Top 20 LGBTQIA+ Couples on Animated Shows

Top 20 LGBTQ+ Couples on Animated Shows

Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 20 LGBTQIA Plus Couples on Animated Shows.

For this list, we’ll be looking at the best and most beloved confirmed LGBTQ+ relationships from cartoon programs. We’ll be saving anime relationships for a list of their own. Since some of these pairings happen late in the series, beware of spoilers ahead.

Which of these couples was your favorite? Let us know in the comments!

#20: Velma & Marcie
“Scooby-Doo!: Mystery Incorporated” (2010-13)

If you’ve ever wished Velma Dinkley was a lesbian, you’re in luck! This 2010s “Scooby-Doo” series finally made the long held fan theory canon. In “Mystery Incorporated”’s first season, Velma appears to have a short-lived infatuation with a siren named Amy. But it’s her eventual connection to Marcie that truly seals the deal on her burgeoning sexuality. The pair become good friends in the show’s second season. After the finale’s timeline reset, they’re implied to have become something more. Admittedly, the representation may not have been as explicit as some people would have liked it to be. But producer Tony Cervone insisted that fans could easily decipher the show’s intentions.

#19: Lyra Heartstrings & Sweetie Drops
“My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic” (2010-20)

This was a real “blink and you’ll miss it” relationship for casual viewers of “My Little Pony”. But for hardcore fans, these two ponies formed a beloved pair within the show’s large ensemble cast. Lyra Heartstrings and Sweetie Drops, aka Lyra and “Bon Bon”, are two “background ponies” whose lives unfolded on the sidelines of the protagonists’ stories. Nonetheless, their flirtations were noticed by eagle-eyed viewers who enjoyed seeing their relationship progress. The pair eventually proposed to each other at the same time in the ninth season. In the finale, they are shown to be married. The two ponies were the second canon LGBT couple to appear on “MLP: Friendship is Magic.” They were preceded by Scootaloo’s Aunt Holiday and Auntie Lofty.

#18: Benson & Troy
“Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts” (2020)

In “Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts,” we were introduced to the demographic’s first Black gay protagonist in Benson. He even verbalized his sexuality on-screen - something that hadn’t been done in a kid’s cartoon since “6Teen.” Over the course of “Kipo,” we saw Benson develop a crush on another boy named Troy. The duo were in a full-fledged relationship by the show’s third season. Since they had a shared interest in music, their connection feels deeper than words alone. Honestly, we’ve been rooting for them since their first meeting. We were so happy to finally see their love flourish at Prahm and beyond.

#17: Enid Mettle & Red Action
“OK K.O.! Let’s Be Heroes” (2017-19)

Enid and Red Action are a truly modern romance! Early into their friendship, the pair primarily communicate and know each other through social media. Enid initially just can’t seem to figure out why her online friend would spend any time with her. However, everything changes when the Red divulges her complicated past. After this moment of honesty, the two grow closer and begin a committed relationship. Recurring characters Nick Army and Joff make up another of the show’s gay couplings. The two even tie the knot in O.K. K.O.!’s finale, “Thanks You For Watching the Show!”

#16: Matthew & Aiden
“Big Mouth” (2017-)

Matthew MacDell was the only openly gay guy at Bridgeton Middle School, and initially struggled to find a love interest despite his kiss with Jay Bilzerian. In Big Mouth’s Valentine’s Day special episode, Matthew meets Aiden in the greeting cards section of the pharmacy. He’s excited to meet another openly gay guy in his New York suburb, and a cute one at that. The show explores the awkward stages of pursuing a relationship and the complexities of being a gay teen with grace and humour. When the two finally share a kiss, Maury the hormone monster deems Matthew to be his favourite kid.

#15: Puddle & Alien King
“Summer Camp Island” (2018-)

During an introductory episode, Puddle expresses their love for the Alien King through a song so heartfelt that it restores their planet’s emotions. The couple’s feelings for each other are undeniable. But their astrological signs turn out to be incompatible. So, they do what any logical alien lovers would do—they try to move the planets in their favor! This lovable pair isn’t “Summer Camp Island”s sole form of representation either. Kent and Cole are two gay ghost parents. Meanwhile, Blanche and Ava make up a supportive female monster couple voiced by two openly queer actresses.

#14: Caitlyn & Vi
“Arcane” (2021-)

Caitlyn and Vi got their start in “Arcane”s source material, “League of Legends.' Although their relationship was clearly close, it was still frustratingly ambiguous. This made fans concerned that Netflix’s “Arcane” would similarly fail to confirm the pair as anything more than flirty friends. And if you were just to judge by the show alone, the same pattern did seem to emerge between the rough around the edges Vi and dedicated officer Caitlyn. However, the show’s crew hinted that their relationship will go deeper than a few hints and a cupcake nickname in season 2. We can’t wait to see where their story goes next.

#13: Howard & Harold McBride
“The Loud House” (2016-)

It may seem hard to believe, but this “Loud House” couple was the first married gay couple to feature in a Nickelodeon series. Howard and Harold McBride made their debut in 2016 as the parents of Lincoln Loud’s best friend, Clyde. The focus of their scenes are how overprotective they are. By placing more emphasis on their personality traits instead of the fact that they are both men, the show helps normalize LGBT+ marriages. Howard and Harold’s inclusion led to two GLAAD nominations for the show and a notable uptick in viewership. In the years following, the series would introduce several other queer characters. They even revealed that one Luna Loud is bisexual.

#12: Barney & Logs
“Dead End: Paranormal Park” (2022)

This revolutionary paranormal series stars a transgender teen boy named Barney. Although he struggles to be accepted by his familiar family and peers, he finds refuge at the odd Phoenix Parks. Barney is also fortunate to find love there too. It doesn’t take long before he falls heads over heels for Logs. In fact, Barney has enough feelings for his love interest to compose an entire song about his emotions. The couple does have some occasional communication issues along the way. However, in the end, Barney finally feels loved for exactly who he is when he’s with Logs.

#11: Nigel Ratburn & Patrick
“Arthur” (1996-)

Everyone’s favourite teacher Nigel Ratburn gets married in Arthur’s 22nd season’s premiere. After he tells his third grade students that he’s planning his wedding, they assume Mr. Ratburn must be marrying a woman named Patty—his sister. The teacher with a sweet tooth gets married to the owner of a chocolate shop named Patrick. After the ceremony, Francine says “it’s a brand new world,” now that society has become more accepting of same-sex relationships. Fans were delighted that a main character who’d been on the kids’ show since the beginning was written to be openly gay.

#10: Sheriff Blubs & Deputy Durland
“Gravity Falls” (2012-16)

Fans shipped the police partners Sheriff Blubs and Deputy Durland long before their relationship was made official. Their romantic feelings for each other were hinted at throughout the series, with the two sharing compliments and innuendos. It finally became canon in the series finale when they embraced and declared their love. Creator Alex Hirsch had said in 2014 that he wanted to include LGBTQ+ characters in the series, but was worried he wouldn’t be allowed to on a kids show. We’re glad that, even if it was only in the finale, Blubs and Durland finally got to express their real feelings.

#9:Eleanor Josephine 'EJ' & Sue Randell
“Clarence” (2014-18)

Like Aanya, Clarence’s best friend, Jeff, also has two moms. Eleanor Josephine is voiced by gay actress Lea Delaria from “Orange is the New Black”, while Sue is voiced by comedian Tig Notaro. They first appeared in a 2014 episode, one year before gay marriage was legalized in all 50 States. The two are friends with the town Mayor and very involved in their community. The show never makes a big deal out of their sexuality and doesn't have to explain it. Fans were fond of the quiet couple, who focus on their son and community gardens, and were happy to have same-sex parenthood portrayed as normal and without drama.

#8: Queen Annika & Queen Neha
“The Dragon Prince” (2018-)

This courageous royal couple ruled and fought side by side! In “The Dragon Prince’s” second season, it’s revealed through flashbacks that the two Queens of Duren saved their kingdom from a famine by killing a Magma Titan. They share a passionate kiss to celebrate. However, the two later sacrifice themselves to allow their companions to survive - which inspired their daughter Aanya to be a strong and powerful queen. While fans criticized the show for falling into the “bury your gays” trope, others felt that a passionate same-sex kiss in the middle of a series rather than in the finale did the show credit.

#7: Todd & Maude
“Bojack Horseman” (2014-20)

Todd Chavez is Bojack Horseman’s zany friend who starts off crashing on Bojack’s couch. When Bojack sleeps with Todd’s high school friend Emily, who was interested in Todd, he realizes he doesn’t feel sexual attraction at all. Todd comes out as asexual and meets Maude, another asexual, through his app “All About that Ace.” Maude is as outgoing as Todd, supports his quirky ideas, and brings her own to the table. It was refreshing to see a critically acclaimed show explore asexuality in such depth while avoiding stereotypes.

#6: Harley Quinn & Poison Ivy
“Harley Quinn” (2019-)

After Harley gets out of her very unhealthy relationship with Mr. J, her friend Poison Ivy is there for her. But the two villainesses soon realize that they are so much more than friends. Over the course of season 2, they have a strong will they/won’t they dynamic. But they eventually come clean about their feelings and flee a wedding as a couple. In contrast to Harley’s relationship with The Joker, her relationship with Ivy is built on mutual care and understanding. What also makes their bond feel real is that they work through realistic issues. Harley’s tendency to go to wild extremes to avoid conflict with Ivy often makes things worse. Fortunately, the botanist is always willing to forgive her eager partner in-crime.

#5: Luz & Amity
“The Owl House” (2020-23)

From enemies to friends to lovers, Luz and Amity’s dynamic kept us guessing throughout much of the show’s first season. This all came to a head on grom night when it was revealed to the audience that Amity was harboring a secret crush on her frenemy. Lucky for her, those feelings were reciprocated by Luz. The pair soon became one of the Disney Channel’s sweetest cartoon couples. (xref –>) Of course, the relationship between the mentor Eda and her childhood friend, Raine, definitely provided some stiff competition! The wild witch and her nonbinary ex-partner had a troubled history due to Eda’s curse. But even after spending years apart, their love for each other stood strong.

#4: Princess Bubblegum & Marceline the Vampire Queen
“Adventure Time” (2010-18)

Throughout this series, it’s gradually revealed that Marceline the Vampire Queen and Princess Bubblegum had previously been in a relationship, and they rekindle their romance. It’s revealed that Princess Bubblegum’s most prized possession is a shirt Marceline gave her, which she sleeps in. In Stakes, Marceline has a vision of herself growing old with Princess Bubblegum. In the series finale, the two share a passionate kiss, confirming their relationship. When viewers first speculated about their relationship, Marceline’s voice actress Olivia Olson confirmed the two had a romantic history. While some fans say the relationship came out of nowhere, others consider it one of the best animated slow-burn queer romances.

#3: Adora & Catra
“She-Ra and the Princesses of Power” (2018-20)

This reboot had other queer couples, such as Bow’s dads, but the main characters’ romance takes the cake. Catra and Adora grew up together in The Horde. When Adora discovers the sword of She-Ra and her own powers, Catra feels betrayed. The two go from friends to enemies, but even while fighting there were romantic undertones to their relationship. In the series’ final season, Catra and Adora confess their feelings for each other and their love saves the universe. Creator Noelle Stevenson said she wanted their relationship and romance to be central to the plot so it couldn’t be cut from the show later on.

#2: Korra & Asami
“The Legend of Korra” (2012-14)

In this Avatar: The Last Airbender sequel series, the new avatar is confirmed to be bisexual when she enters the spirit world with her rival-turned-friend-turned lover, Asami Sato. The two both had relationships with their friend Mako, but got close and began to have feelings for each other. Though their relationship is only confirmed in the series’ final scene, there were subtle hints dropped throughout the show. When Korra is injured and disappears, Asami is the only person she stays in contact with. At the time, The Legend of Korra was the only Nickelodeon show to feature a same-sex couple. Their relationship is further explored in the Legend of Korra comics, where they confess their love and come out to their friends.

#1: Ruby & Sapphire (Garnet)
“Steven Universe” (2013-19)

This celebrated show is known for having championed LGBTQ+ representation since it first hit screens in 2013. Creator Rebecca Sugar said she drew inspiration from her own identity as a bisexual, non-binary feminist. Ruby and Sapphire—also known as Garnet when merged—are the leaders of the Crystal Gems, the self-proclaimed guardians of humanity trying to protect Earth. Though the Crystal Gems are perceived as women, they’re humanoid projections of light and have no gender. The couple is based on Sugar’s relationship with their partner, Ian Jones-Quartey. Ruby and Sapphire made history when they aired the first lesbian proposal and wedding in a mainstream cartoon and kid’s show. The two got married after 5750 years and 8 months of being together.