Boys Love, or BL anime, is one of today’s most popular genres. After it has been accepted by the anime community, new shows are released on a regular basis to meet the growing demand of fans. If you’re unfamiliar with the BL anime genre, it has two sides. One for the softies, and one for the hardcore fans. It is ultimately up to you to choose your poison! The show did not shy away from addressing sensitive issues in a way that felt genuine and humane rather than forced. This anime will undoubtedly make anyone happy, as it discusses topics such as gender identity and being yourself. Stars Align is a 12-episode anime produced by Studio 8-bit, which also created Encouragement of Climb and That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime. The sports anime contains numerous LGBTQ themes, making it ideal for fans of the BL genre. The anime follows Toma Shinjou, a high school student who is fighting to keep his tennis club open. To save the club, Toma seeks the assistance of Maki Katsuragi, a reluctant but naturally gifted student. Will they be able to keep the tennis club and play one final match? King of Nabari is a show that does not shy away from broaching difficult subjects. From finding one’s personal happiness to finding peace and apathy within oneself, King of Nabari is worth watching. The anime follows Rokujou Miharu, a 14-year-old boy who is endowed with Shinrabanshou, the most powerful technique known to ninja clans. Due to his ability, Miharu is often attacked by ninja assassins. With no choice left, Miharu decides to join the ninja club at school, where he is under the protection of his fellow students and his English teacher. It turns out that they have pledged to protect Miharu at all costs as secret Banten Clan ninjas. In that regard, the anime is still deserving of inclusion on this list because it depicts the growing relationship between male characters. Due to its success, Antique Bakery has been adapted into a South Korean film as well as a Thai television series. However, the anime adaptation of the manga has been criticized for its poor animation quality. Nonetheless, Antique Bakery was one of the first anime shows to realistically address homosexuality. The anime follows Tachibana, a former office worker who opens a bakery for unknown reasons. Tachibana deals with his everyday life in the bakery with the help of his employees – the extremely talented patissier Ono, the former champion boxer Eiji, and his childhood friend Chikage – while struggling to keep his past from haunting him. Regardless, this 10-episode TV anime produced by J.C. Staff still hits differently now. It was one of the first anime shows to not oversexualize its main characters. Unlike other BL anime with explicit content, Love Stage is relatively mild, though it contains numerous trigger warnings such as homophobia, sexual assault, and victim-blaming. The anime follows Izumi Sena, an aspiring manga illustrator who was born into a family of entertainers. When Izumi was forced to appear in a commercial dressed as a woman, his co-star Ryoma fell head over heels for him. Despite knowing Izumi’s true gender, Ryoma pursued Izumi at every opportunity he could get. It is one of those shows that introduces a new generation of BL fans to the series. After all, the Ciel x Sebastian ship is still going strong. The anime is set in Victorian England, where the Phantomhive Estate’s young count resides. Ciel and his head butler, Sebastian, are not your typical pair. Sebastian is a demon bound by a contract with the young count – shaping the story behind their master-servant relationship. Fans of BL had mixed feelings about it. Some couldn’t stand it, while others couldn’t wait for the dubs. In any case, Junjou Romantica is one of those shows that contributed significantly to the genre. Three different relationships are the focus of the anime. One is about the relationship between Misaki, a high school student, and novelist Akihiko. The other is between Hiroki, a university professor, and Nowaki, a helpless student. The last and third relationship is between a recently divorced educator, You Miyagi, and a wealthy teenager, Shinobu Takatsuki.
