Starting off this list involves a story that focuses on Suzu Nekoyama, an apprehensive tsundere type girl who has a strong affection for dogs. Enter an air-headed girl named Yachiyo Inugami, who just so happens to like cats. One day the two girls meet up and quickly realize there is a mutual attraction between the two, despite their noticeable differences. Yachiyo makes advances early on towards Suzu but she is just too shy to reciprocate. Throw in a mutual friend named Aki, who pokes fun at their situation and you have a recipe for a true yuri comedy. This series is short and sweet. It’s the only entry on this list that has episodes run at 3 minutes apiece. The great thing about this running at such a short length is that the anime is able to convey the central plot without adding too much filler. Yachiyo is a pervert most of the time and goes through some crazy antics to get what she wants. On the other hand, Suzu is the exact opposite but still has the same feelings for her. Aki plays off the affection and awkwardness that the two girls share with each other. It really comes together nicely in such a short span. If you don’t have a lot of time to spare and just want some fun yuri action, this one is for you.

A high school student and assassin by the name of Tokaku Azuma transfers to Myoujou Academy where she and 11 other skilled assassins are tasked with trying to kill a sweet girl named Haru Ichinose. The catch is, they only get one crack at it and if they fail, they will be expelled. If they succeed however, their greatest desire will be granted. Despite being cold and detached Tokaku’s feelings grow for her target, Haru. Tokaku’s fondness for Haru gets put to the test and instead of following through with killing her; she decides to protect her from the other impeding assassins. Akuma no Riddle brings a more intense outlook and hits hard with the action than our previous selection. In fact, you could say this anime is for a more mature audience. With that being said, there are still great moments of endearment played out between the two love interests, including a certain pool scene that shows how much the two have grown for each other. This series isn’t without its faults, but if you lean more on the action side of anime and still want a likeable yuri story, this one should keep things interesting for you.

Our number eight choice brings us an anime that has humans and bears no longer coexisting with each other. After a meteor shower crashed down on the earth, there was uncertainty about what effect it would have. The shards of an asteroid smashed into millions of pieces and it left the bears on the planet more hostile and hungry for human meat than ever before. Consequently, there was a wall of severance that was erected to separate the two civilizations to try and keep this mass hysteria at bay. Kureha Tsubaki hates bears with a passion. Eleven years prior to the start of the anime, her mother was attacked and mauled by a bear. When she meets Sumika Izumino, things are made clear that there is a connection right away between the two. Sumika is an extremely kind and strong-willed girl that would do anything for Kureha. This anime takes such a silly concept and relays a serious message. The story offers many symbolic qualities that some people should notice after watching the first couple episodes. We can bet that this drama-filled anime will move you emotionally throughout its twelve episode run.

Before we delve into the story behind this anime, we wanted to point out that this is the second season of the anime Kiniro Mosaic. We opted to go with the second season because we thought it had more substance. The yuri in this anime is great. You never feel like it’s just a one on one intimate relationship, as jealously rears its ugly head numerous times throughout the series. This is a wonderful example of a comedy meeting up with a slice of life and then throwing in some yuri to top it off. It has cute characters that do cute things. When it comes to a plot for this anime, well there really isn’t much of one. It’s an all-female led cast of characters who all make a return from the previous season. The story follows five girls’ daily lives as they go through high school, relationships and misunderstandings. They visit such places as a park, a beach, a fast food place and of course, school. So sit back and relax, it’s an anime you don’t have to take too seriously to enjoy.

After being reunited with her childhood friends, first-year student Akari Akaza relishes in the fact that she has Yui Funami and Kyouko Toshinou by her side at an all-girls school. During that one year absence between Akari and the other girls, Yui and Kyouko formed the “Amusement Club.” The only clear purpose of the group is to provide pure entertainment between the members. Akari, now the third member of the club has fellow classmate, Chinatsu Yoshikawa, misinterpret the club for something else. Upon meeting with Chinatsu, the club is compelled to have her join up with the trio. Yuru Yuri can be considered one of the most successful yuri series to date in terms of total televised episodes and OVAs. The newest club member Chinatsu has an intense crush on Yui. Chinatsu generally acts cute around Yui, but she is known to break character from time to time. As you can imagine, based on the club name alone, the plot doesn’t always remain consistent. This anime stays true to its slice of life genre tag. The yuri in this show is jovial and amusing. However, if you’re expecting a ton of physicality you might be disappointed.

Now we’re entering the midway point of this fantastic gathering of yuri anime. The story takes place as two longtime best friends; Haruka Takayama and Yuu Sonoda attend Misato West High School together. In order to quell Haruka’s jealousy over all the friends Yuu is making, she suggests doing something they wouldn’t do with other girls. The two of them share a kiss with each other in an empty classroom. After that edgy proposition from Yuu, feelings start to elevate. They learn not everything is peachy when a disapproving older sister looks to interfere. Remember when we said that the last selection wouldn’t be the best choice for someone looking for a lot of female contact? Well, we’re happy to say that this one will fit that bill. Now let’s not get ahead of ourselves, by no means is this a hentai, it just offers more physicality and romance than our number six selection. The anime mostly focuses on Haruka and Yuu’s relationship. It starts off as a ‘friends with benefits’ kind of take and then generates into a more complex relationship, as feelings start to grow from that standpoint. If kissing is something you like to see, strongly consider this anime.

Our number four choice uses a theme of unrequited love. Sumika Murasame is a smart and athletic girl who has a secret crush on her classmate Ushio Kazama. Ushio also shares an interest in females, but can be stubborn with the criteria she has for girls, that being cute, small and innocent. With that in mind, every time Ushio finds people like that, she is often turned down. Therein lies the problem for Sumika. She doesn’t feel she meets those qualities, partial due to her practicing karate, as it’s not deemed “cute” by most peers. Sasameki Koto is very much a comedy. The anime starts off a bit slow, but it gets funnier as the series moves on. As for the yuri, it’s played out like we mentioned before, unrequited. Sumika doesn’t want to endanger her friendship with Ushio, so she remains the crutch for Ushio when she gets heart broken and needs someone to console her. Later on in the series, a lesbian club is formed with both girls joining it, in hopes of finding better results. Whispered Words is an appropriate title for this anime because it almost feels like Sumika’s words are going unnoticed.

This next entry on our list comes in the form of a military drama that has a unique view on genders. In a tranquil theocracy known as Simulicram, everyone is born female. When the maidens reach the age of 17 they are able to choose their desired sex. Girls who have yet to decide their gender can pilot these ancient flying ships called “Simoun” to protect their homeland. After an enemy nation decimates the squadron known as Chor Tempest, Aaeru is recruited to become a pilot of a Simoun. Now, Aaeru must find her way into the heart of Neviril, who recently lost her beloved partner in battle. Simoun is a supreme example of a powerful story about tough decisions and breathtaking characters. This anime will leave you asking many questions, and at the same time wanting more answers as this series develops. This selection is one of the largest anime on this list and it definitely deserves more episodes. The circumstances of this anime that influence the story are very well done. You witness character loss and then a feeling of resurgence when the pair of Aaeru and Neviril pair up. It’s fair to say when it’s all said and done, Simoun will give a good tug at your heartstrings. Give this one a shot and find out what we are talking about.

We’re really starting to get down to the nitty-gritty of these recommendations. Our number two selection is a profound take on the coming of age for these young girls. The story consists of an introverted bookworm by the name of Fumi Manjoume, who is beginning her first year at Matsuoka Girls' High School. She reconnects with her best friend from ten years ago, Akira Okudaira, while Akira attends Fujigatani Girls' Academy. Upon reuniting, they both aim to assist each other with their own failed romances from the past. This series is a blast of reality to some lesbians that have to deal with some of the contexts during this stage of their life. Fumi is a prime example of this. She understands that she likes other girls, but is very much in the closet about the situation, in fear of rejection or simply because she is too reserved. Fumi deals with heartbreak from her family and later on by students from her school. She feels that she is the only one giving it her all in relationships and in the end gets dumped on for it. It’s a true coming together for these two protagonists in this anime, and a superb examination of yuri.

This is the moment we’ve all been waiting for; we’re now at our number one ranked yuri recommendation. To some older fans of yuri, this probably comes as no shock, since this is universally known to be one of the best yuri anime out there. After the death of her parents, Utena Tenjou was graced by the presence of a traveling prince, who comforts her during rough times. Following that encounter, she vowed one day to become a prince herself. Several years later Utena finds herself in a deadly game where duelists with matching crests on their rings compete for prizes. The prince that she met previously left her with a special ring with a strange rose crest. Utena is now on a mission to revolutionize the world by winning these duels at the peculiar Ootori Academy where she attends. There is something surreal about this anime. From the time Utena wins the Rose Bride, Anthy Himemiya, to the developing connection between the two. It’s nothing short of remarkable. The loss of purity, both sexual and otherwise is showcased as a life altering event. The hints at incest, blatant use of innuendos and abuse are some of the prominent themes that you will experience throughout. With 39 episodes and one movie, Shoujo Kakumei Utena should keep you busy for a little while. You owe it to yourself to watch this one!