Yaoi anime, also known as BL or Boys’ Love anime, is a genre dedicated to heartwarming stories and profound connections between two male characters. Interestingly, Crunchyroll boasts a wide range of yaoi anime featuring riveting narratives, and this article lists four of the best BL anime on the streaming platform.
Yuri!!! On Ice
Produced by MAPPA, Yuri!!! On Ice is a sports anime series that teases a same-sex relationship between the titular protagonist, Yuuri Katsuki, and Victor Nikiforov. Besides being one of the top-rated yaoi anime, the series explores themes of teamwork, discipline, competition, and chasing one’s dreams.
The plot revolves around Yuuri Katsuki, a young figure skater in Japan. He participates in the Grand Prix Finale, but his defeat makes him rethink his fate as an ice skater. When he finds no alternate option, life turns around when a video of him performing a figure skating routine becomes a viral sensation.
Victor Nikiforov, a five-time figure skating champion, sees the video and is enamored by him. Moreover, he shows up at Yuuri’s door to mentor him. Yuuri readily accepts the offer and makes a comeback to the world of figure skating while developing a profound bond with Victor.
Given
Studio Lerche animated the Given anime series, which premiered in July 2019. One of the best yaoi (BL) anime on Crunchyroll, the anime features themes of romance and drama through the relationship between Mafuyu Sato and Ritsuka Uenoyama.
As luck would have it, Mafuyu and Ritsuka meet without pre-planning. After his day at high school, Mafuyu meets Ritsuka on a staircase. Seeing the former’s guitar compels Ritsuka to comment on its rusted strings. Ritsuka’s knowledge of the instrument intrigues Mafuyu, who requests him to teach it.
Although hesitant at first, Ritsuka agrees. The latter is mesmerized by Mafuyu’s singing voice and offers him to become his band’s lead singer. Mafuyu eventually agrees and thus begins the journey of a blooming relationship between Mafuyu and Ritsuka.
SK8 the Infinity
Featuring themes of passion and determination, Studio Bones animated SK8 the Infinity. The anime series premiered in January 2021 and remained controversial due to its subtle hints of queer romance in a predominantly sports genre.
SK8 the Infinity features the story of a high school student named Reki Kyan. The protagonist has an immense passion for skateboarding and participates in an illegal underground race called “S.” Unfortunately, doing so costs him a tampered skateboard and a broken arm, so he gives up on his passion.
However, his life does not let him accept defeat as he stumbles upon his half-Canadian and half-Japanese classmate, Langa Hasegawa. Although Langa has no experience in skateboarding, his need for money and Reki’s boss lead Langa and Reki to “S.” Despite no prior experience, Langa performs unexpectedly well. This urges Reki to teach Langa certain tricks about skateboarding, and he goes on to become “Snow” at S while developing a strong bond with Reki.
Heaven’s Official Blessing
Adapted from a Chinese web novel by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu, Heaven’s Official Blessing is one of the best yaoi (BL) anime on Crunchyroll. Bilibili produced this moving story by including mythological and historical themes.
The story features a fallen god, Xie Lian, who used to be a celebrated martial god hundreds of years ago. To investigate a case of missing brides, he disguises himself as one and wanders through a forest under the moonlight when he encounters a man wearing red attire. The man guides Xie Lian through the forest, eventually disappearing into various butterflies.
This is when Xie Lian realizes the man is the infamous Ghost King, the Crimson Rain Sought Flower, aka Hua Cheng. However, a confused heavenly god fails to fathom Hua Cheng’s reason for helping him. As he analyzes the situation, he meets San Lang, who knows the Ghost King, marking the beginning of a journey that unravels Xie Lian’s mysterious past.
