From a small sub-genre, Yuri anime—also known as Girls’ Love (GL)—has developed into a vivid pillar of anime culture. From subdued emotional ties to overtly romantic couples, these shows probe the depth and complexity of romantic interactions between female characters. We have listed the 23 finest yuri anime programs including the most unforgettable Best yuri Couples that have enthralled viewers all across in this thorough guide.
From famous classic GL animes like “Maria Watches Over Us” (2004) to fresh successes like “Whisper Me a Love Song” (2024), this compilation spans two decades of exceptional yuri storytelling. From magical academies and high schools to fantasy realms and daily life, our carefully chosen selection offers varied stories across many settings, regardless of your level of knowledge of the genre or whether you are a lifetime fan searching for hidden treasures.
Every advice covers specifics on the principal pair, original Japanese titles, streaming availability, and a sense of what distinguishes every show. Let’s investigate these exquisite, intricate interactions defining the yori anime terrain.
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Whisper Me a Love Song
Couple: Himari Kino & Yori Asanagi
Year: 2024
Genre: Romance, Music, School
Original Title: 恋に唄えば恋、咲く
Where to Watch: HIDIVE, Amazon
Couple Popularity Index: 8/10
During the freshmen welcome event on her first day of high school, newcomer Himari Kino sees the band “SSGIRLS perform and instantly finds great appreciation for the guitarist/vocalist Yori.” For Himari, it is first sight love. Yori grows to have her own “love at first sight” as Himari tells her about these emotions. Though they are expressions of “liking,” admiration and romance serve different purposes. Their bandmates’ ideas entwine as well as their paths cross and their bond grows. First sight’s love between these two females quickly starts to play out as a dramatic young romance.
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The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess and the Genius Young Lady
Couple: Anisphia “Anis” Wynn Palettia & Euphyllia “Euphie” Magenta
Year: 2023
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Isekai
Original Title: 転生王女と天才令嬢の魔法革命
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
Couple Popularity Index: 8.5/10
If you enter this series expecting yuri, you will find that the romantic progression is really natural and masterfully depicted. The love between these two characters will move you more the further into the narrative you delve.
I’m in Love with the Villainess
Couple: Rae Taylor & Claire François
Year: 2023
Genre: Romance, Fantasy, Isekai
Original Title: 私の推しは悪役令嬢
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
Couple Popularity Index: 8.5/10
First I came into this art in the serialised “Yuri Hime” magazine. Based on the title, I assumed it would be another classic isekai reincarnation narrative; but, after reading through more than ten chapters, I started to wonder there was more to it. This seems to be a work with more aspirations just veiled as a rebirth narrative.
Being a real yuri work, it delves rather deeply on problems of sexual orientation, gender, and equality. From Rae’s first posture of just wanting to “protect” Claire without moving forward, to both characters overcoming their differences—these elements are what make this work worthwhile.
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Lycoris Recoil
Couple: Chisato Nishikigi & Takina Inoue
Year: 2022
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Slice of Life
Original Title: リコリス・リコイル
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
Couple Popularity Index: 9.5/10
brilliantly created with a bright, energetic approach that accentuates youth. Surely Chisato, the battle genius Lycoris girl who never gets shot, is the most likeable character. She is lovely, vibrant, cute, gentle, kind, strong, dependable, hopeful, happy, simple, free-spirited, with every possible charm. She really has a lovely soul in addition to appearance. Her character design could not be finer; nonetheless, the voice actress’s exceptional delivery gives the character life even more vividly. I just adore her!
Aquatope of White Sand
Couple: Fuuka Miyazawa & Kukuru Misakino (Note: More friendship than explicit romance)
Year: 2021
Genre: Drama, Slice of Life
Original Title: 白い砂のアクアトープ
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
Couple Popularity Index: 7/10
Among the better therapeutic summer cartoons I have seen recently. The images are quite brilliant and appealing; this is just the kind of animation you should view in summer! Many moments of sunshine on the sea and blue sky with white clouds that are rejuvenating and peaceful are created by the delicate emotional connections, calming music, easy narrative pace, and great use of light and shadow. An idle summer friendship anime with actual healing power.
Adachi and Shimamura
Couple: Sakura Adachi & Hougetsu Shimamura
Year: 2020
Genre: Romance, Slice of Life, School
Original Title: 安達としまむら
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
Couple Popularity Index: 8/10
Looking at yuri anime in recent years, whether in terms of production nor plot, there seems to be nothing that could match Adachi and Shimamura. You still have to see Adachi and Shimamura for real yuri; it’s another true yori show following “Bloom Into You.”
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Fragtime
Couple: Misuzu Moritani & Haruka Murakami
Year: 2019 (OVA)
Genre: School, Supernatural, Yuri
Original Title: フラグタイム
Where to Watch: HIDIVE
Couple Popularity Index: 7/10
The very bashful Misuzu Moritani appears to be always hiding in the shadows and looks reluctant to interact with anybody. Actually, Misuzu longs for friendship really strongly. She can pause time for three minutes especially with exceptional talent. Misuzu watches the individuals around her who have frozen in time curiously over these three minutes.
Misuzu utilises her ability to pause time once more one day, but this time she can’t control peering at the knickers of a girl called Haruka Murakami. Haruka is quite well-liked at the school and the acknowledged beauty of the class with not only good appearance but also top marks. Surprising Misuzu, Haruka saw her peeping behaviour totally; she is strangely impervious to the time-stopping power.
Liz and the Blue Bird
Couple: Mizore Yoroizuka & Nozomi Kasaki
Year: 2018
Genre: Drama, Music, Slice of Life
Original Title: リズと青い鳥
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll, Netflix (select regions), Amazon
Couple Popularity Index: 9/10
How complicated could feelings between girls be? To be really honest, they can be rather difficult. Friends? Lover? Less than lovers, more than friends? Unlike the dramatic nature of heterosexual romance, most emotional ties between females happen in ordinary daily life—mutual attraction, admiration, dependency, trust, entanglement, being moved, staying together, disagreement, making decisions, and letting go. For adults, completing all these phases could take few months or decades at least. With the characters and musical background precisely matching, the emotional transformations from middle school immaturity to high school maturity range for the young heroes in this work from placid waters to furious waves creates tremendous dramatic effect.
I enjoy how Kyoto Animation vividly and precisely captures the delicate feelings of young women. They fear being left behind by the other more the more close and caring they are for one another. While Mizore appreciates her musical ability, Nozomi also finds great appeal in her outgoing and popular personal demeanour. Actually, they are one other’s Blue Bird and Liz.
Bloom Into You
Couple: Yuu Koito & Touko Nanami
Year: 2018
Genre: Romance, Drama, School
Original Title: やがて君になる
Where to Watch: HIDIVE
Couple Popularity Index: 10/10
This is not only a yuri performance; it also includes philosophical investigations of feelings and even human essence. It reveals that real love transcends gender—”wanting to craft a genuine love story while saving the yeri genre”—and returns to the essence of love by breaking past the limitations of yeri. Right now and for the foreseeable future, this still has the finest script.
Citrus
Couple: Yuzu Aihara & Mei Aihara
Year: 2018
Genre: Romance, Drama, School
Original Title: シトラス
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
Couple Popularity Index: 8/10
A tale of two girls with quite different personalities who both resist but draw each other. Like citrus fruit, a forbidden romance leaves an aftertaste and is sour as well as sweet.
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Happy Sugar Life
Couple: Satou Matsuzaka & Shio Kobe
Year: 2018
Genre: Psychological, Drama, Horror
Original Title: ハッピーシュガーライフ
Where to Watch:
Couple Popularity Index: 7/10
In the same line as “School Days,” this is regarded as a classic. Behind “Happy Sugar Life” comes the dark side of many people—characters with different neurotic and twisted kinds of love. The finale is obviously sad, although it has a certain terrible beauty. The story is absolutely captivating.
Kase-san Series
Couple: Yui Yamada & Tomoka Kase
Year: 2018 (OVA)
Genre: Romance, School, Slice of Life
Original Title: あさがおと加瀬さん
Where to Watch: HIDIVE
Couple Popularity Index: 8.5/10
The yuri manga “Kase-san and Morning Glories” by Hiromi Takashima forms the basis of this theatrical animation. An shy second-year high school student who loves plants, Yui Yamada is the leader of the gardening committee in her class. Kase-san, the track team star and well-liked student in the adjacent class, is Yamada and Kase meet one day following the morning glories Yamada planted and grow close friends.
Revue Starlight
Couple: Karen Aijo & Hikari Kagura, Maya Tendo & Claudine Saijo
Year: 2018
Genre: Music, Drama, Fantasy
Original Title: 少女☆歌劇 レヴュースタァライト
Where to Watch: HIDIVE
Couple Popularity Index: 8/10
With childhood friends Karen and Hikari at the centre, a musical anime about a gang of stage girls vying in underground duels for the top spot.
Konohana Kitan
Couple: Yuzu & Satsuki (subtle), Ren & Natsume
Year: 2017
Genre: Fantasy, Slice of Life, Supernatural
Original Title: このはな綺譚
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
Couple Popularity Index: 6.5/10
This is exactly the kind of style I most enjoy; the art form completely suits my taste. Combining moe aspects, yuri, daily life, healing, lovely romance, and lightheartedness—basically one of my favourite setups—the anime is really amazing. Most significantly, it makes the plot engaging and puts actual effort into the storyline, therefore transforming the cuteness from a mere bonus even if the beautiful character designs remain.
Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid
Couple: Kobayashi & Tohru
Year: 2017-2021
Genre: Comedy, Fantasy, Slice of Life
Original Title: 小林さんちのメイドラゴン
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll, Funimation
Couple Popularity Index: 9/10
The extremely average programmer Kobayashi happened to save a dragon called Tohru. Tohru becomes a maid to pay Kobayashi back-off for saving her life and moves in with Kobayashi, therefore starting their life together.
Kobayashi’s life features a succession of dragon characters with different personalities following Tohru’s arrival: the eccentric and free-spirited Kanna Kamui, Elma who has strong prejudices against humans but doesn’t seem very bright, the gentle and steady big sister Lucoa, and Fafnir who despises humans but can’t help being drawn to human-made games.
NTR: Netsuzou Trap
Couple: Yuma Okazaki & Hotaru Mizushina
Year: 2017
Genre: Drama, Romance
Original Title: 捏造トラップ-NTR-
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
Couple Popularity Index: 6/10
Dating a man called Takeda, Yuma Okazaki is a very naive and lovely young woman. Ignorant about romance, Yuma regularly visits her childhood friend Hotaru Mizushina since Takeda’s love overwhelms her. Hotaru hence starts “love training” with Yuma. The two certainly have some personal physical contacts during practice, and to Yuma’s astonishment, her heart starts to accelerate at Hotaru’s touch.
Hotaru also has a lover called Fujiwara, who is really incredibly sensitive even though he seems to be apathetic about everything. He starts to see his girlfriend’s odd affections towards Yuma over time.
Sakura Trick
Couple: Haruka Takayama & Yuu Sonoda
Year: 2014
Genre: Romance, Comedy, School
Original Title: 桜Trick
Where to Watch: HIDIVE
Couple Popularity Index: 8/10
This is an alternate, niche classic—a masterwork buried by false criticism and misguided attitudes. Hidden because of its deep-sea black tones, it’s like a diamond buried beneath lack of shine. Sakura Trick digs into the shadow of our psyche and the basic impulses of existence itself. Though its seriousness is debatable, it is unquestionably objective: future sexual psychological study may start with its insight into human nature, or rather the animalistic character of carnal desire.
Inugami-san and Nekoyama-san
Couple: Yachiyo Inugami & Suzu Nekoyama
Year: 2014
Genre: Comedy, School, Slice of Life
Original Title: 犬神さんと猫山さん
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
Couple Popularity Index: 6.5/10
High school students Yachiyo Inugami and Suzu Nekoyama’s yuri connection drives the narrative. Though her name is “Dog,” Yachiyo is a “dog-like cat person,” really loving cats. Nekoyama, who has a shy tsundere demeanour akin to a cat, is a “cat-like dog person,” and suddenly enjoys dogs. While Hiiragi, who is not excellent with animals, becomes the straight man in their relationship, the cat-loving Inugami and the dog-loving Nekoyama start their happy yuri existence with the matchmaking of their mutual friend Aki Hiiragi.
This animation is based on the yuri four-panel comic produced by Japanese manga artist kuzushiro.
Puella Magi Madoka Magica
Couple: Madoka Kaname & Homura Akemi (Subtext/Implied)
Year: 2011
Genre: Magical Girl, Psychological, Drama, Thriller
Original Title: 魔法少女まどか☆マギカ
Where to Watch: Netflix, Crunchyroll, HBO Max (select regions)
Couple Popularity Index: 9/10
A black deconstruction of the magical girl genre with a profound emotional link spanning time between Madoka and Homura.
Whispered Words
Couple: Sumika Murasame & Ushio Kazama
Year: 2009
Genre: Romance, School, Slice of Life
Original Title: ささめきこと
Where to Watch:
Couple Popularity Index: 7/10
Great student Sumika Murasame shines in athletics as well as academics. But this ideal girl keeps a startling secret: Ushio Kazama, her buddy since middle school, is the one she likes. Sumika merely silently stays by Ushio’s side; a little sense of inferiority keeps these emotions hidden deep in her heart.
They progressively assemble a network of fascinating companions around them after starting high school: Miyako Taema, always eating; Tomoe Hachisuka, appears older but has a very naïve demeanour; Miyuki Toma, a snarky young girl, and Azusa Aoi, lost in her own fujoshi universe. The girls start the “After School Happiness Club for Girls,” and daily events there are exciting and fascinating ones.
Candy Boy
Couple: Kanade Sakurai & Yukino Sakurai
Year: 2007-2008
Genre: Romance, Slice of Life, School
Original Title: キャンディボーイ
Where to Watch: Available primarily through unofficial channels
Couple Popularity Index: 7.5/10
One can image how close twin sisters Yukino Sakurai and Kanade Sakurai are as they have never been separated since infancy. The two continue enjoy their quiet and pleasant “world for two,” now in high school, until a girl called Sakuya Kamiyama shows up and disturbs the sisters’ daily existence.
Kanade incorrectly thinks they have affections for each other after finding Sakuya seems to be approaching Yukino. Managing her disappointment, Kanade chooses to stay away from Yukino so they may have some privacy. Yukino at last acknowledges her very secret emotions for Kanade as the once close sisters progressively apart. Following some turns, the two at last tell each other their affections and lead happy ever after.
Strawberry Panic
Couple: Multiple couples (Nagisa & Shizuma, Hikari & Amane, Tamao & Nagisa)
Year: 2006
Genre: Drama, Romance, School
Original Title: ストロベリー・パニック
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
Couple Popularity Index: 7.5/10
Three girls’ schools—St. Miator’s Girls’ Academy, St. Spica’s Girls’ Institute, and St. Le Rim Girls’ School—lie on a hill known as Astraea. There is one flat shared among these three schools—the Strawberry Dorm.
Full with promise for her future yet uncertain, Nagisa Aoi is a fresh student at St. Miator’s Girls’ Academy. She happens to encounter Shizuma Hanazono and is drawn in right away by her beauty and dignity. Shizuma also finds the nice and beautiful Nagisa appealing. < Shizuma’s enigmatic past progressively surfaces as emotions start to grow between the two girls and the space between Nagisa and Shizuma gets shorter.
Maria Watches Over Us
Couple: Yumi Fukuzawa & Sachiko Ogasawara
Year: 2004-2009
Genre: Drama, Romance, School, Slice of Life
Original Title: マリア様がみてる
Where to Watch: HIDIVE
Couple Popularity Index: 8/10
Under Lillian Girls’ Academy, incoming students select a senior student as their “sour,” or sister. The older sister guides and teaches the younger sister about life manners in many spheres during their time in school. The Yamayuri Council is well-known in the academy, and the female students there respect its head Sachiko Ogasawara, together with Eriko Torii and Sei Satou. Together with their younger sisters, they are known as the Three Roses of the academy and handle student council operations.
Unintentionally becoming Sachiko’s petite soeur, ordinary girl Yumi Fukuzawa takes on Yamayuri Council management duties. Her contacts with other little soeurs start a friendly and laid-back university life.
