The BL genre has always been a pretty popular genre among manga readers and has become popular in anime, too. Thanks to the success of shows likeGiven, Yuri on Ice, No. 6,andSasaki and Miyano, it’s become a prettymainstream genre to watch. MoreBL mangaare slowly getting anime adaptations, but there’s a large pool of them that haven’t (at least not yet).
TheseBL mangamight not be the most dramatic or over-the-top forms of media out there, but they have very good stories and great characters. Watching a friendship turn into a relationship or just seeing characters working on their relationships, there is much to enjoy about BL manga, and many deserve an anime adaptation to show viewers their stories in a new and exciting way.
Updated on July 07, 2025 by Sarah Prado:With BL manga becoming more popular, there are plenty of options to choose from for an anime adaptation. A lot of them have gotten live-action shows, but it would be nice to see these manga become anime and expand the BL pool. While past works have had some problematic tropes, most modern works have lessened these issues. Because of successful shows like Yuri on Ice, Sasaki and Miyano, and Given, the BL genre is getting more attention than ever before. Now would be a great time to give more BL manga the anime treatment. Until then, here are some ofthe best BL manga that need an anime adaptationto enjoy.
22After School Etude
Two Opposites Find Love On The Ballet Dance Floor
Minobe Chihiro is a student at a private ballet academy who finds himself paired with second-year student, Ichinomiya Shun. Unfortunately for Minobe, the two of them are partners for the school’s mandatory practice and Ichinomiya has a horrible attitude. Despite this, he finds himself falling for Ichinmiya’s dance sense and it seems Ichinomiya is hiding some feelings for his new dance partner.
As of right now, the series is still ongoing, but it would be nice to see a change in environment for a BL anime. It’s not every day that a series takes place in a ballet studio and seeing a romance bloom from dancing would be a great watch.
21Delinquent Daddy & Tender Teacher
A Teacher Reconnects With His High School Crush
Hitsuji is a young man who is an elementary school teacher. He notices one of his students is struggling a little with his sloppy dad, Hitsuji finds out the student’s dad is none other than his old school crush, Hatoyama. Seeing that Hatoyama is struggling to raise his son as a single dad, Hitsuji helps them with cleaning and teaching them how to cook. As time goes on, Hitsuji finds himself falling for Hatoyama all over again, but he’s not the only one who has feelings.
There’s just something nice about watching someone reconnect with their old high school crush and see those feelings reciprocated. The manga is still ongoing, but it would be a great choice for an anime adaptation. It also tackles some realistic issues like Hitsuji keeping the relationship out of fear of getting fired from his job or Hatoyama struggling to find a good work-life balance.
20Glass Syndrome
Two Struggling Students Find Comfort In Each Other
A manga that is a little moreon the dramatic side.Glass Syndromeis about high schooler Nijou, who is seemingly perfect at everything he does. He’s the class president, amazing at sports, and very popular in school. His teacher asks him to check on fellow student Toomi, a student who’s been absent a lot recently. It turns out Toomi has a secret that explains why he’s been absent, but this secret could very well destroy his life if it gets out. Nijou finds out his secret and must decide if he should confront Toomi about it or not.
This manga does have a lot of emotional baggage between Nijou and Toomi but for very different reasons. Toomi is extremely insecure and fears others rejecting him if he’s not perfect, so he’s constantly making sure to keep his facade up. Toomi, on the other hand, is emotionally drained from dealing with his family’s financial circumstances. The only time the two of them can be themselves is around each other.
19The (Pet) Detective Agency
A Man Falls In Love With His Boss
Rou Nakamura is a young man who looks intimidating due to his rugged looks and intense stares. Though people are afraid to approach him, animals seem to adore him, and this makes him great at his job as a pet detective. If helping find lost pets wasn’t reward enough, Rou is also in love with his boss, Detective Fumika Sato.
This manga does have some mystery vibes mixed with slice-of-life that would make for a great anime adaptation. There is only one volume so theanime could either expand thisor make for a great movie. Sato and Nakamura’s relationship is a slow burn, but it’s sweet to watch it develop.
18This Wonderful Season With You
A Former Jock And A Kind Nerd Fall In Love
Junpei Enoki is a typical nerd that fits all of the stereotypes. He’s small, smart, and physically weaker than most guys his age, but he’s got a good heart and isn’t afraid to speak his mind. Enter, Ryousuke Shirataki, a typical jock whose baseball career has ended due to an injury. Shirataki is lost on what to do now and ends up joining the Electronic Engineering Club, where he meets Enoki. They are complete opposites of each other, but a blossoming friendship might turn into something more the longer it develops.
It’s a classic opposites-attract love story that’ll make readers squeal from how cute these two are together. A manga like this would make for anice little rom-com animethat would be entertaining to watch and give more variety to the BL anime pool.
17Toritan: Birds Of A Feather
Birds Connect Two Men In An Unexpected Way
Inusaki is a detective, along with being known as a handyman, and does a lot of odd jobs for his neighborhood. But there is one thing that haunts Inusaki: He can understand and talk to birds. However, there is one bird, whom he calls Kuro, that reminds him of his landlord’s son, Mitsuru. It seems like Mitsuru has a secret of his own, but it’s not what Inusaki thinks.
The story is full of hilarious interactions between Inusaki and random birds, along with quiet andsweet moments between him and Mitsuki.Their relationship doesn’t move too fast or too slow, but it still has a pretty good development that would be great to see on-screen.
16Change World
A Couple Faces Challenges From Colleagues And Work
This manga showcases a couple going through life changes that could threaten their relationship. Yosuke Ito and Ikuo Arimura have known each other since high school but have only been dating for a year. Their relationship is going well, but they do have some trouble expressing their real feelings. Then there’s Masato Hozumi, a former classmate of Arimura and a man who’s still in the closet, putting doubts about their relationship in Yosuke’s mind. It also doesn’t help that Yosuke has an opportunity in his company, but it requires him to work overseas.
Considering it only has two volumes, the story and characters have some pretty good development. There are some dramatic moments, but it’s not over-the-top, and Yosuke and Arimura handle their problems like mature adults. This could be a short series sinceSayonara Gameis a prequel toChange Worldthat shows how the couple got together. Plus, it even has a sequel series,Love Nest,that follows Hozumi and his life.
15Hello, Green Days
Two College Students Move In Together, And Love Blooms
A manga that manages to have a compelling and sweet story. Tomo Mikage is a graduate student who meets junior Youji Nanajoshi at a seminar they study at. Though intimidated by Nanahoshi’s large size, Mikage gets to know him and finds out that he’s a very nice and sweet man. Nanahoshi notices Mikage’s well-being not looking good, so he invites him to live with him. What starts as a roommate relationship slowly blossoms into more.
With just one volume, readersget everything they wantin aBL manga. From a relationship starting great to the characters becoming a couple, this manga is a great read. It would be great to have an anime adaptation just to see the sweet romance ofHello, Green Dayscome to life.
14Links
Follow Four Different Couples And Their Stories
A manga that follows fourdifferent couples and their stories.Akiha and Yahiko are in a friends-with-benefits type of relationship, but the former doesn’t know what to truly think of their relationship. Sado and Nakajo are always arguing with one another that some might think they’re already a couple, but they’re not. Nakajo doesn’t think they could ever be together but remains close to Sado. Sekiya is a socially awkward man who finds himself at the center of Shibata’s attention — a man who hits on him every chance he gets. Then there’s Kameda and Ogikawa, who bond over a stray cat that Ogikawa found in the streets.
The manga only features one volume, and it does get a little confusing to keep up with all four couples, but it is a good read. An anime adaptation would be nice to watch since it would follow four very different couples with very different stories. Plus, the anime could make the story flow a little better, making it easier for viewers to keep up with the story.
13I Didn’t Mean To Fall In Love
A Single Man Falls In Love With A College Student
30-year-old Yoshino has never been on a date and thinks he’s meant to be alone in life. One night, he decides to muster up his courage and goes to a gay bar. There, he meets Rou, a charming, silver-haired college student who buys him drinks, allowing the characters to get to know one another. After spending the night together, an awkward but cute courtship begins.
With only one volume, this manga hasa short but sweet love storythat would be great to see as an anime. There’s no unnecessary drama or misunderstandings; the story simply follows two men as they explore a new, unexpected relationship that has developed between them.
