Emerging alongside cyberpunk thrillers and experimental sci-fi, BL OVAs of this era were quietly doing something radical: centering gay romance within ambitious genre storytelling. These works don’t relegate queerness to subtext; they place desire, intimacy, and emotional tension front and center, wrapped in inventive worlds and heightened drama—perfectly on theme for a Valentine’s night that favors passion over sentimentality.

We begin with a stylish, mid-’90s crime drama set in New York City, where gunfights, conspiracies, and workplace banter intertwine with a slow-burn romance between two partners on the force. It’s playful, sharp, and flirtatious, balancing genre thrills with genuine tenderness and chemistry.

The night then shifts into darker, more operatic territory with a lavish dystopian romance set inside a rigidly stratified society. Here, love becomes dangerous—bound up with power, obsession, and rebellion—and the result is one of the most influential and provocative BL works of the OVA era. Decades later, it remains striking for its scale, intensity, and refusal to soften its emotional stakes.

Together, these films showcase the range of BL anime during the OVA era—from flirtatious genre hybrids to sweeping, high-concept sci-fi romance—making this Valentine’s double feature a celebration of queer desire, excess, and imagination.

Anime Club is a Film Club Member exclusive and includes two tickets so members can bring a plus one.