon prime.
When Yumi Fukuzawa started at the Lillian Girls’ Academy, a well-known girls’ Catholic school in Tokyo, she never anticipated catching the attention of Sachiko Ogasawara, one of the institution’s most renowned pupils. Sachiko has now taken over as Yumi’s pas mieux, “sister,” and mentor for the remainder of her stay at the academy. Yumi is shocked by the concept—they’ve just recently met!
Yumi is indecisive about embracing Sachiko’s offer, even though the 2 of them focus on countless rumors around the school. While she adores Sachiko, being her pas mieux would require her to be the centerpiece at school!
In short, Maria-sama Ga Miteru (maria watches over us) is a must-watch.
7. Maria Holic
- Director: Yukihiro Miyamoto Akiyuki Shinbo
- Writer: Masahiro Yokotani
- Cast: Jessica Calvillo, Brittney Karbowski, Caitlynn French, Tiffany Grant
- IMDB ratings: 6.4
- Rotten Tomatoes ratings: N/A
- Platform available: Crunchyroll and Youtube.
Kanako Miyamae enrolls at Ame no Kisaki Catholic School in search of getting true love, influenced by her parents’ meeting and falling in love there. However, there is one mismatch: Kanako has gone to an all-girls school to find a new girlfriend because males end up causing her to blow out in the nest.
Kanako was pleased to have found that unique connection when she fell in love at first sight with Mariya Shidou; unfortunately, there’s much more to Mariya than strikes the gaze turned out Kanako’s 1st love is a cross-dressing guy.
Mariya vows to expose Kanako’s malicious intentions unless she hides his actual identity and to make things worst, and he switches her roommate to watch her closely.
Maria Holic joins Kanako as she searches for the lady of her fantasies in all the incorrect locations if she can stay alive as Mariya’s dorm-mate!
6. Sasameki Koto (Whispered Words)
- Director: Eiji Suganuma
- Writer: Takashi Ikeda
- Cast:Megumi Takamoto, Ayahi Takagaki, Mitsuhiro Sakamaki, Emiri Kato,
- IMDB ratings: 6.3
- Rotten Tomatoes ratings: N/A
- Platform available: Crunchyroll.
The story revolves around Murasame Sumika, a bright high school student known for her academic and athletic achievements. Although, she has a hidden truth: she is infatuated with one of her peers, Kazama Ushio. Ushio is also a fan of girl love, but she has never detected Sumika’s sentiments and has always been rejected by other girls.
5.Yuru Yuri (Yuru Yuri: Happy Go Lily)
- irector: Hiroyuki Hata
- Writer: Michiko Yokote
- Cast:Shiori Mikami, Rumi Okubo, Aki Toyosaki, Minami Tsuda
- IMDB ratings: 7.5
- Rotten Tomatoes ratings: N/A
- Platform available: Crunchyroll.
After a year in elementary school, excluding her childhood friend, first-year freshman Akari Akaza is reconciled with second-year seniors Yui Funami and Kyouko Toshinou at their all-girls school in Yuru yuri.
Yui and Kyouko founded the “Amusement Club” during their first year together, which at present holds the Tea Club’s space. Shortly, Akari decides to join, one of her fellow students, Chinatsu Yoshikawa, arrives to see the 3 girls, misinterpreting them for the Tea Lounge; Afterwards, the three girls clarify that the Tea Group has been abolished that Chinatsu decided to participate in the Amusement Club, which exists solely to amuse its associates.
4. Sakura Trick
- Director: Kenichi Ishikura
- Writer: Kenichi Ishikura
- Cast:Yuka Iguchi, Haruka Tomatsu
- IMDB ratings: 6.6
- Rotten Tomatoes ratings: N/A
- Platform available: Crunchyroll.
Since middle school, Haruka Takayama and Yuu Sonoda have been best friends and intend to join Misato West High School. However, even though they are in the same classroom, they are seated on different sides of the room owing to a strange turn of events!
Furthermore, their school is set to shut in 3 years, placing students as the last first-year group. However, Haruka is unmoved by her hardships, and she is eager to stay with Yuu and create many happy moments with her.
Yuu’s laid-back personality, much to Haruka’s displeasure, draws the interest of their female peers right away. Yuu ends up enjoying a passionate, emotional kiss with her female romantic partner in an empty classroom, sympathizing with her rising uneasiness.
Sakura Trick takes us towards a diverse range of characters and their intertwined connections, including romantic entanglements, bonds, and kinship.
3. Inugami-san to Nekoyama-san
- Director: Shinpei Nagai
- Writer: Shinpei Nagai
- Cast:Yuka Otsubo, Sumire Uesaka ,Sayaka Horino, Nao Tôyama
- IMDB ratings: 6.0
- Rotten Tomatoes ratings: N/A
- Platform available: Crunchyroll and Youtube.
Suzu Nekoyama is a shy, timid tsundere girl who adores dogs, whereas Yachiyo Inugami is a masochistic, air-headed, friendly cat lover. The two find themselves drawn to one other following an unexpected meeting. Nakayama is constantly shy in reaction to Inugami’s natural advances. Their mutual buddy Aki had to put in a lot of effort to poke fun at some of the two’s problems, as well as to keep Inugami from going insane.
2. Tachibanakan Triangle (Love to Lie Angle)
- Director: Hisayoshi Hirasawa
- Writer: Words in Stereo
- Cast:Eri Kitamura, Mikako Komatsu, Rei Matsuzaki , Minami Tsuda,
- IMDB ratings: 5.6
- Rotten Tomatoes ratings: N/A
- Platform available: Crunchyroll.
Hanabi Natsuno comes home after six years in Tokyo, bringing a flood of memories with her. She transfers to Tachibanakan, the women’s dorm, as she prepares to join high school. When Hanabi arrives, she comes across a nude beauty and immediately goes crazy in love with her. But, unfortunately, she also runs across Konomi Fujiwara, an old acquaintance she hardly recalls from her youth.
Hanabi is introduced to the dorm’s other residents and rapidly becomes the focus of their attention. Hanabi anticipates an intriguing school year as the girls warm up to the newbie and start fighting for her favor, whether quietly or obtrusively.
1. Asagao to Kase-san
- Director: Takuya Satō
- Writer: Hiromi Takashima
- Cast:Shelley Calene-Black, Ayane Sakura, Minami Takahashi, Ibuki Kido,
- IMDB Ratings: 6.9
- Rotten Tomatoes ratings: N/A
- Platform available: Vimeo and Crunchyroll.
Yui Yamada, who adores planting and attending high school, actually starts dating Tomoka Kase, the ace of her school’s running squad. Yui has never had a lover and is bashful and feminine. Tomoka, on the contrary, is colorful, tomboyish, and popular among her mates. Despite their wide variations, they try to comprehend and encourage one another while embracing the thrill of first love.
Asagao to Kase-san is a moving narrative of two girls fighting with their increasing feelings for each other, and the maiden undergoes other challenges.
