LGBTQ representation in anime hasn’t been stellar. As other media, and societies, more broadly evolve to accept and celebrate LGBTQ identities, the call for anime that reflect authentic queer experience will only grow. Netflix is known for creating diverse and inclusive series, but what about the anime it hosts? Its anime library isn’t the largest, but it still has something for everyone. If you're searching for LGBTQ+ anime on Netflix, here’s what we found.
Kakegurui
Kakegurui is a school anime following a group of girls who are exceptionally good at poker. At night, their elite school becomes a gambling den, teaching its students such “arts” as money-making and manipulation.
The show features canonically lesbian characters. This is anime, so, unfortunately, the representation might not the best you’ve ever seen, but the show still has a queer fanbase, so, if you’re looking for LGBTQ anime on Netflix, you might want to check it out.
Neon Genesis Evangelion
Neon Genesis Evangelion might not fit our 2020s understanding of an LGBTQ+ anime, but it does have an LGBTQ+ fanbase and features queer themes.
Not to spoil anything, since the series queer elements become more apparent later in the story, but there’s a nuanced male character pursuing a romantic connection with another boy. This is much briefer than fans would have liked – with some of them raging at the Netflix dub for downplaying the gay romance. That being the case, even though Neon Genesis Evangelion is an LGBTQ anime on Netflix, watching it elsewhere might make for a fuller experience.
Heaven Official's Blessing
Heaven's Official Blessing, a Chinese donghua, is currently available on Netflix. Like the more well-known Mo Dao Zu Shi, it’s based on a work by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu. Heaven's Official Blessing is a Boys Love anime that follows Xie Lian, a disgraced prince who ascended to the realms of heaven when young but was subsequently banished back to the mortal world. He nevertheless manages to ascend another time, only to be banished again. Returning for the third time in disgrace, he meets a demon who rules ghosts and terrifies heaven - who has had an interest in him for quite some time.
The setting of Heaven’s Official Blessing is reminiscent of Ancient China, and it features a romance between two male characters who are three-dimensional and interesting to watch
Cowboy Bebop
Cowboy Bebop is one of the most iconic late 20th century anime – and the fact that it features a gay relationship without negative commentary – a rarity in anime at the time – makes it popular with LGBTQ+ fans. Moreover, the show features a quirky, smart character with a genderfluid self-presentation that might have been written as non-binary if the show had been created today.
Devilman Crybaby
Like its original, Devilman Crybaby isn’t for everyone. The show is very violent and bleak, and horrible things happen to the characters.
If, however, you are looking to check out any LGBTQ+ anime on Netflix, this one features an intersex and gay character who is not what they seem.
Blue Period
Blue Period might not feature an LGBTQ+ romance, but it adds to queer representation through Yuka, a genderqueer artist. Yuka, the main character’s friend and classmate, presents in a feminine way and likes being called Yuka-chan – a feminine honorific – though they don’t oppose male pronouns either. Yuka’s use of clothing and their overall self-presentation suggest a genderfluid identity.
Portraying an openly genderfluid character who isn’t played for laughs is marked progress from older anime titles that often ridiculed such identities. It’s a bit unfortunate that Yuka’s journey is largely viewed from the perspective of main character Yaguchi, who knew them from before they started identifying as queer, and doesn’t fully understand them, often using Yuka’s deadname.
Hopefully, a potential future season will do better in that regard, as season 1 left Yuka’s story open and the character deserves so much more.
The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.
The Disastrous Life of Saiki K follows Kusuo Saiki, a high school student with strong psychic powers who tries to hide his abilities and lead a mundane life. Although not unheard of, this is a school premise that’s known to work. The anime might be particularly interesting to LGBTQ+ fans, as the main character is explicitly asexual and aromantic, having mentioned that he isn’t interested in pursuing any romantic relationship.
Asexual characters are hard to come by and their representation is often associated with harmful stereotypes, so this is definitely an interesting show to check out if you’re interested in aroace representation.
Super Drags
While this is an anime list, there are only so many Japanese or otherwise Asian anime titles you can find on a non-anime-specific platform, so we did some more digging to find other animated LGBTQ+ titles.
Super Drags follows three friends who spend their days as department store employees, but are also secretly drag queen superheroes protecting the LGBTQ+ community from a homophobic villain.
This Brazilian adult animated comedy that has been praised for its political commentary and condemnation of homophobia. While some fans think the humor could be better, many consider the show a step forward when it comes to LGBTQ+ representation.
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power is another non-Japanese work on Netflix that might nevertheless appeal to fans of LGBTQ+ anime. The animated series is a reboot of the 1980s original and it features an orphan girl who is transformed into a warrior who fights evil.
The series has been commended for its positive LGBTQ+ representation, with many characters ending up in canonically queer relationships.
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