50+ Gay Anime Characters: Best LGBTQ+ Representation

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Anime expert Megan Blue shares the most notable animated series with good, canon queer representation

Co-authored by Megan Blue and Luke Smith, MFA

Last Updated: July 11, 2026 Fact Checked

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Gay Anime Characters

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Trans and Genderqueer Anime Characters

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LGBTQ+ Cartoon Characters

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First Gay Animated Character

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Whether they’re heavily suggested to be queer or just straight-up canon, LGBTQ+ people have always had a role in anime, but they can be easy to miss if you’re not looking for them. That’s why we talked to anime experts to help compile this list of totally certified queer characters in anime—and we’re not talking about characters who might be queer or who fans theorize are queer. We’re talking characters who are either confirmed queer, or who make no sense if they aren’t. And we’re skipping the ones that aren’t great representation. Plus, we’ll cover plenty of non-anime gay cartoon characters!

Most Iconic Gay Anime Characters

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Anime expert Megan Blue explains that Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune from Sailor Moon are one of the most iconic gay anime couples, and the series creator confirmed their relationship. Other iconic gay anime characters include:

Yuri Katsuki & Viktor Nikiforov from the ice-skating show Yuri on Ice were the original Heated Rivalry boyfriends.
Utena Tenjou & Anthy Himemiya from Revolutionary Girl Utena are a classic anime lesbian couple who set the blueprint for lesbian characters in anime.
Shuichi and Yuki from Gravitation were one of the earliest gay manga characters (although broadcast restrictions forced them to tone it down in the anime).

Section 1 of 4:

Gay Anime Characters

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Utena Tenjou & Anthy Himemiya (Revolutionary Girl Utena) Revolutionary Girl Utena is for the girls who like girls. Teenage girl Utena, intent on becoming a “prince,” must duel the student council of her school to win the hand of Anthy, known as the “Rose Bride.” She does this by spinning Anthy into a dip and pulling a magical rapier from Anthy’s chest.^{[1]
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Research source} Yeah. It’s not subtle, but it’s also layered and nuanced, and that’s why it’s a lesbian anime classic.
- RGU is full of other characters that read as gay or LGBTQ+, most notably Juri and Shiori, who are in a similar situation as Utena and Anthy.
Meet the wikiHow Experts

Megan Blue is an anime expert and content creator based in Kingston, OH. With over 25 years of experience watching various anime and nearly 10 years creating content.

Nicole Favarelli is a film and video director and branded content creator based in London, England.
Before Heated Rivalry we had Yuri!!! On Ice, a show about figure skaters that, go figure, features a very gay couple at the heart of its story. Things start off as a coach-athlete relationship, but gradually, the two become closer over time and end up getting married. Yes, you read that right. With rings and everything.^{[2]
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Research source} Anime expert Nicole Favarelli tells us, “They're definitely a couple, and I think that that was probably the most popular gay couple that I've seen in an anime.”^{[3]
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Nicole Favarelli
Anime Expert

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Okay, so the classic manga and anime might not make their relationship explicit, but it’s definitely there on screen, with the two Sailor Scouts sharing some wild chemistry. In fact, Blue says, “It was such a controversial thing back in a lot of countries that they tried to edit it very unsuccessfully because they're always touching each other.”^{[4]
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Megan Blue
Anime Expert

Expert Interview} And if that’s not enough, Sailor Moon series creator Naoko Takeuchi shared that the two were indeed meant to appear as a couple. So it’s basically canon!^{[5]
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Gravitation is a yaoi (boy’s love) manga about forming a band, so of course it’s gonna be gay, but certain broadcast restrictions forced them to tone it down in the anime. Still, Blue tells us that “It was one of the first entirely gay romance stories in an anime... you really couldn't edit around it because it's the whole story.”^{[6]
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Megan Blue
Anime Expert

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Chainsaw Man is known for pushing both limits and boundaries, and while LGBTQ+ rep isn’t the focus, it’s given us some gems in that area. Most notable is probably Quanxi, a devil hunter who says explicitly that she prefers women. In fact, when we first see her, she’s in bed with her posse of female-appearing demons. Freaky! Gay! Hooray!^{[7]
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Attack on Titan might not be the first show you think of when looking for queer anime rep, but it’s there! For one, fan-fav character Ymir has a female love interest she regularly flirts with in flashback. Then, the boisterous Hange Zoe has an ambiguous gender, and the author and publisher have stated that any pronouns are fine when referring to them.^{[8]
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Research source} Nonbinary titan slayers? You learn something new every day.
While Lycoris Recoil features a pair of protagonists that fans speculate are gay, one of its notable side characters is canonically confirmed as gay. Mika, the cafe owner, has an involved relationship with Shinji, the series antagonist, and the two were previously parent-like figures in a past life.^{[9]
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Similar to Revolutionary Girl Utena, this is another series where, while the couple may not be called “lesbians” in the source material, the whole show revolves around one of them fighting a student council for the hand of a princess, and the two share many a tender, intimate moment throughout the series.^{[10]
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This one walks a fine line between earnest and, well, maybe a little problematic, but we put Leeron on this list because he’s openly gay, and also, we love him, even if the series does sometimes use him as the butt of a joke or two. Ultimately, he’s a strong character that fits right in with the main crew and is accepted and valued, so he earns a spot on this list!^{[11]
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You read that right. Everyone’s favorite cybernetic counter-terrorist is a card-carrying bisexual. While we may not see this full dynamic in the anime adaptations, Kusanagi goes with women multiple times in the manga, and we’re hopeful that some day that side of her will get some love in an anime.^{[12]
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Tomoyo Daidouji (Cardcaptor Sakura) We’d guess that about 50% of all queer anime fans had a Cardcaptor Sakura phase, and it’s not hard to see why, with the series’ colorful costume designs and honestly extra animations. But Tomoyo, the devoted camerawoman, is another reason, and her affection for Sakura in the series is no secret. That’s a crush that you can’t wave away as “just friends.”^{[13]
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- Yukito & Touya are a good bonus here. These side characters are depicted as loyal best friends, but it all comes to a head with a dramatic confession of love for each other that can only be, like, super gay.
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Dio Brando (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure) Look, if you ask us, there’s no point in asking which JoJo character is gay because, like, c’mon. Have you seen them? And the dramatic diva himself, Dio, is confirmed by JoJo's Bizarre Adventure series creator, Hirohiko Araki, as “going for both.”^{[14]
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Research source} Sure, he’s a total villain, but villains need rep too!
- The JOJOLands arc also includes Dragona Joestar, a transgender woman.
- The minor characters Squalo and Tiziano are also heavily implied to be in a gay relationship.
No. 6 is one of those stories that can pretty much only be read as gay, no matter how much the story dances the line of “we won’t say they’re explicitly gay.” We’re not fooled; we saw that “goodnight kiss,” and the way these two dote over and confess how meaningless life would be without each other.^{[15]
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It’s honestly kind of a surprise that Nathan, or Fire Emblem, is the closest thing we have to a confirmed queer character in this superhero series, given how gay it is from top to bottom. But Nathan, the pink-clad, gender-nonconforming, feminine hero is a great character to point to if you need evidence that this series is a little, well, fruity.^{[16]
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It’s been said before, but this mystery series is anything but generic, and that goes for its characters, too. To prove our point, we just have to look at Gwen and Miyuki, two queer characters who share a passionate (and slightly aggro) on-screen kiss. Gwen is queer, and Miyuki is intersex, which is a somewhat surprising direction for an anime character, and we’re here for it.^{[17]
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Otherside Picnic is a sci-fi mystery series about two girls who venture into an alternate world full of cryptids and danger. And while they’re exploring, they might just fall in love with each other! While the series is definitely gay, it’s also a slow burn where you have to take the small hints when they’re given, but attentive viewers are rewarded with a tender and nuanced relationship.^{[18]
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Not every show needs to be a super serious and honorable depiction of queer life, and sometimes over-the-top is alright. That’s the case with Sarazanmai, where pretty much every aspect of it is over-the-top, including the super gay villains of the series, a pair of catty boyfriends whose signature move is dipping each other into a deep embrace and pulling out each other’s hearts. GAY!^{[19]
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Section 2 of 4:

Trans and Genderqueer Anime Characters

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There’s a lot that could be said about how One Piece depicts women and trans characters, with an inconsistent track record that can make it tough to recommend. But the appearance of Yamato, the gender-nonconforming swordsman of a later arc, helps its case. Yamato is a strong character who’s never the butt of a joke, and his depiction in the long-running and iconic series is downright inspirational.^{[20]
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Skip and Loafer has quickly become on of our fav slice of life series thanks to its delicate, heartwarming handling of so many issues we all face growing up. We also love it because of Nao, the main character’s transgender aunt and guardian. The series treats Nao with respect and admiration, and she’s pivotal and central to the story, making her more than just a token character.^{[21]
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It’s hard not to get inspired after watching Blue Period, a show that urges its audience to chase their own unique sense of passion. And a big part of that is Yuka, the gender-nonconforming artist who pushes the protagonist past his artistic boundaries and shows him what’s possible when you don’t let others’ opinions dictate your actions.^{[22]
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This one comes with a huge content warning, because Wonder Egg Priority doesn’t shy away from some brutal scenes. But brave viewers will find explicit transgender rep in Kaoru, a boy who wears a jacket with the transgender colors on it—white, blue, and pink. Not exactly subtle, and the character himself might have had a rough go of life, but the hard stories are still worthwhile.^{[23]
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Zombieland Saga became something of an instant cult classic when it released, thanks to its slapstick comedy and breakout characters. None of those characters stood out quiet like Lily, a trans girl child star who kicked the bucket before her time, and now performs with the other zombie gals while trying to stay lowkey and undercover.^{[24]
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There’s been a lot of discussion surrounding Hana, the transgender character that acts as one of a trio of homeless adopted parents to a discarded child on Christmas Eve in Satoshi Kon’s holiday classic. Her portrayal is a bit zany, but ultimately she’s the star of the show, and the movie hinges on her, and also treats her character rather respectfully (even if other characters in the movie don’t always do the same).^{[25]
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It’s a borderline case, but we can’t just skip it. Kuranosuke is the cross-dressing (but not necessarily transgender) heart of Princess Jellyfish, and while he identifies as a man who definitely falls in love with women, he’s also something of a queer icon who pushed boundaries in manga and anime.^{[26]
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Like Kuranosuke of Princess Jellyfish, this is another gray-area, but definitely a queer one. Tsubakino is the effeminate leader of the Jikoku team, and while he appears to be a cis man who might be straight, his fashion choices and loyalty to his own identity make him quite the diva and queer icon.^{[27]
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Astolfo (Fate) The (many) iterations of the Fate series see historical and mythical figures duke it out for control of the Holy Grail. One such figure is Astolfo, historically one of the Twelve Paladins of Charlemagne. In the show, though, they’re an androgynous knight who’s “beautiful beyond all compare.”^{[28]
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Research source} We live for an androgynous king.
- While not an LGBTQ+ series specifically, Fate tends to include lots of rep here and there, at least in the minor story notes, with characters that often express interest in multiple genders or who identify as genderqueer.
- That said, you might have to tap in to the visual novels or manga to find that rep. The various anime series are a little more conservative.
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Kano Ienaga (Golden Kamuy) Ienaga is the kind of genderqueer villain rep that we love. She’s a trans woman who’s a serial killer, eating her victims to make herself appear youthful. That might sound iffy, but the story treats her with a good amount of respect (at least, as much respect as any of the other characters), and but the resolution, she’s become an indispensable part of the gang.^{[29]
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- Tatsuuma Ushiyama is Ienaga’s initial love interest, and while he’s not explicitly gay, it’s heavily implied that his outsized sexuality has led him to sleep with a variety of people, of all backgrounds.
We love a classic anime with some interesting rep, and Cowboy Bebop fits the bill with Gren, an androgynous veteran and saxophone player who combines sex characteristics of both men and women. While his gender is pivotal, it’s also pretty respectfully portrayed, which shouldn’t be surprising for a series as complex and nuanced as this.^{[30]
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You must have seen this one coming. Haruhi Fujioka is a gender non-conforming icon, and while Ouran High School Host Club isn’t the most progressive show to ever air on TV, it pushed some serious boundaries in its day, and its cast of (often effeminate) boys and their androgynous BFF is beloved in the queer community to this day. Kind of the ultimate friend group goals.^{[31]
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Luka is the ephemeral, delicate shrine maiden of this time-traveling, brain-bending series. And Luka’s on this list because, while he dresses in traditional feminine garb, he identifies as a boy, making him an interesting queer spot in this otherwise hetero story, and his gender is something other characters are often careful to discuss with respect.^{[32]
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Section 3 of 4:

LGBTQ+ Cartoon Characters

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Do you remember where you were when Korrasami was confirmed? We do. The big reveal during the series finale was nothing short of a gay holiday, and no matter your opinions on the sequel Avatar series, this pairing earns the show a whole lot of goodwill from us.^{[33]
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We really can’t understate the influence Adventure Time has had on the cartoon landscape, and now it’s cemented its legacy by confirming the fan-favorite pairing of Princess Bubblegum and Marceline, sealing the deal with a kiss during the series finale. They did that!^{[34]
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Okay, okay, you’re right. This list would be way longer if we really went into detail on Steven Universe, but we’re just choosing the one history-making couple that’s emblematic of the show’s LGBTQ+ themes, and that’s the duo that makes up our girl Garnet. In a show all about the different configurations of love, these pint-sized lesbian rocks stole our hearts.^{[35]
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We’re ardent believers in the power of Dana Terrace, who’s proven to be a capable cartoon showrunner with Owl House. But now Terrace has our loyalty thanks to the confirmation of Luz & Amity’s relationship, who are girlfriends. Disney girlfriends. We’re not sure how Terrace pulled it off and got away with an overt and central gay relationship under the mouse’s supervision, but we’re grateful for it!^{[36]
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For those of us who grew up watching PBS’s Arthur, Mr. Ratburn’s big gay wedding was like watching your favorite weird uncle walk down the aisle with the love of his life, and gay tears were shed all around. Mr. Ratburn might not have been the first character from Arthur who we’d peg as gay, but it does make perfect sense in hindsight.^{[37]
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We’re sure that if we were to cover every superhero animation that there’d be some more gay rep in there (shoutout to Deadpool, among others), but Harley and Ivy are the villainous lesbian couple that’s almost too good to be true, and together they maximize their joint slay.^{[38]
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It’s a bit of a risk making a spin-off series for the hypermasculine (but also maybe incredibly gay) He-Man series that includes a central lesbian relationship, but those crazy cats did it. And they did it by making the show’s craziest cat, Catra, fall in love with the titular character. And kiss her! We love the audacity, and the show itself is great rep, too.^{[39]
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Legendary Defender is a show wrought with production problems and writing hiccups, but it stuck the landing when it made the central sadboy heartthrob, Shiro, canonically gay. There’s a lot of discussion around how and why it happened, but we know that in this industry, the fact it happened at all is probably nothing short of a miracle.^{[40]
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It was will-they-won’t-they in season 1, but season 2 made it official, and even saw Piltover’s finest and the brash brawler living together by the end, which was enough to put the queerbaiting allegations to rest. It’s a beautiful butch4femme relationship, and the happy couple are the crowning gem in Arcane’s hefty crown of achievements.^{[41]
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Section 4 of 4:

Who was the first openly gay animated character?

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Jack Barbarosa Bancoran from Patarillo! may be the first gay animated character. It’s hard to say for sure, since the history of animation is often obscure and mysterious, but as far as we can tell, Jack takes the title. He debuted on April 8, 1982, and is known in the series as the “Bishounen (“beautiful boy”) killer” thanks to his prowess in seducing men.^{[42]
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- While not the first ever gay animated character, many point to Mitch from Paranorman as the first openly gay character in a mainstream animated movie.^{[43]
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