This is a list of characters in animation that either self-identify as lesbian or have been identified by outside parties to be lesbian. Listed characters are either recurring characters, cameos, guest stars, or one-off characters in animated series, but not animated films. This article includes characters in Japanese animation, otherwise known as anime. There are also corresponding lists of bisexual, non-binary, and gay animated characters.
The names are organized alphabetically by surname (i.e. last name), or by single name if the character does not have a surname. If more than two characters are in one entry, the last name of the first character is used.
From the 1980s to the 1990s
Characters Title Character debut date Notes Country Juri Arisugawa Revolutionary Girl Utena Juri is explicitly in love with her female classmate, Shiori, in both the TV series and movie. She is described as "homosexual" by the creators in the DVD booklet. The commentary in the booklet indicated that Shiori also had feelings for her, but was too troubled and insecure to act on them in a healthy way. Japan Rei Asaka Dear Brother Rei has feelings for Nanako, a 16-year-old student who attends the same academy. Japan Patty Bouvier The Simpsons Patty officially came out when she was about to marry Veronica in the 2005 episode, "There's Something About Marrying" which was one of the episodes that carried the occasional warning of content that might be unsuitable for children. Like Dewey and Smithers, she is a recurring gay character. In "Livin La Pura Vida" Patty had a new girlfriend named Evelyn, voiced by lesbian actress Fortune Feimster. United States Cobalt Fight! Iczer One A combat officer who is in love with Sepia, a non-commissioned officer. Cobalt is in a romantic relationship with Sepia, occasionally kissing her in this "classic of early anime." Japan Tomoyo Daidouji Cardcaptor Sakura Tomoyo is in love with the protagonist of the show, Sakura, even loving what she wears. Unfortunately for Tomoyo, Sakura does not return her feelings, even though she does help her find her voice. At some point, Tomoyo confesses her love to Sakura, but Sakura misunderstands her, thinking she means "love" as a best friend, and Tomoyo says that she will explain when Sakura is older. Japan Ms. Ellen South Park In one episode, "Tom's Rhinoplasty", Chef reveals that the new teacher, Ms. Ellen, is lesbian. Some of her male students are attracted to her and do not understand what lesbians are, and try to "become lesbians" too, to get her attention. United States Jun Fudo Devil Lady Her "devilman" is awoken by Kazumi, a high school student. Over the course of the series, the relationship between Jun and Kazumi gradually progresses into an almost romantic one. Most notably in the last episode, titled "Man", Jun decides to forge her soul with the force from the Demons, which Kazumi also lets her absorb her to help in the final battle with Asuka. Japan Maya Ibuki Neon Genesis Evangelion Over the course of the series, it is implied that Maya gradually develops feelings beyond professional respect for Ritsuko which turns into a crush. She also sees Ritsuko before reverting into LCL during Human Instrumentality.Japan Iczer-1 Fight! Iczer One Iczer-1 is in romantic and intimate relationship with Nagisa throughout the series. Japan Michiru Kaioh (Sailor Neptune) Sailor Moon Michiru is in a romantic relationship with Haruka Tenoh. Japan Nagisa Kanou Fight! Iczer One Nagisa is in romantic and intimate relationship with Iczer-1. Japan Seiya Kou (Sailor Star Fighter) Sailor Moon Seiya is assigned female at birth, however transforms into male when she's not fighting as a sailor senshi. Seiya falls for Usagi and attempts to go on a date with her in the episode "Seiya and Usagi's Heart-Pounding Date". However Seiya's feelings are only one sided as Usagi is in love with Mamoru as show in episodes like "Crusade for the Galaxy: Legend of the Sailor Wars." Japan Nanako Misonoo Dear Brother 16-year-old Nanako falls in love with Rei "Saint-Juste" Asaka to which Rei slowly reciprocates as shown in episodes like "Into the Dream", and their relationship is one of the major driving plots of the series, showcased in episodes like "The Darkness in the Clock Tower" and "Under the Elm Tree." Rei's destructive relationship with Fukiko Ichinomiya leads her to be troubled, obsessed with death, and drug-addicted, as made clear in the "Relapse; Broken Heart" and "Pride, and the Final Meeting" episodes. Japan Toby RanesSuperman: The Animated Series Maggie Sawyer's romantic partner Toby Raynes is seen by her bedside in several hospital scenes and later Turpin's funeral service in the two-part episode, "Apokolips...Now!". Bruce Timm states in the commentary for "Tools of the Trade" that those scenes were the creators' way of acknowledging Sawyer's sexual orientation.United States Maggie Sawyer Alielle Relryle El-Hazard Alielle is presented as a comical character who makes other women uncomfortable because of her open attraction to them, in episodes such as "The World of Thunder." She has been described as a "midget flaming lesbian" who sees Princess Fatora Venus as her the "only object" of her affection as shown in episodes like "The World of Mindless Adventures." Japan Sepia Fight! Iczer One Combat officer and ruthless warrior, who is in love with Cobalt, later becoming distraught after her demise. She is in an intimate relationship with Cobalt. Japan Mariko Shinobu Dear Brother Mariko greatly admires Kaoru due to her strength and the emotional support she gives her as well, and at some point she admits to loving Karou, specifically in the episode "Comeback." Mariko distrusts all men because of her troubled family life: her father Hikawa is an erotica author who has an affair with an actress and later divorces Mariko's mother Hisako, who keeps her sadness bottled up as she raises Mariko practically on her own. Japan Kazumi Takiura Devil Lady Awakens the "devilman" inside of Jun and begins a romantic relationship with her, after she begins living with her. Japan Haruka Tenoh (Sailor Uranus) Sailor Moon Haruka is in a romantic relationship with Michiru Kaioh. This was changed in the original release of the English version of the anime, where they were made "cousins". In the re-release of the original anime however the English version keeps their same-sex relationship. Japan Fatora Venus El-Hazard An apparently open lesbian, 23-year-old Fatora is much like her primary lover Alielle in that she has an overdeveloped sex drive and little concern for the concept of "faithfulness" or even "disinterested", indicated in episodes like "The World of Mindless Adventures." This page says she is 23 years old. While it is implied that she has had many other "once-off" lovers in the past, and is attracted to Kalia when she first appears in the episode "The Awakening of Kalia", she is fixated on Shayla-Shayla and Nanami Jinnai, trying to lure them into sharing her bed. In the episode "The Bride of Roshtari", the manages to fool Shayla-Shayla sufficiently that she manages to kiss her, naturally prompting a fiery explosion of fury when the priestess realizes who just claimed her first kiss. Fatora also has a crush on Gilda of the emperor's guards. Japan Irene "Rally" Vincent Gunsmith Cats She operates the titular "Gunsmith Cats" gun shop in Chicago and works as a bounty hunter, assisted in both activities by her housemate, former prostitute "Minnie" May Hopkins as shown in the episodes "Neutral Zone" and "High Speed Edge." Rally is an expert combat shooter and marksman with just about every firearm in existence and May is an explosives expert, knowing the inner workings of and many uses of all manner of explosive devices. May often teases Rally, who is also friendly with Becky Farrah, the latter giving her information on about the Chicago Underworld, noted in the episode "Swing High! JapanAyako YuukiVariable Geo Also known as Yūki Ayako, she is the series' sole lesbian character, among those with "lesbian tendencies" as one reviewer pointed out. In the game, while in the V.G. tournament hoping to win and give the prize money to charity, she meets and becomes infatuated with Satomi Yajima, a fellow fighter who has no interest in pursuing a romantic relationship with another woman. In the anime, she is approached by Satomi, who challenges her to a fight as shown in episodes like "Strengthening Of The Goddesses." Ayako accepts, hoping that Satomi will entertain her. At first, Ayako seems to have the advantage, confusing Satomi with her swift, graceful movements. She uses her fan's hidden blade to cut away at Satomi's clothing, then plants a kiss on her cheek when the other girl attempts to close in on her. She remarks on Satomi's beautiful skin, and invites her to "lose and show her the rest". Japan
In the 2000s