30 Popular Anime Couples & Why Fans Ship Them

The most popular het, slash, and femslash ships in anime

Co-authored by Chris Hill and Raven Minyard, BA

Last Updated: June 2, 2026 Fact Checked

If you’re an otaku, you probably know that shipping is a big deal in the anime community. But which ships are the best? We interviewed anime experts to compile a list of some of the most popular canon and fanon anime ships of all time. Keep reading to see if your favorite pairing made the cut.

Iconic Anime Character Ships

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An illustration of popular ships from different anime.

Some of the most popular canon anime ships include Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask (Sailor Moon), Inuyasha and Kagome (Inuyasha), Victor and Yuri (Yuri!!! On Ice), and Naruto and Hinata (Naruto). Popular fanon ships include Luffy and Nami (One Piece) and Bakugo and Deku (My Hero Academia).

1

Sailor Moon x Tuxedo Mask (Sailor Moon)

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We have to start off with one of the most iconic anime couples of all time. They’re literally fated soulmates and end up together in every lifetime. Though they don’t like each other initially, their romance is simply written in the stars.^{[1]
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- Are they canon? Yes
Meet the wikiHow Experts

Chris Hill is an anime expert who has been watching anime since childhood and has seen over 800 different series. He shares anime content on social media.

Alli Oshida is an anime expert known online as Yonko No. 5. She shares anime and manga content online to an audience of over 164k.

Preston Hargrove is an anime expert who has been watching anime for around 20 years. He watches a variety of anime genres.

2

Inuyasha x Kagome (Inuyasha)

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These two initially have a strained relationship, especially since she is the reincarnation of Kikyō, a woman Inuyasha loved and believed betrayed him. As he sees how kind and compassionate she is, though, they slowly develop a friendship and eventually a romance. They have a bit of a Beauty and the Beast dynamic, as Inuyasha is cold and rough, and Kagome is warm and kind.^{[2]
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- Are they canon? Yes

3

Deku x Uraraka (My Hero Academia)

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Anime expert Chris Hill says Deku and Uraraka are “definitely” one of the most popular MHA ships.^{[3]
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Chris Hill
Anime Expert

Expert Interview} And it’s no surprise—these two are totally adorable! They’re high school friends who both have a crush on each other. They always support each other, and it was only a matter of time before they confessed their feelings.^{[4]
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- Are they canon? Kind of—they have feelings for each other, but they aren’t officially dating.

4

Victor Nikiforov x Yuri Katsuki (Yuri!!! On Ice)

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Yuri is initially a fan of Victor’s and is inspired to start skating because of him. When they meet, Victor helps coach Yuri, and together they bring out the best in each other. Victor helps Yuri become more confident, and Yuri helps Victor become less self-absorbed. Their relationship is grounded in mutual respect and support.^{[5]
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- Are they canon? Yes

5

Koyuki Zenitsu x Nezuko (Demon Slayer)

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Anime expert Alli Oshida says Zenitsu and Nezuko are one of the most popular ships in Demon Slayer.^{[6]
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Alli Oshida
Anime Expert and Cosplayer

Expert Interview} For Zenitsu, it’s love at first sight; he’s always trying to protect Nezuko and asks her to marry her many times throughout the series. Their relationship slowly deepens, and they go on to get married and have a family.
- Are they canon? Yes

6

Naruto x Hinata (Naruto)

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These two really help each other grow. Hinata grew up as an outcast, and Naruto was the first person to treat her kindly. He encouraged her to become more self-confident. At the same time, Hinata always believed in Naruto, even when everyone else alienated him. It’s no surprise their friendship blossomed into something more.^{[7]
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- Are they canon? Yes

7

Yuu Koito x Touko Nanami (Bloom Into You)

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Yuu and Touko’s romance is a cute, coming-of-age story in which they both learn to accept their sexuality. They’re vulnerable and open up to each other in ways they’re unable to do with other people. They help each other grow, as Yuu helps Touko stop living for other people, and Touko helps Yuu learn to fall in love.^{[8]
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- Are they canon? Yes

8

Eren Jaeger x Mikasa Ackerman (Attack on Titan)

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Romance isn’t the focus of Attack on Titan, but it can be a bright spot in an otherwise dark universe. Eren and Mikasa are childhood friends who’ve bonded over shared trauma. They help anchor and protect each other. They both develop romantic feelings, but their relationship ends in tragedy, as Eren dies before they can officially get together.^{[9]
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- Are they canon? Kind of—they have feelings for each other but don’t end up together.

9

Gojo Satoru x Geto Suguru (Jujutsu Kaisen)

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Anime expert Preston Hargrove says that a lot of JJK fans ship Gojo and Geto because they have a complicated friendship.^{[10]
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Preston Hargrove
Anime Expert

Expert Interview} They had an extremely codependent, emotional relationship until they had a falling out when Geto became a curse user and Gojo refused to hurt him.
- Are they canon? No, but many fans think they had feelings for each other because Gojo’s last words to Geto are concealed.

10

Nikolai Gogol x Fyodor Dostoyevsky (Bungou Stray Dogs)

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Known as Fyolai, this ship is one of the most popular in the Bungou Stray Dogs fandom. Though Nikolai wants to kill Fyodor, some fans believe this is actually because he has romantic feelings for him and wants to get rid of them. Despite this, the two actually have an intimate friendship, and Fyodor genuinely admires Nikolai.^{[11]
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- Are they canon? No

11

Luffy x Nami (One Piece)

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Romance isn’t at the forefront of One Piece, but Luffy and Nami are one of the most popular ships in the series. These two are friends with a deep, emotional bond. Their personalities balance each other out, as Nami is more serious while Luffy is reckless. Luffy also shares his most prized possession, his straw hat, with Nami when she’s feeling vulnerable, showing how much he cares about her.^{[12]
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- Are they canon? No

12

Vegeta x Bulma (Dragon Ball Z)

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Normally, Vegeta is intense, ruthless, and arrogant, but Bulma makes him a better person. He’s incredibly protective of her and will do anything to keep her safe. He’s drawn to her fiery personality, and she’s the only one who knows how to keep him in check. They may not have liked each other at the beginning, but who doesn’t love a good enemies-to-lovers story?^{[13]
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- Are they canon? Yes

13

Shizuo Heiwajima x Izaya Orihara (Durarara!!)

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Shizuo and Izaya canonically hate each other, but in many fans’ minds, that only sets them up for the perfect enemies-to-lovers story. These two love to provoke each other, and many fans interpret their mutual obsession as a cover for their romantic feelings.
- Are they canon? No

14

Obanai x Mitsuri (Demon Slayer)

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Oshida notes that these two are another popular Demon Slayer ship.^{[14]
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Alli Oshida
Anime Expert and Cosplayer

Expert Interview} Obanai and Mitsuri share a tragic romance. They bond over their shared trauma and accept each other for who they are. During the battle against Muzan Kibutsuji, they finally confess their love as they’re dying in each other's arms. They promise to find each other in the next life, and the series finale shows them as a reincarnated married couple in the modern era. They were totally meant to be.
- Are they canon? Yes

15

Homura Akemi x Madoka Kaname (Puella Magi Madoka Magica)

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Homura Akemi and Madoka Kaname are a very popular yuri ship. They have an extremely devoted relationship, even if it isn’t canonically romantic. Homura repeatedly rewinds time to try to prevent Madoka from dying, even if it means enduring years of trauma.^{[15]
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- Are they canon? No

16

Kyo x Tohru (Fruits Basket)

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At the beginning of the series, Kyo is viewed as an outcast and a monster, and Tohru is the first person to accept him for who he is. They both help each other grow and heal, and Kyo’s love for Tohru helps them break the Sohma Zodiac curse. They go on to get married and have children.^{[16]
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- Are they canon? Yes

17

Ichigo x Orihime (Bleach)

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These two are total opposites. Ichigo is headstrong and rebellious, and Orihime is bubbly and optimistic. Together, they balance each other out and help protect and comfort each other. It’s no surprise that they’re endgame.^{[17]
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- Are they canon? Yes

18

Light x L (Death Note)

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Many fans are drawn to L and Light’s cat-and-mouse game, so much so that they imagine it has romantic undertones. L and Light are the only people who can challenge each other’s intellect, and they’re always trying to outsmart each other. If they got together, they’d be unstoppable.
- Are they canon? No

19

Anthy Himemiya x Utena Tenjo (Revolutionary Girl Utena)

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This ship is ideal for those who love the “prince and princess” dynamic… but want both characters to be girls. Utena has always wanted to be a prince, so she enters a dueling tournament to win the hand of the Rose Bride, Anthy.^{[18]
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Research source} Their relationship turns traditional, heteronormative fairy tale tropes on their head.
- Are they canon? Yes

20

Roronoa Zoro x Vinsmoke Sanji (One Piece)

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Sanji and Zoro may not get along in canon, but when has that ever stopped fans from shipping them? These two constantly bicker and butt heads, which only makes the ship more popular. If you’re a fan of rivals-to-lovers, this one’s for you.^{[19]
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- Are they canon? No

21

Meliodas x Elizabeth (Seven Deadly Sins)

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Though they faced a lot of trauma, these two ultimately got their happy ending. Meliodas was cursed to watch Elizabeth die repeatedly for thousands of years. When the Demon King is defeated at the end of the series, the two finally break their curse and get married. You can’t help but cheer them on.
- Are they canon? Yes

22

Naruto x Sasuke (Naruto)

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Naruto and Sasuke have a deep emotional bond, so it’s no surprise that some fans could see their relationship developing into something romantic. They’re initially childhood rivals who grow to respect each other over time. Plus, they shared an accidental kiss when they were young, and Sasuke often recalls the memory and thinks of Naruto.^{[20]
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- Are they canon? No

23

Haruka Tenoh x Michiru Kaiou (Sailor Moon)

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Better known as Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune, these two are a canon lesbian couple… even if some translations try to censor and say they’re “cousins.” They were one of the first openly queer couples in Japanese media, and they have intense chemistry.^{[21]
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- Are they canon? Yes

24

Kirigaya x Yuuki (Sword Art Online)

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This relationship carries a lot of the story in Sword Art Online. These two originally meet on the 1st floor, then again on the 74th floor. They fall in love as the series progresses, and once they confess their feelings, they’ll do anything to protect each other, even if it means sacrificing themselves.^{[22]
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- Are they canon? Yes

25

Edward x Winry (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood)

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Edward and Winry are an example of the classic childhood friends-to-lovers trope. Winry creates Edward’s automail to help him move around, and she also helps keep him tethered to a normal life. They bicker constantly, but only because they genuinely care about each other. At the end of the series, they go on to get married.^{[23]
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- Are they canon? Yes

26

Spike x Julia (Cowboy Bebop)

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If you love star-crossed lovers, look no further than Spike and Julia. Spike falls for Julia despite her being with his rival, Vicious. His feelings for her made him want to leave the syndicate behind, and even after faking his death to escape, he never lost feelings for her. Unfortunately, theirs is a tragic love story that ends with Julia being shot.
- Are they canon? Yes

27

Touka x Kaneki (Tokyo Ghoul)

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These two have a slow-burn relationship, as they initially disliked each other and slowly warmed up to each other as they continued to work together. Touka helps tether Kaneki to his humanity, and they support each other through everything. They eventually get married and have children.
- Are they canon? Yes

28

Ymir x Historia (Attack on Titan)

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Ymir and Historia share one of the most significant and tragic relationships in the series. They bond over being outcasts, and they’re deeply devoted to each other. When Ymir sacrifices herself to ensure a better future, she leaves a letter for Historia, saying she regrets that they never got to marry.^{[24]
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- Are they canon? Yes

29

Bakugo x Deku (My Hero Academia)

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Hill notes that many My Hero Academia fans ship Deku and Bakugo.^{[25]
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Chris Hill
Anime Expert

Expert Interview} Bakugo initially bullied Deku, but as they fight alongside each other, they learn to respect each other and eventually develop a friendship. They always push each other to be their best, and many fans envision them in an “enemies-to-lovers” dynamic.
- Are they canon? No

30

Gintoki x Tsukuyo (Gintama)

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Gintoki has had a lot of love interests in Gintama, but Tsukuyo is a fan favorite. Though they don’t officially get together, there’s a ton of flirting and banter. Tsukuyo is more serious than Gintoki, so their dynamic is pretty entertaining to watch.^{[26]
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- Are they canon? No

Join the Discussion...

What are the best anime ships in your opinion?

Cedric Han
Anime and Manga Expert

One of the most famous ones is Sasunaru, which is Naruto and Sasuke from Naruto. That one stems from the way those two characters talked about each other. They were trying to portray a brotherly bond, but the way it was presented led a lot of people to ship them.

Geto and Gojo in Jujutsu Kaisen are another example for a similar reason. They tried to do the brotherly bond thing, but that one is also very boys' love-coded. This one might be the author, because the author has read boys' love manga, which is gay romance, and some people think he took the tropes from that genre and incorporated them into these characters.

For Bleach, people were shipping the main characters Ichigo and Rukia. And in this case, the characters didn’t get together in the end, and people were burning their manga because they were so upset about it. I would definitely call this one a crazy level type of ship.

There are some others that are canon, like Inuyasha and Kagome from InuYasha and Ataru and Lum from Urusei Yatsura.

In One Piece, people like to ship Zoro and Sanji. They are two of the strongest male characters in Luffy’s crew, and they have a strong rivalry throughout the series. Everyone's like, "God, just kiss already, for goodness sake."

Then finally, one that is half video game, half anime is from a series called Ace Attorney. The main characters, Phoenix Wright and Miles Edgeworth, are a very popular ship, I'd say.