15 Best Yuri Anime Series of All Time

Yuri is a genre that explores the romantic relationships between female couples and is often called Girl's Love. Although it can be controversial, there are many who appreciate and enjoy it.

In the past, yuri-themed anime often focused on explicit and erotic scenes, portraying romance between women in a sensationalized manner. However, over time, yuri anime has developed to contain more realistic, upscale, and sophisticated narratives.

If you're interested in digging into yuri-themed anime that offers intriguing and captivating narratives, Showpoiler has compiled a list of recommendations for you.

1. Bloom Into You

Yuu Koito is a girl who has a deep love for Shoujo manga. She yearns for a love confession that will make her heart flutter, just like the ones she reads about in Shoujo manga. However, when her middle school classmate finally confesses his feelings to her, Yuu feels an emptiness inside.

In high school, Yuu encounters Nanami Touko, a captivating student council president. After seeking Nanami's assistance with a task, their bond grows stronger. Eventually, Yuu finds herself on the receiving end of another love confession, but this time it comes from Nanami. Will the romance that Yuu has been longing for finally blossom?

Bloom into You takes viewers on a journey as two girls discover their true selves and navigate their evolving relationships. Unlike many yuri anime, the romantic story between Yuu and Nanami unfolds gradually, showcasing a more mature and less overly dramatic portrayal.

2. Citrus

Citrus is a yuri anime that has gained considerable popularity among weebs. Since its initial release, this anime, based on Saburota's 4-volume manga of the same title, has generated significant attention due to its exploration of controversial themes surrounding sexuality.

The relationship between the two main characters, Yuzu Aihara and her step-sister Mei Aihara, may initially seem forced, as it stems from an unfortunate incident caused by Mei's actions towards Yuzu. This premise has been perceived unacceptable by some, likely due to the existing societal taboos surrounding same-sex relationships at the time.

The story of Citrus unfolds when Yuzu unexpectedly transfers to an all-girls school with strict rules, which poses a challenge for her free-spirited nature and her desire to find a boyfriend.

It is during this time that she encounters Mei, the student council president who initially approaches Yuzu in a disrespectful manner to obtain her phone contact. Unbeknownst to both of them, they are already step-sisters, as Yuzu's mother is married to Mei's father. The question remains: How will their complicated relationship as step-sisters grow?

3. The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess and the Genius Young Lady

Despite her royal heritage, Princess "Anis" Anisphia faced the disappointment of being considered unworthy to inherit the kingdom due to her inability to use magic. As a result, her younger brother Prince Algard was given the task of ruling.

In order to strengthen his claim to the throne, Prince Algard was compelled to enter into a marriage alliance with a noblewoman Euphyllia Magenta. However, Algard rebelled against this arrangement and instead sought comfort in the company of a commoner. When Euphyllia intervened to address the situation, Algard abruptly called off their engagement.

Observing the mistreatment of her brother's former fiancé, Anisphia came up with a plan to fix Euphyllia's damaged reputation. Drawing upon her knowledge of "magicology" derived from memories of Anisphia's past life, she and Euphyllia embarked on a journey to alter the kingdom's future.

4. If My Favorite Pop Idol Made It to the Budokan, I Would Die

Eripiyo, a girl who received a concert flyer from ChamJam member Maina Ichii, instantly fell in love with her. She even attended one of their local concerts by chance, confirming her determination to support Maina.

Eripiyo's distinct appearance, dressed in a red tracksuit, sets her apart as an unmatched fan of Maina. Despite Maina occasionally treating her with coldness, Eripiyo is determined in her mission to help her idol reach the grand stage of Budoukan, a prestigious Tokyo performance venue.

In addition to exploring the realm of Girl's Love, this anime presents a unique narrative premise. Rather than focusing on a popular idol, it delves into the realm of underground idols, an aspect rarely showcased. The series also explores the deep connection that idols and their loyal fans have.

5. Yuru Yuri

If you're looking for a hilarious slice-of-life yuri anime, then Yuru Yuri is a must-watch. This anime, based on Namori's novel of the same name, follows the journey of three girls as they strive to establish an "Amusement Club" in their school.

The story unfolds when Akari Akaza reunites with her two childhood friends, Yui Funami and Kyouko Toshinou, who are now second-year high school students.

Since their first year, Yui and Kyouko had formed an "Amusement Club" with the aim of providing entertainment to its members. They now extend an invitation to Akari, urging her to join them. This anime shows their daily lives in the "Amusement Club" brimming with laughter.

6. Adachi and Shimamura

The yuri genre has often been criticized for its perceived emphasis on the sexual aspects of female relationships. However, there has been a shift in recent years towards producing yuri anime and manga with more subtle and realistic storytelling. Adachi and Shimamura exemplify this trend.

Blending elements of Girl's Love and Friendship, the bond that develops between the two main protagonists in this anime unfolds gradually, mirroring real-life connections. It all begins when Sakura Adachi and Hougetsu Shimamura meet while skipping class.

Spending time together at the gymnasium until the end of classes, they start getting to know each other better. Over time, their closeness becomes increasingly ambiguous, particularly for Adachi who once dreamed of herself kissing Shimamura.

However, Shimamura only perceives Adachi as a friend. This difference in feelings leads to a platonic relationship between the two. Now, the question arises: What will Adachi do? Will she risk confessing her feelings to Shimamura and potentially jeopardize their friendship?

7. Yuri is My Job!

Also known as Watashi no Yuri wa Oshigoto desu!, this anime dives into the lives of two main characters Yano Mitsuki and Shiraki Hime.

Shiraki Hime is a girl with excellent grades, a flawless reputation, and an adorable face. She believes that as long as she maintains this facade of perfection, she will be able to achieve her dream of being adored by everyone. Additionally, Hime harbors aspirations of marrying a billionaire in the future.

However, one day Hime accidentally slips on the stairs and collides with Mikoshiba Mai, injuring her arm in the process. It turns out that Mai is a manager at Cafe Liebe, and unfortunately, due to her injury, Mai is unable to continue working.

Feeling uneasy, Hime then volunteers to take Mai's place at Cafe Liebe, a charming establishment with a girls-only academy theme. While Hime manages to be accepted by nearly everyone there, there is one exception—Yano Mitsuki, who makes her fearful. How will Hime's journey develop at the cafe?

8. Yuri Bear Storm

Are you tired of yuri story that is filled with unnecessary drama? If so, then you should definitely take a look at this anime directed by Kunihiko Ikuhara, especially if you're a fan of the fantasy genre.

In this anime universe, the Earth is divided by a barrier known as the "Wall of Severance," which serves to keep humans and bears apart. This wall was constructed after the Kumaria asteroid exploded, leading to bears descending upon the Earth and suddenly attacking humans.

Within the human world, two bears managed to infiltrate the Wall of Severance and now live among humans as students at Arashigaoka Academy. Initially, Kureha and Sumika were the best of friends, but their relationship deepened, and they decided to become lovers.

However, their peaceful existence is suddenly disrupted one day when they discover that the human world is under attack. Now faced with danger, what actions will these two lovebirds take?

9. Sakura Trick

Although Sakura Trick follows a familiar plot formula of two best friends falling in love, the story remains captivating and relatable, particularly for yuri anime enthusiasts who prefer a more subtle approach.

The narrative revolves around Haruka Takayama and Yuu Sonoda, two girls who have been friends since their junior high days. Currently, they are both attending Misato High School.

Regrettably, despite being classmates, Haruka and Yuu's relationship has become strained. Yuu's exceptional social skills attract the attention of other students, which triggers feelings of jealousy in Haruka.

In an effort to address Haruka's emotions, Yuu decides to share a secret with her best friend; a kiss when the class is empty. Since then, their once familiar best-friend dynamic started to shift. Consequently, new conflicts arise, putting their relationship to the test.

10. UzaMaid!

Having lost her mother at a very young age, Misha Takanashi now lives with her stepfather. To accompany Misha, the stepfather then recruited a household assistant named Tsubame Kamoi.

Tsubame herself is a former Japanese Air Self-Defense Force who turns out to be a lolicon. Now, Misha must face Tsubame's silly behavior who tries to get close to her, while occasionally seeing the good and warm side of her household assistant.

From the plot, it is very clear that this anime presents a comedy-studded yuri story. Tsubame's witty behavior as a lolicon is sure to tickle the audience's funny bone. Despite initial perceptions of "creepiness," Tsubame genuinely holds sincere feelings for Misha and sincerely desires to contribute to her personal growth.

11. Happy Sugar Life

Unlike other yuri-themed anime that typically revolve around safe genres like slice of life, fantasy, drama, and romance, there are some yuri anime that explore darker premises, offering adrenaline-inducing moments with gore scenes and surprising twists.

Happy Sugar Life fits this description. It initially presents a seemingly pleasant story centered around our main protagonist Satou Matsuzaka, a beautiful high school student who possesses the ability to effortlessly attract men.

However, little did anyone expect that Satou would undergo a disturbing transformation in order to protect a young girl named Shio Koube, who now resides in her apartment. Justifying her actions as acts of love towards Shio, Satou becomes willing to engage in theft, deception, and even murder to safeguard their life together.

12. Mikagura School Suite

Based on the Vocaloid song project series Last Note, this anime, originally titled Mikagura Gakuen Kumikyoku, combines a magical battle narrative among high school students with a yuri theme. Our main character Eruna Ichinomiya experiences love at first sight with a fellow student in her school.

The story begins when Eruna decides to enroll in Mikagura High School after being fascinated by Seisa Mikagura in the school's promotional pamphlet. Besides her desire to approach her dream girl, Eruna is also drawn to the school due to its charming uniforms.

However, Eruna's expectations change dramatically once she starts attending the school. There, students must join clubs and compete against one another as representatives to attain higher rankings. Those who win will be rewarded with food and housing.

Eruna, who was previously a girl who spent all of her time playing video games, is now required to follow these rules. Unexpectedly, she is even selected to represent the club in the competition. Will Eruna win in these inter-club battles?

13. Riddle Story of Devil

What will you do when an entire class at school makes you their murder target? This terrifying situation strikes Haru Ichinose, a student at Myoujou Academy known for her sweet and kind nature. Haru didn't know that she becomes the target of murder by 12 of her classmates, one of whom is her roommate named Tokaku Azuma.

Riddle Story of Devil initially centers around Tokaku Azuma, a female assassin who transfers to the prestigious all-girls school Myoujou Academy. Believing it to be an ordinary school, Tokaku soon discovers that she, along with her classmates, has been assigned the task of eliminating Haru.

The school promises to grant the wish of whoever succeeds in killing Haru. However, each student has only one chance to complete the task, and failure results in immediate expulsion from the academy.

Initially being a part of the group targeting Haru, Tokaku's goal start to shift as she develops strong feelings for her roommate. She then switches sides and makes a promise to protect Haru.

14. Inugami-san to Nekoyama-san

Short anime or anime that has a very short duration is gaining popularity in the anime industry these days. As a result, numerous titles have emerged in this format, offering a breath of fresh air for otakus and weebs. Inugami-san to Nekoyama-san is among these anime series.

This anime centers around the romance between two high school girls who possess contrasting personalities, providing an entertaining experience filled with delightful absurdity.

The story focuses on Suzu Nekoyama, a shy and reserved or tsundere girl with a strong affinity for dogs; and her classmate Yachiyo Inugami, a sociable girl with a love for cats, who embraces her masochistic tendencies.

From the moment they cross paths, an undeniable attraction sparks between them. Inugami takes the initiative to approach the timid Nekoyama, employing rather forceful methods. Their friend, Aki Hiragi, steps in to help nurture a more conventional relationship between the two.

15. Netsuzou TRap

This anime follows the romance between Mizushina Hotaru and Okazaki Yuma. Both are childhood friends who already have lovers.

Yuma is dating Takeda, while Hotaru is dating Fujiwara. Both couples feel their lives are perfect, and often go on dates together. But on one double date, Hotaru made an unexpected move.

When Takeda and Fujiwara's attention was distracted, Hotaru started caressing Yuma's thigh suddenly. Surprised by the unexpected action, Yuma awkwardly went to the toilet. Hotaru also went to follow Yuma.

There, Hotaru pushed Yuma into the toilet cubicle and locked it. She then forced Yuma who was still surprised and whispered that she would help her overcome her anxiety around men.

After that incident, the two realized that they had special feelings for each other. Feelings that exceeded the love for their respective boyfriends.

Those are recommendations for an engaging and captivating yuri anime with an intriguing plot. The story is not only thrilling but also accompanied by stunning graphics and visuals, truly a feast for the eyes of the viewers.

While it's true that some yuri anime may be categorized as explicit due to the presence of mature content, there are also many that beautifully portray the romance of Girl's Love without relying on such elements. These anime provide a comfortable watching experience, allowing audiences to fully immerse themselves in the story.

Which of the recommended yuri anime has grabbed your attention? Please leave your answer in the comments!