Introduction

Some people prioritise plot in anime, others prioritise characterisation. However, if you’re like me, your top priority might be the amount of eye candy and shipability between characters - or at the very least, it’s a bonus on top of everything else that makes a quality anime. So far here at Honey’s Anime, we’ve been introducing you to our top picks for different genres in the upcoming summer 2017 season. Today, we’ll be talking about the best anime for people who want plenty of bishounen and BL potential in their anime. That’s not to say these anime only offer pretty faces - they each have their own other elements which are bound to make them really entertaining to watch!

1. Hitorijime My Hero

What’s better for BL fans than legit BL? Not much, I’d say. That’s right, this summer season we actually have a Boys Love anime - quite the rarity and something to be celebrated. Hitorijime My Hero follows the story of two couples, Masahiro and Kousuke, and Asaya and Kensuke. The first two are a crappy delinquent and a tough-but-sweet teacher, the second two childhood friends and classmates. There will be a range of other characters, but we don’t know much about them yet, so we don’t know if more couples will be featured.

Although based on a yaoi manga, this anime will lean more towards shounen-ai than hardcore yaoi, so expect plenty of build up for those super-cute romantic moments. Don’t be surprised if there’s a bit of drama mixed in with this slice of life series, too, as is typical of a lot of BL. Basically, Hitorijime My Hero is going to be a great watch if you love attractive characters, Boys Love, and bittersweet romance. Who’s ready? I know I am!

2. Vatican Kiseki Chousakan

Next up is also one of our most anticipated supernatural series for summer 2017. Vatican Kiseki Chousakan follows two priests, Kou Joseph Hiraga and Robert Nicholas, as they travel the world solving miracle-based mysteries. Expect plenty of drama (Kou has a sickly younger brother which just screams that something is going to go wrong at some point and worry Kou to death), problem-solving, and supernatural smite-thee-devil exorcism action. If it sounds like this anime can’t get any better, you’re about to be proved wrong.

Kou and Robert are gorgeous. Kou is pale and slender, with a great Levi-style hair cut, and a perfect little pout. Robert has a monocle of all things, broad shoulders, and a playful smirk that spells trouble. Put these two together, and you’ve got one seriously shippable priest couple. Oh, and did I mention they have enough height difference for ultimate moe potential? Basically, even if you’re not into the whole gothic-religion thing Vatican Kiseki Chousakan has got going on, if you’re a BL fan and fancy shipping some beautiful boys together, this is one series you should definitely add to your list.

3. DIVE!!

We couldn’t have a bishounen and fujoshi recommendations article without including one of the upcoming sports anime. DIVE!! is bound to be the perfect way to cool off this summer - or it’ll get you even more heated. Either way. This sports anime follows - you guessed it - divers, as in the sport where you jump off a diving board and perform before you hit water, not the deep-sea diving kind. You can expect everything you love and want in sports anime to come with this series: fierce competition and fiery rivalries, good-looking boys and multiple shippable pairings.

Okay, we’re all thinking it. The faces on these boys don’t exactly scream the bishounen we’ve come to expect in sports anime. But check out their bodies. Hoo, mama. You could wash clothes on their abs, if only that wouldn’t encourage them to actually put on clothes. There’s also a range of different character looks and tropes available for your viewing pleasure, such as the ambitious shortie, the long-haired show off, and the stoic genius type. If you enjoyed Free!, Haikyuu!!, and Kuroko no Basket, you’re bound to love DIVE!! - just bear in mind diving is more of a solitary sport than most, so it might lack the “team bonding” aspect. Either way, we’re super excited to start watching this anime this summer season!

Final Thoughts

So there we have it, our top three anime picks for beautiful 2D boys and BL shippability for summer 2017. If you’re not sure where to start with the upcoming season but you love bishounen and/or have the heart of a fujoshi or fudanshi, you can’t go far wrong with Hitorijime My Hero, Vatican Kiseki Chousakan, and DIVE!!. If you’re a fan of Saiyuki, don’t forget that’s also coming back this season with RELOAD BLAST - if you’re new to the series and brave enough, why not try starting that, too? If nothing in this list has tickled your fancy, feel free to leave a comment with what you like and we’ll see what we can hook you up with!

Editor/Translator

Author: Ellyn Barnes

Gudetama goods collector with a soft spot for seiyuu and an undying love for Matsuoka Rin. When I'm not smashing out the latest news in the office, you'll find me holed up at home watching anime, playing rhythm games, and sobbing because Miyano Mamoru exists. Other interests include reading far too much bad BL and occasionally trying to create stuff.

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