Articles and Lists

What are the best Yuri mangas?

Advertisement

When it comes to LGBTQ+ representation, manga has some of the best stories out there. Yuri—which focuses on relationships between women—may not be as successful as its male counterpart, yaoi, but it still has some of the most iconic sapphic romances of all time.

These yuri mangas feature beautiful and relatable love stories between women of all ages and sometimes even include other stories that are equally entertaining. These yuri mangaka also go above and beyond with their art, making fans love their work even more. Whether it’s due to their legacy, their storytelling, or their art style, some female love mangas are better than others.

10. Maka-Maka (Torajiro Kishi)

Nene e Jun em uma foto polaroid em Maka-Maka

Nene, a shy but beautiful girl, meets Jun, an outgoing and impulsive lesbian. Soon, they begin a healthy friendship combined with a casual sexual relationship. Since they have very different ideas about sex and its importance, their affair is not without drama, but it bonds them forever.

Maka-Maka stands out from other series because it tells a mature story about two adults. While most anime focus on high school students who are often discovering their sexuality and finding love for the first time, this manga takes a more adult view of sex, relationships, and even love.

9. Fragtime (Sato)

Haruka e Misuzu na capa do primeiro volume do Fragtime

One yuri An original sci-fi drama, Fragtime follows Misuzu Moritani, a girl with the ability to stop time for three minutes every 24 hours. When she tries to use it to observe Haruka Murakami, the most popular girl in school, she discovers that Haruka is immune to her superpower. After this, they begin to use this ability together, forming a strong bond.

THE The premise sets this manga apart from other high school girl romances. Misuzu’s ability adds an extra dimension to the story, which otherwise feels very real. However, even though Misuzu has superpowers, her connection to Haruka will be incredibly relatable to readers.

8. The Witch Hunter (Hirose Shu)

Uma imagem de O Caçador de Bruxas.

The Witch Hunter (Spanish for El Cazador De La Bruja) revolves around Ellis, an amnesiac girl with abilities such as levitation, superhuman strength and thermokinesis, and Nadie, a bounty hunter and expert marksman. Together, they seek to discover more about Ellis' past in Mexico.

The Witch Hunter is originally an anime, but Hirose Shu turned it into a manga for the gun-toting girl lovers out there. The relationship between Nadie and Ellis is not only one of the cutest girl bonds in manga, but the series is also action-packed for those who want something more exciting.

7. Ms. Vampire Who Lives in My Neighborhood (Amatou)

Akari Amano abraçando Sophie Twilight da Sra. Vampiro que mora no meu bairro

Sophia Twilight is a 360-year-old vampire who has been living in Japan since 1986. However, she is not an evil monster. Instead, she is an otaku with a penchant for comic book conventions. Mrs. Vampire who lives in my neighborhood is a four-panel manga about his romance with Akari Amano, a girl who lives with Sophia and who particularly loves her doll-like style.

Mrs. Vampire who lives in my neighborhood is weird and cute. The friendship/romance between Sophia and Akari is innocent and adorable, so this manga is a perfect option for readers who want a lighthearted story. Since it is a four-panel series, Mrs. Vampire who lives in my neighborhood It's also an evasive series, but it's worth every panel.

6. Maria Sama Ga Miteru (Oyuki Konno and Reine Hibiki)

Yumi e Sachiko de Maria-Sama Ga Miteru sorriem na floresta em frente ao instituto

At Lillian Girls' Academy, the all-female student body coexists through a big sister/little sister system, in which older students teach younger students about etiquette and religion. Maria Sama ga Miteru sees their daily lives, focusing particularly on the intense romance between Yumi Fukuzawa, a first-year student, and her future great-spouse and crush, Sachiko Ogasawara.

One of the first series of yuri Using Catholic imagery to develop the bond between two students, Maria-Sama ga Miteru set the tone for future series such as Yuri is my job! This series is also a fan favorite thanks to its art style; its character designs are elegant and its backgrounds are often lush natural landscapes that make perfect sense with its tone.

5. Adachi and Shimamura (Hitoma Iruma)

Sakura Adachi e Hougetsu Shimamura se entreolhando

Through 11 volumes, Adachi and Shimamura tells the incredibly touching love story of Sakura Adachi and Hougetsu Shimamura. This friends-to-lovers manga follows them as they become friends while skipping school, until they both realize they are in love.

From Adachi to Shimamura has a large fan base because it is a touching yet realistic romance between two women. Adachi falls in love first, but Shimamura takes a little longer, almost breaking the other's heart. However, in the end, they have a beautiful happy ending.

4. Bloom Into You (Nio Nakatani)

A imagem apresenta um visual de Bloom Into You: (da esquerda para a direita) Touko Nanami (cabelo longo e preto) está dando tapinhas na cabeça de Yuu Koito (cabelo rosa pêssego com tranças)

When Yuu Koito, a girl who has trouble understanding love, mistakenly discovers that her classmate, Touko Nanami, feels the same way, she tries to bond with her. However, Touko confesses her love, leading Yuu on a journey of self-discovery that many readers will find relatable.

Blossom in you, by Nio Nakatani, is an incredibly diverse series. For starters, Yuu initially comes across as a demisexual or asexual girl, both parts of the LGBTQ+ community that have very little representation. This comic breaks several yuri tropes and even goes for the occasional explicit scene.

3. Shoujo Kakumei Utena ! (Chiho Saito)

Anime Revolutionary Girl Utena anime Utena Tenjou brandindo uma espada.

Utena Tenjou is a feisty girl whose personality was created to copy a prince. Revolutionary Girl Utena! follows her into a sword tournament, in which she will attempt to win the hand of Anthy Himemiya, also known as the Rose Bride.

Revolutionary Girl Utena is a classic when it comes to anime from the 90s. This series completely deconstructs manga stereotypes, starting with gender. The relationship between Utena and Anthy is considered one of the most important stories of women loving women in manga of all time.

2. Kannazuki No Miko (Kaishaku)

Himeko e Chikane se abraçam

Kannazuki no Miko tells the story of Chikane Himemiya and Himeko Kurusugawa, the solar and lunar priestesses who are reincarnated as two high school students in love. While the series focuses on romance, it also follows the battle against the Orochi, a group of eight villains based on the mythological Yamata no Orochi.

Kaishaku Kannazuki no Miko is one of the most complex yuri mangas of all time. This manga caters to all tastes, which sets it apart from other stories. It is an intense love story with reincarnation, but it also has mecha, magic and even Japanese tradition.

1. Shiroi Heya No Futari (Ryoko Yamagishi)

Yuri

Set in an unknown Catholic academy in France, Shiroi Heya no Futari tells the love story of Resine de Poisson, a shy first-year student, and Simone D'Arc, her unruly roommate. Unfortunately for the girls, their love turns into tragedy when their classmates start spreading rumors about them.

Shiroi Heya no Futari is the first manga to use Catholic imagery and a boarding school as the setting for romance. By 2023, this type of story had been told many times (e.g. Maria-Sama ga Miteru, Strawberry Panic, Yuri is my work!), but Yamagishi did it first.