40 Anime Characters You Probably Didn't Know Were Queer (Or At Least Queer-Coded)
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Questionably queer anime characters have graced my television screens since the beginning of time, immediately becoming my favorites. The flamboyant villains, sidekicks in drag, and suspiciously close best friendships always had me guessing to which letter on the rainbow alphabet these iconic characters subscribed.
It doesn't matter if they're dangling out of the closet, victims of outdated censorship, or part of my unreliable speculation. I stan all these hand-drawn anime heroes for living in their queer-coded truths.
Here are 40 of my favorite anime characters who are definitely, maybe queer:
1.Motoko Kusanagi
Ghost in the Shell (1995)
The full-body cyborg Major Motoko Kusanagi is the epitome of badass girl energy. The squad leader of the elusive Section 9 is radiating with so much powerful lesbian energy that even the slightest sexual experience with a man, human, or cyborg is illegal and highly dangerous.
2.Hange Zoë
Attack on Titan (2013)
The genderfluid commander is an outright genius, constantly placing themself in harm's way on the front lines of the battlefields, experimenting on monstrous Titans, and leading green soldiers into danger. Everyone in the ranks fears the ambiguity of Hange's diabolical intelligence.
3.Tomoyo Daidouji
Cardcaptor Sakura (1998)
The wealthy fashionista has an obvious crush on her best friend Sakura, providing her with an endless wardrobe of high-end looks that can take down any trifling card spirit. The dedication to Sakura's wardrobe is supposed to cover up the mad love for her best friend, but we see what else you're hiding in that closet, Tomoyo.
4.Kaworu Nagisa
Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995)
Right off the bat, the infamous 17th angel of one of the most celebrated anime series was all over main character Shinji in a major way. Mystery, betrayal, and intrigue are at the center of their tumultuous relationship, a perfect recipe for young LGBT love.
5.Leeron Littner
Gurren Lagen (2007)
Get past the campy stereotypes and live for the versatility of the world's best mechanic, pink eyeshadow and everything. They have all the tools for the trade and make it very clear there are no hidden fees when they're finished tuning up your neglected parts.
6.Yoruichi Shihōin
Bleach (2004)
Ignoring the fact she transforms into a deep-voiced, androgynous kitty cat, the sassy ninja is a fully formed sexual being with immeasurable fighting talent and speed. Every Soul Reaper, high school student, and monstrous hollow beast in this series wants a piece of this feline fantasy.
7.Sailor Neptune & Sailor Uranus
Sailor Moon (1992)
These "cousins" were not-so-secret lovers, but America wasn't in the '80s. Once the planets finally aligned, the canonical story behind their genuine relationship came to light, and now we can celebrate their celestial love officially.
8.Light Yagami
Death Note (2006)
Writing down all the names of bullies who wrong you in a cute, little diary with your gothic grim-reaping best friend is how most queer backstories begin. Death Note gave us death drops and a handful of clues with this brooding little bad boy and his deadly burn book.
9.Utena Tenjou
Revolutionary Girl Utena (1997)
Every character in this anime is oozing a little taste of LGBTQ energy, but the pink-haired titular queen is a sword-fighting prince who can give any schoolboy a run for their money. In the end, she wins the hand of her Rose Bride and puts the competition to shame.
10.Homura Akemi
Puella Magi Madoka Magica (2011)
She's the definition of a ride or die. The little magic girl first appears in the series' hero Madoka's apocalyptic nightmare and eventually becomes a self-destructive obsession for her female counterpart. It sounds a lot like my first few queer relationships.
11.Alois Trancy
Black Butler (2008)
He's a crystal-blue-eyed beauty with a tragic past and complicated future but at one point goes as far as to join bodies with series protagonist Ciel Phantohive physically. Two little rich pretty boys with a grudge entering each other's bodies are peak queer energy.
12.Zarbon
Dragonball Z (1989)
The fallen prince of a beautiful alien race lives to serve the evil warlord Freiza while serving the most laid green hair in the entire universe. Every element of Zarbon, from his designer thigh-high stockings, shimmering silver circlet, and final monster form, screams queen.
13.Toya Kinomoto & Yukito Tsukihiro
Cardcaptor Sakura (1998)
Not even a watered-down English dub from the '90s could hide the true love between these high school heartthrobs. Rejecting all advances and attention from anybody else, especially the girlies of the Cardcaptor universe, these boys were always two of a kind and meant to be together.
14.Suì-Fēng
Bleach (2004)
She's a prime example of a coded anime lesbian. The spicy swordfighter is grossly obsessed with anything and everything related to her female superior, Yoruichi. Sure, on the surface, it looks like the harmless idolization of a friend, but between the thinly drawn lines, we know what she wants, what she really, really wants.
15.Near
Death Note (2006)
When one little twink fails, another twink prevails. When Near's barefoot successor couldn't cut it, this baby-faced silver fox takes the reins and shows everyone that he is not here to play games unless it involves lots of toys and wordplay.
16.Whis
Dragonball Super (2015)
He's a member of a powerful race of "Angels" with the sole purpose of training the Gods of Destruction into mastering their destructive energy capable of destroying entire universes. Is this not the logline of the revolutionary hit FX show Pose (2018)?
17.Fried Justine
Fairytail (2009)
The lightning-hot leader of the Thunder God Tribe is a wizard who will end anybody if they even look at his beloved idol Laxus the wrong way. His choice of magic is reading mages for filth and giving them death stares.
18.Major Alex Louis Armstrong
Fullmetal Alchemist (2003)
Nothing impresses this muscle-bound daddy more than a nice firm pair of pectorals and biceps. He's a gentle giant who packs a mighty punch and sees stars when in the presence of brute strength.
19.Schrödinger
Hellsing (2001)
He's a mischievous, little werewolf, but it's not all his fault. He was made this way by an evil Nazi scientist. He's a favorite of the Major, treated like a can-do-no-wrong puppy. The little cub is a real kissass who's always looking for a moon to start howling.
20.Jakotsu
Inuyasha (2000)
As the most fashionable member of the troublesome Band of Seven, Jakotsu puts all other baddies to shame in the demon-infested feudal Japan. His apparent obsession with getting rough with series hero Inuyasha clearly shows he knows his type and will do whatever it takes to snag the cute, demon doggy boy.
21.Escargoon
Kirby: Right Back at Ya!
He's a grumpy snail who is loyal beyond reason for his robe-wearing boss, King Dedede. He might move slow, but he goes as far as dressing up in drag so Daddy Dedede can practice marriage proposals on him.
22.Nonon Jakuzure
Kill la Kill (2013)
She's a loyal member of the Student Council's ruthless Elite Four, walking around dressed as an adorable little drum major. We know what beat she's rocking to as she extremely hates everyone except her oldest friend, the big bad witch of the series, Satsuki.
23.Haku
Naruto (1999)
With a relaxed perm, the icy shinobi follows his mentor Zabuza into battle without even a single blink. At one point, his androgynous beauty even spellbinds the unmovable Naruto, and I aspire to this level of ninjutsu magic.
24.Kagura Mikazuchi
Fairytail (2009)
The stone-faced femme fatale leads her all-female wizard guild as the master of badassery with her trusty katana "Archenemy" at her side. She plays for the girl team and scores a massive kiss on her rival Erza's lips.
25.Kanji Tatsumi
Persona 4: The Animation (2012)
The joke, the innuendo, and awkward moments between Kanji and all his friends are enough evidence for me to make a rash judgment and claim him for the community. He is a resident bad boy with many secrets and has experience with keeping one of his worlds a mystery.
26.Syazel Aporro Granz
Bleach (2004)
Homeboy can beat the breaks off any Soul Reaper that crossed his path in the weirdest ways, but he's truly known for keeping a beat face and an unmatched charm. It's never clearly stated, but based on his questionable fighting technique and fantastic sense of fashion — it's safe to say he's team queen.
27.Asami Soto & Avatar Korra
The Legend of Korra (2012)
She's a brilliant girl boss heiress with an electric touch of the world's most advanced industrialist company. Not a person around could resist the CEO energy she was putting down, including Avatar Korra.
28.Mr. Popo
Dragon Ball Z (1989)
If you ignore his unmistakable offensive character design, he wasn't all that bad in the early days of the Dragon Ball series. Mr. Popo serves as a clean freak and worrywart "assistant" of the gentle Guardian of Earth.
29.Zoro
One Piece (1999)
Zoro is a pirate-hunting daddy with an eyepatch and a whole boat full of swag. Throughout his endless quest for booty, he's constantly avoiding the female pirates' woos and whims, which makes him either really focused or fair game for the scallywags.
30.Illia Amitola
RWBY (2013)
Initially tasked with capturing the woman she loves for the White Fang terrorist group, she joins forces with her unrequited girl crush, knowing that how she feels will never be reciprocated.
31.Grell
Black Butler (2008)
The deadly scarlet-haired grim reaper hid in plain sight until it was time for their big reveal. Grell is constantly flirting and flaunting their customized scythe to intimidate everyone around them.
32.Alluka Zoldyck
Hunter x Hunter (2011)
Alluka has a complicated relationship with her family as her father and brothers refer to her by different pronouns than what she prefers. Her identity and expression are her truth, and everything about her, including the mysterious creature possessing her body, is not to be messed with.
33.Atsuko Jackson
Michiko & Hatchin (2008)
She's a brown sugar outlaw with a score to settle with fugitive and old rival Michiko while constantly battling complicated feelings that get in the way of achieving her ultimate goal. It's a long game of will-they-won't-they cat and mouse, and this natural-haired beauty is on the prowl.
34.Jaken
Inuyasha (2000)
Every dangerous demon swordsman needs a sassy green, pint-sized sidekick. He never leaves his master's side even after death, and it's obvious there's a little more of a demonic minimum wage paycheck keeping this gay Gazoo's loyalty close and personal.
35.Ryuk
Death Note (2006)
I might be reaching on this one, but I think homeboy can catch what I'm putting down with that crazy arm length. He never leaves home without his The Crow (1994) makeup, constantly biting into fruit and getting pleasure from being an extra-dimensional entity whose lifeforce is sucking the energy of others.
36.James
Pokémon (1997)
I'm not trying to label Jamesy Boy, but he walks around with a giant R on his chest, so would it hurt to apply another letter to this man like capital G? Either he's in the most confusing open relationship with his partner-in-crime Jesse, or the only feline James can tolerate is Meowth. Flaming Moltres.
37.Chizuru Honshō
Bleach (2004)
Her open and flamboyant nature begs the question, what students at Karakura High School have Chizuru successfully courted in the past? There's no way she struck out with the entire senior class with her vibrant energy.
38.Mako Mankanshoku
Kill la Kill (2013)
She starts as best friends with heroine Ryūko, but experiencing enough dangerous situations can bring you closer together, as with most love stories. By the end of their adventures, they have their official first date.
39.Orochimaru
Naruto (1999)
Not all representations can be loveable heroes. This dirty little snake queen is pure evil yet manages to never miss a day at the Hidden Leaf Village hair salon to get his hair and nails done before a showdown.
40.And lastly, Frieza
Dragonball Z (1989)
The evil emperor of Universe 7 spent most of his life destroying planets and conquering alien races. Still, when he meets Goku, he must use every secret lewk in his arsenal to go toe-to-toe with the Super Sayian monkey daddy hero of the series.
