A reboot of the beloved Space Battleship Yamato series popularized in the 70s, Space Battleship Yamato 2199 takes a classic anime and makes it better. Set in a bleak future where humanity is on the ropes after being nearly extinguished by aliens from Gamilias, Earth is a radioactive shell of its former beauty. Mankind ekes out a grim existence underground until a benevolent alien race from the planet Iscandar intervenes, and provides blueprints for an advanced spaceship capable of traversing the galaxy to search for humanity’s last hope, the Cosmo Reverse System. The United Nations Cosmo Navy uses this technology to resurrect the iconic Japanese WWII flagship, the Yamato, and send a brave crew to search the galaxy, all the while testing their mettle against the tenacious, ruthless Gamilians. Outside of the space-age action, this show has a lot going for it, particularly the way it explores both sides of the conflict, on the battlefield and politically.

Set in a future timeline of Earth dubbed the “Toward Stars Era,” humanity discovers the secrets to Faster-Than-Light space travel after an asteroid containing a mysterious mineral crashes into a Chinese desert. As mankind explores the vast “new west” of space, outlaws, assassins and pirates abound, and it isn’t long before four major powers stake their claims on astral frontiers, and impose a type of order. Outlaw Star is a space opera/western that has aged incredibly well. The main characters, led by roguish jack-of-all-trades Gene Starwind, traverse the galaxy in their state-of-the-art pirate ship, the “Outlaw Star,” taking on all sorts of odd jobs while on the run from the powers that be, and at the same time, are on the hunt for the galaxy’s reputedly greatest treasure, the “Galactic Leyline.” With a memorable cast of characters and a great atmosphere, it’s easy to see how this show helped popularize the genre for Western audiences.

Knights of Sidonia is a sci-fi anime set in an idyllic, somewhat dystopian future where the last vestiges of humanity survive in space, adrift on “seed ships” crafted from the remains of an Earth destroyed by giant, shape-shifting aliens called “Gauna.” Unable to communicate with the “Gauna,” humans have no choice but to battle for survival in giant mechs called “Gardes” to change the fate of humanity. It follows the story of Nagate Tanikaze, a human raised below the surface of the seed ship Sidonia. After being inducted into the Gardes pilot program, it’s up to him and his co-pilots to ensure the safety of Sidonia. One thing that sets this apart from other entries on the list is its uniquely brutal animation style, and the mysteriously antagonistic, almost omnipresent threat of the “Gauna.” The show deals with themes that are existential in nature, alternately contemplative and impressively violent, but always mature, such as what it means to be human, and the tensions that arise with social castes. Plus, talking bears!

Legend of the Galactic Heroes is one of the longest-running anime series in history, and highly regarded by space anime aficionados, and it’s easy to see why. The series takes place in our very own Milky Way galaxy, in a distant future where humans have expanded their dominion through the terraforming of planets. There are two major powers engaged in a seemingly endless conflict for dominance; the Galactic Empire and the Free Planets Alliance. The drama of the series unfolds from two perspectives, the Empire’s coldly ambitious hero, the “Golden Lion” Reinhard von Lohengramm, and the Alliance’s compassionate, tactical genius Yang Wen-Li. The two engage in epic space battles centered on their mutual respect for their opponent’s military prowess, while the series explores the more subtle political conflict that is the foundation for the war itself. Although the animation style is a bit dated, the show has a very humanizing element expressed through its characters, and isn’t afraid to address questions that are still relevant in our constantly shifting political landscape.

While most anime set in space center around epic battles and vast, galaxy-wide conflict, amidst it all is an unsung hero that almost no one mentions – the garbage man. In an environment where all that’s keeping the cold, heartless void from devouring you is an airtight sheet of metal, even the tiniest piece of garbage floating by fast enough can spell doom. Hachimaki and the other members of the DS-12 Space Debris Section of the Technora Corporation spend their time floating through space picking up garbage to ensure the safety of satellites, stations, and spacecraft orbiting Earth. While the section is looked down upon by other members of their company, much of the story unfolds from their perspective. Like anyone stuck in a dead-end job, they all have their own reasons for being there, and grander dreams for their future. While there are overarching plots with larger implications, it’s the characters that carry the show, rather than large-scale battles and grand political conflict.

For the uninitiated, the Macross series takes place in a future where humanity has taken to the stars, living on a fleet of spaceships, searching for a habitable planet for humans to resettle and call home. The story starts with the inhabitants of the starship, the Macross Frontier, en-route to the galactic center, under attack by an incredibly powerful insectoid alien mech species, the Vajra. Like other entries in the series, the ensemble cast is the heart of the show. The drama revolves around the personal and combat-related trials of three main protagonists, effeminately youthful ace pilot Saotome, space-age pop star Sheryl Nome, and part-alien sweetheart Ranka Lee. Frontier combines many aspects of the series that fans came to love with an aesthetic and production more in line with what contemporary viewers have come to expect. The love-triangle at the heart of the story is a well-worn trope throughout the series, but the slick space-age action and the more nuanced conflict help bring it to a new generation of viewers.

After the Earth was left an uninhabitable ruin due to war and pollution, mankind left the planet under the care of hyper-intelligent super computers known as “Superior Dominance.” The elite, seed remnants of humanity are all born in vitro, and forced to take a compulsory “adulthood” examination, where failure means immediate death, and passing allows acceptance into an idyllic, brainwashed community. One such youth, Jomy, is about to have his memories erased by Superior Dominance. He is rescued by Soldier Blue, a member of Mu, a rebel group of humans who have evolved with psionic abilities. Mu are engaged in a behind-the-scenes struggle against the oppressive AI that controls everyday existence, with the ultimate goal of returning to Earth, and freedom. The show deals with a lot of mature themes, including the merit of safety vs freedom, as well as the importance of understanding our environmental impact.

For something completely different in tone, we turn to Space Dandy. A space opera centered on the roughshod adventures of dim-witted, pretty boy alien hunter, Dandy, his handy vacuum-cleaner turned robot QT, and sentient alien cat, Meow, Space Dandy employs a more lighthearted, non-linear form of storytelling compared to other entries on the list. Dandy is an idiot savant; a regular at the space-age version of Hooters who one day dreams of buying out the franchise, his job is to search the galaxy for new life forms and register them with the Space Alien Registration Center. But he is a man of many inscrutable talents; in order to avoid spoilers, let’s just say there’s more to him than meets the eye. Definitely take a look at this series; it transcends linear time and space, mortality, and the boundaries of good taste in the name of comedy.

Mobile Suit Gundam Wing is perhaps among the best-known entries in the widely popular Mobile Suit Gundam series. It takes place in the distant future, where mankind has established space colonies that live under the yoke of the centralized government on Earth, the United Earth Sphere Alliance. In order to gain independence, the space colonies implement a secret program and send five young pilots of specially crafted mobile suits, the titular Gundam, to Earth. The action comes at a mile-a-minute, whether it’s in the form of larger-than-life mobile suit battles sweeping through the atmosphere, or the equally compelling drama of human politics taking place on terra forma. Each of the Gundam pilots present unique character traits and foibles, and watching them grow throughout the course of the conflict of the series, where heroes become villains and motivations change faster than a Zaku’s paint job, is as rewarding as all the silent, life-extinguishing explosions in space.

Unsurprisingly, the critically and fan acclaimed series rounds out the list. If you’ve somehow missed this show despite its meteoric rise to popularity, it centers on Spike Spiegel. He’s a former hitman turned “cowboy” in a future in which mankind has colonized most of space, and established a contract-based bounty hunting force to supplement the Inter Solar Space Police. Partnered with his former officer friend, Jet Black, the pair scour the galaxy for big scores and pick up a few more members of their rag tag bounty hunting outfit, including bombshell Faye Valentine, and a Mensa-level Corgi. The show utilizes a non-linear form of storytelling, with episodes often taking a “case of the week” style arc influenced heavily by different genres of music. Peppered throughout is the overarching plot involving Spike’s rival, Vicious, a member of Spike’s former crime syndicate and rival in a deadly love triangle. The action is as stylish as it is visceral, whether it’s a high-speed chase through the farthest reaches of space, or the bone-crunching kung-fu taking place on the ground. Episodes encompass a wide variety of mature themes, but comedic beats prove the show doesn’t take itself too seriously. Check it out, space cowboy.

Naruto Shippuden is an anime most might say is normal but it’s fairly common to start a discussion with the friends about what the anime really is about. It’s like a mix of wizards and ninjas. With ninjas turning themselves into girls using the sexy no jutsu and other clans having the power to see the energy which flows through your body. We have other characters who have made themselves into puppets or even changed bodies in order to live forever. So in other words, this is perhaps not such a normal anime after all.

Now here comes a ‘wtf’ anime. It seems like a normal action anime, cool name and all. We’ve got Qwaser, people who use special powers in order to battle each other. Seems pretty normal thus far right? But this is where this anime goes beyond the concept of weirdness. It’s a creative way of doing things, I’ll give ‘em that, but here is what makes the anime weird: in order to get energy for these powers which the characters use, they have to drink breast milk. This seems odd and one starts to wonder if they didn’t get any while growing up as a baby. Lot’s of questions arise, but then again, anime can be pretty weird sometimes.

There’s some things which make Lucky Star weird in a lot of ways. Firstly, it might be that Lucky Star is an anime which is about... Nothing. There is actually no story surrounding this anime. But we can also look into the fact that it has a girl who loves adult video games and anime/manga. Before she turned eighteen, she borrowed the adult video games her father bought. So there are a few questions about how healthy the relationship between her and her dad is and so on. But it’s mostly a weird anime just because of the story and because of Konata’s hobbies.

This is perhaps one of the more weird anime out there. Basically, it’s an anime about a female character sleeping while the camera shows different spots of her half-naked body, panties and everything. While she sleeps very adorably, the viewer just looks and listens to the cute sounds she makes while dreaming. It’s a good choice for a different and weird anime. In short, it’s an anime for otaku who want a girl sleeping next to them.

Teenage Ninja Turtles is the first thing you should think of here, but instead of turtles throw in some cats who are samurai and instead of a big love for pizza, these cats work at a pizza joint. There isn’t much more that needs to be said about this anime, it’s pretty easy to see why this anime makes it onto this list.

We see it all the time, anime about sports and card games. Yakitate Japan is more into the food genre; bread is the name. What makes this anime weird is because of the in-detail way they describe the process of making bread in a funny and serious way. So why not learn a little more about making tasty bread for breakfast? And because it’s anime, it would be a hell of a lot more exciting to bake bread in Yakitate Japan !

Right away, the name is pretty weird. Unko-san is an anime about poo, translated as ‘’Mr. Feces’’. A poo fairy living on an island with her other poo friends... It’s totally normal with an anime about what should be flushed down the toilet, right? The main purpose of the anime is to present a cute atmosphere. So what do you think? Is it very cute with an island of living poop or totally weird?

Pocket Monsters, it’s very hard not to have heard about Pokémon and when one actually thinks about what Pokémon really is, it isn’t that normal because well, hey, here’s a new animal who can only say it’s own name! Let’s put it in this small ball and now it will fight for me. It’s pretty weird but maybe that’s why it became so popular too?

Gintama mixes two popular themes: the Edo period with aliens, and that is where it gets weird. Anyone who has seen Gintama will agree on that. Just think of big dogs who want to eat everyone, frog-like aliens having dangerous pets and small girls who are super strong. But that’s what makes the anime so great and funny too – it’s totally weird but still mixes in the Edo period of Tokyo into itself with all the aliens from outer space.

When hearing about this anime for the first time, most will just go: ‘eh, what?’ because we all know about the types of vending machines in Japan with food, drinks etc. But what about girlfriends in a can? This anime’s all about soda cans which transform into girls and then battle over which is best – aluminium or steel. So you decide; does it sound weird or just totally normal like your average anime show? It’s a fun and weird concept, that’s for sure.

For some strange reason, Vegeta’s reaction to the scouter results of Goku’s powers became viral. The reaction was so exaggerated that it shocked fans… after uh, a LOT of years... I wonder why. But it was used for expressing a large quantity of anything. Any situation in real life where it could be said, it was used either with the pic or just the text “It’s Over 9,000!!!” Yeah, it was funny for a while, but as fast as the popularity of this meme rose, as fast did it fall.

Something special for the otaku guys, the waifu. Mr. Kimura uses the phrase in Azumanga Daioh! and it struck English viewers. It’s just a real thing that the Japanese people say! But this meme is totally taken out of context. It really refers to the favorite female character for otaku and in a more creepy sense, to otaku’s favorite girl anime figure back home or uh... a pillow. Girls, please double-check which Waifu guys are talking ‘bout!

Spreading like wildfire on Tumblr a while back, this meme triggers something that everyone has noticed in anime, the background characters are very dull. This meme is very easy to understand and even if it's mainly used in anime, it may sometimes be used in real life by otakus to point out interesting people among a boring crowd. Do your best to become a main character!

It’s a trap! If you ever see a similar image don't believe it! It’s a meme! For some unknown reason, this blank template of anime hands holding a pregnancy test started popping up around the web. It is said that it originated on the Japanese forum, 2chan last year and since then, people started using it with any matching screen cap of many anime. It's kind of unknown, but in the right hands, it can create hilarious images!

People that know Pokémon know that Slowpoke is a very slow one. If you can’t figure it out by only the name then… get your ?@!# together. It was used on the internet with only a picture of Slowpoke in the center and an opening sentence that started “Hey guys! Did you hear…” followed by some outdated info that everyone should know already. It is sometimes also used for the same reasons but with other Slowpoke images or fan art, without the text because, well everyone should know once they see a Slowpoke!.

This is for the pervs out there. :P Any image or video that involves tentacles, vines, long objects or any other promising pose can trigger your imagination. Well someone came up with the catchphrase “I’ve seen enough hentai to know where this is going” to accompany these images and turn them into a meme! Mostly used for real life stuff or cartoons, this clearly originated in well… anime hentai! Don't need to explain any further! You know you’ve watched enough hentai to giggle at some of these! Perv!

Love is blind! And sometimes anime lovers oversee some very strange anime logic. For example, big chested, blonde and blue eyed Japanese girls? Whaaat? Ash understanding what Pikachu says? Riiight... No one can spot the similarities between Usagi and Sailor Moon? Anime why do you do this? While it might make us tilt our heads, sometimes it may be necessary for the story to continue or just to make us laugh. Just shush and let it be! Usually, this meme is a GIF accompanied by another meme of the cartoon Spongebob, the “Seriously?” face, or that Jackie Chan image. It’s sometimes used just by simply taking a screencap and adding the text “Anime Logic” to it.

Anime in real life, a classic. We’ve all ROFL’d at least once after seeing one of these. Images of real life mixed with anime characters and some bad photoshopping skills. It’s often used with political stuff, but the most popular, whether it’s supposed to be funny or sadly, completely serious: Guys together with their favorite anime girl, literally. Legit pic editing skills bruh.

Omg, waiting for the actual original dub/sub takes SO long. What to do? I can’t see this RAW, I don’t know Japanese!! Wait there’s always… fan subs! yaay! Welp, we all know that these are not exactly very accurate, many times, people translate a whole episode in hours! Many things can go wrong or… maybe it’s their purpose? Are they honest mistakes? Or is that what the character really wanted to say? The world may never know but one thing is for sure, some anime subs have become the hype of the moment and have made it into memes.

Also known as “I hope senpai notices me today” or “I hope senpai will notice me today”, this is probably the most known anime meme today. We have seen this phrase in way too many anime, especially school rom coms. Senpai is the Japanese word for someone superior to you in skill, school, or age. Often said by shy girls in anime, it has become widely known on the internet - even for those who don't watch anime. It has spammed our social media feeds with either anime pics, real life pictures with anime eyes and doodles over it, fan art, or even T-shirts. How about you guys? Did you ever use it? Is it too desperate to say? But many people use it because it’s a very kawaii expression right? Even Honey-chan uses it! Hehe. I worked hard on this, I hope senpai notices (*ﾉ∀`*)♡ .

Based on a 2000 PC game, the story centers around a gathering of witches and a student who finds a book on black magic and starts using it for his own viscous purposes. In addition to, obviously, it’s sexual content, the series has fantasy elements like mind control, reincarnation, as well as a fair share of horror. Mixing the occult with explicit, it’s no wonder the PC game and it’s succeeding OVAs struck a chord with the hentai crowd, offering something more than other anime on the market at the time. In what might have been the ultimate troll from a now ex-employee at the cartoon channel Teletoon, the first thirty minutes of a re-cut version of the first OVA entitled Bible Black Complete Version, was aired at midnight, probably shocking the hordes of 10 year-olds allowed to stay up late watching re-runs of their favorite cartoons.

It goes without saying that any self-respecting hentai anime top ten list – now I’m not claiming that such a thing exist, or that this list would fall in under that category, but just bear with be and try to imagine that it does – needs at least one tentacle r*** porn entry. Western discussions about this particular genre does however always seems to exaggerate the proliferation of such pornography in Japan – perhaps in an expression of this somewhat outdated ‘Weird Japan’ stereotype, but that’s a topic for another article. Anyway, boy peeps at teacher, teacher is actually a titular witch, boy is punished and turned into titular tentacle monster, tentacle sex ensues. Tentacles and Witches basically takes over where Urotsukidoji ended, minus the gore (and, arguably, pop-culture value and general edginess).

I was in doubt as to which sort of yaoi hentai I should choose, something light like Sensitive Pornograph or something less safe for work, and ended up opting for the latter. Based on the popular and most certainly highly controversial game of the same ways, Enzai is set in 19th century France in the aftermath of the revolution and follows a young boy named Guys, who gets convicted for a murder he didn’t commit. I’ll leave the conditions of the prison he is sent to up to the reader’s imagination, but he does drop his soap more than once. The ‘prison’ is one of the classic porn movie settings, and Enzai is the anime to choose if one’s into the Yaoi version of that kind of stuff. Though the anime is said to lack the game’s depth and plot, it still preserves a lot of elements that makes it live up to the ‘intelligent hentai’ brand.

The most surprising part of this tale of a sadistic gynecologist named Ryuji Hirasaka is not the fact that it contains enough quantities of a certain bodily fluid that doesn’t put a certain girl in a tub to shame, but that all of the titular nurses are OVER the age of what sane persons would consider appropriate for being depicted in a pornographic movie. Another ‘hentai hentai’ anime, in the sense that it’s not only erotic but also features some pretty twisted stuff, Night Shift Nurses holds the actually pretty impressive reputation as one of the most graphic hentai anime. I try to live by the rule that if something is controversial, and by virtue of being controversial has managed not to fade into obscurity, it’s at least done something right and is thereby worth checking out.

Although almost all the series on this list involves elements of BSDM, Behind Closed Doors is the best example of the genre: a couple is invited to a mysterious mansion, where the husband in question is about to discover a thing or two about his perverted sexual desires. While you, even though you have interest enough to read this far, might be put off by the overtly sexual contents of series like Behind Closed Doors, it might be worth asking: is there any substantial difference between this and any given harem anime? We have a guy, surrounded by maidens willing to please his every desire, just like the high school girls flocks mindlessly around the main protagonist in any given harem series, just without all that suggestive bullshit. Or am I overthinking things here?

A recurring image in almost every hentai or slightly erotic anime (perhaps with the exception of Virgin Night, see below) is that of the chikan – euphemistically translated to ‘Sleazy in the English title – the person which approximately 40% of all billboards on Japanese trains warns you about. A conductor that has probably watched one too many a sexual assault on his shift, who probably also is getting too old for this shit, decides to turn his train into a swinger’s party on wheels, giving birth to the mythological eponymous Midnight Sleazy Train, Crazy Train’s perverted cousin (bad pun is bad). As a synopsis online poetically puts it: ‘get ready to climb aboard… the sleazy train is COMING’ [sic].

If not for anything else, we got to give the creators of this anime credits for the ridiculous premise they managed to come up with: In a reverse China scenario, the male/female ratio is at a critical low, leading the government to issue a card for the seemingly only guy left in town – under the ‘New Sex Law’ he gets a permit to sleep with any girl he might desire, as long as he remembers to carry his ‘Free Sex License’. There’s no such thing as a free lunch though – in an obvious reference to the biblical figure of Onan, who for spilling ‘his seed on the ground’ was put to death, the ‘lucky guy’ is required to make a positive contribution to the country’s declining population – every single time. In addition to its thought-provoking story and provocative art style, Zettai Junshu has also been noted for its rare inclusion of strong, intriguing female characters, as well as its many, often satirical, references to contemporary Japanese society (or maybe I’m just trollin’).

If we choose to interpret ‘Hentai’ in the Japanese sense of the word, as meaning twisted or perverted, Urotsukidoji is probably the closest we’ll ever get. The OVA was based by the works of one of the pioneers of Hentai manga, Maeda Toshio, and is also where the tentacle r*** made its, if not first, at least most memorable appearance. Its tale of the revival of a Super God – the titular Overfiend – as well as epic battles between demons, humans and men-beasts places it in the sci-fi fantasy genre, and it also features a fair share of horror and guts, as well as, of course, tons of twisted sex scenes. It is said only to be rivaled by Akira when it comes to influential anime abroad, and even though this probably is an overstatement, it definitely deserves its status as an anime classic – Urotsukidoji is the epitomization of ‘Hentai’, in the original Japanese meaning of the word.

As can most definitely NOT be said about all of the other anime on the list, this is one of the few erotic anime that I would actually consider finishing (I’m sorry if I ruined the impression that I’ve actually sat through every single episode of all this crap and consequently lost my credibility with the hentai community). Again, the title tells the story: virgin night (alternatively ‘First Night’) is about the first sexual encounter between two teenagers that have been in a long-term serious relationship. Compared to the other entries on this list, it might seem like a light-weight, but in terms of story this is probably as good as it gets. One of the few – if not the only – erotic anime to receive mainstream appraisal, this is the anime you want to watch if you want to fool your date that you’re doing the 2015 version of ‘reading playboy for the articles’, or if you’re genuinely interested in a good anime.

The title makes a nod to the classic Taboo movie series from the final days of the ‘golden age’ of American pornographic movies, and both the original and the anime share incest as a common theme. I won’t question the questionable subject matter here, I’ll simply just recognize the fact that it in some circles is regarded as the paragon of hentai, and a classic of the genre. Now for the plot: a mother, Misako, who of course is unsatisfied with her and her absent-minded husband’s sex life, starts receiving creepy calls from a stranger, and as that wasn’t enough, she and her stepson engages in a sexual relationship. And as her younger sister also eventually gets dragged into this twisted relationship, drama ensures. As before mentioned on this list, one should be cautious of drawing any conclusions on ‘Japanese culture’ based on this kind of source material, and rather see it as an example of how a business that’s seen profit fall significantly over the past few years choses to opt for shock value to please its consumers.

Here, we have an anime about Shindou Shuichi, an aspiring pop idol, who struggles to make the deadlines for his debut with chart-topping songs. Shuichi meets Yuki Eiri, who crushes his dreams by saying Shuichi is talentless. Initially, propelled by a thirst for revenge, Shuichi completes his song but ends up diving deeper into a relationship with Yuki. There’s no need to defend why Gravitation makes the top 10 list. As a Shounen-ai fan, this anime was probably the first boy-on-boy anime you’d encountered as you began your BL journey. With its adorable pairings and storyline set in the music-industry, Gravitation sets the bar high for the rest of the Shounen-ai anime to come.

High school setting, student council involvement, uniformed boys, this anime is simply waiting for you to gobble it up. It has almost every element a typical harem anime would, which entails drama, miscommunication and romance. Plot-twist: the protagonist is a guy and so are all the characters vying for his attention. While there are multiple manga volumes that predict different outcomes for the main character, Itou Keita, the anime only chooses one pairing to focus on. Gakuen Heaven makes the 9th spot on our list because there are lots of bishounen in school uniforms. If that doesn't take the cake, then the storyline is also quite entertaining. The protagonist struggles to find his uniqueness to belong in the school and along the way, he creates intense relationships with the others. He will end up falling for the right guy (if you are rooting for the right team). Not to mention, the OP is incredibly catchy.

Manga turned anime, Tight-Rope is one of Natsume Isaku’s popular creations. Natsume sensei’s manga are always delightful to read with her aggressive seme’s and reluctant uke’s. Tight-Rope tells a story set in the world of the yakuza where the heir of a yakuza family, Oohara Ryunosuke, rejects his inheritance to protect his childhood friend, Satoya Naoki. If you like Shounen-Ai, you cannot miss this anime. The boys remain quite brutish as they are yakuza and speak with a refreshing Kansai accent! Nevertheless, audiences still get to enjoy boy-on-boy heated make-out sessions that are dribbled through out the anime. With only two episodes, Tight-Rope leaves us begging for more and we can only hope to see more of Natsume sensei’s works adapted into anime in the future!

Here is an anime that focuses beyond its Shounen-ai genre. Loveless features a twelve year-old, Aoyagi Ritsuka who loses his older brother mysteriously. Ritsuka then meets Agatsuma Soubi and uncovers his brother’s involvement in a fighting pair. Soubi being the “Fighter,” needs Ritsuka to inherit his older brother’s role as the “Sacrifice.” Their relationship develops beyond that of just a fighting pair. The art in Loveless is plain beautiful, making it delightful to watch. However, this anime makes top 7 because it goes beyond its shounen-ai genre. Instead of a typical romance tale, Loveless features supernatural elements and its characters are extremely layered (like a freaking onion). This is certainly one to check out even if you're not a shounen-ai fan as it actually has a plot-line.

Uragiri wa Boku no Namae wo Shiteru is an anime about Giou Yuki who has a supernatural ability to read people’s emotions. He becomes troubled with his mysterious powers and meets Crosszeria Luka, a sexy demon (dura). The boy-love tones exist but you really have to dig deep and read between the lines. Marking the midpoint of our top 10 list is Uraboku, short for its long title. Uraboku has almost all the elements of a good anime. It has sexy demons, save-the-world drama, fighting, adventure and (gay) romance. Plus, lots and lots of bishounens, AKA beautiful boys. Although the plot-line leaves much to be desired. So if eye candy is not enough for you, then pack your bags and head out.

So, Nakamura Shungiku probably outdid herself this time, with a short series about android dolls and their relationship with their masters. While the doll and master spiel is not new, Hybrid Child stands out as it tells the story of three interconnected pairs in the most dramatic and tear-jerking way. The first two stories revolve around the struggle between the masters and their android to find love – both incredibly sweet and typical of Nakamura sensei. However, the last story is one to remember. Set in a historical background, this arc is about the android creator, Kuroda, and his regretful love with Tsukishima, a fallen swordsman. Be warned: there’ll be sand in your eyes.

If you haven’t watched Patalliro!, you definitely must check it out. Patalliro! is an anime about the boy-king, Patalliro, of the country of Marinera. With the sudden death of his father, Patalliro becomes the heir and faces many threats to his life. As he attempts to evade death, a gorgeous English M16 agent, Major Jack Bancoran joins him. The two make a dynamic pair which is hard to find in today’s anime. Spearheading the dawn of shounen-ai in anime, Patalliro! has a comedic story with lots of bishounen. With all the current anime styles, Patalliro!’s art style is indeed unique and gives audiences a blast from the past. Not sold yet? The boys wear purple eyeshadow and they have hair so long that it touches the floor. Also, Patalliro is so sassy and witty, his gags are sure to make you laugh out loud.

Love Stage!! is one of the many lovechildren between Eiki Eiki and Taishi Zaou. Adapted from its popular running manga, Love Stage!! is an anime about handsome pop idols, super stars and a shy but talented budding actor. If you like Gravitation, you’ll probably enjoy Love Stage!! as well. The crisp and bright artwork elevates the shounen-ai genre. Now, we’re in a new playing field of character development and comedic relief. Sexually tame but fear note, there’ll be plenty of kissing. So, let your imaginations run wild. I’m sure we’re all hoping there’ll be a season 2 in the making!

Finally, top 2 of our list is most likely the king of shounen-ai. With three different arcs interchanging throughout the anime, Junjou Romantica features pairings that are not only unique in their own ways, but also hilarious to cheer on. This gift bestowed upon us by Nakamura Shungiku features three strong pairs that reveal their glorious boy-on-boy loving through much obstacles and drama. The main pair being Usami Akihiko and Takahashi Misaki, shows the most drama as Misaki fervently tries to evade Usami’s advances and hides his growing feelings. This anime is in its third season, so HURRAH! I hope it never ends. If you’re new to shounen-ai, go forth and binge away.

Sekaiichi Hatsukoi tops the list with not much gap between Junjou Romantica. Both creations of Nakamura sensei, Sekaiichi continues to take place in the publishing world of Marukawa Shoten. True to its title, this anime is about the rekindled first love between Onodera Ritsu and Takano Masamune. Both characters, though an unfortunate misunderstanding, separated in their high-school years, but are unexpectedly reunited in their publishing office as boss and subordinate. Why is Sekaiichi placed first? Most likely due to the way the story draws back into both characters’ paths and reveals their suppressed feelings towards each other. Seeing a rekindled relationship come to life is incredibly satisfying, albeit it drags out a little. Nevertheless, Masamune is the ultimate seme and it’s nice to see such an aggressive yet stoic character fall deeply in love. As for Ritsu, the way his resolve crumbles is simply satisfying to watch.