What is this genre all about? Shounen Ai means boys love, and thus explores what happens when two boys (or men) fall in love. This is not to be mistaken for Yaoi which is (or, at least, how this term is often used by the western audience) used in adult works. This is not; that means there is no graphical sex.
The female version is Shoujo Ai.
We present you the list of Shounen Ai anime you should watch right now.
Try our anime quiz: Anime Characters Guessing Quiz/Game
Top 20 Shounen Ai anime you should watch right now. [2026 List]
- 20. Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu
- 19. Given
- 18. Ganbare! Nakamura-kun!!
- 17. Yuri!!! on Ice
- 16. Sasaki to Miyano
- 15. Umibe no Étranger
- 14. 30-sai made Doutei da to Mahou Tsukai ni Nareru Rashii
- 13. Given: Uragawa no Sonzai
- 12. Given: Umi e
- 11. 30-sai made Doutei da to Mahou Tsukai ni Nareru Rashii: Tokubetsu-hen
- 10. No.6
- 9. Given: The Movie
- 8. Someone Else's BL Comic Animation
- 7. Tadaima, Okaeri
- 6. Ai no Kusabi (2012)
- 5. Kyojinzoku no Hanayome
- 4. Osakana wa Ami no Naka
- 3. DRAMAtical Murder
- 2. Hitorijime My Hero
- 1. Super Lovers
20. Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu
Two best friends living in a rural Japanese village: Yoshiki and Hikaru. Growing up together, they were inseparable… until the day Hikaru came back from the mountains, and was no longer himself. “Something” has taken over Hikaru’s body, memories, feelings… and everything they know begins to unravel.
The Summer Hikaru Died has finished airing and it has 12 Episodes. It is also Known as: 光が死んだ夏, Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu
19. Given
Somehow, the guitar that he used to love to play and the basketball games that he found so fun just lost their appeal... That was until Ritsuka Uenoyama randomly met Mafuyu Sato. Ritsuka had started losing his passion for music in his everyday life, but then he hears Mafuyu sing for the first time. The song resonates with his heart and the distance between them starts to change.
given has finished airing and it has 11 Episodes. It is also Known as: ギヴン, Given
18. Ganbare! Nakamura-kun!!
Nakamura is a shy boy who falls in love at first sight with one of his classmates–his dreamy high school classmate, Hirose. But there's a problem: they haven't met yet. And Nakamura is a total klutz who might bungle things before they even begin!
Go For It, Nakamura-kun!! has not yet aired. It will air on April 2, 2026. It is also Known as: ガンバレ！中村くん！！, Ganbare! Nakamura-kun!!
17. Yuri!!! on Ice
Reeling from his crushing defeat at the Grand Prix Finale, Yuuri Katsuki, once Japan's most promising figure skater, returns to his family home to assess his options for the future. At age 23, Yuuri's window for success in skating is closing rapidly, and his love of pork cutlets and aptitude for gaining weight are not helping either.
However, Yuuri finds himself in the spotlight when a video of him performing a routine previously executed by five-time world champion, Victor Nikiforov, suddenly goes viral. In fact, Victor himself abruptly appears at Yuuri's house and offers to be his mentor. As one of his biggest fans, Yuuri eagerly accepts, kicking off his journey to make it back onto the world stage. But the competition is fierce, as the rising star from Russia, Yuri Plisetsky, is relentlessly determined to defeat Yuuri and win back Victor's tutelage.
Yuri!!! On ICE has finished airing and it has 12 Episodes. It is also Known as: ユーリ!!! on ICE, Yuri!!! on Ice
16. Sasaki to Miyano
Miyano spends his days peacefully reading Boys' Love comics and worrying about how girly his face is-until a chance encounter leads to a scuffle with his senior Sasaki. Intrigued by his feisty junior Miyano, delinquent Sasaki uses every opportunity he can to get closer...
Sasaki and Miyano has finished airing and it has 12 Episodes. It is also Known as: 佐々木と宮野, Sasaki to Miyano
15. Umibe no Étranger
"There's nothing wrong with liking another guy."
To be in the arms of the person I love... I thought that was an unattainable dream...
On an island off the coast of Okinawa, two young men meet on a beach. Shun Hashimoto is gay and aspires to be a novelist. He is interested in Mio Chibana, a somber high school student, and starts to flirt with him. Day by day, the two of them grow closer, but then, suddenly, Mio decides to leave the island.
Three years later, Mio returns and approaches Shun with the words, "I've thought about it for the past three years. I like you, Shun, even if you're a guy." However, when faced with the prospect of finally becoming lovers with Mio, Shun cannot take the first step towards commitment. This is a tantalizing love story about a gay novelist and a younger part-time worker.
The Stranger by the Shore has finished airing and it has 1 Episodes. It is also Known as: 海辺のエトランゼ, L' étranger du plage, The Stranger by the Beach, Umibe no Etranger, L'Étranger de la plage, Seaside Stranger
14. 30-sai made Doutei da to Mahou Tsukai ni Nareru Rashii
Adachi's 30th birthday as a virgin came with the oddest gift—the ability to read the mind of anyone he touches. Pondering what to do with this mysterious power, he gets a lead when he accidentally reads his colleague Kurosawa's mind. Turns out the handsome hotshot of the sales team has got a thing for him! How will Adachi respond to overhearing these affectionate thoughts?
Cherry Magic! Thirty Years of Virginity Can Make You a Wizard?! has finished airing and it has 12 Episodes. It is also Known as: 30歳まで童貞だと魔法使いになれるらしい, 30-sai made Doutei da to Mahou Tsukai ni Nareru Rashii
13. Given: Uragawa no Sonzai
OVA bundled with the Given manga's seventh volume, as a limited edition bonus.
Given OVA has finished airing and it has 1 Episodes. It is also Known as: ギヴン うらがわの存在, Given OAD, [given] Can't Say Goodbye, I'm Still Drifting With Your Echoes.
12. Given: Umi e
Sequel to Given: Hiiragi mix.
Given: Umi e has finished airing and it has 1 Episodes. It is also Known as: ギヴン 海へ, Given Movie 3, Given: To the Sea
11. 30-sai made Doutei da to Mahou Tsukai ni Nareru Rashii: Tokubetsu-hen
Movie compiling 30-sai made Doutei da to Mahou Tsukai ni Nareru Rashii.
Cherry Magic! Thirty Years of Virginity Can Make You a Wizard?! Movie has finished airing and it has 1 Episodes. It is also Known as: 30歳まで童貞だと魔法使いになれるらしい 特別編, 30-sai made Doutei da to Mahou Tsukai ni Nareru Rashii: Tokubetsu-hen
10. No.6
Many years ago, after the end of a bloody world war, mankind took shelter in six city-states that were peaceful and perfect... at least on the surface. However, Shion—an elite resident of the city-state No. 6—gained a new perspective on the world he lives in, thanks to a chance encounter with a mysterious boy, Nezumi. Nezumi turned out to be just one of many who lived in the desolate wasteland beyond the walls of the supposed utopia. But despite knowing that the other boy was a fugitive, Shion decided to take him in for the night and protect him, which resulted in drastic consequences: because of his actions, Shion and his mother lost their status as elites and were relocated elsewhere, and the darker side of the city began to make itself known.
Now, a long time after their life-altering first meeting, Shion and Nezumi are finally brought together once again—the former elite and the boy on the run are about to embark on an adventure that will, in time, reveal the shattering secrets of No. 6.
No. 6 has finished airing and it has 11 Episodes. It is also Known as: NO.6［ナンバー・シックス］, Number Six, Number 6, No. Six
9. Given: The Movie
While the TV anime focused on the band given's guitarist Ritsuka Uenoyama and his high school classmate Mafuyu Sato, the film centers on the love relationship among the band's bassist Haruki Nakayama, drummer Akihiko Kaji, and Akihiko's roommate and ex-boyfriend Ugetsu Murata.
Given: The Movie has finished airing and it has 1 Episodes. It is also Known as: Eiga Given, 映画 ギヴン, Given: The Movie
8. Someone Else's BL Comic Animation
Seunghee may seem like a regular high school boy, but he’s got a few secrets: he loves to cross-dress and read BL comics. He’s looking for a match that will accept him, but it’s classmate Seungtaek who spies him on a date gone bad. Now that someone at school knows he’s gay, can Seunghee’s life remain ordinary the way he likes it?
Someone Else's BL Comic Animation has finished airing and it has 12 Episodes. It is also Known as: Someone Else's BL Comic Animation
7. Tadaima, Okaeri
Masaki Fujiyoshi is a stay-at-home spouse and parent. He has fought long and hard with feelings of being a burden to his loving husband, Hiromu, due to his status as an omega—and the difficulty they faced to achieve this domesticity. When their son, Hikari, was born, the family moved to an area better suited for raising children.
Despite their newfound domestic bliss, the family's ties to their past are in tatters. There are people they left behind to pursue the creation of their happy family, and when they begin to return, Masaki and Hiromu aren't quite sure they have good intentions.
Welcome Back, I'm Home has finished airing and it has 12 Episodes. It is also Known as: ただいま、おかえり, Tadaima, Okaeri
6. Ai no Kusabi (2012)
The story is set in the future on the planet named Amoi which is controlled by a supercomputer named Jupiter. Among the mostly male human population, the light-haired elite class is allowed to temporarily keep the dark-haired "mongrels" as pets. One elite member, Iason, encounters a mongrel named Riki in the slums and decides to take him in. However, Iason keeps Riki longer than it is socially approved, and rumors abound about their possible relationship.
Ai no Kusabi (2012) has finished airing and it has 4 Episodes. It is also Known as: 間の楔, Ai no Kusabi (2012)
5. Kyojinzoku no Hanayome
"If you're a giant and a dwarf, you might be pregnant with men?"
One day, Kouichi, a boy's school student, is summoned to another world while masturbating. It's a giant's country where a much larger race lives. The first prince of the country, Kaius, who appears in front of him, enthusiastically stared at Kouichi and proposed, "I want you to be my bride and give birth to my baby" ...!?
The Titan's Bride has finished airing and it has 9 Episodes. It is also Known as: 巨人族の花嫁, Kyojinzoku no Hanayome
4. Osakana wa Ami no Naka
Osakana wa Ami no Naka is a story based on manga by Nekokichi Ranma about Tsukamoto Yuuji, a young businessman and great swimmer, and Matsui Takahiro, who is still attending school and is also a beginner in swimming.
Fish in the Trap has finished airing and it has 1 Episodes. It is also Known as: おさかなはあみの中, Osakana wa Ami no Naka
3. DRAMAtical Murder
Some time ago, the influential and powerful Toue Inc. bought the island of Midorijima, Japan, with the plans of building Platinum Jail—a luxurious utopian facility. Those who are lucky enough to call it home are the wealthiest citizens in the world. The original residents of the island, however, were forced to relocate to the Old Residential District; and after the completion of Platinum Jail, they were completely abandoned.
"Rib" and "Rhyme" are the most common games played on the island. Rib is an old school game in which gangs engage in turf wars against each other, while Rhyme is a technologically advanced game wherein participants fight in a virtual reality. To be able to play Rhyme, you must have an "All-Mate" (an AI that typically looks like a pet), and the match must be mediated by an "Usui."
Aoba Seragaki has no interest in playing either game; he prefers to live a peaceful life with his grandmother and All-Mate, Ren. However, after getting forcefully dragged into a dangerous Rhyme match and hearing rumors about disappearing Rib players, all of Aoba's hopes of living a normal life are completely abolished.
DRAMAtical Murder has finished airing and it has 12 Episodes. It is also Known as: ドラマティカル マーダー, DMMd
2. Hitorijime My Hero
Story involving Kensuke's brother, Ooshiba Kousuke and friend, Setagawa Masahiro from Hitorijime Boyfriend.
Hitorijime My Hero has finished airing and it has 12 Episodes. It is also Known as: ひとりじめマイヒーロー, My Very Own Hero
1. Super Lovers
While spending summer with his mother, Haru meets Ren, a boy newly adopted by his mother. Getting along with Ren isn't easy as Haru's goal is to "civilize" him by the time summer ends. Their relationship slowly improves as Haru spends more time with Ren and in return Ren steadily warms up to him. Can they really become a "family" at the end of summer?!
Super Lovers has finished airing and it has 10 Episodes. It is also Known as: SUPER LOVERS（スーパーラヴァーズ）, Super Lovers
