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 19 Shounen Ai anime you should watch right now. [2026 List]
- 19. Ganbare! Nakamura-kun!!
- 18. Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu
- 17. Given
- 16. Yuri!!! on Ice
- 15. Given: The Movie
- 14. 30-sai made Doutei da to Mahou Tsukai ni Nareru Rashii
- 13. No.6
- 12. Sasaki to Miyano
- 11. Given: Uragawa no Sonzai
- 10. Umibe no Étranger
- 9. Given: Umi e
- 8. Super Lovers 2
- 7. Tadaima, Okaeri
- 6. Super Lovers
- 5. Sasaki to Miyano Movie: Sotsugyou-hen
- 4. Kyojinzoku no Hanayome
- 3. Jie Yao
- 2. Dakaretai Otoko 1-i ni Odosarete Imasu.
- 1. DRAMAtical Murder
19. Ganbare! Nakamura-kun!!
Love at first sight is no myth—just ask Okuto Nakamura. Whenever his dreamy classmate Aiki Hirose enters the room, his heart skips a beat, despite the fact that they’ve never actually spoken. Not to mention, Nakamura is a complete klutz with zero friends. Will he ruin his chance at love before it even begins?
Note: The series streamed a week in advance on Hulu Japan, starting with episode 2 released alongside episode 1.
Go For It, Nakamura-kun!! is currently airing and will have 13 Episodes. It is also Known as: ガンバレ！中村くん！！, Ganbare! Nakamura-kun!!
18. 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
17. 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
16. 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
15. 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
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. 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
12. 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
11. 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.
10. 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
9. 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
8. Super Lovers 2
Second season of Super Lovers.
Super Lovers 2 has finished airing and it has 10 Episodes. It is also Known as: SUPER LOVERS（スーパーラヴァーズ） 2, Super Lovers Second Season
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. 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
5. Sasaki to Miyano Movie: Sotsugyou-hen
Theatrical follow-up to Sasaki to Miyano, adapting the "Graduation Arc" of the manga.
Miyano’s world of Boys’ Love manga turns to reality when chance leads him to Sasaki. Now, Sasaki wants to spend every opportunity with him.
Sasaki and Miyano: Graduation has finished airing and it has 1 Episodes. It is also Known as: 映画 佐々木と宮野ー卒業編ー, Sasaki to Miyano Movie: Sotsugyou-hen
4. 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
3. Jie Yao
Cheng Ke quit his original job in pursuit of art, and did not know Jiang Yu. He also became his tenant and started a new life. The strangers in these two different fields of work started to conflict, from mutual rejection to mutual understanding. Through hard work and struggle, they each achieved success and moved towards a better future.
Antidote has finished airing and it has 13 Episodes. It is also Known as: Jie Yao
2. Dakaretai Otoko 1-i ni Odosarete Imasu.
The veteran actor who has held the title of "Most Desirable Bachelor" for 5 years in a row, Takato Saijyo, and the up and coming actor who recently dethroned him, Junta Azumaya. Enter the cut throat world of the entertainment industry, where the two most desirable bachelors find themselves in a forbidden scandal. Based on Hashigo Sakurabi's "Dakaretai Otoko No.1 ni Odosareteimasu," first published and serialized in July of 2013 and one of the most talked about BL comic with over two million copies in print, gets a highly anticipated TV anime adaptation! The biggest scandal of 2018 is about to unfold!
DAKAICHI -I'm being harassed by the sexiest man of the year- has finished airing and it has 13 Episodes. It is also Known as: 抱かれたい男1位に脅されています。, Dakaretai Otoko 1-i ni Odosarete Imasu.
1. 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
